Background Check Podcast

EP 77 ”20 Years On Death (LIFE) Row” with Pamela Perillo

20 Years On Death (Life) Row . In this episode, Jay Dan sits down with Pam Perillo Tise to talk about her story. Jay Dan’s mother, Jane, met Pam on death row in 1995. Jane talks about meeting Pam. . Pamela Perillo was set to die on March 24, 1996. . Convicted of capital murder in 1980, Pamela sat on Texas’s Death Row awaiting lethal injection. But less than two days before her scheduled execution, she was given a second chance, and in 2000, she was re-sentenced: from death to life in prison with the possibility of parole. . Her first chance at new life had come shortly after her arrest, when Pamela embraced the Christian faith and began bringing her fellow inmates to redemption in Christ. . That’s why although Pamela’s story is one of imprisonment―first by abuse and addiction and ultimately behind the locked doors of the criminal justice system―it’s also a story of hope―of finding a new path in faith, and of taking courage from the promise of salvation. . Pam was released in 2019 and has been enjoying life on this side of prison well. It’s been a learning curve and she talks about that too. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Pam’s Book: https://smile.amazon.com/Salvation-Death-Row-Pamela-Perillo/dp/099852168X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29JTG9964XP8V&keywords=pam+perillo&qid=1640891047&sprefix=pam+perillo%2Caps%2C81&sr=8-1 . Article on Pam’s Story: https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2018/june/pamela-perillo-salvation-death-row.html . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 76 ”Unlikely Animal Friends Holiday Break” withJay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: Due to our schedule and much needed rest, we are taking a holiday break. We will air one episode on Thanksgiving Day and right before Christmas.  Today we talk about Unlikely Animal Friends See you guys on the other side of our break. 

EP 75 ”Change is SCARY!!!!” with Jay Dan Gumm

CHANGE IS SCARY . In this episode, Jay Dan talks about change, how scary it can be, the changes he’s made in his life, and how you can make changes in your own life. . If you don’t have any change in your pocket, you can’t give change. What does this mean? Listen this episode to find out. . I pray that as you make the changes in your life, you find ways to help others make change too. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Damon Wes't’s book The Change Agent: https://smile.amazon.com/Change-Agent-College-Sentenced-Transformed/dp/1637581777/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2RD0GFU1N10OK&dchild=1&keywords=the+change+agent+damon+west&qid=1635507221&sprefix=the+change+age%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-1 . Damon West’s book The Coffee Bean: https://smile.amazon.com/Coffee-Bean-Simple-Lesson-Positive/dp/1119430275/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2RD0GFU1N10OK&dchild=1&keywords=the+change+agent+damon+west&qid=1635507340&sprefix=the+change+age%2Caps%2C92&sr=8-3 . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 74 ”Divisive Politics and Grace to Change” with Representative Carl O. Sherman

Show Summary: . Representative Carl O. Sherman has been identified as a transformational leader in faith, government, and business. He proudly represents District 109, including Cedar Hill, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Ferris, Glenn Heights, Hutchins, Lancaster, Ovilla, Seagoville, Wilmer, and other surrounding areas of southern Dallas County. . Rep. Sherman is a trailblazer in both local politics and public administration. Rep. Sherman lives in DeSoto, TX, where he and his wife of over 34 years, Ms. Michelle, raised their three sons and two daughters. His greatest joy comes from spending quality time with his family and five adorable grandchildren. . In this episode I dive into faith and politics with Rep Sherman as well as talk about some of the police and prison reform bills he has helped pass. . To follow Rep Sherman on social media, check out the links below. .  Memorable Quote: “He gives us grace that we might come to repentance, that we might change. It’s hard for a person to change into something better when you treat him less than an animal.” -Rep Carl O. Sherman . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Rep Sherman’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarlOShermanTX . Rep Sherman’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CarlOShermanTX/ . Rep Sherman’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarlOShermanTX . Visit Rep Sherman's Website: https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=109 How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 73 ”Connection vs Position” with Jay Dan Gumm

Position vs Connection . In this episode, Jay Dan talks about the difference between the position you're in and the connection you have.  . The devil and this world can take your position, but not your connection.  . Your position is temporary, your connection is eternal.  . Your position has to bow to your connection, every time.  . We are praying that whatever position you find yourself in, you stay connected to the One who can get you through anything in life. God.  . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Forgiven Felons Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 72 ”The Power of God in a Reformer’s Heart” with Pastor Becky Hennesy

Show Summary: . Have you ever felt a burning desire in your heart to see changes made? Is there a stirring in your core to see systems and methods that have been in place for years, morph into something more powerful and impacting? . You may be a reformer. You are a reformer. . In this episode we talk to a reformer, Pastor Becky Hennesy from Trinity Church, and she guides us through her journey of God breaking her heart for things that breaks His. . We talk about how we met. She used to take me to my probation meetings when she first came to the church. She and her husband Jim were there the day I got out of prison. She’s watched me change and I’ve watch her grow into this reformer who is changing her community. . We talk about her first Reformers Conference and all the reformers who will be there. If you a reformer who doesn’t know what next step to take, you should come. If you have a heart for change in your community, you should come. . Check out all the links below to register for conference, follow Becky on social media, and listen to the sermon she was talking about. .  Memorable Quote: “That walk home for those six years was the time God broke my heart for the broken people and their lives.” - Becky Hennesy . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Reformers Collective Conference: https://www.reformersco.com/home . Reformers Co Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReformersCo . Reformers Co Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reformersco/ . Becky’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beckyhennesy/ . Latest Trinity Church sermon by Josh Giles: Sermon, Word over Jim, Becky, and Jay Dan . Trinity Church’s website: https://www.trinitychurch.org/ . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  

EP 71 ”Crazy Faith, $75K, and Wrongful Convictions.” Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: . In this episode Jay Dan talks about the crazy faith it took to raise his goal by $20,000 even though he’d never reached his goal before. He talks about sowing seeds into this goal for years before fruit showed up. . Jay Dan also talks about how tough it was to prepare for the fundraiser, get his house ready for market, and be a good parent and husband at the same time. He gives several things he held onto that might help you hold on during tough times. . Have you seen the documentary? It’s also on you tube now on the Christian Movies Channel. I won’t link all three episode here, just search for them and you’ll find them. They are getting lots of views. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Watch the Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.  

EP 70 ”North Texas Giving Day, Tough Seasons, My 18th Birthday, and Injustices” with Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: . Have you ever had a tough season? In today’s episode I talk about North Texas Giving Day, our annual fundraiser, tough seasons, my spiritual 18th birthday, and some injustices that are taking place right now in our society and Forgiven Felons. . Check out the links below to buy raffle tickets, learn more about Forgiven Felons, check out some of our sponsors websites, and watch the documentary. . Resources Mentioned in the Show: Watch the Documentary: https://therokuchannel.roku.com/details/7abf5e84134e54a394b5b42544c08caa/forgiven-felons/season-1 . Buy Raffle Tickets for the Mower: https://spartanmowergiveaway.ourraffle.org/ . Visit PR Equipment Sales: https://www.prequipmentsales.com/ . Visit Express Employment Professionals: https://www.expresspros.com/waxahachietx/ . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 68 ”His Praying Wife Brought Him Back to Life” Pastor Rod Vargas- Union Houston

Show Summary: . On this episode we interview good friend Pastor Rod Vargas of Union Houston, a life-giving church in Houston, Texas. . Rodrigo serves as the Lead Pastor of UNION Houston. Rodrigo is the visionary of the mission of Union Houston. Being living proof of the redemptive life-changing power of Christ Rodrigo’s passion is to connect the least the lost and the last to Christ. . Sara is the Operations Pastor of UNION Houston. She coordinates operations at UNION’s physical location, Sara provide support to the staff and attenders, and leads volunteer teams to execute initiatives of the vision of the Church music. . We talk about his family migrating to the US and all the challenges that came with that. Then we got into his first addiction, money and success. At one time Rod became an atheist. In 2007 he had DEA, ICE, and Condoleezza Rice wanting to interview him about some properties he sold to people who were in trouble. . We also dive into Rod’s bout with depression and how he overcame it. By the age of six he had already experienced physical, sexual, and verbal abuse and admits it robbed him of his identity, self worth, self esteem and filled him with shame and condemnation. Rod is the most real, transparent, big-hearted pastor I know. . Union Houston does a lot of mission work in Afghanistan. They’ve planted churches in Iran, equipped pastors in Afghanistan, and are now helping to extract them as well. Please check out the link below to see how you can partner with Pastor Rod and Sara, as well as Global Catalytic Ministries, to give support to their efforts in Afghanistan. . Memorable Quote: “I’m passionate about what I do because my intention is to reach that Rod, or the female version of Rod, that is actually intending on killing themselves.”- Pastor Rod Vargas . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . Afghanistan Relief: https://www.unionhouston.com/afghanistanrelief . Union Houston’s Website: https://www.unionhouston.com/ . Rod’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revrodhtx . Rod’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revrodhtx/ . Watch Rod talk about the vision of Union Houston: https://vimeo.com/527546692 . Buy Raffle Tickets for the Mower: https://spartanmowergiveaway.ourraffle.org/ . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127. . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

EP 67 ”Getting High with Friends” with Jay Dan Gumm

Show Summary: . I have to confess, I’ve been high all week. . I took a break from the interview podcast and went solo this week. This week was also the week we went on family vacation in Colorado with our friends, Matt and Crysti Robertson and their four kids. My wife and Crysti have been best friends since high school and I’ve gotten to know Matt really well since I’ve been out of prison. . Since they’ve been pastoring down in San Antonio we don’t get to see them as much so when there’s a chance we can vacation together, we do it. And Colorado is a great place to vacation. The scenic views are really amazing and the weather was nice compared to my Texas weather right now. . I was going to go in a different direction this week but changed my mind after our Monday hike. . In this episode I talk about my old way of getting high, getting physically high on a mountain, and getting high on Jesus. I talk about some of the things that can happen when you’re high and what to do when you encounter them. . We love the Robertsons and enjoyed our vacation with them. To learn what happened on our first day of hiking (getting high), listen to the episode, then check out the pics on the show page. Follow us on social media to see more pics of us getting high with our friends.  . Memorable Quote: “Be careful who you get high with.”- Jay Dan Gumm . Resources Mentioned in the Show: . North Texas Giving Day Raffle Going On NOW: Click here to buy tickets https://www.forgivenfelons.org/raffle-ntgd . Jay Dan’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forgivenfelon/ . Jay Dan’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgivenfelons/ . How to get more involved with Forgiven Felons: . Check out our show page:forgivenfelons.org/backgroundcheck . Leave a review and subscribe on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/background-check-podcast/id1515831127 . Learn about our Future Plans: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/future-plans . Give to our organization: https://www.forgivenfelons.org/support . Shop our merchandise: https://forgivenfelons.org/shop . Follow Forgiven Felons on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.