S4 | E1 (Pt. 2) – Conversion of a Klansman: The Tom Tarrants Story

April 8, 2026

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31 mins 18 secs

Tom Tarrants was a committed white supremacist and member of the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan. Now, sentenced to 30 years in federal prison, Tom plans his escape.

Welcome to The Story Partners Podcast – a show featuring stories of transformation told by the people who lived them. It is our hope that as you listen, you are fully immersed into the world of the storyteller. This isn’t a back-forth interview format, instead it’s an uninterrupted and authentic storytelling experience. This is a unique format for a podcast, but we really love it – and we hope you do too!

This is Tom Tarrants in Season 4 | Episode 1 (Part 2) called “Conversion of a Klansman: The Tom Tarrants Story”.

Content Warning:

This episode is intended for adult audiences and contains descriptions of racism, domestic terrorism, and violence. Listener discretion is advised

Resources & Links:

Transcript: Click Here to Read
More about Tom: Tom Tarrants was once a committed white supremacist and member of Mississippi’s White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, described by the FBI as one of the most violent right-wing terrorist organizations in America. In 1969, he was shot and arrested while attempting to bomb the home of a Jewish leader and was sentenced to decades in prison. During years of confinement — including time in solitary at Parchman Farm — Tarrants began reading the Bible and encountered Jesus Christ, leading to a dramatic conversion and a complete break from his former life of hatred and violence.

After serving eight years of his sentence, Tarrants was released and went on to earn a doctorate, co-pastor a racially diverse church in Washington, D.C., and later serve as president of the C. S. Lewis Institute. He has devoted his life to Christian discipleship and sharing the transforming power of the Gospel.

Books by Tom Tarrants:
- Conversion of a Klansman
- Consumed by Hate, Redeemed by Love

We hope that this story encourages your faith and helps you see Jesus in a more personal way.

Recommended Episodes: If you liked Tom’s story, listen to these next…

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Producers: Walt and Annie Manis

Editor: Walt Manis

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S4 | E1 (Pt. 2) – Conversion of a Klansman: The Tom Tarrants Story

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