What happens when a 16-year-old is sentenced to life in prison? What if that same person becomes a powerful voice for redemption, hope, and purpose?
In this episode, Steve sits down with Lewis Lee, a man whose life journey will challenge everything you think you know about justice, transformation, and the power of God’s love.
From the streets of West Philadelphia to a life sentence without parole, Lewis’ story is one of unimaginable pain, devastating choices, and a divine encounter that changed everything. After nearly 45 years behind bars, Lewis walks us through how prison not only saved his life but gave him a mission: to rescue others.
Now the founder of Men of Purpose International, Lewis is helping formerly incarcerated men and women find community, purpose, and lasting change through the power of Jesus Christ.
Whether you've been impacted by incarceration or simply want to witness what true restoration looks like—this is a story you need to hear.
Topics include:
* Growing up in Philly’s gang culture
* A life-altering crime at age 15
* The spiritual awakening that changed everything
* Navigating 45 years behind bars with faith and purpose
* Founding Men of Purpose International during the pandemic
* His powerful message to today's youth and returning citizens
🔗 Learn more at https://embracingbrokenness.org/
📘 Featured Book: Get Free and Stay Free by David Lewis
https://a.co/d/eYx5VWf
🌍 Connect with Men of Purpose International
https://menofpurposeintl.com/
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Louis Lee's Journey
01:49 Early Life and Influences in Philadelphia
05:52 The Shift to a Life of Crime
08:45 First Encounters with the Law
15:10 The Robbery and Its Consequences
20:43 Finding Faith in Prison
23:30 A Renewed Commitment to Faith
27:05 Prison as a Catalyst for Change
30:14 Finding Peace in Uncertainty
33:39 The Impact of Supreme Court Rulings
36:11 Navigating Parole and Release
38:55 Adjusting to Life After Prison
41:02 Building Community Through Technology
43:38 Vision for Men of Purpose International
45:03 A Message to the Youth
48:56 The Importance of Decision Making
51:52 Returning to Serve and Inspire
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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