Doing God’s Will
From Selling Drugs to Selling Faith
Eric Gilbert began smoking marijuana at the age of eleven. By the age of eighteen, he was serving a seventeen-month jail sentence at the Marion County Detention Center in Lebanon, Kentucky for selling cocaine to an undercover police officer. While serving his jail sentence, Gilbert started reading the Bible and decided to devote his life to following God’s will. After being released from jail, Gilbert has continued on the path of sobriety and has shared the Gospel to others who are struggling with drug and alcohol addiction for over 30 years. In 2009, Gilbert began pastoring the Freedom Praise Ministries Church located in Chaplain, Kentucky. Although in-person attendance averages 2-3 people each Sunday, Gilbert live streams his sermons to reach viewers in surrounding communities. One of Gilbert’s greatest accomplishments has been receiving an official pardon from former Kentucky Governor Matt Bevins in December 2019. According to Gilbert, “I figured that if God could pardon me, the governor and people could pardon me, too.”
Reverend Eric Gilbert stands in front of Freedom Praise Ministries Church in Chaplain, Kentucky on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Gilbert has been the pastor of the church for the past 14 years. Gilbert noted, “As the shepherd of the church, I am supposed to watch over the flock or the congregation.”
Sunlight illuminates the Church Hymnal lying on the floor of the Freedom Praise Ministries Church sanctuary in Chaplain, Kentucky on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Reverend Eric Gilbert leads the members in singing songs of praise in addition to delivering the message each week.
Reverend Eric Gilbert poses for a portrait at Freedom Praise Ministries Church in Chaplain, Kentucky on April 2, 2023. Gilbert has been the pastor of the church for the past 14 years. After being arrested, Gilbert commented, “When I went to jail, I knew I had two choices. I could either continue down the path of drugs I was already on or learn a lesson and turn my life around. While in jail, I began studying the Bible and learned that the beliefs I was taught growing up in the Catholic church were contrary to what I was reading in the Bible. Four months into my jail sentence, I was saved and have been clean and sober for over 30 years.”
The congregation at the Freedom Praise Ministries Church listens to the sermon delivered by Reverend Eric Gilbert on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Although attendance averages 2 or 3 members each Sunday, Gilbert noted, “God has a work for each and every one of us to do. Everyone you come in contact with is your mission field. We are our brother’s keeper.”
Gilbert’s daughter, Erica (left), joins her father in singing “He Knows My Name” at the Freedom Praise Ministries Church in Chaplain, Kentucky on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Gilbert livestreams his sermons to reach a broader audience who are not able to attend his worship services in person.
Reverend Eric Gilbert delivers a message about being anxious to the congregation at Freedom Praise Ministries Church in Chaplain, Kentucky on Sunday, April 2, 2023. According to Gilbert, “It’s a sin to worry. We shouldn’t have a care in the world if we cast our cares upon the Lord. I don’t like the word ‘can’t.’ The Bible tells us that all things are possible with God and that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Don’t tell me that you can’t when God’s word says you can.”
Reverend Eric Gilbert anoints his daughter, Erica Gilbert, with oil as congregation members lay their hands on and pray over Gilbert’s daughter at the closing of the sermon at Freedom Praise Ministries Church in Chaplain, Kentucky on Sunday, April 2, 2023. Gilbert told his daughter, “You want God to touch you and take your anxiety from you. This message was especially for you. You have to give it up and turn it all over to Jesus.” Gilbert prayed, “We can’t be used if there are things in the way. We cast all of your cares on her. Deliver her. We rebuke it in the name of Jesus. I love you baby girl.”
Eric Gilbert offloads fuel into the underground tank at Premier Energy Trucking in Taylorsville, Kentucky on Friday, April 7, 2023. Gilbert has worked for the fuel company for over thirty years.
Reverend Eric Gilbert studies scripture as he prepares a sermon using the Bible he keeps in the fuel truck he drives for Premier Energy Trucking in Taylorsville, Kentucky on Friday, April 7, 2023. Gilbert commented, “I keep a tray with my Bible and notebook in my truck. I like to work on my messages while waiting for fuel to dispense into the underground tanks at each stop.” (Photo by Brett Phelps)
Reverend Eric Gilbert displays the Ichthys symbol on the fuel tanker he drives for Premier Energy Trucking based in Taylorsville, Kentucky on Friday, April 7, 2023. Gilbert has been hauling fuel for the past 37 years to support his family and ministry financially. The “Jesus fish” is a symbol typically used to proclaim affiliation with Christianity. Gilbert noted, “I want to share my faith with everyone I come in contact with, including my fuel customers.”
Holly (left) and Eric Gilbert (right) embrace in their home in Chaplain, Kentucky on April 2, 2023. During their 23 years of marriage, the couple has ministered to hundreds of individuals battling drug and alcohol addiction through their prison ministry and at the local Isaiah House Rehabilitation Center.