EP32: Redeemed Behind Bars - The story of Howie Close

What if God’s greatest work began in the darkest place?

At 17 years old, Pastor Howie was sentenced to 75 years in prison for violent crimes. But inside a solitary confinement unit known as “the dark side,” he encountered a tattered Bible—and the truth that would change everything. Through Psalm 139, Howie discovered he was fearfully and wonderfully made, not a mistake but a man with divine purpose.

This moment sparked a radical transformation—from a violent fighter to a gentle servant of Christ. Today, as BRAVE Church’s Pastor of Prison Ministries, Howie is pioneering a powerful new model inside Colorado prisons—raising up inmate-led church communities that thrive long after volunteers leave.