In this episode, guest James Webb shares his harrowing but ultimately redemptive journey. He recounts his transition from a life defined by severe childhood trauma, rampant drug addiction, and numerous prison sentences to his current life as a devoted family man and full-time minister at Victory Mission in Springfield, Missouri.
Childhood Trauma and Rebellion
James opens up about a highly abusive childhood marked by generational curses.
- Family Abuse: He suffered severe physical abuse at the hands of his father. Fearing for their lives, his mother fled with the children to Germany to live with a man she met.
- Unimaginable Tragedy: Unfortunately, his new stepdad subjected James’s younger sister to horrific abuse. James eventually returned to the U.S. at age 14 as the sole family member to testify against him, resulting in a 13-year prison sentence for the abuser.
- The Descent: Consumed by anger, trauma, and feelings of abandonment, James turned to drugs. What started as smoking weed quickly escalated to Xanax, pain pills, and eventually injecting anything he could get his hands on, including fentanyl and meth.
A Life of Addiction and Incarceration
To fund his severe addictions, James turned to a life of crime.
- 12 Stints in Prison: He was in and out of jail and prison throughout his youth and young adulthood for theft, gang activity, and robbery—even robbing a church and other drug dealers.
- The Turning Point of Despair: James shares a tragic story of robbing an elderly woman for a laptop via Facebook Marketplace, resulting in her being dragged by his car and severely injured. (Remarkably, she survived and prayed for him rather than turning him in).
- Miraculous Medical Recovery: While strung out in a “trap house,” James’s body gave out. He taken by ambulance to a St. Louis hospital with complete liver failure and Hepatitis C, and was told he wouldn’t survive the night. Miraculously, without lifelong medical intervention, his liver completely healed—a physical restoration he credits entirely to God preserving his life for a greater purpose.
Spiritual Awakening Behind Bars
Despite surviving liver failure, James initially returned to the streets and was quickly arrested again, facing a heavy 12-year sentence.
- The Challenge: While at the Ozark Correctional Center, an inmate named Paul Hines challenged him. Instead of faking his “church knowledge” to con people, Paul challenged James to actually read the Gospels and find out who the real Jesus was.
- Isolation for the Word: For nearly nine months, James cut ties with his gang and drug connections on the prison yard. He faced heavy mockery but remained entirely devoted to reading the Bible.
- His Anchor: Matthew 6:33 (“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need”) became his life verse and the foundation of his transformation.
Restoration and Ministry
After his release, James entered the Hope Homes of the Ozarks Adult and Teen Challenge program.
- Breaking Pride: James admits he entered the program with a lot of biblical knowledge but zero character. Through the hard truths and corrections from the men around him, his pride was broken down, and he learned how to truly serve others in love.
- Learning to be a Son: While praying for the restoration of his biological son (who had been taken by the state years prior due to James’s gang activity), the Holy Spirit told him, “You can’t be a father until you learn how to be a son.” James submitted to this process of spiritual growth.
- A Restored Family: The Lord eventually brought him a beautiful wife That he meet at Freedom City and a stepson who miraculously mirrored the exact age and appearance of the son he lost. They were married on February 14th.
Final Message to the Audience
James closes out the episode by emphasizing that you cannot claim to know Jesus if you refuse to read His Word. He challenges listeners to put aside the “stained glass” cliches of religion, dedicate daily time to reading the Bible, and be unapologetically bold for the Kingdom of God.
