Readers of this unique and profoundly moving book will come face to face with the astonishing stories of 55 people who discovered what they most wanted in a place where they least expected to find it--prison. Frederick Hermann has collected the real stories of people convicted of serious (and, in many cases, heinous) crimes. These convicted murderers, thieves, rapists, prostitutes, and drug dealers each discovered--in the darkest pit of despair--a deep and abiding relationship with God so profound that their accounts can serve as a model for transforming our own lives. In The Spirit Set Me Free, these prisoners, many of whom had been slaves to drugs and alcohol, openly acknowledge the serious crimes they committed and tell of their new, uplifting relationship with Christ. These tormented souls have actually found, in God's grace, a serenity and a purpose that few would have thought possible. One heartbreaking letter was written by a convict just moments before he was executed, crucifix clutched in his hand. Several tell of people who had it all (wealth, fame, and popularity) and were driven to crime through arrogance and a feeling of invulnerability.
More tell of people who had lived lives of quiet desperation, falling almost inevitably into a life of crime. Every story is followed by a relevant quote from the Bible and some include inspiring artwork done by the contributors themselves. In all cases, the contributors had fallen into total despair before finding enlightenment and inspiration in God's gift of love. Taken together, these moving accounts paint a vivid picture of restored pride and self-esteem, renunciation of evil, and a dedication to doing the Lord's work that one would never expect from those on the very bottom rung of our society. These stories will serve as an inspiration to those in similar straits, to their families and loved ones, and to all of us who struggle to find a path toward hope and redemption.