The John Lee Bishop Story: From Megachurch Pastor to Drug Cartel, Federal Prison, and a Christian Bale Movie

The John Lee Bishop story is almost too unbelievable to be true. He built a thriving megachurch of more than 5,000 people, spoke at Christian events across the globe, and published widely read Christian books. But when his life took a shocking turn that pulled him into the world of a drug cartel and ultimately landed him in federal prison, many assumed that would be the end of his story. Instead, it became the beginning of a powerful journey of redemption.

Through moments that read like fiction—backyard fight clubs, wild animals in sermons, and life-altering choices—Bishop discovered that failure does not have to be final. His HarperCollins book The Church of Living Dangerously captures that hard-won truth, and soon Hollywood star Christian Bale will bring this story of resilience to the big screen. In this episode of Stories Worth Hearing, host John Quick sits down with John Lee Bishop for a raw, hope-filled conversation about second chances, refusing to give up, and the faith that can transform even the darkest chapters into new beginnings.

In the end, you don’t fall out of grace—you fall into grace.

Check out his website here: https://www.johnleebishop.com/