Issue 4 | 2023

Both Chris and his mother, Regina, served time,
leading to separation and a strained relationship.
Today, God has graciously restored their relationship.
EVEN THOUGH I HAD
WANDERED FAR FROM GOD,
HE CHASED ME DOWN—ALL
THE WAY TO DEATH ROW.
The living water of God’s Word refreshed
and revived my spirit in that arid land of
death row. It also revealed my need for
repentance and God’s forgiveness. I felt
sorrow over my sin and repented to God
in prayer (Psalm 51; 2 Corinthians 7:10).
“Lord, I know I’m a sinner,” I said.
“Please forgive me. I deserve punishment,
but I don’t believe You will let me die here,
this way. My life is in Your hands; I look
to You for justice and mercy.” (See Psalm
16:10; Isaiah 30:18.)
My attorney submitted an appeal for a
new trial. We waited almost three years for
my case to move through the courts. Then
one day, as I came in from rec, a friend
shouted, “Chris, you got a new trial, man!
I just saw you on TV.” I thought he was joking
until I saw my face flash across the
evening news with the headline, “Death
Row Inmate Granted New Trial.”
In 1997, my new trial was underway. My
attorney tried to prepare me for the worstcase
scenario, but I cut him off. “We’re not
going to lose. No way, man. God’s Word
says no weapon formed against me shall
prosper” (Isaiah 54:17).
He nodded in agreement and stood up
to defend my case with irrefutable new
evidence. Evidence from police interview
transcripts proved that I been convicted
based on perjured testimony and that the
detectives and prosecutor had allowed the
testimony, even though they knew the witness
was lying. It took the jury 45 minutes
to return with a new verdict.
When I heard, “Not guilty,” I was like
Lazarus when Jesus called him out of his
grave (John 11:43–44). I left my graveclothes
in that courtroom and returned
to prison to finish my original 36-year sentence.
I was one joyful, resurrected man.
It’s amazing how different the
prison felt when I was no longer
on death row. God had brought
this dead man back to life twice!
He had saved me from eternal
damnation and from being put
to death in prison. It was as if I
was seeing with new eyes.
But Satan was still on the
prowl, waiting to devour me (1
Peter 5:8). I tried hard not to fall prey to
the enemy, but trouble was on every corner.
While I did make some missteps, God
was patient as I learned to listen to the
Holy Spirit’s warnings and follow His lead.
(See John 14:26, 16:13; Romans 8:14, 26.)
The Spirit stayed busy, nudging me away
from various things and people. Listening
and obeying became the difference
between life and death.
I avoided the chaos of prison politics by
connecting with other Christian men and
staying immersed in God’s Word. I grew
bold in sharing my testimony and even
led men to the Lord. I relied on God and
the fellowship of my brothers in Christ to
prepare me for life on the outside. These
men and religious volunteers taught me
the value of real friendship.
Through them, I also learned about
Along Side Ministries’ discipleship program
in Phoenix. The program paired me
with a mentor who walked closely with
me for the last two years of my sentence.
After serving almost 26 years, I was released
on intense parole. I struggled to
adjust to life on the outside, as many do,
and soon violated my parole. I was sent
back to prison for nearly two years.
But instead of being angry, I embraced
the gift of time for God to heal more areas
of my heart and mind so I could live successfully
on the outside. I devoured God’s
Word until my release in March 2020. By
God’s grace, I was allowed to return to
Along Side Ministries. This community
of believers showed me the love of Jesus
when I needed it most.
Since my release, the Lord has kept His
promise to restore everything the enemy
stole from me (Joel 2:25). He has given
me a beautiful wife, a newborn son, and
healthy relationships with all my children.
God has redeemed my time so I can
leave a worthwhile inheritance through
the example of my life as I live for Him
(Proverbs 13:22).
Nana was right. Even though I wandered
far from God, He chased me down—all the
way to death row. He rescued me, and He’ll
do the same for you, wherever you are
(Psalm 107:20).
The truth is we’ve all been sentenced to
death by sin (Romans 6:23). But God, who
is forever rich in mercy, made a way for our
salvation through Jesus Christ (Ephesians
2:4–6). He’s made a way for you, too.
Jesus conquered death so you could
live eternally with Him (2 Timothy 1:10)
and experience an abundant life on earth
(John 10:10).
You don’t have to sit on death row any
longer. Come out of the grave and live. Take
off those graveclothes and embrace a new
life in Christ.
CHRIS MCCRIMMON is passionate about Jesus,
his family, and his church community fellowship. He
is grateful to spend the rest of His life serving God
and others. Through his testimony and knowledge
of God’s Word, Chris ministers to men returning to
society from prison.
PHOTO BY ARIZONA PORTRAITS
12 Issue 04 / 2023 VICTORIOUSLIVINGMAGAZINE.COM