From Prison to Praise

Leo Bristol was born in 1965, and grew up with lots of love from his mother and father. At the age of 13 he lost his father, and Leo’s life began a downward spiral of crime, drugs and alcohol. By the age of 19, he was sentenced to prison for the first of five times over the next 22 years.

After three trips to prison in California, his mother talked him into moving to Oregon, hoping the change would help. On his second trip to prison in Oregon, Leo finally realized that the lifestyle he was living was more than he could bear. He cried out to God for help and within a few minutes an inmate named Lee knocked on his door and invited him to a Bible study.

His upward climb to overcome old habits, began upon his release in June of 2002. He has learned that seeking God on a daily basis is the key to his daily success.

Leo was baptized in the Elgin Church he attends with his mother, Beverly, who never gave up on him. He is in the process of starting his own prison ministry to aid those who will never be released.

Featured in: February 2005

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