Episode 2: Robert Lee, Nation of Islam, Freedom in Jail

“Hurt people hurt people,” is a phrase that characterizes Robert Lee’s life growing up. Raised in the Nation of Islam, Robert was taught to hate white people and lived the hurt he knew. Hear what happened when God miraculously got Robert’s attention while incarcerated. And how he told the warden, “You better start looking for a new job because we’re gonna be emptying this prison!” 

Stay for the Sendoff, where Madelyn shares spoken word inspired by his life. 

See Robert's 30 Second Testimony.

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Nation of Islam background.

Wrongful conviction ministry, The Innocence Project.   

Robert in song! Robert sings and writes with Detroit Altar Music, Sessions with the Holy Spirit. 

Follow Robert on Instagram.

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Chapters

• 1:18 Intro
• 3:45 Dad, hurt people hurt people
• 4:29 At the mosque
• 6:55 Broken father
• 8:28 Culture of anger
• 9:43 Nation of Islam
• 12:30 Inherent knowledge of sin
• 14:05 View of God
• 16:45 Rebellion begins in family
• 17:50 Shot
• 19:25 Needing people in high school
• 22:10 Incarceration
• 24:10 Christian witness in jail
• 25:20 Bible study
• 26:40 Accepting Jesus
• 28:00 Cell block revival
• 29:57 Released
• 31:10 Adjusting to life outside
• 33:05 Employer who gave Robert a chance
• 35:00 Parents saved!
• 36:20 Last Question
• 37:49 Sendoff, Madelyn Poem for Robert

Transcript

One80 Podcast 

Robert Lee: Nation of Islam to Lover of All

This transcription of the recording may have errors that do not reflect the audio. Our apologies.

Ryan Henry: Hey there friends. I am Ryan Henry and welcome to 180 where we get to share absolutely amazing stories of Christian transformation from around the world. I'm talking every stage, every age, every region from a homecoming queen to a witch doctor. I mean, these stories are just so, so exciting. We're also encouraging our listeners to share their stories and you can find us@oneeightypodcast.com that's O N E 80 podcast dot.

And please would you just press that, share your story button and maybe you'll even be able to be a guest on the show?

Robert Lee: I just, I just knew, you know, um, there's a knowledge of sin, right? There's a knowledge of good and evil in every. Right. Everyone knows good from bad. And I just not, without even being told what was good, what was bad? And I just knew that. It wasn't right, right. 

Ryan Henry: He was angry and he let the whole world know it.

He hated people based on the color of their skin. That was Robert, the Robert, before he met Jesus in a jail cell, then right there in jail, he went from the nation of Islam to becoming a Jesus follower, him and his entire cellblock only God can do transformation like that. Here. Robert's turnaround story today.

Alrighty. Hey, Robert, thank you so much for being on the show. I am literally so excited to hear your story, so let's jump in, but before we actually technically start, I want to ask you a question from our random question generator. Okay. Okay. All right. So the question is, if you, instead of having your name, Robert, and you had to have one.

One letter, that's all you get. You had to have everybody referred to you by one letter. What would it be and why? 

Robert Lee: I would add, oh, to my first name. Okay, 

Ryan Henry: Roberto, Roberto. But you only get one letter. So would you let people call you? Oh, Oh, 

Robert Lee: uh, yeah, sure. I go for that. 

Ryan Henry: It's got a bizarre question, but Hey, you know what?

It sounds good. Oh, I think for the rest of the show, is that 

Robert Lee: cool? 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. Awesome. Awesome. So, um, let's go back to the very, very beginning. Could you just talk to us, Robert? I mean, oh, about what it was like growing up in the Lee house. 

Robert Lee: You know, I came from a military household. My dad, um, was in Vietnam and, uh, just came back very angry and, um, trying to raise two boys and a girl being black in America.

I mean, that's the real reality. We, we, I grew up Muslim. I was born a Muslim. I was a Muslim for 21 years. Oh, wow. Okay. Um, And in that there was a lot of, I'm not saying that all Muslim factions are angry, but where we were, uh, was a very angry. Group I was saying, and that anger just kind of, uh, was celebrate it.

And, uh, and, and so my dad was somewhat, you know, angry all the time. Um, and it, it, you know, it's, you know, hurt people, hurt people. Right. Right. And so we, uh, grew up in a very strange. Uh, the environment, you know, we, we try to find happiness within that, but it was, it was challenged. And, um, you know, we, we were being raised by a strong man and, and, and being nurtured there with my mom, which was like, like a happy medium, somewhat, almost in a twisted way.

But, you know, I love my parents, you know, again, it's just what, what the element was. Um, even in the environment, when we had gone to the mosque in times, it was very volatile. I just never, I didn't feel the love that I, I really need it. Um, and not that they didn't love. It's just, I never. I received it. Hmm.

Okay. 

Ryan Henry: Gotcha. So, so grew up Muslim. What does that, like, how did that look in your life? I mean, was that like a, did you go to mosque? How, how often you can just elaborate a little 

Robert Lee: bit on that. Yeah. We were at the mosque regularly and literally grew up, uh, there and just spent a lot of time there. But again, it was, I just felt like I was.

Not supposed to be there. I just felt like I was made for something else. Even though that the anger was contagious, I still felt like I was missing something. And I had a, a Christian aunt that lived above us in our building. Really? She 

Ryan Henry: was your aunt. My aunt, my mother was at, she was a Christian. Yeah.

That is very interesting. Do you know how that came 

Robert Lee: about? Yeah. You know, um, my, my, um, you know, we, we live in a two flat building and, um, my aunt had already, I mean, before my parents hadn't met, she was a Christian. Oh, wow. Okay. And, you know, we spent a lot of time with her. You know, my, my parents loved her and she, uh, loved baseball and, uh, we would watch baseball in our apartment.

Wow. And at times she watched us and took us to school. Both my parents work. Um, even once she took me to a church and she got me baptized. Wow. And that didn't go 

Ryan Henry: well. Yeah. With your family. I can imagine. Yeah, 

Robert Lee: because she was trying to save my soul. Right. But, you know, salvation is individual. Yeah. 

Ryan Henry: Right.

Um, so as far as, uh, your FA your father, your mother, do you know how, you know, their, their faith came to be, you know, like what was their history? Just, you know, 

Robert Lee: Yeah, my dad, his mother died very young and my grandfather never acknowledged him. And so my dad grew up in foster care. He was just lost and so angry.

And so he, he literally went to Vietnam and hopes to release that anger, you know, he was young and, and going in there maybe 17, 18 years old in the service and, uh, You know, in, in, on there was the ease of getting drugs and things like that. Um, he was able to release his anger and, you know, Medicaid it, right.

I mean, a lot of the people there were medicating and then going there angry and then still coming back that much more angry. Right, right. And then they said, okay, now the war is over. Get a job. And, you know, people weren't happy about the war and, and those that went to fight. And so he did get a job, he got a city job and, um, but nobody ever helped him with the PTSD or, or the things that he had gone through.

And then, you know, the Muslims came and said, Hey, you know, we'll be with you, you know, and he believed it. And so that's kinda how that went. You know, we were, uh, angry about people that we didn't even know. I mean, to be honest, we were forced to be, um, if I could say. Um, because everyone else was that when you were around, we never really voiced our opinion, because again, we were, um, just, uh, just fearful.

And I went through so much with my, as a child. I can only imagine my brother and my sister, my brother, my might be more than me cause I'm the middle kid. But I think being around a brace of people, we learned how to exist. And we just learn how to exist in that abrasive. And I can only imagine, like when people live in challenged neighborhoods, the oppression that stare, they just they're learning how to exist.

And, um, you know, when people were nice and friendly, they were easy, but we learn how to exist in a volatile environment. And, um, It was a blessing and a curse because you learn how to deal with people that weren't so balanced. Right. 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. Did you, did you mention where you had grown 

Robert Lee: up? I grew up on the west side of Chicago.

Oh, okay. All right. 

Ryan Henry: That helps. Yeah. All right. So, so if you don't mind, just, if you would elaborate a little bit on the knee, specifically on the nation of Islam and what that is, and just to 

Robert Lee: help our little. Yeah. So, um, there, I, uh, just like you have different Christians, right? You have different denominations and this the same way with Muslims, you know, you have Shia Muslims and you know, all different types.

Sex Muslim. And so on the nation of Islam is ran by Farrakhan and we would go to the mosque and, you know, we prayed all the time. Prayer. We even had a room in our house that we prayed and we didn't eat any pork. You know, I laugh about it, you know, but, uh, we, we didn't, there was certain things that we just didn't need.

Um, we were, we were born, um, vegetarians. So we didn't eat much meat until, um, I started to go to high school. Um, everything was soybean. I mean, back in the day, right? Like try to find a soybean burger. Right. 

Ryan Henry: Not very common, 

Robert Lee: right? No, it wasn't. No, it was a very rare, but, um, and those are the things, those are foods, but you know, growing up with this, um, uh, tone, you know, not having a tone mint, right.

Not being able to. Um, no, that if my works would get me to paradise, that was always in my mind. 

Ryan Henry: So this unsettled, 

Robert Lee: this unsettle of am, am I doing enough? You know, because it, the Quran never tells you that how much it costs, but you would work. Now, knowing the cost, you know, knowing what I know now, like what it costs and then me not knowing what it cost, um, if that makes any sense, but it was like, um, I just, you know, um, I did everything I could to.

Be a good person. Yeah. You know, our minds think that right. And we, if I'm a good person, I'll, I'll make it. Yeah. 

Ryan Henry: And go ahead. And I was just going to ask you in that. Uh, so you felt, uh, with the nation of Islam, you talked about, you know, hating, basically whites, you know, did you feel like you were doing the right thing?

Robert Lee: No, I knew I was side. I knew. I knew the separation between, you know, women on one side men on the other side and just the, it was just super dominating. And then in my home, I just, I just knew, you know, um, there's a knowledge of sin, right? There's a knowledge of good and evil and everyone, right. Everyone knows good from bat.

And I just not, without even being told. What was good, what was bad? Yeah. And I just knew that it wasn't right. I couldn't put my finger on it as a kid, you know, they didn't ask me any questions because I was in such a volatile situation. Um, and I just wanted to, I just wanted to exist because I knew that I would get old enough to protect myself.

And so, you know, at some point what I was in with change. If that makes sense, you know, like that I knew that does struggle with at some point come to an end. Yeah. Yeah. 

Ryan Henry: Because I'm hearing you say that you knew in your heart, the way that you were living, the things that you saw in your religion were not right.

If you were to kind of boil it down to one reason, what would you say about why you at that point stuck with. I mean at that point in life. Why, why did you follow, why did you go? Was it because you had to obey your parents? I mean, 

Robert Lee: well, yeah, even, even like, even the Bible says that. Right, right, right. And so, uh, you honor your parents.

Right. Um, and that's really kind of, you know, that's what it was. I, I was honoring my parents even though, um, it hurt at times. What 

Ryan Henry: were your thoughts about. God, like just in these early years, nation of Islam, what was your perspective of God in that time? 

Robert Lee: Um,

I just couldn't believe what these guys were saying. And so I could not even put my mind to that. There's a God, like I could not put my mind to it at the time, because how could that be with what I was seeing? I just could not believe like this could not be the God we're worshiping. Yeah. I mean, how could he be like that?

And why, why do we have to be this way toward a certain group of people? And so it just didn't match. Yeah. 

Ryan Henry: So you're, it's almost like your perspective of God. It's almost like God spared you from taking everything that you were seeing and then reflecting that on him. Cause you, you had this feeling that he was not.

What you're hearing him to be, that he would hate somebody because of the color of their skin. Right? Is that you see what I'm saying is like, I that's a gift to be in that culture and to be taught something. And to not so many times we were feeling. That onto God. And that really shapes our perspective of who he is, you know?

So you weren't necessarily thinking of God as an angry 

Robert Lee: God. No, because you know, it's like, you know how you just can't put your finger on it, but everyone has a idea of what's right. And analyze things. Um, and I just, I just couldn't buy what they were selling. Thanks for tuning into 180, stay for the sendoff where we feature artists take on the testimony shared on the show now back to Ryan.

Ryan Henry: So as I understand it, it doesn't end there. Right. It gets worse. So what happened after all that? 

Robert Lee: So we grew up, we grew up very angry and, um, shelter. And, um, you know, we were teased by a lot of the neighborhood kids. And, um, again, you know, we had some, you know, some bullying going on. Um, and I just knew that I was different.

I couldn't couldn't speak from what my brother, my brother and my sister, my sister was younger. My brother was older. I couldn't really speak for them, but I could say for me, I know my brother started to rebel. We started to get more freedom and, and going out into the neighborhood. And so, um, we just started to connect with the wrong crowds we were looking for.

You know, a lot of people are looking for community, even in places. 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. So what did that look like? Would you start getting involved in? 

Robert Lee: Um, I got involved with the neighborhood gang and, um, and, and then some gangs from different areas, um, and started to hang out. Um, and at first it wasn't, you know, it was just neighborhood kids.

We weren't even. Tied to any group, but as we got older and bigger, um, it, it started to orchestrate, it started to become something. And, um, what 

Ryan Henry: age was that? If you don't mind me asking when you started getting involved with it? 

Robert Lee: Yeah. I graduated from eighth grade and had gotten. Well, and like in front of my house.

Oh my gosh. Yeah. Tara wasn't even involved in the, I wasn't even involved. Actually. There was a fight, um, like a block away and the shooter shot five people. And I was wondering the five, the bullets, no, no name that traveled all my calves. Robert hit me in my, it hit me in my, it just. Uh, just to the right, maybe a half an inch, it missed my kneecap.

It would've shattered my knee otherwise. Um, but I even then got scraped. Right. And. So, you know, it's in your mind, you're thinking, Hey, I'm cool. I got shot. 

Ryan Henry: I don't know that I would ever find myself like, you know, although I have wondered what it would be like, but I'm glad that I have not had to experience that.

Robert Lee: I mean, you know, and that's the mindset. Yeah. That's, 

Ryan Henry: that's wild to think about. 

Robert Lee: And, um, and then I was going to be a freshmen. 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. So then that's when you started to get more involved. Yeah. It's almost like that that incident almost like scarred you in a way, you know, how long did this last. Yeah. I mean, this you're getting involved with gangs.

Um, how did that go? 

Robert Lee: 10 years. 

Ryan Henry: 10 years. So from the freshman year about in high school? Yeah. Okay. Into, 

Robert Lee: well after, yeah, when I, I would say yeah, 10 years, I was 21. When I, when I finally went to prison. Talk to us a little 

Ryan Henry: bit about, you know, high school, what is going on in high school with the darkness that you experienced?

Robert Lee: So I would say I got to high school, 1986. And, uh, graduated in 1990 and doing those four years, um, I just started to get popular and had a lot of friends in something that I, I needed people. It's funny how, um, God made us for a relationship. Right. And so I, I just kinda, um, you know, I needed. That those relationships.

And I had some fairly good friends, uh, and we were all just guys, just, you know, um, running games, we just friends and their neighborhood, um, was a different gang. And my neighborhood was a different gang, but we were close and. We took sides. It became a very, very violent guys from outside of our neighborhoods would bring in guns.

And, um, it was, it was dangerous in our neighborhood. It was, people got killed. Um, they even tried to throw a pipe bomb in my parents' house. Uh, and all because I had connected with a group of guys. Um, had did something that, uh, was bad. And, uh, I was blamed for, even though I wasn't there, I was blamed for what had happened.

And so people were trying to kill me. And, um, and I, so I had a gun all the time. I remember going to court seeing the pill, you know, after high school going to court. And the judge says, you know, you have five gun cases in one month. And I said, these guys are trying to kill me. And I, I don't know how else to stay alive.

I mean, my parents couldn't sell their house. Um, so I was kind of trapped in that situation and, um, I wasn't trying to hurt anybody. I was just trying to stay alive. Um, but it was, it was challenging because people always knew I had a weapon and so they would call the cops because they, they, they couldn't kill me.

So they were trying to send me to jail. So I remember the judge, he said, you know, The only thing saving you from going to prison is the tip of his ink pen. And he says, it's not because your mother's crying. He said, it's not because, you know, he, father was a veteran. He says, because of the tip of this pen, which wasn't enough for me not to go to jail.

And, um, me going to jail was the best thing I could have happened to me because that's why I got free. If you can just 

Ryan Henry: talk to us what happened in jail, Robert? Yeah. Yeah. Praise God from jail based on, you know what I mean? 

Robert Lee: Yeah. Tell us, even though I had all these gun charges and stuff and the judge gave me some time, but even though he gave me some time, he changed his mind and I ended up getting probation.

And I did the probation, but then I got in trouble where I got blamed for something that I didn't do. 

Ryan Henry: No. Is this a different, this is different, 

Robert Lee: a different thing. And, um, and I, and, and because of my record, my past, my past caught up to me because at that time, the judge says, look at his record. It's obviously he's guilty.

I ended up going to jail for something I didn't do. Wow. And that's where I actually went downstate, going to jail for something I didn't do was kind of tough because I, I had burned, you know, in the, in the world, you, you get one shot in your name. Yeah. But Christ gives you a new name. Come on. Yeah. Yeah.

And so I, uh, it's crazy because I just got tired of fighting cases and I mean, man, I went to jail just so God could have a conversation with me because I'm going to jail and Muslim. And then I ended up getting. I don't know how, but I had favor, come on a favor in jail. That's something new, that favor.

Right. And, uh, I didn't go into an area which was general population. They actually put me, I was in the kitchen. So I ended up in the kitchen going in, which was like, never heard of. Um, Hm. And, uh, somebody knew somebody obviously. And, uh, I ended up in the kitchen and a guy in my, in my, um, set, uh, in my, in my division, said, Hey, come to church with me.

I'm like, I'm a Muslim, you know, I can't code. And I'm like, man, you know, I can't do that. And, um, he, every, uh, I got sentenced to six months to a year and he's like, Hey, why don't you come? And, you know, you got nothing else you're doing. Right. And so I finally, I went because he just wouldn't stop bugging her 

Ryan Henry: persistence pays off.

Robert Lee: Right. And. Yeah. So I, I go to, um, a service and the ministry is called freedom fliers ministry, and they're doing a Bible study and, um, I don't know everything. He said, I just was there because my friend and mind you, my friend was in jail for. Hmm. And he was still fighting the case. And I heard the pastor say that, you know, he recited, um, Luke three, nine, and he said already, the acts of the Lord is at the base of your tree.

And if the tree does not bear good fruit, it's cut down and thrown into a fire. And I saw my life, all of it. Everything. I did everything I got away with the times I just barely made it free from a bad situation. I saw my life pass before my eyes. I call it God playing the tape. And, um, that was the first time I had experienced, you know, people say God's love, you know, I, I, when I got saved, I didn't experienced that.

Like everyone says that God's going to give you this big hug. Uh, I got, if the, if the, the, the accident laws at the base of your tree and I, I stood up and I accepted Jesus. Wow. And, um, because I, I, I just felt that guy was saying. Um, I've given you all these chances and I show any show me each and every moment.

And I just knew that if I didn't get right, um, even the hop was there for something I didn't do if I didn't get right. Um, I wouldn't be around long. And I always say this that, you know, God will take your life to save your life. I just felt like that. 

Ryan Henry: Wow. So right there in the meeting, do you stand up and give your heart to 

Robert Lee: Jesus and a burndown?

Jim, 

Ryan Henry: what do you feel in that moment? Did you feel immediate release? I mean, it was kind of different for everybody, but what was that like for 

Robert Lee: you in my mind? I, I, I. I felt a peace, but at the same time I felt this, what are you doing? All this stuff that's going on at home? Like, what are you going to do with that?

Right. And, you know, but when I got saved and, and fast forward, the, the guy that invited me ended up, um, getting free in this case. It's because we, it started a, on our, on our particular deck, all the people got saved. Wow. So everyone was on heart, whoever wasn't saved, we pray them out. Yeah. Either could save and get out.

I mean, literally I had six months to a year, but in. Getting, uh, they wanted me to, uh, for good behavior three months. Wow. And I remember that w the warden had, uh, sent for me that I could get out. And I said, I didn't want to get out. Well, because I was sold out. 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. 

Robert Lee: And I said, we got it. And so I had a meeting with the warden and I said, we're going to empty this prison.

You're going to have to look for a job. And so, and so really, I was like, uh, I mean, we, uh, uh, we were on fire, uh, in prison. Um, it was, it was the best place. Um, I, I even, uh, did not long for the world. I did not long for my family. I, um, I just, I was alone with him. Um, he says that he's he, um, separates and sanctifies us, right?

Yeah. Sets us apart. Wow. So did you 

Ryan Henry: end up staying in 

Robert Lee: there? No, they

get the extension. 

Ryan Henry: Okay, 

Robert Lee: man. But although I asked for it. Yeah. Um, and it's crazy because I had, uh, you know, I had this five years of, uh, an additional, even though I had the short. Even the guys that I had got, I was with a head got eight years and I only had six months to a year. Wow. So even then God had covered me.

Right. Um, yeah, when I, when I, uh, got out, I had, you know, five year probation, which is ridiculous and like a $10,000 fine. And even with it, you know, $10,000 fine. I remember coming back to court. To answer for that because I hadn't gotten a job yet. And a judge canceled it. Yeah. He just said, wow. It's like, and that was God doing what God does.

Yeah.

I remember going in for a job at a job. And, um, the, the question on the application was, you know, have you ever been convicted of a felony and. Although saved. Right. And, and, and, um, but I, I, I struggled with that question. And so, um, I had lied on the application line on the application. I still got the job, but then when they found out that I had an issue.

They fired me. And I went through that a few times. Yeah. I hadn't really believed in God's power. And I remember getting a job that was, I had ended up getting a job that worked for the city and I had favor, um, But they had had some issues with not in our team, but another team across the city, people were taking bribe money for, um, passing cars, uh, on the air, you know, the vehicle testing and they were taking money and, um, And so they did a staying and a set, all these bad things about all the people that worked there.

And then, uh, so then they background checked everybody and found out I had a record. And, uh, it was the, it was the hardest thing because I really saw myself there and prospering. And I remember leaving there saying, God, you know, if you don't, you can't climb into people's windows. I need a job. And he said, stop lying and denying me because I didn't believe in his power.

Right. And so I said, okay. So I walked in this place kind of angry and, and, uh, asked for a job. And told him everything back and tell him the reason I gave him every reason not to hire me. Yeah. 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. Honest first though, you 

Robert Lee: know? Good. And, uh, the guy, he said, listen, I'll hire you, uh, hire me on the spot. And he said, I'll teach you everything.

I know. And, um, I was there 20 years. 

Ryan Henry: Wow. What kind 

Robert Lee: of job was that? So I, uh, worked for electrical distributor. And, uh, I was, uh, um, he, he did, he put me in between two engineers, one abrasive, one nut. So we got to hang out with 

Ryan Henry: at least, you know, a bracing. 

Robert Lee: Well, right. So I, I said, this is perfect because I know how to exist around a brace of people.

And so I did, yeah. I needed the job and, um, they taught me everything. They knew. 

Ryan Henry: Wow. That's such grace man, such strong musical grace. You know, I think a lot of times we get caught up in the, okay, I'll come to Jesus, but how is this all going to work? How am I going to get out of this situation? Can you fix this?

Can you fix this? And what's really sad is when people can't get past that and they choose to stay. In what, you know, in this position than their ride versus trusting the Lord and just seeing what 

he 

Robert Lee: will do. Well, the Bible says trust in the Lord and do good. Yeah. So I was like, okay. 

Ryan Henry: Yeah. Yeah. 

Robert Lee: That's so good.

Yeah. Did I tell you, my parents were saying. They are, your parents are saved. Come on. I should have told you that at the beginning. My mom and dad excepted Jesus about 

Ryan Henry: three years. Oh Lord. That's amazing. That is amazing. How did that go about, I 

Robert Lee: mean, yeah, so, uh, I was in a play called the story of love and, um, I was a Roman soldier.

Yeah. And, uh, and actually I was the one that flogged Jesus. Wow. Whoa. And so my parents came to the play. Wow. And, uh, when he came to the play, um, they got the last two seats in the back of the sanctuary. I didn't know they were there. I didn't know if they were gonna make it. Um, and what brought them to Christ was, um, the fact that it wasn't.

What was happening should Jesus so much. Of course that was, but it was the anger I had when I, when I, um, flogged him. And that's what convicted him. 

Ryan Henry: Wow. 

Robert Lee: And you know, the great thing about when Muslims come to know crisis, it's so good because they already know how to pray, but they want to know. You know, Jesus and why.

And so they had a lot of questions and they're still working out their salvation, just like, yeah, 

Ryan Henry: yeah, yeah. All of us. Yeah, man, praise God. That's amazing. Hey man, such mercy, that the one thing that kept, you know, like the anger, which is what kept you, you know, away is the thing that brought. Yeah in the play, you know, it's like where they can see it when it's not in them.

And they see it manifests like that. It's like, wow, that's powerful. So if, if you could Robert talk to the Robert of your youth still in the mess, nation of Islam, what would you say to him? 

Robert Lee: Oh man. That's a great question. I would, I would, you know, knowing what I know now is that's a, that's a really tough question.

Um, I would say that, Hey, listen, you know, I know what you're going through, but I know somebody that can help you. The great thing about Jesus that he loves. Um, he takes the broken toys of the world. And he makes some good. Thank you, Lord. And I would, I would tell them that, um, that God's got a plan for him or her or whoever that, and the plan is perfect and God's always trying to get us back to our future.

And I really think that if you would just give them a chance 

Ryan Henry: and, uh, you know, what, and friends, we are all here asking you. To share your stories. We want your stories because God wrote your story. Um, it's already awesome. So why not share it? So we want you to check out our website for testimony, writing prompts, you can get your story to us and to others, and you can find us@oneeightypodcast.com.

Oh, N E then the number eight zero podcast.com. Robert, thanks so much for joining us. Thank you. Bless you brother.

Robert Lee: Hey there, you made it to the sendoff where we feature an artists tape on our show. Today. We have some spoken word from Maddie. I can't wait to hear how she's interpreted the story today. Thanks for sharing Maddie.

Uh, all my life, I had certain rules to follow standards to live by. I was forced to see people through one lens, a lens distorted humanity was ripped away and loved with color all to say, I hate you. I don't know you, but I hate. Because in the end hurt people, hurt people growing up. I was physically abused.

I was left with no true hope. How was I to cope? I felt rejected and misdirected. We converted to nation of Islam, but something was missing. I followed a religion that consumed me and all to say, I saw the world in black and white. It was not insight. I had enemies watching over me, devouring me. And as I was unjustly accused, I sat in jail and my life played back to me, kind of like a tape, God replayed my mistakes, but you see, God took me to jail and had a conversation with me because in that cell, I stood out and I had the strength to Excel.

God broke me down and brought me to a new length. And as I prayed, my enemies suddenly seemed to stray. I witnessed my faith to those around me while the comfort of the holy spirit surrounded me. The whole division proclaimed their faith set free. They are no longer restrained. So trust me, when I say God is the alpha and the omega he's on my present and the God in three, he sees your needs and will rescue the, because while in prison feeling.

God called me home. I don't have to go through life on my own. There's this light that shines deep inside the lies in this world have no power over me because hour by hour, I'm filled with peace. And the love for my heavenly father is increased.

One80 is a production of OneWay Ministries.