Background Check Podcast

This episode is optimized for video.    James was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and is the youngest of 8 children in his family. Despite both of his parents working, his family was always involved in illegal activity. At a very young age, James began selling drugs. He saw the benefits it brought to those who did it. He was arrested at the age of 20 for this very behavior. By the time he was 21, James was convicted by a jury and was sentenced to 40-years in Federal Prison.  His life changed in his first year of incarceration. He heard about the Lord and committed his life to Christ in 2000. He spent the next almost 21 years growing in his faith and relationship with God and changing his perspective on what is good in this world. Miraculously, 10 days shy of 21 years, his sentence was commuted. This was done on the last day of Trump’s presidency with the support of about 30 other people he didn’t know.  As he looks back on his experiences, he’s humbled by how God orchestrates people’s lives, and he’s grateful. “You never know whose life you are going to change” - James Cruz We do a few shout outs and announcements then a devotional on being blinded by darkness. We honor Dalton on his last weekend with a trip to the Ranger game. Don’t forget to have your family subscribe out in the world. Make sure you are subscribed on Pando. To learn more about Forgiven Felons or to buy merchandise visit forgivenfelons.org/shop T ell your loved one in prison or jail to watch on the Pando app on Forgiven Felons channel or listen on the podcast app on their tablet. Please like, share, and subscribe. "Your background shouldn't HOLD you back, it should pay you back"

In this episode, Jay Dan and Jessa talk about the Ranger game they went to, do some shout outs, discuss FI-5’s in Texas, show off some drawings and do a devotion about not going back to the old you. Then we get to hear from Dalton and Dakota. Dalton came to us from the Way Back connection which he talks about. After they got married, they both were on their own meth journey. They have kids of their own, as well as adopted kids, and they lost custody of them during their journey. Dalton’s dad was in prison too and he’s the one who connected Dalton to us. Since Dalton has been at Forgiven Felons and Dakota got out of jail, they have leaned into Jesus and their lives, marriage, and journey to get their kids back have taken an amazing turn. We can’t wait for you to hear this story. Let your loved ones inside prisons and jails know they can watch this episode on our Pando App channel Forgiven Felons Have a great week. Zoom Call information coming soon. Tell your loved ones to follow Forgiven Felons or Jay Dan Gumm on Facebook for all the information. If you're interested in joining us for Breakfast Bible Study, we have it every two weeks at the Forgiven Felons house. email us for more information, jaydangumm@forgivenfelons.org To buy our Forgiven Felons or Background Check merch visit https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop

What are you weighting for?  Are you carrying around weights you shouldn't be?  Jay Dan talks about Hebrews 12:1 and laying down those weights that slow us down.    Sponsors: Mention Forgiven Felons, Background Check, Jay Dan or Jessa when you contact them. They all donate to Forgiven Felons when you do. First Option Mortgage Jessamy Gumm Loan Originator- NMLS #2252597 jgumm@myfirstoption.com 972-897-5476 From On High Roofing and Construction Reginal Reed 469-922-0047 info@fromonhighroofing.com Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop

In this episode, we sit down with Bryan Burns, from Trinity West Roofing and Construction to hear his story. We talk addiction, divorce of his parents, his love for the LA Dodgers, and who he thinks is the biggest crybaby in the NBA. We talk about how he got into roofing too.   Jessa and I do the announcements and we talk with a newly released inmate from the Florida prison system, Jimmy Cowden. We also get some shout outs from the church I spoke at over our anniversary weekend. This episode is best watched on our youtube channel. @forgivenfelon To buy Forgiven Felons merchandise visit  forgivenfelons.org/shop

To wrap up the Laws of Growth series, Jay Dan and Tuan traveled to Atlanta to interview Mark Cole in the Maxwell Leadership Podcast Studio. Mark talks about leadership, defining moments, which laws of growth are the most challenging for him, how he got started in the company, and his struggles and victories since becoming CEO. Thanks to John Maxwell, Mark Cole, Jake Decker, and Kimberly Whetsell for making all this possible. Also big shout out to Tuan Nguyen for taking time out of his busy schedule, to invest in the lives of so many men and women behind the walls, by recording this series with us.   You can buy merchandise or learn more about Forgiven Felons at:   https://www.forgivenfelons.org/   This episode is optimized for video and you can watch it on our YouTube channel:   https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=rJJWw_lJD60z-nLt

We highlight some amazing murals done by four men at the Ellis unit and highlight a soccer game held at the Allred unit. Then we sit down with John Earle and talk about his days as a professional football player and how he got into prison ministry. You can buy merchandise or learn more about Forgiven Felons at:   https://www.forgivenfelons.org/   This episode is optimized for video and you can watch it on our YouTube channel:   https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=rJJWw_lJD60z-nLt

In this episode, after a quick devotion, Jay Dan sits down with the legend, Korn guitarist, Brian Welch. They talk addiction, religion, family, forgiveness, and more. You do not want to miss this episode. If you have a loved one in prison, let them know they can watch on the tablets through Pando App. If they're in jail with NCIC tablets, they can watch through a special channel. Thank you Brian, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to hang with us and share your story to the inmate population across the nation. For Forgiven Felons and Background Check Merchandise visit our store: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/shop This episode is optimized for video and you can watch on our YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=XBmGXRYfXeNxzhC6

Law of Growth Series for the inmates.   We put this series on our channel because some inmates want to continue the series when they get out. We talk about the Law of the Rubberband from John Maxwell's book 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth. Jay Dan meets of guy, coming out of the bathroom at church, who listened to the podcast in prison. He talks with him. We show the pictures of restricted inmates from building 12 on the Robertson unit getting baptized. You can also watch this on our youtube channel @forgivenfelon

In this episode, Jessa nails the announcements, we do some shout outs to some ladies on life row in Florida, we talk sports, we read from mine and my mom's journals while I was in prison, and we do a devotional.     Then we get into Richard and Ashanti's story including his past, how he got connected with TRM, how they met, and what all they are doing for the Kingdom of God today. It's truly incredible. You can visit them at https://www.trmsouthdallas.org/ and https://www.trmsouthdallas.org/the-well Follow them on social media too. facebook.com/trmdallas

Our interview with Pam Theroe from EWOP, Empowering Women Out of Prison.    You can watch this video on our youtube channel.   https://youtu.be/RlnutnIAVYs?si=cK0C6BEv-LpzFGqr    

Our interview with KJ and Marcia Holland.    You can watch this video on our YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@forgivenfelon?si=JtJ4BkH5UBeICUYh

Jay Dan and his wife tell their story of how they got engaged, what it was like going through 4 miscarraiges, and what it's like doing ministry together. 

My interview with State Rep Carl O Sherman including his journey to become a pastor and eventually in to politics. 

In this episode we do announcements with Jessa including talking about the weekend we had at Breakfast Bible Study and church. We had two ladies drive from a Weatherford transitional house to go to  @SocialDallas  with us. Two men from another transitional house in Dallas came. David was celebrating his 44th birthday for the first time he could remember, that he wasn't drunk, high, or in jail. Robert shows off his juggling skills and man, is he good. We read chapter three in Proverbs for the Wisdom Challenge. Then we sit down with Jimmy and Beth Humphus from No Turning Back Ministries. They are a prison ministry and transitional house ministry. Follow them on Facebook. Jimmy and Beth take us back to when they first met, at a bar. She wasn't a Christian and he backsliding at the time. But God had plans for both. Jimmy talks a little about what landed him in prison twice, but loves talking about being redeemed by Christ, and marrying a virtuous more. They love their family of six, four daughters, and they love their family of choice, all the men in the houses, just as much. They also have had a prison ministry at the Estes unit in Venus, TX for a very long time. Longer than I've been out of prison, which is almost 18 years. Jimmy is a prime example of someone who doesn't let his background hold him back, but he definitely makes it pay him back. Tell your loved ones in prison and jails to listen on their tablets. If it's not on their tablets, tell them to write their tablet company and ask them to contact us to get them on their tablets. jaydangumm@forgivenfelons.org Listen to audio on all podcast platforms.

Note: These episodes are optimized for video including pics and graphics. If you want to experience the in studio effect please watch on our youtube channel @forgivenfelon In this episode we begin with Jay Dan and Jessa doing the announcements and talking about different subjects. We also tell some more jokes.  Then Jay Dan talks with fellow Steeler fan, Erick Wilson, from JTC X-Change. JTC stands for Join The Conversation and it began a long time ago with just having conversations that matter with people. We highlight some of his prison trips including the Gib Lewis trip. He also talks about why he calls the men Kings and not inmates. Through these conversations, mentoring, feeding the community, prison ministry and more was birthed. We discuss it all and we poke fun of the Cowboys a little too. If you'd like to know more about JTC, visit their website at https://www.jtconthemove.org/ You can also write them at JTC X-Change  210 Ector Dr PO Box 791 Euless, TX 76039 Tell your loved ones to watch on the Pando app in prison.

This series is mainly for the men and women across the nation in jails and prisons watching and listening on their tablets, but we are making it available to everyone out here as well. You can also listen on all the podcast platforms but video is best. We are asked all the time to be mentors to people in prison and while we can't mentor one on one with everybody, we can teach from our mentor's book and help everyone to grow into the best versions of themselves. Tuan and I (Jay Dan) are John Maxwell Certified Coach/Trainer/Speakers and we love sharing what we learn from our mentors with anyone who can use it. We talk about how these laws work in prison, the home, or the business world. So if you just want to grow, subscribe to this channel and listen each Wednesday for the next 7 weeks as we discuss our favorite 7 of the 15 Laws of Growth from John Maxwells book. If you have a loved one in prison or jail, tell them to watch on the Pando app. If there facility has tablets but they can't get our show, tell them to write the tablet company to request our show, Background Check Podcast. Let's GROW.

“You Can’t Use God Like A Light Switch"  In this episode we sit down with military vet, CO, and Christian Hip Hop Artist, Mark Jones. Mark talks about his childhood and how his mom was integral part of the foundation that helped him hold it all together. Mark takes us on a journey through some rough parts of growing up through his anger and identity issues, through his time in the military to now as a correctional officer at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. He speaks about the positive influence from his fellow officers and how he loves the opportunity to speak into the lives of inmates. Don’t let your background hold you back, make it pay you back. Spotify.com/MarkJones Distrokid.com/MarkJonez https://t.co/D7E4MMUmb1 (Apple Music) https://t.co/8Wg4zasywS Markjonez.hearnow.com  

This is the audio portion of the video podcast. It is made for video and has several parts where there's just music playing, that is video.  This series is mainly for the men and women across the nation in jails and prisons watching and listening on their tablets, but we are making it available to everyone out here as well.  You can also watch on our YouTube channel by clicking here.  We are asked all the time to be mentors to people in prison and while we can't mentor one on one with everybody, we can teach from our mentor's book and help everyone to grow into the best versions of themselves. Tuan and I (Jay Dan) are John Maxwell Certified Coach/Trainer/Speakers and we love sharing what we learn from our mentors with anyone who can use it. We talk about how these laws work in prison, the home, or the business world. So if you just want to grow, subscribe to this channel and listen each Wednesday for the next 7 weeks as we discuss our favorite 7 of the 15 Laws of Growth from John Maxwells book. If you have a loved one in prison or jail, tell them to watch on the Pando app. If there facility has tablets but they can't get our show, tell them to write the tablet company to request our show, Background Check Podcast. Let's GROW.

ALL WE DO IS NGUYEN with Tuan and Olevia Nguyen You've heard from Tuan on several occasions but now HE'S MARRIED! We get to hear from his amazing wife, Olevia, and boy do they hit hard. They drop so much marriage and relationship wisdom for only being married a couple of months. Man, there's laughter, transparency, vulnerability, and so much more. Whether you are single, engaged, married, struggling, or fine, this podcast is for you. Of course Jessa nails the announcements. We celebrate on of our residents, Steve Garrett, who graduated from a work training class at Dallas College.    Watch on our youtube channel: https://youtu.be/OubGVldnh30?si=6826pvApzTLftQrU

This episode we sit back down again with a regular guest, Tyler Bothne AND her best friend, Kristin Funderburg, to talk about The Hiding Place. And of course, Jessa nails the announcements. The Hiding Place is a transition home for women coming out of any crisis situations such as but not limited to addiction, incarceration, prostitution, and trauma. They are dedicated to rehabilitating the women by providing housing in a safe environment where they can process and heal from past trauma, equip them how to live a healthier holistic lifestyle, and empower them to grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ and with others. Love is their strategy. Check out https://misfitsmission.org/ to learn more.   Watch the video on YouTube https://youtu.be/MmGxnjvDyY8?si=0l3w11_rCIsaCF-J