Sentenced to 26 Years to Life — Michael James Interview [Video]

Sentenced to 26 years to life, Michael James found something inside prison that he says set him free eight years before he ever came home — Christian Science. In this Embraced:Fully Interview, Michael talks with David Fowler about how a chance encounter with Science and Health rebuilt his thinking, his relationships, and his life — from a violent prison yard to Cal State LA, marriage, and a life of helping others.

About Our Guest: Michael James

Michael James was sentenced to 26 years to life in state prison. Today he is rebuilding a life shaped by faith, discipline, service, and purpose.

Christian Science played a defining role in that transformation. Michael is now pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting at California State University, Los Angeles, working with Caltrans as a Back-Up Driver, building his car hauling business Catch a Ride Service, teaching financial literacy through Trap House Trading Academy, and developing the Community Chess Blueprint to help keep resources circulating within the community.

The conversation explores what real transformation actually looks like — not as an idea, but in practice: faith, accountability, reentry, work, and building something that lasts.

In This Interview:

Reading Science and Health in 18 hours — the moment in solitary confinement that changed everything.

How his heart began to change — and how other inmates and staff responded to it.

What freedom actually means — Michael’s definition, eight years before he came home.

Building a chapel community inside — introducing other inmates to Christian Science.

Coming home and building a life — school, work, marriage, business, and the Community Chess Blueprint.

Advice for chaplains and audience Q&A — what really helps men inside, what doesn’t.

Chapters

00:00 Cold Open

00:27 Introduction

02:11 Growing up in church

04:33 First run-ins with the law

06:35 Going to prison at 26

08:20 The hole — solitary confinement

10:50 Reading Science and Health in 18 hours

15:36 How my heart began to change

17:09 Experiencing healings inside

17:42 Other inmates challenging my change

20:00 How prison staff responded

21:54 What freedom actually means

23:26 Introducing other inmates to Christian Science

27:12 Chaplains, mentors, and correction

30:37 Building a chapel community

31:37 Coming home — life today

35:09 Advice for chaplains

36:53 Audience Q&A

1:25:39 Closing

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Our Mission

In partnership with others, Embraced:Fully supports incarcerated and returning citizens in their moral and spiritual journey toward successful reentry. Through Angel Team members, we help connect individuals with community, faith, housing, employment, transportation, friendship, and mentorship — building bridges of hope and belonging.

Marshall, Byron, and David after Byron’s first church service

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