Sam was once a gang leader with deep underground connections in Malaysia. When he was arrested for armed robbery and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release, he believed that was the end of his story. “Only the king could pardon me,” he said. “Otherwise, I would never leave prison.”
But in 1992, four years into his sentence, Sam encountered the hope that would change everything: he gave his life to Christ. “Before I knew God, my life was terrible,” Sam recalled. “After I knew Christ, my life was changed by the Word of God.”
Still, growing in faith behind bars was not easy. With limited access to Christian resources in prison, Sam enrolled in the Crossroads program.
“The Crossroads lessons helped me understand the Bible,” he said. “They’re approachable—one lesson at a time. If you spend just one hour a day, it will change you.”
As he studied with Crossroads, he learned to rely not on his own strength but on God’s Word to endure. Over time, Sam became a spiritual leader in his prison, translating sermons into Mandarin and mentoring other men in his unit. “I’m not a pastor,” he said. “But people said, ‘You’re like a pastor in here.’ More than 400 people came to Christ while I was inside. That’s not me. That’s the power of God.”
In 2018, after 28 years in prison, Sam received a royal pardon. Fourteen days after his release, he enrolled in a Bible school to continue his theological studies. Even though he walked out of prison, his mission never changed. “The king could pardon my sentence,” Sam said, “but only Jesus could give me true freedom.”
Today, Sam continues to serve as a Crossroads mentor, reviewing lessons in both English and Chinese and sharing his story with others. “Crossroads helped me change my life,” he said. “Now I help others walk that same path.”
Join Sam in Bringing Hope and Freedom
Sam’s story is proof that no life is beyond hope—and with your support, more men and women behind bars can discover the freedom that only Jesus offers. Your gift today helps provide Bible lessons, mentoring, and spiritual encouragement to prisoners around the world. Will you partner with Crossroads to transform lives like Sam’s? Give now and be a part of this life-changing mission.