Candid Conversations with Dr. Jonathan Youssef

Episode 115: How a Violent Klansman Came to Christ: Thomas A. Tarrants

Episode Summary

A former white-supremacist and Klansman, once infamously called the "most dangerous man in Mississippi," sits with Jonathan and retells his incredible journey from a life of violence and hate to a life of radical love fueled by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. In high-school, Thomas was enticed by extremist ideology and became involved in the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. He was shot and wounded several times and arrested by police after an attempted bombing of the home of a Jewish leader. Thomas was sentenced to thirty years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary. He then escaped prison but was captured by the F.B.I. He was returned to prison where he would spend the next three years in a small, solitary cell. During this time, Thomas began to search for truth. He started with the great philosophers and was then led to the Bible where he truly encountered Jesus Christ for the very first time. This dramatic interview will have you in awe and on the edge of your seat as Thomas tells of his radical transformation that smacks of a live action movie. His complete change is evidence that the Gospel of Christ can transform even the hardest heart and mind.

Episode Notes

A former white-supremacist and Klansman, once infamously called the "most dangerous man in Mississippi," sits with Jonathan and retells his incredible journey from a life of violence and hate to a life of radical love fueled by the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.  

In high-school, Thomas was enticed by extremist ideology and became involved in the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. He was shot and wounded several times and arrested by police after an attempted bombing of the home of a Jewish leader. Thomas was sentenced to thirty years in the Mississippi State Penitentiary. He then escaped prison but was captured by the F.B.I. He was returned to prison where he would spend the next three years in a small, solitary cell.  

During this time, Thomas began to search for truth. He started with the great philosophers and was then led to the Bible where he truly encountered Jesus Christ for the very first time.  

This dramatic interview will have you in awe and on the edge of your seat as Thomas tells of his radical transformation that smacks of a live action movie. His complete change is evidence that the Gospel of Christ can transform even the hardest heart and mind.

Thomas A. Tarrants is President Emeritus of the C.S. Lewis Institute. After serving twelve years as president and nine years as vice President, he retired from his position as Vice President for Ministry and Director, Washington Area Fellows Program, with CSLI in June 2019.  Tom holds a Master of Divinity Degree, as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Christian Spirituality. He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Church Alliance and a member of the Evangelical Theological Society.

Get Your Copy of Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love

After you listen to this episode, you may have your own questions. We would love to hear from you! To ask Jonathan a question or connect with the Candid community, visit https://LTW.org/Candid

Also, join the conversation on our social media pages:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/candidpod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/candidpod

Twitter: https://twitter.com/thecandidpod