Gaining Ground

SHOW / EPISODE

I went to PRISON…& got uncomfortable with GRACE! | ft. Jake Bodine, God Behind Bars

49m | May 25, 2026

Most people think prison is where freedom ends. But for MILLIONS of incarcerated men and women, prison became the place where they finally encountered the grace of God. In this episode of Gaining Ground, Landon and Drew sit down with Jake Bodine, Founder & CEO of God Behind Bars, to talk about prison ministry, grace, shame, redemption, and what it really means to follow Jesus. We talk about how going behind bars has stretched our theology and forced us to ask a hard question: how far does grace REALLY go? Whether you’ve followed Jesus for years or you’re just starting to figure out faith, this conversation will challenge the way you think about grace, freedom, and the kind of life God is calling you to live.

IN THIS EPISODE:

0:00 – What Prison Taught Me About Grace

1:11 – Welcome to Gaining Ground

3:17 – How God Behind Bars Started

8:46 – How Prison Ministry Reaches Inmates

10:31 – Why Inmates Should Not Be Forgotten

13:36 – What Jesus Says About Prison Ministry

15:59 – Physical Prison vs. Spiritual Freedom

19:08 – Can God Really Forgive Anyone?

24:55 – How To Break Free From Shame

32:50 – Religion vs. A Real Relationship With Jesus

34:53 – What Are You Holding Back From God?

40:57 – How To Live Out Matthew 25

43:47 – Don’t Waste Your Life

46:25 – How To Lead Your Family Toward Jesus

🚀 START HERE!

Learn more about the Gaining Ground men’s movement and how you can get involved at https://gaininggroundmen.com.

✅ ATTEND A GATHERING:

Join us every First Wednesday at 6:30am in the DFW area at a Compass Church campus. These in-person gatherings are designed to help men reset, refocus, and move forward with intention. Oh, and there’s coffee and breakfast of course. Register now at https://gaininggroundmen.com/gatherings/.

MORE FROM GOD BEHIND BARS

- God Behind Bars | Web (https://www.godbehindbars.com/)

- God Behind Bars | YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/@godbehindbars)

- God Behind Bars | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/godbehindbars/)

- God Behind Bars | TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@godbehindbars)

- God Behind Bars | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/GodBehindBars)

- Jake Bodine | Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jake_bodine/)

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