By Jessilyn Lancaster
Jelly Roll is one of the most recognizable faces in country music today, with his talents sampled across multiple genres, but it’s his amazing story of God’s redemptive power that captures both Christian and secular headlines.
“Y’all forgive me, I’m not sure how much I even belong speaking up here right now,” Jelly Roll, whose real name is Jason DeFord said after accepting an award for his collaboration on “Hard-Fought Hallelujah.”
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“I ain’t been this nervous since I went to criminal court, y’all,” DeFord said. “This is a real thing for me, I mean, I’m sweaty palms. But, I was listening to Him, and I was thinking about [the book of] Matthew when he talks about ‘the least.’ When he said, ‘When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me water. When I was in jail, you came and visited me.’ And I realized that I’m standing here because people took time with the least.”
Per USA Today, the singer committed multiple felonies, including:
- 2002: Staged a breaking and entering robbery with two armed men and a woman for $350, though he was unarmed. He was sentenced to serve a year in prison and additional probation.
- 2008: Police officers found crack cocaine and marijuana in DeFord’s vehicle, resulting in a sentence of eight years of court-ordered supervision.
- 2 misdemeanors for driving without a license and possession of drug paraphernalia
DeFord credits his time in prison as part of his growing faith journey.
“I want to give this message as clear as I can right now. The world is hearing about Jesus like they haven’t in decades right now. There is a revival happening in the United States of America where you can’t go on a corner and not hear about Jesus right now. And while we are hearing about Jesus, I encourage you to put faith on your feet and feet on your faith, and walk out of this building, and go do for the least. They’ve heard of Jesus, now show them Jesus. Go feed the poor, go visit the ones in jail, go show them who Jesus was,” he said.
His speech is further proof of how the Lord radically redeemed DeFord’s life. Headlines in recent years cite DeFord’s impact on communities where he travels for tours. He often visits jails and shares his testimony with inmates.
“When I was 13 years old I caught my first criminal charge…I would spend the next thirteen years in and out of the system,” DeFord told one group of prisoners. “I didn’t go home to become rich and famous…I just wanted to be the dad I didn’t have.”
DeFord now says being a father “is the greatest gift God has ever given me.”
Read Next: Jelly Roll Credits: I Prioritize My Family, And That’s What Anchors Me Down
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