Everyone loves a good redemption story. Tales of people turning their lives around sell almost as well as the scandals that destroyed those lives in the first place. The redemption story simply comes with a more feel good spin rather than the morbid glee of watching as a train goes hurtling off the tracks. In an unusual twist to recent politics, it was the redemption story that was on display during the State of the Union rather than the crash and burn that has been more common lately in Washington.

Matthew Charles was a drug offender who was arrested for selling crack cocaine. He was convicted in 1996 and sentenced to 35 years in jail. While imprisoned, Charles found Jesus and surrendered his life to God. He became a model prisoner behind bars and began trying to get his life together as best he could while in jail. He completed more than 30 Bible studies, mentored fellow inmates, taught GED classes and became a law clerk. Then, in 2016 Charles was released.

Once back in the larger world, Charles continued to try and stay on the straight and narrow. He got a job as a driver, volunteered at a food pantry and reconnected with his family. Everything came crashing down two years later, however, when the Department of Justice said he had been released in error. Charles was sent back to prison and told he would be serving nine more years.

Rather than falling into despair, Charles turned to the Bible for hope and comfort. His prayers were not in vain. When the First Step Act was signed into law in December 2018, Charles was the first prisoner released under the new law. His story captured the attention of many, and it is getting new interest as Charles was invited to attend the State of the Union address in 2019. The White House described Charles’ life as “a story of redemption,” but Charles is taking none of the credit.

“God used a lot of people to bring about my freedom,” Charles said.

One can only hope Charles continues on his upward track and lets God continue to lead him to a better life.