Forgiven Felons

06/04/2026

EP 228 "Empires & Puzzles: A Gamer's Love Story"
with William Everts and Stephanie Piller

If you think you can't find true love in your wisdom years, you need to watch Bill and Stephanie's story.

You might just be looking in the wrong place. Where did they find each other?

In an online game chat.

He was in prison for over 14 years, she had gone through a tough divorce, and now, they've been married six years, and do prison ministry together.

Watch this clip, then click the link to watch the whole story. While you're there, check out the other great stories and subscribe.

Also, let your loved ones in prison know they can watch it in there too.

YouTube Channel.
https://youtu.be/BQck1Lyj1q8?si=WpCsEIkKwNIAQUzm

06/03/2026

Happening right now at the Bridgeport unit.

06/01/2026

PHONE PARAMETERS

We asked the girls to send us a verse and what it means to them, as soon as they pick up their phone. Before they get started with their phone routines.

I used Jessamy and I as an example of how our day can quickly get away from us on our phones, with work or anything. So we start out with God on our phones.

They would remember 1 out of 7 days on their own.

They have to complete chores as well before phone time. Again, they would forget more than remember.

So we said no phones at all in the morning til we check everything. And since they couldn’t have their phones to check the verse of the day, Jemma went old school.

I was so proud.

She brought me this sticky note with a verse, handwritten on the front, and what it meant on the back.

I was impressed. I asked how she came up with it.

She said she opened her Bible and pointed to a verse.

The very first one landed on a verse in Ezekiel. It was a hard one. But she tried.

Now, instead of looking up the daily verse on you version, they’re opening up their bibles and seeing what God wants to say.

Parenting with parameters can be challenging at times, buts times like this that let us know we are heading in the right direction.

They remember every day now.

But now we are accumulating sticky notes everywhere.

Good problem to have.

05/31/2026

Love getting in a quick workout and walking in the morning sun (and Son)

Have a great Sunday morning.

If you’re looking for an amazing church, join my family, Gumm’s and Forgiven Felons, at Social Dallas.

Texas Trust Theater in Grand Prairie. 9am and 11:30am. See you at 11:30am.

05/31/2026

SATURDAY

Woke up early 6:30a, to leave with Jessa for a short road trip, and I saw Jemma out walking Snowman.

Got to Longview to pick up a trap bar from THE John Montana. He does such great welding work. He personalized it for me. So cool.

We got to see my long time friend Paul, who brought one of the first residents to our house 14 years ago. Because of him and his wife Denise, I got to know John.

John’s been on our podcast.

Then I came back, finished our current episode, our now on all platforms, while watching a team from Texas beat up on a team from Oklahoma.

It was a great Saturday.

How was yours?

05/31/2026

05/28/2026

ONE YEAR SOBER FROM FORD

One year ago I gave up Ford and switched to Toyota.

I bought a 2025 Toyota Tundra.

I have not made ONE repair in a year and this many miles, 38,862

Grogu has been to Florida (x2), Alabama, Missouri, and North Dakota prisons in the last year.

So grateful for all the transformation this truck has allowed me to go be a part of.

05/25/2026

SUNDAY

Breakfast was incredible this morning.

Such a great time of praise reports, discussion, fellowship, and breaking bread.

We got to encourage some mamas who have sons in prison.

Miguel, our new resident, got to share his story.

And we all enjoyed the new furniture.

I love doing life with these people.

We have a great tribe.

We stopped and honored the men and women who lost their lives during this current war we are in.

* Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa (died in Kuwait)
* Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota (died in Kuwait)
* Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida (died in Kuwait)
* Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska (died in Kuwait)
* Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Waukee, Iowa (died in Kuwait)
* Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento, California (died in Kuwait)
* Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky (died in Saudi Arabia)
* Maj. John A. Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama (died in an aircraft crash in Iraq)
* Capt. Ariana G. Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington (died in an aircraft crash in Iraq)
* Capt. Seth R. Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana (died in an aircraft crash in Iraq)
* Capt. Curtis J. Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio (died in an aircraft crash in Iraq)
* Tech. Sgt. Ashley B. Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky (died in an aircraft crash in Iraq)

05/25/2026

“I’M LEAVING THIS IN THE WATER”

During baptism class people are asked the question, what are you going to leave in the water.

Michael pulled out his TDCJ ID and said “I’m leaving THIS in the water”

After he came up my wife tried to hand it back to him and he grabbed it and threw it back into the water.

He was serious.

He found Social Dallas while in jail.

This was just one of so many people we got to celebrate with, cry with, declare with, agree with, that the old is dead and buried.

We celebrate the word that went forth today by Pastor Robert Madu and all the people, 350+, who publicly declared their faith in Jesus today.