What happens when a man who was trapped in gangs, violence, addiction, organized crime, and prison encounters the saving grace of Jesus Christ?

In this powerful episode, Jody Burkeen sits down with Christopher Brown to hear one of the most remarkable testimonies you'll ever hear. Christopher shares how a childhood filled with chaos and dysfunction led him into a life of crime that ultimately resulted in more than five years in prison, including time in maximum security and over ten months in solitary confinement.

After his release, the cycle of destruction continued through addiction, broken relationships, spiritual darkness, and violence until a life-altering event changed everything. Following a near-death experience in which he died twice and was placed into a medically induced coma, Christopher came face-to-face with the reality that life apart from God is complete separation and hopelessness.

In 2020, Jesus Christ radically transformed his life.

Today, the man who once lived for the world now lives to proclaim the Gospel. God has taken Christopher from felony to freedom, from prison to purpose, and from darkness into the light of Christ. His journey has led him to a calling in West Africa, where he and his wife are preparing for long-term missions work, sharing the hope of Jesus with people who have never heard the Gospel.

In this episode, you'll hear:

• Christopher's journey from crime, gangs, and prison.
• How a near-death experience became a turning point in his life.
• The moment he surrendered his life to Jesus Christ.
• How God called him into missions in West Africa.
• Why no one is beyond the reach of God's grace.

If you've ever wondered whether God can redeem a broken life, this conversation is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone for the transforming power of the Gospel.

Connect with Christopher Brown
If you'd like to learn more about Christopher's ministry or partner with his mission through prayer or financial support, be sure to listen through the end of the episode for more information.

Subscribe to the Man Up God's Way Podcast for more conversations that challenge men to follow Jesus Christ, lead courageously, and live with biblical purpose.

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, LSB)

Phyllis was born in Ruston, Louisiana, in 1975, where she excelled in school, loved to read, and attended church on her own. Phyllis had many ups and downs in her childhood and teen years until she found a family to live with and attended church with at the age of 14. At age 17, Phyllis moved to Missouri to be near her brother and sister. She finished high school, and she and Tony were married two weeks later. Tony and Phyllis have two children, Grant and Joel. Phyllis was a stay-at-home mom until their youngest, Joel, started Kindergarten. Back in Missouri, Phyllis attended Crowder College and earned her nursing degree. While in Managua, Nicaragua, Phyllis served as a missionary nurse and teacher. She also earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. Phyllis completed her Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University in 2024. She is a family therapist at the Center for Children and Families in Monroe, Louisiana, and is passionate about serving children from hard places. She's picked up painting as a form of self-care and to spend some quality time with Tony in the studio. She is a cooperative artist at Courtyard on Cotton Gallery in West Monroe, Louisiana.

In late 2019, Phyllis learned that her biological father was Duck Dynasty star and Duck Commander Phil Robertson. She and Tony live next door to her dad and Miss Kay. Tony and Phyllis also operate a short-term rental in St. Louis, where they stay as often as possible to visit Grant, Julie, Theo, and Harry.

David - I founded the non-profit organization "When the Saints" in November 2011. My passion is to see an end to sexual exploitation, and to invite Christ’s bride into the role we can all play.

More than that, my desire is to bring glory to the name of Jesus. Although I’m in his late 30’s, I have extensive "hands on" experience and have been advocating for poverty and justice issues for two decades.

In the fall of 2011 I graduated from St. Louis Christian College with a Christian Ministries degree emphasizing Intercultural and Urban Missions. I love traveling and watching documentaries or movies with a strong lead actress.

Essy - Hi there! I’m your friendly Operations Manager here at WtS. My job has to do with keeping our amazing 80+ staff members happy. I make sure everything is running smoothly so they can do their best work.

David and I have been married since 2017 and we have two awesome kids, Taji and Nuru, who keep life exciting (and slightly chaotic). I’m the third of four kids in my family, which means I’ve got a lot of practice helping things run smoothly.

Originally from Kenya, my heart is still there with my parents and siblings, though I now call Malawi home. I’m a statistician by education, so numbers are my thing! Above all, I’m a believer, and I totally love my role with the ministry — it’s not just a job, it’s what God created me for.

https://www.whenthesaints.com