June 1, 2025 • 33 mins
Eddie Spencer's life story reads like a modern parable of redemption. From a childhood marked by humiliation and poverty to a young adulthood filled with violent crime, Spencer's trajectory seemed fixed. But what happens when divine intervention meets a willing heart?
The turning point came in first grade when classmates mocked him for wearing secondhand "girl shoes"—the only footwear his family could provide. This single moment ignited a rage that would fuel years of criminal behavior. By 17, Spencer was facing decades behind bars, with multiple stays at training schools already behind him.
"I thought that the lifestyle that I have chosen, this is where I would be basically all my life, a thug, a gangster," Spencer recalls. Yet in 1982, everything changed when he stopped bargaining with God and instead offered unconditional surrender. What followed was an extraordinary transformation that saw him not only reform his own life but also become instrumental in changing countless others.
Perhaps most remarkable is how Spencer's ministry flourished both inside prison walls and after his 1988 release. From the prison sergeant who once beat him but later sent troubled inmates his way, to the muscular football player who approached him years later saying "you speaking changed my life," Spencer's testimony has proven a powerful catalyst for transformation.
The divine poetry of his release date—January 14, 1988—being the exact same date he would later lead prayer at Governor Reed's inauguration twelve years later, showcases the full-circle journey of a man who found his purpose through pain.
Listen as Dawn Beam uncovers this riveting story of second chances, and discover how a life once destined for destruction became a beacon of hope for thousands of troubled youth across Mississippi.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
When you need some hope and inspiration To build
collaboration.
Hope Mississippi is yoursalvation.
One in four kids live inpoverty.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
One in five are food deprived.
Build collaborations and buildhope With those who are
struggling, with those who arestruggling.
Hope Mississippi.
Welcome to another episode ofHope Mississippi.
(00:39):
This is Dawn Beam and I have aspecial, special treat for you
today, my good friend, reverendEddie Spencer.
Welcome, reverend Spencer.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, thank you.
Thank you, it's so good.
I count it a privilege andhonor for not only to be on the
podcast but just to see you andthank God for you and see what
God's going to do through thisministry here.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Absolutely.
I'm going to call you BrotherEddie, because you are a brother
in Christ.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Amen and.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I want to show that respect, as well as just
acknowledge that you are mybrother in Christ.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
You can call me Eddie , and that's still the same
respect.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well, thank you.
You know, I am reminded.
The first time I heard aboutyou, I was talking to our First
Lady, ely Reeves, about storiesof hope and she lit up like a
Christmas tree and she said youhave got to speak to Eddie
Spencer and you are an absolutestory of hope.
(01:45):
Could you tell us just brieflyabout your childhood and the
challenges that you faced as ayoung child?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well, I always tell people I say, you know, a lot of
people are poor, but we werepoor Just to pee all day.
And sometimes we were poor,sometimes I didn't need just to
pee oh, then sometime we would.
Sometimes I didn't just to peeand but I didn't realize, you
know, how poor we was.
And I, until one day, I didn'thave no shoes to wear to school
(02:16):
and and I asked my mom, I said,mom, I need some shoes.
And she gave me these pair ofshoes to wear to school.
And a lot of the clothes andshoes that we received was from
what people gave them to us, andsometimes it's secondhand stuff
, sometimes third, fourth orwhatever people would give us
(02:38):
clothes and everything.
And so I put these shoes on andI, so excited I had these new
pair of shoes.
And when I stepped in thatclassroom, my first grade step
in the classroom, and those kids, everybody was looking at me
and I was excited because Ithought they was looking at me
(02:59):
because I had my new shoes on.
And I heard somebody say, lookat it, spencer, he got little
girl shoes on.
And I heard somebody say, lookat Eddie, spencer, he got little
girl shoes on.
And even though those shoesduring that time was those what
they call rock and roll.
It was unisex, black and whiteand everything, but in my
community nobody wore them.
(03:20):
You know it was upper classthat wore them, but those were
what I had on and that day itreally devastated me.
I became angry with yes, all thekids and also I became angry
with my mom, my dad, especiallymy dad, because he was one of
(03:41):
the ones and I heard him saythis and it's always stood in my
mind A man, it doesn't matterwhat you have on your back,
don't matter what you have onyour head, don't matter what the
pants you wear, but it doesmatter what you wear on your
feet.
And that right there, my dad.
I have a pair of his shoes, apair of States Adams that he
(04:04):
bought in 1972.
I still have those and a lot ofpeople ask me say why you buy
expensive shoes?
Because it doesn't matter whatyou have on your back, it
doesn't matter what you have onyour head, but it does matter
what you have on your feet.
And those kids, you know I knewthat they didn't intend to hurt
(04:29):
me and they probably didn't evenknow that he hurted me and the
teacher told me.
He said, eddie, don't let themget to you, go and deal with it
and everything.
But the only way I knew how todeal with it was to get back at
every kid that I saw laughing atme.
And that's when that anger justbegan to build up.
(04:51):
And it didn't stop there.
It began to just follow me allthrough my life until I saw
anger as a weapon, because whenthose kids saw me that time
being angry, yes there are somethat I pushed off the slide
board or knocked down in thehall or whatever.
(05:14):
I tried to get every last one ofthem back.
And also I became angry with mydad to the point that I didn't
want him to say anything to me.
I told him that I'm in controlof my life.
He can't tell me what to do.
And that's when, all of asudden, there was other guys who
(05:37):
was just like me, who was angry, and I started hanging with
them.
We started fighting, we startedgoing in people's yards,
stealing stuff out of the yard.
Then it began to promote fromgoing into their yard and to
going to their house and robbingpeople while they was in their
house and everything.
(05:59):
Then also, I started coming toschool with nice clothes on and
a lot of the kids said Boy, youknow, I got a shirt like that, I
got a coat like that.
Well, a lot of them did notrealize that that was their coat
, that was their shirt that Ihad stole off their line their
(06:23):
clothesline because when I usedto walk through the neighborhood
and off their line theirclothesline because when I used
to walk through the neighborhoodand saw nice stuff on a
clothesline, I would get itbecause I did not want nobody to
ever make fun of me again.
That followed me all the waythrough my life.
I started out going to ColumbiaTraining School and the judge I
(06:48):
never will forget he said Eddie.
He said I'm sentencing you totraining school hoping that you
would get your life together.
Now he said that when he firstsentenced me.
Then that same judge, judgeRoden, said to me when he had to
certify me as an adult, when Iwas 15, he certified me as an
(07:12):
adult and he said Eddie Spencer,there's nothing that we can do
for you.
We have tried all that we can.
And by that time I had been toColumbia Training School four
times and had been to OaklandTraining School two times.
And here I was now, at the ageof 15 years old, being certified
(07:35):
as an adult, even though I beatthe charge.
But a few months later I wasright back in front of him and
he told me.
He said you cannot come back,you've been certified as an
adult.
I was just getting ready to turn17 when they said Eddie Spencer
, if you're found guilty youwill go to parchment and if that
(07:58):
man died, you will get thedeath penalty.
Will get the death penalty, boy.
You know, I guess that was forthe first time that I really
heard how serious was of myaction.
You know, that was the firsttime.
And to see my mama crying infront of all these folks crying,
(08:21):
begging.
The judge said please, whateveryou do, don't kill my son,
don't kill him.
See, she heard the deathpenalty and automatically she
thought that I was going to beput to death and everything.
But the man did not die, thankGod.
I received 10 mandatory yearsfor the armed robbery and then I
(08:43):
had another aggravated assaultcharge and they ran the 15 years
.
But based on what I did on that10 years, we determined if I
would spend time on that 15years.
And here I was just gettingready to turn 17, when I should
have been graduating from highschool or in college.
(09:06):
I was graduating from ColumbiaTraining School, oakland
Training School.
Now I'm heading to college, toParchment, and he said the same
judge.
I went, they took me, he wantedto speak to me.
He said, eddie, he said I didall that I could, son, for you,
(09:27):
but there's nothing that helpedyou.
I hope, I hope that this willbe the turning point in your
life.
And I heard those words andeverything, but I really thought
that Eddie Spencer could notchange.
This is the way I was, you know.
I thought that the lifestylethat I have chosen, this is
(09:51):
where I would be basically allmy life, a thug, a gangster,
whatever they wanted to call me.
That's all I knew.
I didn't know, didn't have noworking skills.
All of my skills was stealing,robbing, fighting and everything
.
That's basically what I didbasically all of my life, from
the age of six until the age ofeven going to prison.
(10:13):
And so when they sentenced meto prison and I was going to
Parchment and I noticedsomething about Parchment that
basically everybody that wasthere where they put me.
I was going to Parchment and Inoticed something about
Parchment that basicallyeverybody that was there where
they put me?
They put me at unit one and twowith people who was from the
age of 16 to the age of one andthree, and about every last one
(10:36):
of them was ones that I wasraised up with in the system.
So that was back with the samepeople who I kind of grew up
with in the system.
So there I was, back with thesame people who I kind of grew
up with in the system andeverything, all of them was
there, and so it was easy for meto get right back into that
same lifestyle.
(10:57):
You know, game banging,fighting and everything taking
what you want and there was.
You know, a lot of people saidwas telling me Eddie Spencer,
you need to change.
If you don't change, son,you're going to get killed.
I had already been shot fourtimes before I reached the age
(11:17):
of 16 years old.
I'm done already and use thatas a bragging tool.
Even when I speak to youngpeople now and share that with
them, a lot of them want to bragabout the scars that they got
where they've been shot or wherethey've been cut.
And I had to tell them.
I said, son, this is notsomething you brag about.
(11:38):
This very history has beensomething that caused you to
want to turn around.
If I would have died,spiritually speaking, eddie
Spencer would have died andspent eternity in hell.
I'm talking about because I knewthat the life that I was living
, what it was going to cost megetting back into the same swing
(12:02):
, back there at Parchment andfollowing the same guys that I
follow.
You know, like I said, fromtraining school all the way to
Parchment, getting back withthose guys.
Like I say, I feel like I wasat home In 1982, the Lord really
just began to deal with me.
(12:22):
You know, if somebody wouldhave asked me, eddie Spencer,
are you saved?
I would have said yes, I'msaved.
I've been baptized, and I havebeen baptized four times because
I thought baptism was whatreally determined if you were
saved.
So I thought I was saved, eventhough my life had not changed.
(12:45):
And even the churches that Iwent to, you know, I saw some of
the same people who was tellingme that I need to change my
life, was basically doing somethings that was like I was doing
and even worse, and so.
But then I still was confused.
If you asked me, said, will youspend eternity?
(13:07):
I would say, well, I guess Iwill spend eternity in hell by
my action.
Now I was very confused aboutsalvation, but that day, when
the Lord began to deal with me,I was sitting on my bed, I was
getting ready to take two guys'life.
I was thinking about it, twoguys that I didn't like.
(13:30):
I wanted to show them that theydid not mess with Eddie Spencer
.
The Lord began to speak to meand said Eddie, you can stop now
or you can go on.
And also he had a lady who waswriting me and I never wrote her
back and everything.
But she would write me letters.
(13:52):
You know these pen pairs.
She would write me and she saidEddie Spencer, the Lord really
really loves you.
I said Lord, she must don'tknow who I am.
God don't love me.
And she said begin to.
She must don't know who I am,god don't love me.
And she said begin to share herlife story.
Now I had to have somebody toread the letter to me because I
(14:12):
couldn't read.
I couldn't even read on asecond grade level and she began
to share with how that she wasin witchcraft and how the Lord
delivered her from it was inwitchcraft and how the Lord
delivered her from it.
And when she got delivered, herhusband gave her an ultimatum,
says he's wanted to.
You can go with that churchstuff, or either you can turn
(14:36):
back around, and if you don'tturn back around, this marriage
is over.
I'm talking about hearing that.
I said.
She said, but I chose to gowith the church because what the
Lord Jesus Christ has done inmy life and I heard that but I
really didn't believe that theLord could really change me.
(14:58):
But that day in 1982, for thefirst time, not trying to
bargain with the Lord See, a lotof times when I prayed I used
to always try to bargain withthe Lord.
Lord, if you touch the judgehard, if you allow me to get a
(15:19):
less sin of you, let me get free.
Lord I'm going to do this, I'mgoing to do that.
I'm going to do that.
I'm telling you.
I always made those promises.
And so when I go into the prison, I ask these young guys I say
you know, you say you want togive your life to the Lord, but
are you trying to put somebargain on that?
(15:39):
Are you trying to bargain withthe Lord?
You can't bargain with God.
Are you trying to bargain withthe Lord?
You can't bargain with God.
It's either one of the two.
You surrender your life to himor not.
And for a long time that's whatI did.
I tried to bargain with God.
God, if you would do this, thenI would serve you.
(16:06):
But that day in 1982 was for thefirst time that I said Lord, I
don't know how you're going todo it.
You know the condition of mylife.
I want to give my life to youand you're going to have to do
the rest.
And that day I felt such apeace that I never felt before.
I felt the presence of the Lordthat day in 1982 like I never
felt before.
(16:27):
And not only that, but I got inmy bed, pulled the cover over
my head and I just cried.
I didn't want nobody else toknow that Eddie Spencer was
crying.
I cried and it was not cry ortears of sadness, but it was
just something that was on theinside, just like the Lord was
(16:48):
fleshing me out.
But I did not tell nobody forseveral months that I had gave
my life to the Lord, because Ididn't want them to think that I
was weak.
I didn't want them to thinkthat they could take advantage
of me.
So I did not tell anybody forseveral months and the Lord sent
a young man which is one of mybest friends right now.
(17:10):
Him and his wife Celia sent himduring the.
There was a Bill Glass crusade.
We had it about a month beforeLee came.
But what Bill Glass does?
He also sent people to dofollow-ups and so Lee was one of
those ones that they came induring the follow-up.
(17:31):
And he came and and he askedone young man was interested in
the Bible study, then another,so it was just a little small
group.
It was two of them.
Then I ended up joining, so itwas three of us, then another
young man, so it was four.
But I still didn't tell nobodythat they knew that I was going
(17:55):
to Bible study, but they didn'tknow that I was saved.
I didn't want nobody to knowthat and Lee began to challenge
me.
He said you need to begin toshare.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
As I hear your story, all I can think about is to God
be the glory that he reallydoes give us second chances and
when we surrender to him, itchanges everything.
Amen.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
And it does.
But I know that when you make adecision in prison or in jail,
a lot of people think that, hey,you're doing this because
you're locked up.
And that's one of the thingsthat I think that every person
who goes into the prison,mentioned to prison, need to
(18:45):
challenge the people that theyare mentioned to.
I want you to make thisdecision because you know
without a shadow of a doubt thatfirst of all, you need the Lord
.
I knew that I need the Lord.
My life was so messed up and Ibelieve that if I wouldn't have
gave my life to the Lord, jesusChrist, eddie Spencer probably
(19:07):
wouldn't have been here today.
But when I gave my life and,like I said earlier, I did not
tell people that I got savedbecause people would take
advantage of me, just like thatsergeant After I had been saved
for a few months he said that Isaid something that I knew that
I did not say.
He said and he said what didyou say?
(19:29):
I said I didn't say nothing.
He said oh, you calling me aliar?
And I said, no, I'm not callingyou a liar.
And he got a couple of hisofficers and they beat me in
front of all of these guys andeverything humiliated me and I
was so angry and when they gotfinished beating me and
everything, I ran to my cell.
(19:50):
I still had my 13th knife.
I didn't feel secure enough inmy walk with the Lord to let it
go yet and I ran and I grabbedthat knife in my hand.
The Lord said to me he said,eddie, you can stop now but you
can keep on going.
And I got in my bed and I cried, but I didn't let.
(20:13):
None of the guys knew that Iwas crying and everything.
But God used that same sergeantwho had humiliated me, who said
that I was a hypocrite, justjailhouse religion and
everything, used him to helpminister to other young men
because he would tell young guyswho was coming in, who he kind
(20:37):
of feel, that they would notmake it without somebody walking
with them.
And he would tell them saywhatever you do, get with that
young man there, eddie Spencer,he will watch out for you.
And I did not know.
You know how God can take outbad and use for his glory.
And take out bad and use forhis glory.
(20:58):
I did not know that God wasusing my reputation, my boxing
experience, which a lot of theguys knew that Eddie Spencer was
a good boxer.
Eddie Spencer is this angryyoung man.
A lot of them still saw thatright there, how God was using
that to ask a ministry.
Because he told those guys hesaid get with him and nobody
(21:23):
will mess with you.
Now I would tell young guys, I'dtell them I'd say, hey,
whatever you do, don't putyourself in no compromised
position where not only that youcompromise yourself but also me
, because if you go and borrowmoney from those guys and don't
pay them back, you can't comerunning behind me.
(21:43):
If you go and get cigarettesand stuff from those guys
knowing that they are chargingyou, some of those guys, they
will charge 50 cents on a dollarand I used to do the same thing
50 cents on a dollar, but ifthat deadline passed it's become
50 cents every day that thatdeadline passed.
(22:06):
There's some young guys whoborrow $5 and end up paying $150
, $200 back, you know, just offof $5.
You tell them, don't you putyourself in that situation and
(22:27):
that's the reason a lot of themthey had to call their mama or
grandparents and tell them say,hey, they're going to kill me if
I don't do this.
Now, some of them be real, someof them just using their
parents.
Now Some of them be real, someof them use their parents.
But how God was using thatsergeant.
And then he said to Lee, whichwas my friend that was coming
(22:48):
during the Bible study, thatyoung man, eddie Spencer.
The Lord really changed him.
Now he is a man who had beat medown and humiliated me, called
me all kinds of names, but oneof the things about the presence
of God in an individual life,it will not go unnoticed.
I didn't have to put a big signon my chest saying I'm saved.
(23:13):
God showed me that when aperson gives his life unto him,
the presence of God will alwaysshine through that individual
life.
The Lord began to tell me.
He said I want you to begin todiminish.
So I teamed up with Lee and westarted Bible study.
(23:35):
And then we started churchservice, just opened up to a
service church service, and thatlunchroom was packed and I
would love if it was any waypossible for you to be able to
meet Lee and interview him.
You know, just talk about thepower of God.
It was so powerful.
(23:57):
That was one of the first timesthat I saw God working in a
prison and these guys who wascoming, and some, yes, was not
real I'm talking about.
You know, there was a lot ofthem who was I'm talking about,
see their lives change andeverything I'm talking about.
Then the Lord began to open upthe door and say, eddie, it's
(24:21):
time for not only that youminister here at the prison, but
I want you to begin to go andshare your testimony all over.
So he put me with Project Aware, which was a ministry that they
had that would go and speak inthe schools, to the kids and
churches and wherever they areinvited and to share our
(24:45):
testimony.
So I had the privilege ofspeaking to thousands and
thousands of kids in school andsharing my testimonies, sharing
how God changed me, sharing howGod changed me and just to show
you how God worked.
I was speaking at Grenada HighSchool.
At Grenada High School theyhave a policy to make sure that
(25:08):
you cannot sue them andeverything that the students pay
the speaker.
They had to pay a quarter tocome to the assembly and when Dr
Taylor, who was the principalthen, when he said that, I said,
well, I probably won't getenough to buy my gas to go, but
(25:31):
that place was packed I'mtalking about.
I left there.
They paid a quarter.
I left there with over $300.
I'm talking about that, thoseyoung people.
They came out and it was beforeschool started and what.
I did not know that Dr Taylor,when I got through speaking, he
said young people.
(25:51):
I want y'all to know something.
This young man came to my highschool when I was in the 11th
grade.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
And the same thing that he's saying to you all.
He said to me and it impacted mylife.
Then also, when I was servingat Galloway the security guard
for Lieutenant Governor Holzman,I was standing outside and this
guy he way bigger than me, I'mtalking muscles and everything
(26:28):
and he said I know you don'tknow me, but I want to refresh
your memory.
He said do you remember whenyou came and spoke at Heinz to
the football team?
And I said yes.
He said I want you to know thatGod used you in my life and you
, speaking, changed my life.
He said yes.
He said I want you to know thatGod used you in my life and you
, speaking, changed my life.
He said you scared me to death.
(26:48):
Here's a guy weighing almost400 pounds, all muscle, and a
lot of times, see, we limit thepower of God by saying is he
going to change?
Is she going to change?
God takes the word, god uses itin their life and I hear
testimony like that all over.
(27:09):
People say oh, I heard you whenyou came to my school when you
were still locked up and Godbrought that door open.
Then to see God miraculouslyopen up the door for me to get
out.
Governor Bill O'Leary was one ofthe toughest governors.
He passed a law that if you robsomebody you had to do the
(27:33):
minimum 10 years before you getout.
And when he was getting readyto leave office, cotton and he
was a judge His son was onSupreme Court with you, while
Governor Waller and CottonCotton he had the one leg that
was a partner with GovernorWaller they put in a petition
(27:57):
for me to get pardoned and Iknew that Governor Lane was not
going to do it.
But all the 10 people that hegave a clemency to I mean he
gave us a clemency told us,depending on what you do, then
you'll be wiped clean.
Every last one of them have notgone back.
(28:17):
And one of the greatestprivilege that I had was I saw
Governor Lane at one of mybrother-in-law who's a fifth
quarter peer judge when he wasbeing promoted.
He was there and I was able toput a book in Governor Lane's
hand and say I really appreciateyou for taking a chance on me.
(28:38):
And he said to me he said Iknew that there was something
about you, that I was willing totake a chance and I really been
following.
You really appreciate what youare doing and how God opened
that door in 1988 for me to walkout.
But what's so unique about that?
I'll show you how God worked.
(28:59):
January the 14th 1988, at 10o'clock I was released from
prison.
January the 14th of 2000, I wasspeaking during the prayer at
Governor Reed's inauguration.
Look at God, 32 years later.
I'm talking about the same time, the same day where God had
(29:22):
opened up the door and I knewthat he could have got anybody
and there may have been somethat was mad at him for choosing
an ex-convict over them to dothe prayer at his inauguration
but how God opened up that door.
When I got out in 1988, I didn'thave no life skills or anything
(29:45):
, but God put peoples in my life, you know, to help walk with me
, help me to get adjusted tosociety.
I knew there was a lot ofthings that I did not know, but
one thing that I knew.
I knew there was a lot ofthings that I did not know, but
one thing that I knew that I wasnot going back.
I knew I wasn't going back andthe Lord just began to open up
(30:08):
doors, same thing that I wasdoing in the prison.
He opened up those doors for meto travel, speaking in school,
started working with a youthministry called Young Life.
I had some young guys that Iwas working with called Young
Life.
I had some young guys that Iwas working with.
We helped dig the foundation forthe first two Habitat houses
(30:29):
that was built in Mississippi.
We helped build in 1988 whenthey built the first two Habitat
houses in Mississippi and I didwith some young guys I was
working with in my neighborhood,young gang members and
everything.
We would go up there and wevolunteered to help dig the
(30:51):
foundation.
And there was a pastor namedGlenn Martin who was pastor of
Broad Meadow United MethodistChurch.
He said who paying these youngguys?
I said they are not gettingpaid, we are doing this free.
He said what I want to do andI'm not trying to pay them.
If they would give an hour, Iwould pay them for an hour and
(31:16):
those young guys were so happyto get you know the little money
that they was getting and so westarted from there.
And then there was a guy namedMike McName who was a volunteer.
He said I want to introduce youto a guy who was John Evans.
During that time he was thedirector of Young Life.
(31:37):
He said I want to introduce youto him.
I met with John and John saidwe want to start a mentorship
over in that area, working inthe urban community, but we
don't have nobody.
Are you willing to keep doingwhat you're doing, but come on
board with us?
And I told him I said yes.
I said you know I'd be glad to.
(31:59):
And God just opened that door.
Then God opened up the doorwith the United Methodist.
I used to go up with KeithTonko and Sam Morrison, go with
them to speak up at Lake Julissaas a team.
And they asked me said wouldyou consider coming and working
(32:22):
with the United Methodist Church?
Then I went to St AndrewMission and became the assistant
executive director with StAndrew Mission in Macomb.
And so God continued to openthose doors.
But before then I guess Imissed a very important part.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
And that was part one of Don Beam's interview with
the Reverend Eddie Spencer.
This is Hill Cain.
I'm part of the production teamhere at Hope Mississippi.
Be sure to tune in on June 15thto hear the rest of the episode
and to learn the identity ofthe most important person God
sent Eddie's way.
On behalf of Don Beam and theHope Mississippi team.
(33:04):
Goodbye and God bless.
When you need some hope and inspiration To build
collaboration.
Hope Mississippi is yoursalvation.
One in four kids live inpoverty.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
One in five are food deprived.
Build collaborations and buildhope With those who are
struggling, with those who arestruggling.
Hope Mississippi.
Welcome to another episode ofHope Mississippi.
(00:39):
This is Dawn Beam and I have aspecial, special treat for you
today, my good friend, reverendEddie Spencer.
Welcome, reverend Spencer.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Well, thank you.
Thank you, it's so good.
I count it a privilege andhonor for not only to be on the
podcast but just to see you andthank God for you and see what
God's going to do through thisministry here.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
Absolutely.
I'm going to call you BrotherEddie, because you are a brother
in Christ.
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Amen and.
Speaker 2 (01:13):
I want to show that respect, as well as just
acknowledge that you are mybrother in Christ.
Speaker 3 (01:18):
You can call me Eddie , and that's still the same
respect.
Speaker 2 (01:23):
Well, thank you.
You know, I am reminded.
The first time I heard aboutyou, I was talking to our First
Lady, ely Reeves, about storiesof hope and she lit up like a
Christmas tree and she said youhave got to speak to Eddie
Spencer and you are an absolutestory of hope.
(01:45):
Could you tell us just brieflyabout your childhood and the
challenges that you faced as ayoung child?
Speaker 3 (01:52):
Well, I always tell people I say, you know, a lot of
people are poor, but we werepoor Just to pee all day.
And sometimes we were poor,sometimes I didn't need just to
pee oh, then sometime we would.
Sometimes I didn't just to peeand but I didn't realize, you
know, how poor we was.
And I, until one day, I didn'thave no shoes to wear to school
(02:16):
and and I asked my mom, I said,mom, I need some shoes.
And she gave me these pair ofshoes to wear to school.
And a lot of the clothes andshoes that we received was from
what people gave them to us, andsometimes it's secondhand stuff
, sometimes third, fourth orwhatever people would give us
(02:38):
clothes and everything.
And so I put these shoes on andI, so excited I had these new
pair of shoes.
And when I stepped in thatclassroom, my first grade step
in the classroom, and those kids, everybody was looking at me
and I was excited because Ithought they was looking at me
(02:59):
because I had my new shoes on.
And I heard somebody say, lookat it, spencer, he got little
girl shoes on.
And I heard somebody say, lookat Eddie, spencer, he got little
girl shoes on.
And even though those shoesduring that time was those what
they call rock and roll.
It was unisex, black and whiteand everything, but in my
community nobody wore them.
(03:20):
You know it was upper classthat wore them, but those were
what I had on and that day itreally devastated me.
I became angry with yes, all thekids and also I became angry
with my mom, my dad, especiallymy dad, because he was one of
(03:41):
the ones and I heard him saythis and it's always stood in my
mind A man, it doesn't matterwhat you have on your back,
don't matter what you have onyour head, don't matter what the
pants you wear, but it doesmatter what you wear on your
feet.
And that right there, my dad.
I have a pair of his shoes, apair of States Adams that he
(04:04):
bought in 1972.
I still have those and a lot ofpeople ask me say why you buy
expensive shoes?
Because it doesn't matter whatyou have on your back, it
doesn't matter what you have onyour head, but it does matter
what you have on your feet.
And those kids, you know I knewthat they didn't intend to hurt
(04:29):
me and they probably didn't evenknow that he hurted me and the
teacher told me.
He said, eddie, don't let themget to you, go and deal with it
and everything.
But the only way I knew how todeal with it was to get back at
every kid that I saw laughing atme.
And that's when that anger justbegan to build up.
(04:51):
And it didn't stop there.
It began to just follow me allthrough my life until I saw
anger as a weapon, because whenthose kids saw me that time
being angry, yes there are somethat I pushed off the slide
board or knocked down in thehall or whatever.
(05:14):
I tried to get every last one ofthem back.
And also I became angry with mydad to the point that I didn't
want him to say anything to me.
I told him that I'm in controlof my life.
He can't tell me what to do.
And that's when, all of asudden, there was other guys who
(05:37):
was just like me, who was angry, and I started hanging with
them.
We started fighting, we startedgoing in people's yards,
stealing stuff out of the yard.
Then it began to promote fromgoing into their yard and to
going to their house and robbingpeople while they was in their
house and everything.
(05:59):
Then also, I started coming toschool with nice clothes on and
a lot of the kids said Boy, youknow, I got a shirt like that, I
got a coat like that.
Well, a lot of them did notrealize that that was their coat
, that was their shirt that Ihad stole off their line their
(06:23):
clothesline because when I usedto walk through the neighborhood
and off their line theirclothesline because when I used
to walk through the neighborhoodand saw nice stuff on a
clothesline, I would get itbecause I did not want nobody to
ever make fun of me again.
That followed me all the waythrough my life.
I started out going to ColumbiaTraining School and the judge I
(06:48):
never will forget he said Eddie.
He said I'm sentencing you totraining school hoping that you
would get your life together.
Now he said that when he firstsentenced me.
Then that same judge, judgeRoden, said to me when he had to
certify me as an adult, when Iwas 15, he certified me as an
(07:12):
adult and he said Eddie Spencer,there's nothing that we can do
for you.
We have tried all that we can.
And by that time I had been toColumbia Training School four
times and had been to OaklandTraining School two times.
And here I was now, at the ageof 15 years old, being certified
(07:35):
as an adult, even though I beatthe charge.
But a few months later I wasright back in front of him and
he told me.
He said you cannot come back,you've been certified as an
adult.
I was just getting ready to turn17 when they said Eddie Spencer
, if you're found guilty youwill go to parchment and if that
(07:58):
man died, you will get thedeath penalty.
Will get the death penalty, boy.
You know, I guess that was forthe first time that I really
heard how serious was of myaction.
You know, that was the firsttime.
And to see my mama crying infront of all these folks crying,
(08:21):
begging.
The judge said please, whateveryou do, don't kill my son,
don't kill him.
See, she heard the deathpenalty and automatically she
thought that I was going to beput to death and everything.
But the man did not die, thankGod.
I received 10 mandatory yearsfor the armed robbery and then I
(08:43):
had another aggravated assaultcharge and they ran the 15 years
.
But based on what I did on that10 years, we determined if I
would spend time on that 15years.
And here I was just gettingready to turn 17, when I should
have been graduating from highschool or in college.
(09:06):
I was graduating from ColumbiaTraining School, oakland
Training School.
Now I'm heading to college, toParchment, and he said the same
judge.
I went, they took me, he wantedto speak to me.
He said, eddie, he said I didall that I could, son, for you,
(09:27):
but there's nothing that helpedyou.
I hope, I hope that this willbe the turning point in your
life.
And I heard those words andeverything, but I really thought
that Eddie Spencer could notchange.
This is the way I was, you know.
I thought that the lifestylethat I have chosen, this is
(09:51):
where I would be basically allmy life, a thug, a gangster,
whatever they wanted to call me.
That's all I knew.
I didn't know, didn't have noworking skills.
All of my skills was stealing,robbing, fighting and everything
.
That's basically what I didbasically all of my life, from
the age of six until the age ofeven going to prison.
(10:13):
And so when they sentenced meto prison and I was going to
Parchment and I noticedsomething about Parchment that
basically everybody that wasthere where they put me.
I was going to Parchment and Inoticed something about
Parchment that basicallyeverybody that was there where
they put me?
They put me at unit one and twowith people who was from the
age of 16 to the age of one andthree, and about every last one
(10:36):
of them was ones that I wasraised up with in the system.
So that was back with the samepeople who I kind of grew up
with in the system.
So there I was, back with thesame people who I kind of grew
up with in the system andeverything, all of them was
there, and so it was easy for meto get right back into that
same lifestyle.
(10:57):
You know, game banging,fighting and everything taking
what you want and there was.
You know, a lot of people saidwas telling me Eddie Spencer,
you need to change.
If you don't change, son,you're going to get killed.
I had already been shot fourtimes before I reached the age
(11:17):
of 16 years old.
I'm done already and use thatas a bragging tool.
Even when I speak to youngpeople now and share that with
them, a lot of them want to bragabout the scars that they got
where they've been shot or wherethey've been cut.
And I had to tell them.
I said, son, this is notsomething you brag about.
(11:38):
This very history has beensomething that caused you to
want to turn around.
If I would have died,spiritually speaking, eddie
Spencer would have died andspent eternity in hell.
I'm talking about because I knewthat the life that I was living
, what it was going to cost megetting back into the same swing
(12:02):
, back there at Parchment andfollowing the same guys that I
follow.
You know, like I said, fromtraining school all the way to
Parchment, getting back withthose guys.
Like I say, I feel like I wasat home In 1982, the Lord really
just began to deal with me.
(12:22):
You know, if somebody wouldhave asked me, eddie Spencer,
are you saved?
I would have said yes, I'msaved.
I've been baptized, and I havebeen baptized four times because
I thought baptism was whatreally determined if you were
saved.
So I thought I was saved, eventhough my life had not changed.
(12:45):
And even the churches that Iwent to, you know, I saw some of
the same people who was tellingme that I need to change my
life, was basically doing somethings that was like I was doing
and even worse, and so.
But then I still was confused.
If you asked me, said, will youspend eternity?
(13:07):
I would say, well, I guess Iwill spend eternity in hell by
my action.
Now I was very confused aboutsalvation, but that day, when
the Lord began to deal with me,I was sitting on my bed, I was
getting ready to take two guys'life.
I was thinking about it, twoguys that I didn't like.
(13:30):
I wanted to show them that theydid not mess with Eddie Spencer
.
The Lord began to speak to meand said Eddie, you can stop now
or you can go on.
And also he had a lady who waswriting me and I never wrote her
back and everything.
But she would write me letters.
(13:52):
You know these pen pairs.
She would write me and she saidEddie Spencer, the Lord really
really loves you.
I said Lord, she must don'tknow who I am.
God don't love me.
And she said begin to.
She must don't know who I am,god don't love me.
And she said begin to share herlife story.
Now I had to have somebody toread the letter to me because I
(14:12):
couldn't read.
I couldn't even read on asecond grade level and she began
to share with how that she wasin witchcraft and how the Lord
delivered her from it was inwitchcraft and how the Lord
delivered her from it.
And when she got delivered, herhusband gave her an ultimatum,
says he's wanted to.
You can go with that churchstuff, or either you can turn
(14:36):
back around, and if you don'tturn back around, this marriage
is over.
I'm talking about hearing that.
I said.
She said, but I chose to gowith the church because what the
Lord Jesus Christ has done inmy life and I heard that but I
really didn't believe that theLord could really change me.
(14:58):
But that day in 1982, for thefirst time, not trying to
bargain with the Lord See, a lotof times when I prayed I used
to always try to bargain withthe Lord.
Lord, if you touch the judgehard, if you allow me to get a
(15:19):
less sin of you, let me get free.
Lord I'm going to do this, I'mgoing to do that.
I'm going to do that.
I'm telling you.
I always made those promises.
And so when I go into the prison, I ask these young guys I say
you know, you say you want togive your life to the Lord, but
are you trying to put somebargain on that?
(15:39):
Are you trying to bargain withthe Lord?
You can't bargain with God.
Are you trying to bargain withthe Lord?
You can't bargain with God.
It's either one of the two.
You surrender your life to himor not.
And for a long time that's whatI did.
I tried to bargain with God.
God, if you would do this, thenI would serve you.
(16:06):
But that day in 1982 was for thefirst time that I said Lord, I
don't know how you're going todo it.
You know the condition of mylife.
I want to give my life to youand you're going to have to do
the rest.
And that day I felt such apeace that I never felt before.
I felt the presence of the Lordthat day in 1982 like I never
felt before.
(16:27):
And not only that, but I got inmy bed, pulled the cover over
my head and I just cried.
I didn't want nobody else toknow that Eddie Spencer was
crying.
I cried and it was not cry ortears of sadness, but it was
just something that was on theinside, just like the Lord was
(16:48):
fleshing me out.
But I did not tell nobody forseveral months that I had gave
my life to the Lord, because Ididn't want them to think that I
was weak.
I didn't want them to thinkthat they could take advantage
of me.
So I did not tell anybody forseveral months and the Lord sent
a young man which is one of mybest friends right now.
(17:10):
Him and his wife Celia sent himduring the.
There was a Bill Glass crusade.
We had it about a month beforeLee came.
But what Bill Glass does?
He also sent people to dofollow-ups and so Lee was one of
those ones that they came induring the follow-up.
(17:31):
And he came and and he askedone young man was interested in
the Bible study, then another,so it was just a little small
group.
It was two of them.
Then I ended up joining, so itwas three of us, then another
young man, so it was four.
But I still didn't tell nobodythat they knew that I was going
(17:55):
to Bible study, but they didn'tknow that I was saved.
I didn't want nobody to knowthat and Lee began to challenge
me.
He said you need to begin toshare.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
As I hear your story, all I can think about is to God
be the glory that he reallydoes give us second chances and
when we surrender to him, itchanges everything.
Amen.
Speaker 3 (18:21):
And it does.
But I know that when you make adecision in prison or in jail,
a lot of people think that, hey,you're doing this because
you're locked up.
And that's one of the thingsthat I think that every person
who goes into the prison,mentioned to prison, need to
(18:45):
challenge the people that theyare mentioned to.
I want you to make thisdecision because you know
without a shadow of a doubt thatfirst of all, you need the Lord
.
I knew that I need the Lord.
My life was so messed up and Ibelieve that if I wouldn't have
gave my life to the Lord, jesusChrist, eddie Spencer probably
(19:07):
wouldn't have been here today.
But when I gave my life and,like I said earlier, I did not
tell people that I got savedbecause people would take
advantage of me, just like thatsergeant After I had been saved
for a few months he said that Isaid something that I knew that
I did not say.
He said and he said what didyou say?
(19:29):
I said I didn't say nothing.
He said oh, you calling me aliar?
And I said, no, I'm not callingyou a liar.
And he got a couple of hisofficers and they beat me in
front of all of these guys andeverything humiliated me and I
was so angry and when they gotfinished beating me and
everything, I ran to my cell.
(19:50):
I still had my 13th knife.
I didn't feel secure enough inmy walk with the Lord to let it
go yet and I ran and I grabbedthat knife in my hand.
The Lord said to me he said,eddie, you can stop now but you
can keep on going.
And I got in my bed and I cried, but I didn't let.
(20:13):
None of the guys knew that Iwas crying and everything.
But God used that same sergeantwho had humiliated me, who said
that I was a hypocrite, justjailhouse religion and
everything, used him to helpminister to other young men
because he would tell young guyswho was coming in, who he kind
(20:37):
of feel, that they would notmake it without somebody walking
with them.
And he would tell them saywhatever you do, get with that
young man there, eddie Spencer,he will watch out for you.
And I did not know.
You know how God can take outbad and use for his glory.
And take out bad and use forhis glory.
(20:58):
I did not know that God wasusing my reputation, my boxing
experience, which a lot of theguys knew that Eddie Spencer was
a good boxer.
Eddie Spencer is this angryyoung man.
A lot of them still saw thatright there, how God was using
that to ask a ministry.
Because he told those guys hesaid get with him and nobody
(21:23):
will mess with you.
Now I would tell young guys, I'dtell them I'd say, hey,
whatever you do, don't putyourself in no compromised
position where not only that youcompromise yourself but also me
, because if you go and borrowmoney from those guys and don't
pay them back, you can't comerunning behind me.
(21:43):
If you go and get cigarettesand stuff from those guys
knowing that they are chargingyou, some of those guys, they
will charge 50 cents on a dollarand I used to do the same thing
50 cents on a dollar, but ifthat deadline passed it's become
50 cents every day that thatdeadline passed.
(22:06):
There's some young guys whoborrow $5 and end up paying $150
, $200 back, you know, just offof $5.
You tell them, don't you putyourself in that situation and
(22:27):
that's the reason a lot of themthey had to call their mama or
grandparents and tell them say,hey, they're going to kill me if
I don't do this.
Now, some of them be real, someof them just using their
parents.
Now Some of them be real, someof them use their parents.
But how God was using thatsergeant.
And then he said to Lee, whichwas my friend that was coming
(22:48):
during the Bible study, thatyoung man, eddie Spencer.
The Lord really changed him.
Now he is a man who had beat medown and humiliated me, called
me all kinds of names, but oneof the things about the presence
of God in an individual life,it will not go unnoticed.
I didn't have to put a big signon my chest saying I'm saved.
(23:13):
God showed me that when aperson gives his life unto him,
the presence of God will alwaysshine through that individual
life.
The Lord began to tell me.
He said I want you to begin todiminish.
So I teamed up with Lee and westarted Bible study.
(23:35):
And then we started churchservice, just opened up to a
service church service, and thatlunchroom was packed and I
would love if it was any waypossible for you to be able to
meet Lee and interview him.
You know, just talk about thepower of God.
It was so powerful.
(23:57):
That was one of the first timesthat I saw God working in a
prison and these guys who wascoming, and some, yes, was not
real I'm talking about.
You know, there was a lot ofthem who was I'm talking about,
see their lives change andeverything I'm talking about.
Then the Lord began to open upthe door and say, eddie, it's
(24:21):
time for not only that youminister here at the prison, but
I want you to begin to go andshare your testimony all over.
So he put me with Project Aware, which was a ministry that they
had that would go and speak inthe schools, to the kids and
churches and wherever they areinvited and to share our
(24:45):
testimony.
So I had the privilege ofspeaking to thousands and
thousands of kids in school andsharing my testimonies, sharing
how God changed me, sharing howGod changed me and just to show
you how God worked.
I was speaking at Grenada HighSchool.
At Grenada High School theyhave a policy to make sure that
(25:08):
you cannot sue them andeverything that the students pay
the speaker.
They had to pay a quarter tocome to the assembly and when Dr
Taylor, who was the principalthen, when he said that, I said,
well, I probably won't getenough to buy my gas to go, but
(25:31):
that place was packed I'mtalking about.
I left there.
They paid a quarter.
I left there with over $300.
I'm talking about that, thoseyoung people.
They came out and it was beforeschool started and what.
I did not know that Dr Taylor,when I got through speaking, he
said young people.
(25:51):
I want y'all to know something.
This young man came to my highschool when I was in the 11th
grade.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (26:01):
And the same thing that he's saying to you all.
He said to me and it impacted mylife.
Then also, when I was servingat Galloway the security guard
for Lieutenant Governor Holzman,I was standing outside and this
guy he way bigger than me, I'mtalking muscles and everything
(26:28):
and he said I know you don'tknow me, but I want to refresh
your memory.
He said do you remember whenyou came and spoke at Heinz to
the football team?
And I said yes.
He said I want you to know thatGod used you in my life and you
, speaking, changed my life.
He said yes.
He said I want you to know thatGod used you in my life and you
, speaking, changed my life.
He said you scared me to death.
(26:48):
Here's a guy weighing almost400 pounds, all muscle, and a
lot of times, see, we limit thepower of God by saying is he
going to change?
Is she going to change?
God takes the word, god uses itin their life and I hear
testimony like that all over.
(27:09):
People say oh, I heard you whenyou came to my school when you
were still locked up and Godbrought that door open.
Then to see God miraculouslyopen up the door for me to get
out.
Governor Bill O'Leary was one ofthe toughest governors.
He passed a law that if you robsomebody you had to do the
(27:33):
minimum 10 years before you getout.
And when he was getting readyto leave office, cotton and he
was a judge His son was onSupreme Court with you, while
Governor Waller and CottonCotton he had the one leg that
was a partner with GovernorWaller they put in a petition
(27:57):
for me to get pardoned and Iknew that Governor Lane was not
going to do it.
But all the 10 people that hegave a clemency to I mean he
gave us a clemency told us,depending on what you do, then
you'll be wiped clean.
Every last one of them have notgone back.
(28:17):
And one of the greatestprivilege that I had was I saw
Governor Lane at one of mybrother-in-law who's a fifth
quarter peer judge when he wasbeing promoted.
He was there and I was able toput a book in Governor Lane's
hand and say I really appreciateyou for taking a chance on me.
(28:38):
And he said to me he said Iknew that there was something
about you, that I was willing totake a chance and I really been
following.
You really appreciate what youare doing and how God opened
that door in 1988 for me to walkout.
But what's so unique about that?
I'll show you how God worked.
(28:59):
January the 14th 1988, at 10o'clock I was released from
prison.
January the 14th of 2000, I wasspeaking during the prayer at
Governor Reed's inauguration.
Look at God, 32 years later.
I'm talking about the same time, the same day where God had
(29:22):
opened up the door and I knewthat he could have got anybody
and there may have been somethat was mad at him for choosing
an ex-convict over them to dothe prayer at his inauguration
but how God opened up that door.
When I got out in 1988, I didn'thave no life skills or anything
(29:45):
, but God put peoples in my life, you know, to help walk with me
, help me to get adjusted tosociety.
I knew there was a lot ofthings that I did not know, but
one thing that I knew.
I knew there was a lot ofthings that I did not know, but
one thing that I knew that I wasnot going back.
I knew I wasn't going back andthe Lord just began to open up
(30:08):
doors, same thing that I wasdoing in the prison.
He opened up those doors for meto travel, speaking in school,
started working with a youthministry called Young Life.
I had some young guys that Iwas working with called Young
Life.
I had some young guys that Iwas working with.
We helped dig the foundation forthe first two Habitat houses
(30:29):
that was built in Mississippi.
We helped build in 1988 whenthey built the first two Habitat
houses in Mississippi and I didwith some young guys I was
working with in my neighborhood,young gang members and
everything.
We would go up there and wevolunteered to help dig the
(30:51):
foundation.
And there was a pastor namedGlenn Martin who was pastor of
Broad Meadow United MethodistChurch.
He said who paying these youngguys?
I said they are not gettingpaid, we are doing this free.
He said what I want to do andI'm not trying to pay them.
If they would give an hour, Iwould pay them for an hour and
(31:16):
those young guys were so happyto get you know the little money
that they was getting and so westarted from there.
And then there was a guy namedMike McName who was a volunteer.
He said I want to introduce youto a guy who was John Evans.
During that time he was thedirector of Young Life.
(31:37):
He said I want to introduce youto him.
I met with John and John saidwe want to start a mentorship
over in that area, working inthe urban community, but we
don't have nobody.
Are you willing to keep doingwhat you're doing, but come on
board with us?
And I told him I said yes.
I said you know I'd be glad to.
(31:59):
And God just opened that door.
Then God opened up the doorwith the United Methodist.
I used to go up with KeithTonko and Sam Morrison, go with
them to speak up at Lake Julissaas a team.
And they asked me said wouldyou consider coming and working
(32:22):
with the United Methodist Church?
Then I went to St AndrewMission and became the assistant
executive director with StAndrew Mission in Macomb.
And so God continued to openthose doors.
But before then I guess Imissed a very important part.
Speaker 1 (32:42):
And that was part one of Don Beam's interview with
the Reverend Eddie Spencer.
This is Hill Cain.
I'm part of the production teamhere at Hope Mississippi.
Be sure to tune in on June 15thto hear the rest of the episode
and to learn the identity ofthe most important person God
sent Eddie's way.
On behalf of Don Beam and theHope Mississippi team.
(33:04):
Goodbye and God bless.
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