From Prison to Purpose: My Conversation with David Garlock
There are moments in ministry when I find myself humbled by the raw power of God’s redemption. Sitting down with David Garlock for our latest Embracing Brokenness podcast was one of those moments.
David’s story is not an easy one to hear—but it’s one we need to. It’s a story of unimaginable trauma, personal failure, and the relentless pursuit of grace that only Jesus can offer. As he shared the details of his life, I realized again how desperately we need to talk about what it means to be truly restored.
A Childhood Marked by Chaos
David grew up in a home that looked picture-perfect from the outside—mom, dad, siblings, grandparents. But behind closed doors, it was a house of horror. Abuse, chaos, and neglect shaped his earliest memories. At just five years old, he witnessed his father chase his mother and sister with a hacksaw blade. That moment was the beginning of a downward spiral.
Eventually, David and his brother became the targets of a predator who groomed their family in order to gain access to them. Over the course of eight years, they suffered repeated sexual abuse, manipulation, and violence—until one day, at 19, David and his brother made the tragic and irreversible decision to take their abuser’s life.
It would be easy to stop the story there, to write it off as another headline. But that’s not the end. It’s where God began His most transformative work.
Redemption Behind Bars
David was arrested and charged with murder in Alabama—where the justice system is notoriously harsh. Facing the death penalty or life without parole, he cried himself to sleep in a county jail, believing his life was over.
But on the fourth day of his incarceration, God knocked.
While reading Revelation 3:20—“Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”—David encountered the living Christ. In a 6×9 prison cell, he surrendered his life to Jesus. And in a moment that echoed the story of Paul and Silas, he found himself singing worship songs through tears, experiencing peace in a place where peace shouldn’t exist.
From that point on, David made a decision: he would do the time, not let the time do him. He earned his GED, completed a theology program, tutored others, did hospice work, and later earned his bachelor’s degree from Eastern University.
A Life Now Spent Advocating for Others
Today, David is a leading voice in criminal justice reform and reentry support. He speaks in universities around the country, including secular campuses where he boldly shares his faith and story. He’s appeared in the film Just Mercy and works closely with Equal Justice Initiative, Yale and Columbia University, and organizations committed to seeing formerly incarcerated people flourish.
What struck me most in our conversation was David’s willingness to work with and advocate for individuals who have committed sexual offenses—people whose offenses reflect the very trauma he endured. His ability to love and support even those who remind him of his past abuser speaks volumes about the transformative grace of Jesus.
David said something during our talk that stayed with me:
“Your past doesn’t define you—it educates you. What defines you is what you do today and tomorrow.”
That’s not just a catchy line. It’s his lived reality.
What the Church Needs to Hear
David’s story is also a challenge to the Church.
We must stop defining people by the worst thing they’ve ever done. Whether someone is returning from prison, battling addiction, or simply walking through shame—they are not disqualified from the grace of God. If we believe the gospel, we must believe it applies to everyone.
The Church should be a place of reentry, not rejection. A place where those emerging from brokenness can find not just acceptance, but purpose. David reminded us that “it takes a village for returning citizens to succeed,” and that village should absolutely include the Body of Christ.
If you haven’t yet heard our conversation, I encourage you to listen. It’s uncomfortable, inspiring, and deeply hopeful. Because if David’s story tells us anything, it’s this:
Jesus still heals. He still redeems. And He still calls the most unlikely people into Kingdom work.
You can listen to the full episode on Spotify Here. Or watch on YouTube: Embracing Brokenness Podcast
To learn more about David Garlock, visit davidlgarlock.com.
Let’s be people who embrace brokenness—ours and others’—so that healing and transformation can follow.
In Him,
Steve
