Former inmate spreads love through prison ministry

(FOX 13) - Once incarcerated, Alexander Garris is now on a mission to spread love and hope to those in jail. 

After his fifth round of jail time, Garris decided something had to change.

He now operates a ministry in Bay Area prisons.

He says his childhood was full of struggles and turbulence.

"I used to go to school intoxicated sometimes," Garris remembers. "It was nothing but fast women and liquor and violence. That's what I grew up around."

Garris says his faith is what brought him through.

"[God] had to pull me out of the fire. He had to let me go through the lion's den. So when he pulled me out of the darkest I would understand the light," he explained.

Garris now spends his free time telling the story of his redemption and encouraging others to take the same path.

"You'll be surprised how many people [and] lives you can touch just by telling them, 'Brother, I love you,'" he said. "Somebody [has] to love them. Somebody [has] to hug them. Somebody [has] to tell them there's hope. Somebody [has] to help them."