Community Corner
The Incredible Story of Lorton's 'Amazing Gospel Souls'
The former inmates spent more than 200 years, collectively, in Lorton Prison.
Do you know "The Amazing Gospel Souls"? You may of heard where they came from. The 10 former Lorton prison inmates found religion and organized the gospel group in 1980. They have collectively served more than 200 years, and since their release are spreading a message of redemption.
"We all were old R&B singers who, one day, were tricked over to a church service and we never left, ," said group leader Kevin Petty, who is now a substance abuse counselor for the Salvation Army. "I spent 30 years in Lorton Prison, but I came out of there an evangelist with two college degrees."
Petty was convicted of robbery and homicide in 1979. "It was the darkest period of my life," he said. "I was addicted to heroin at the age of eight years old, and that spiraled my life out of control. But God used that prison experience to raise all of us up... God has infinite redeeming power for all of us."
The Amazing Gospel Souls perform for community events, church groups and schools.
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