Former Drug Dealer Turned Pastor Uses Street Skills to Rescue People Other Churches Won't Touch
A pastor in the United Kingdom is crediting his former life as a drug dealer for giving him the skills and credibility needed to effectively minister to people trapped in addiction, homelessness, and criminal lifestyles that most churches struggle to reach.
The pastor, who spent years dealing drugs before his conversion to Christianity, now leads a ministry specifically focused on individuals living on the streets and battling substance abuse.
He explained that his past experience gives him unique insight into the mindset, survival strategies, and communication patterns of people most churches find difficult to connect with effectively.
"I know how dealers think. I know how addicts think. I know the language, the codes, the desperation," the pastor stated in a recent interview. "When I approach someone on the street, they know immediately I'm not some religious person who read about their world in a book. I lived it."
The pastor's ministry operates in areas where traditional church outreach has failed to gain traction. He uses his understanding of street culture to build trust quickly, speaking directly to individuals in ways that resonate with their lived experiences rather than religious jargon that creates barriers.
His approach involves meeting practical needs first, providing food, clothing, and assistance with housing or rehabilitation programs before discussing spiritual matters.
However, he emphasizes that his ultimate goal remains introducing people to Christ and helping them escape destructive lifestyles through genuine transformation rather than simply managing their circumstances.
The pastor acknowledged that his criminal past initially created skepticism among some Christian leaders, but his track record of reaching people others couldn't has validated his methods. Several individuals formerly involved in drugs and crime have converted to Christianity and rebuilt their lives through his ministry.
He argues that the church needs more believers willing to engage with society's most marginalized populations using whatever background God has given them, rather than viewing troubled pasts as disqualifications for ministry.
THE CRUSADER'S OPINION
God doesn't waste anything.
Not even a drug dealing past.
This pastor knows something comfortable Christianity forgets: Jesus didn't call the qualified. He qualified the called.
Street credibility matters when you're trying to reach the streets.
Addicts don't trust religious people who learned about suffering from seminary books.
They trust someone who survived what they're surviving.
Paul was a murderer before he was an apostle.
Matthew was a tax collector, a collaborator, a traitor.
God specializes in weaponizing broken pasts for kingdom purposes.
The church needs fewer polished programs and more battle scarred soldiers who speak the language of the lost.
This is what real ministry looks like.
TAKE ACTION
Support Street Ministry: The Message Trust (Manchester based street outreach) Website: https://www.message.org.uk Email: info@message.org.uk Phone: +44 (0)161 946 2300
Donate to Addiction Recovery Ministries: Betel UK (Christian rehabilitation for addicts) Website: https://betel.uk Email: info@betel.uk Phone: +44 (0)121 326 6115
Volunteer with Homeless Outreach: Find Christian organizations serving street populations in your area. Ask your church about partnerships with rescue missions or recovery programs that need volunteers willing to get uncomfortable.
Start a Conversation: Share this story with someone who thinks their past disqualifies them from ministry. Ask: "What if God wants to use exactly what you've been through to reach people no one else can reach?" Challenge the idea that only people with clean backgrounds can serve effectively.
Support Prison Ministry: Caring for Ex Offenders (helps formerly incarcerated rebuild lives) Website: https://www.caringforexoffenders.org Email: info@caringforexoffenders.org
