Gary Holcomb
Gary Holcomb hails from Compton, Calif., a suburb known as the birthplace of the “Crips” and “Blood” street gangs. Like many who were raised there, he experienced everything common to inner-city life: drugs, gang activity, a broken home, and molestation at age nine by a trusted family friend. It left him hurt, bitter and angry. Gary’s rage began to surface early and resulted in him being deemed incorrigible by the courts and sent to numerous foster homes and eventually to juvenile hall.
Life for Gary continued that way until his first marriage in 1972. Between family, work and all the responsibilities, things seemed to be going well. It didn’t last long. By then the rage had returned and was worse than before. Confused, angry and determined to self-destruct, Gary turned his anger outward to innocent women and ended up in prison and eventually in Atascadero State Hospital as a classified “mentally disordered sex offender.”
God’s redemptive plan began taking shape. Gary was sent from Atascadero to Folsom State Prison to complete his sentence. There in the cold, damp cells of this 130-year-old institution, Gary had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ that would change his life forever. In the brutal reality of this environment, he came to know the mercy, compassion and forgiveness of a loving God. Gary discovered that God had a purpose and a plan for his life that was far greater than anything he had ever imagined. For the first time in his life, Gary felt that he belonged and that someone understood, cared, and most importantly, loved him.
This divine encounter brought dramatic change into Gary’s life. He began holding Bible studies on the yards of every institution they sent him to, and he gained the respect of inmates and officers alike. Since Gary’s release, he has continued to fight the good fight and has been involved in many outreach ministries. He particularly has a heart for those who are struggling with sexual bondage. In 2007, Gary became the first convicted felon in California to go inside Coalinga State Hospital—while he was still on parole—and minister to inmates classified as sexually violent predators. Gary has been a liaison for sex offenders coming out of prison by sharing with them the hope and deliverance in Christ that he has experienced. Gary successfully completed parole in May 2009 and continues to look forward to all that God has for him.
Gary is married with two daughters and three grandchildren. He has been a member of New Life Community Church in Pismo Beach since 2001 and co-facilitates their Pure Desire sexual purity men’s group.
