Gambling addiction and redemption: Finding freedom in Christ

In this episode of Faith & Clarity, Dr. Mark Turman sits down with Denison Forum contributing writer Jeff Parker, a North Texas father of five and former accountant and recovery pastor, to talk about his journey from early Christian faith to a seven-year hidden gambling spiral marked by deception and six-figure theft from his company. Jeff explains how shame, a double life in church, and an escalation in risk fueled his addiction, and why he now counts his days since his full confession on January 19, 2015. Together, they explore the cultural normalization and spiritual dangers of modern gambling and online betting. Jeff describes the role of community, ruthless honesty, and repentance in rebuilding trust with his wife, Stacy, including outside financial accountability, and shares parenting insights on presence and transparency. Topics (0:00) Introduction (1:00) Meet Jeff Parker (4:37) Childhood and meeting Jesus (9:42) Good dad vs godly dad (15:53) Double life in adolescence (23:53) Marriage pressure and spiral (27:46) Hiding at church and telling truth (31:16) Power of your story (33:38) Gambling spiritual dangers (34:46) Four stages of addiction (40:38) Hitting bottom and confessing (47:00) Rebuilding marriage trust (52:27) Practicing wise confession (58:06) Living out repentance (59:12) Where to follow Jeff (1:00:56) Conclusion Resources Denison Forum Home Page From the Depths of Gambling into the Love of Christ The Inefficiency of Shepherding Is gambling the next pornography Ask Us Anything: [email protected] Sign-up for a Denison Forum newsletter: DenisonForum.org/subscribe About Jeff Parker Jeff lives in Allen, TX with his wife Stacey and their five kids, ranging from college to grade school. His career has taken him from big accounting firms to small businesses to serving as a teaching and recovery pastor. After experiencing God’s rescuing hand from a double life of gambling and stealing, he enjoys helping shepherd others in their pursuit of Christ. Now, through Rafa House Church and Voice & Vine he’s rediscovering the ancient rhythms of healing and restoration—learning again to tell his story and trust God to use it to bring wholeness to himself and others. About Dr. Mark Turman Dr. Mark Turman serves as the Executive Director of Denison Forum, where he leads with a passion for equipping believers to navigate today’s complex culture with biblical truth. He is best known as the host of the Faith & Clarity podcast and the lead pastor of the Possum Kingdom Lake Chapel, the in-person congregation of Denison Ministries. Dr. Turman is the coauthor of Sacred Sexuality: Reclaiming God’s Design and Who Am I? What the Bible Says About Identity and Why it Matters. He earned his undergraduate degree from Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas, and received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. He later completed his Doctor of Ministry degree at George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University in Waco. Before joining Denison Forum, Mark served as a pastor for thirty-five years, including twenty-five years as the founding pastor of Crosspoint Church in McKinney, Texas. Mark and his high school sweetheart, Judi, married in 1986. They are proud parents of two adult children and grandparents to three grandchildren. About Denison Forum Denison Forum exists to thoughtfully engage the issues of our day from a biblical perspective, helping believers discern today’s news and culture through the lens of faith. Led by Dr. Jim Denison and a team of contributing writers, we offer trusted insight through The Daily Article, a daily email newsletter and podcast, along with articles, podcasts, interviews, books, and other resources. Together, these form a growing ecosystem of Christ-centered content that equips readers to respond to current events not with fear or partisanship, but with clarity, conviction, and hope. To learn more visit DenisonForum.org. All episodes are produced by Sound of a Rose. For more information, you can visit soundofarose.com.