Would You Hire a Convicted Felon to teach Kids? I did.
Meet my man… “Big Blue”
Well, his name is *******, his nickname in prison was “Blue”, but to me…He’s “Big Blue.” We hang at the gym together sometimes, hence… “Big Blue.”
Assault & Battery with Intent to Kill a Police Officer
That was the charge that sent “Big Blue” to prison for ten years, at the age of 22. But…he met Jesus about the 5th year in, and nothing has been the same. He loves Jesus so much! “To him who is forgiven much, loves much.”
He got out just a little over a year ago. He came to our church because he was in love with Jesus, loved our middle school director (Also a convicted felon!), and loved the lost (Don’t know what order to put those in…think that’s pretty close.)
Seeing Kids Get Saved…Every week!
Since he got out… He married his fellow-felon, his “baby,” then began to help her with the middle school ministry and since has been hired on staff. Â Seriously…This dude is the real deal. He has a bullet hole in his right arm! When he talks to the middle schoolers, and they hear & see his story…man, he represents Jesus so well.
Recently, he went with me as I lead a track at the Exponential Conference in Orlando. I shared his story in one of  “The Sticks” break-out sessions, and everyone loved the guy. A leader was there (someone I knew), told me afterwards, “Artie, it’s really sad to say this but…we wouldn’t even let that guy take up the offering at our church.”
Would you hire “Big Blue?”
Honestly, would you hire, or vote to hire a non-college grad, non seminary trained, convicted felon for your Middle School Ministry? Leave a  comment…Tell me.
31 Responses to “Would You Hire a Convicted Felon to teach Kids? I did.”
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Love it! God redeems what man rejects once again! I was one of those that was judged and rejected. I was one of those that was lonely and an outsider. Not in the same way as Big Blue, but still. I am glad some Christians operate out of the true Spirit of Christ and try to look beyond what mortal eyes can see.
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Thanks Rene. Yeah, it’s amazing how differently the eyes of man and God see people!
Brad says: Yes we would hire Blue, not because he was a felon, but that we believe, as you do, he is best qualified. We have hired on 2 felons in the past 10 years. One worked out great, and let’s just say the other was a bit messy. The key, like any leader, is that the felon doesn’t become the headline, but the qualifications do. Can a felon be a great leader? Absolutely. Can a felon be disqualified from leading? Absolutely. It appears that Blue is the real deal and that’s fantastic news!
Jason says: We had a guy working with our youth that was a convicted killer. Before he was born again his daughter was murdered in cold blood. He had tracked down the guy who did it and killed him. After he served his time in prison his wife dragged him to our church. He came in like he had just rolled out of bed, pajamas, an old tshirt, and unkept hair. He did this a few times and then one day gave his life to Christ. His life was completely changed and he even became the biggest softy I know. Eventually he started working with the teenagers and they loved him.
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Great story Jason! Thanks for sharing that, I love to hear how God uses those we so easily kick to the curb.
Doug says: Glad you hired him. I tried to hire him at my work place but he turned it down. When you see someone with the love for Jesus that Blue has, you just want to be around him. Watching all those middle school kids get saved is just awesome. He and his wife have a gift that I never had, and that is being able to reach kids of this age. It’s a difficult age group to deal with peer pressure, Blue your my Boy!
Tom says: This is a great story Artie! While I am not a convicted felon, I can understand the situation. I am seminary trained and have served several churches as both associate pastor and senior pastor. However, because of some of my past actions (for which I take full responsibility) there are many churches that will not even look my way. But I am full of Hope as I know God has a place for me; I’m just waiting on Him. Thanks for sharing.
Josh says: I would he is a great man to know personally no matter what he past is. God loves us no matter what our past is and we should have the same love!
Jon Beyer says: Isn’t the Bible full of convicted (by God) felons that GodI used mightily in ministry? There’s Moses, David and Paul to name a few!!
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I’m not a felon, but probably could be
we all could be. We just don’t all get caught. Thanks Jon!
Trek23rider says: In a heartbeat as my bodyguard. Seriously, without a doubt. After all, God is using me.
Jose Rivera says: Yes, I would hire him and have hired him to do work for me. Who he is now is a great man of God, forgiven, washed with the blood of Christ. Big Blue your the man of God .
Brad says: Wow! Love this story! Thanks for sharing! Being a Chidlren’s Pastor, I try really hard to keep up with legal matters that can or do affect my ministry. Most church insurances would not allow a felon to volunteer let alone be a paid staff member (or at least as far as the Lead Pastors I’ve worked with have told me). In a perfect world where we do not have to deal with that nonsense, I totally would. In fact, depending on the situation, I might even got to bat for the person and fight the insurance company to allow me to hire the person.
I love this story!! I would let him work with my kids!! I am so happy that God doesn’t only use “saints” because then I would be useless!! Keep up the good work, Big Blue!
Anne Marie Lombardo says: I would hire him because I am a convicted felon and have walked in his shoes so to speak. At 17 I was convicted of grand theft auto and several other crimes. I didn’t have a change of heart until many years later I have found my experiences helped me in dealing with kids when I worked as a nanny and an after school program for older kids.
Dwayne says: Artie, we all make mistakes. Some more serious than others. If you meet CHRIST along the way as I did myself and someone gives you a new lease on life It’s priceless!
I came across this page while searching for “convicted felons in church leadership”. Fantastic story. I am a convicted felon and I have been a Jr High Youth leader/Sunday School Teacher. One time in Sunday School, for the lesson I decided to talk about my experiences in prison and they asked some very good questions and were very attentive. I am now on staff at a ministry that runs a Discipleship program and lover serving God and helping others come to know Christ! Blessings!
Mark Bradshaw says: I would because I know what it feels like to be on the wrong side of that equation. I spent 3 months as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the football team at Lake Marion High School. During those 3 months I was with those young men everyday and relationships were formed. My paperwork was lost by the district office and they didn’t process my application till 4 months in to my work with the team. At that time, they discontinued my services because I was a convicted felon. ( Breach of Trust) It broke my heart but seeing the disappointment in telling those kids I was leaving really scarred me! It continues to bother me that the opportunity to do what I love which is to coach will forever be taken from me because some people refuse to offer second chances!
bugsypugsly says: Besides it mattering if the person is a growing Christian and exhibiting fruit, it also depends on: who it is, what he/she was convicted for, how long ago it was, and why they did it. For example, I wouldn’t want a person who had been charged with fraud handling the church’s finances.
april Jumper says: i am proud to say oyr church has big blue and his baby…and we love them both. afterall we are not to judge…God is using them to save others
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Love it! God redeems what man rejects once again! I was one of those that was judged and rejected. I was one of those that was lonely and an outsider. Not in the same way as Big Blue, but still. I am glad some Christians operate out of the true Spirit of Christ and try to look beyond what mortal eyes can see.
Thanks Rene. Yeah, it’s amazing how differently the eyes of man and God see people!
Yes we would hire Blue, not because he was a felon, but that we believe, as you do, he is best qualified. We have hired on 2 felons in the past 10 years. One worked out great, and let’s just say the other was a bit messy. The key, like any leader, is that the felon doesn’t become the headline, but the qualifications do. Can a felon be a great leader? Absolutely. Can a felon be disqualified from leading? Absolutely. It appears that Blue is the real deal and that’s fantastic news!
Fantastic addition to the post Brad. Thanks for sharing it.
We had a guy working with our youth that was a convicted killer. Before he was born again his daughter was murdered in cold blood. He had tracked down the guy who did it and killed him. After he served his time in prison his wife dragged him to our church. He came in like he had just rolled out of bed, pajamas, an old tshirt, and unkept hair. He did this a few times and then one day gave his life to Christ. His life was completely changed and he even became the biggest softy I know. Eventually he started working with the teenagers and they loved him.
Great story Jason! Thanks for sharing that, I love to hear how God uses those we so easily kick to the curb.
Glad you hired him. I tried to hire him at my work place but he turned it down. When you see someone with the love for Jesus that Blue has, you just want to be around him. Watching all those middle school kids get saved is just awesome. He and his wife have a gift that I never had, and that is being able to reach kids of this age. It’s a difficult age group to deal with peer pressure, Blue your my Boy!
Thanks DT. I told him not to take the job
Just kidding, God did.
Awesome story!
Thanks Tim
This is a great story Artie! While I am not a convicted felon, I can understand the situation. I am seminary trained and have served several churches as both associate pastor and senior pastor. However, because of some of my past actions (for which I take full responsibility) there are many churches that will not even look my way. But I am full of Hope as I know God has a place for me; I’m just waiting on Him. Thanks for sharing.
Wait on Him Tom! Thanks for sharing your story bro.
I would he is a great man to know personally no matter what he past is. God loves us no matter what our past is and we should have the same love!
Isn’t the Bible full of convicted (by God) felons that GodI used mightily in ministry? There’s Moses, David and Paul to name a few!!
I’m not a felon, but probably could be
we all could be. We just don’t all get caught. Thanks Jon!
In a heartbeat as my bodyguard.
Seriously, without a doubt. After all, God is using me.
O yeah He is!
Yes, I would hire him and have hired him to do work for me. Who he is now is a great man of God, forgiven, washed with the blood of Christ. Big Blue your the man of God .
Yes he is. We are very blessed that God sent him to us. Thanks Jose
Wow! Love this story! Thanks for sharing! Being a Chidlren’s Pastor, I try really hard to keep up with legal matters that can or do affect my ministry. Most church insurances would not allow a felon to volunteer let alone be a paid staff member (or at least as far as the Lead Pastors I’ve worked with have told me). In a perfect world where we do not have to deal with that nonsense, I totally would. In fact, depending on the situation, I might even got to bat for the person and fight the insurance company to allow me to hire the person.
They would call “Batman.” I would hire you, love your heart bro, thanks.
I love this story!! I would let him work with my kids!! I am so happy that God doesn’t only use “saints” because then I would be useless!! Keep up the good work, Big Blue!
I’ll pass the word! Thanks Crystal.
So cool that you gave that guy a chance.
I would hire him because I am a convicted felon and have walked in his shoes so to speak. At 17 I was convicted of grand theft auto and several other crimes. I didn’t have a change of heart until many years later I have found my experiences helped me in dealing with kids when I worked as a nanny and an after school program for older kids.
Artie, we all make mistakes. Some more serious than others. If you meet CHRIST along the way as I did myself and someone gives you a new lease on life It’s priceless!
I came across this page while searching for “convicted felons in church leadership”. Fantastic story. I am a convicted felon and I have been a Jr High Youth leader/Sunday School Teacher. One time in Sunday School, for the lesson I decided to talk about my experiences in prison and they asked some very good questions and were very attentive. I am now on staff at a ministry that runs a Discipleship program and lover serving God and helping others come to know Christ! Blessings!
I would because I know what it feels like to be on the wrong side of that equation. I spent 3 months as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the football team at Lake Marion High School. During those 3 months I was with those young men everyday and relationships were formed. My paperwork was lost by the district office and they didn’t process my application till 4 months in to my work with the team. At that time, they discontinued my services because I was a convicted felon. ( Breach of Trust) It broke my heart but seeing the disappointment in telling those kids I was leaving really scarred me! It continues to bother me that the opportunity to do what I love which is to coach will forever be taken from me because some people refuse to offer second chances!
Wow I love it, thanks for sharing your story Mark
Besides it mattering if the person is a growing Christian and exhibiting fruit, it also depends on: who it is, what he/she was convicted for, how long ago it was, and why they did it. For example, I wouldn’t want a person who had been charged with fraud handling the church’s finances.
i am proud to say oyr church has big blue and his baby…and we love them both. afterall we are not to judge…God is using them to save others