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Dark Journey Deep Grace: Jeffrey Dahmer's Story of Faith

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One phone call in April 1994 changed Roy Ratcliff's life forever. The call came from a fellow minister who wanted to know if Ratcliff would preside over the baptism of an inmate who was incarcerated in a prison near his home. Ratcliff had never had any experience with prison ministry. Nevertheless, he agreed to drive to the prison and meet with the prisoner. Upon being satisfied that the prisoner had a proper understanding of baptism's purpose, Ratcliff would make all the necessary arrangements. Ratcliff just needed one more piece of information: who was the prisoner making the request? The answer: Jeffrey Dahmer.

Ratcliff, like everyone else living in Wisconsin in the 1990s, was familiar with Dahmer's horrific story of torture, murder, necrophilia and cannibalism. When Ratcliff met Dahmer in late April 1994, he was surprised at Dahmer's quiet demeanor, his fairly lean frame and his small hands. Satisfied that Dahmer understood the meaning of baptism and that his desire was sincere, Ratcliff made arrangements for Dahmer's baptism in May 1994.

After Dahmer's baptism, Ratcliff continued meeting with him for weekly Bible studies and discussions. Little did they know that, in late November 1994, their friendship would be severed by Dahmer's brutal murder at the hands of another prisoner.

His friendship with Dahmer changed Ratcliff's life in several ways. First, the responses of other Christians to Ratcliff's ministry with Dahmer challenged Ratcliff to think deeply about the concepts of mercy, grace and justice. Some Christians encouraged Ratcliff's efforts, others believed Ratcliff was being conned and still others believed Dahmer was too evil to be forgiven. Second, Ratcliff's belief in Dahmer's sincerity and his friendship with Dahmer led him to believe more deeply in God's unconditional love. Third, following his ministry with Dahmer, Ratcliff became involved in several other prison ministries, activities that he is still engaged in a dozen years later.

Ratcliff states unequivocally that God can and does forgive the Jeffrey Dahmers of the world. Ratcliff also states unequivocally that divine forgiveness does not expunge the need for earthly justice. Ratcliff believes that people who cannot understand these distinctions are confused about the natures of both God and society. Social justice required, rightly, according to Ratcliff, that Dahmer should serve out his sentence regardless of his spiritual condition. Ratcliff reports that Dahmer also accepted his penalty as a just one. Neither of these men ever viewed spiritual conversion as a "get out of jail free" card. According to Ratcliff:

"A gross misunderstanding of what Jeff's baptism accomplished was apparent. No one said Jeff was no longer guilty of his crimes. He would not be released from prison, nor should he be, dependent upon his baptism. Baptism does not take away crimes. It addresses sins. The issue in baptism doesn't concern justice in the society. It concerns the forgiveness of God. . . . Jeff's crimes cry out for justice. . . . No one understood this quite as well as Jeff" (pp. 85-86).

This is a profoundly moving book, an unpretentious chronicle of an unlikely friendship that developed around a seemingly unlikely faith. Christians interested in stories of personal testimony will find this book interesting, as it offers insights into the spiritual lives of two men, Ratcliff and Dahmer. They should also find it uplifting, because it offers the promise of present and future redemption to all people, regardless of their past transgressions. Finally, readers of any faith, and even people with no faith, who read this book will be challenged to reconsider their ideas about God, evil and justice.

For the first time, I feel like I read an honest account of Jeffrey Dahmer's life and his turn around in prison.

I especially appreciate the way Leafwood Publishers and authors Roy Ratcliff and Lindy Adams write with sensitivity about the atrocious parts of Dahmer's crimes. While gruesome accounts are thankfully missing, they are "outlined" for those who may have been missing from this planet and do not know the general details.

After conviction for his dark murderous crimes, his prison seclusion forced Jeffrey to face himself and ask some hard questions. I like the timeline that Ratcliff shares with readers and his honesty about his own feelings and even mistakes, especailly in one incident is very appealing.

Some have doubted Jeffrey's conversion. While Ratcliff's encounter may not convince skeptics, his account will no doubt cause any reader to consider the grace of Ratcliff who shared the good news with Jeffrey Dahmer. Many had written him off as hopelessly lost.

I gave this book to a Christian policeman. He meets some very unrepentent, rebellious thugs. I gave him the book to give him hope. Sometimes these criminals, when caught, get a chance to face themselves--to find God in a jail cell.

My thanks to all who had a part in nurturing Jeffrey Dahmer and bringing his story of faith and baptism to the public.

Can a story about serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer be beautiful?

My mind takes me to a verse in the gospel of John: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:8 ESV). Dark Journey Deep Grace shows that the darkness of Jeffrey Dahmer's past cannot overcome the light of Christ. The grace of Christ Jesus is more than able to transform a life that has known the depths of depravity.

I was apprehensive about reading this book because of the inevitable retelling of Dahmer's crimes. A couple of chapters are somewhat disturbing, but I found that grace runs through this account. I see it in Dahmer's desire to be baptized and to obediently follow Christ. Because he had done so much wrong, he wanted so badly to do everything right that it bordered on legalism.

This is where God used Roy Ratcliff, a sincere and humble Church of Christ pastor that God uniquely prepared for this situation. Overwhelmed with regret for his crimes, Dahmer thought of suicide. Ratcliff at one time was so low over a failed pastorate that he too contemplated the same. He gently helped Dahmer to see the issue in light of Scripture, and was also able through their ongoing study of the Bible to guide Dahmer away from a legalistic faith. Ratcliff wanted Dahmer to know that he was fully loved and accepted by God.

Ratcliff never sought notoriety, but he had to deal with it when word of Dahmer's baptism reached the press. The grief that it caused was overshadowed by his concern for his relationship with the man he knew as Jeff. He was pleasantly surprised to learn that Dahmer was glad that people learned of his baptism. Dahmer had a desire to share his faith with others.

This is a wonderful account, simply told, of Ratcliff's seven-month relationship with Dahmer. One of the beautiful aspects of the book is that the two became friends. As a result, Ratcliff is able to share intimately about how Dahmer changed after becoming a Christian.

Dahmer dared to ask the question: Is there a place in heaven for a sinner like me? This book answers yes. It's surprising to learn that many people, including Christians, found it difficult to believe that Dahmer could be forgiven and have a place in heaven. It makes one wonder if Christians truly believe that the vilest offender can receive pardon from sin through faith in Christ.

Ratcliff uses misunderstanding in the minds of people to write briefly about the difference between forgiveness and justice. This might help those who struggle with the thought of God accepting Dahmer and his being a Christian. The book, however, leaves little doubt about his faith being genuine.

The writing is excellent making for easy reading. The author shows a wonderful balance in what he chose to write about. He wisely and tactfully addresses a number of issues without being preachy.

There's a beauty in being able to tell the truth in a simple and straightforward manner. That's what I find here.

This is a tragic story made beautiful in the end by the grace of God.

Jesus told a parable where a number of individuals worked in a field as day laborers. Some of the workers worked all day long and others worked only one hour. At the end of the day they were all paid the same wage. Those who had worked the hardest felt that such treatment was unfair. The owner replied, "Didn't you agree to work all day for the usual wage? Take it and go. I wanted to pay this last worker the same as you.... Should you be angry because I am kind?" (Matthew 20:13-15). Jeffrey Dahmer discovering the grace of God and responding in simple trusting faith is a true scandal! But it is no more scandalous than Jesus saving a convicted criminal who was crucified beside him. Both were saved, not because they were worthy of salvation, but because they trusted in the one who loved them and took the punishment they deserved.

I am thankful to Roy Ratcliff for sharing his story. It was an encouragement to me to read of a preacher who devoted himself to working for the kingdom of God instead of selfishly working to "grow" his own church. The book tells enough of the horrendous sins of Jeffrey Dahmer so that the reader will understand how wicked he truly was, however, it does not go into unnecessary gory detail. The focus of the author was truly on the marvelous grace of God. Ratcliff tells the story as a humble servant doing his master's bidding.

I liked the book because it was honest. The author did not profess to fully know Dahmer's heart or the motives of his actions that were revealed after he was murdered.

Overall, the book is about steps of faith in Christ by a heinous murderer. The author's interaction with Mr.Dahmer is similar to most young believers who are searching God's Words. Its not about the scrutiny of Mr. Dahmer's past motives nor his inner sexual struggle as a young believer. Its about baby steps of a young Christian man.

I really liked it because I accepted Christ when I was an adult. Most of Dahmer's question were mine as well.

I realized after reading the book that its not up to me to judge this man to hell for his lascivious/malicious murders. Quite frankly, when I think about it, it makes me think what kind of heart this man has.

Jesus said, "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!"

How great was the darkness in Mr. Dahmer before Christ. That is why everyone who is in Christ is a new creature.

This book allows you to meditate. It makes you look past the awful sinner, who committed indescribable crimes than most of us, to Jesus--the author and perfector of Christian faith.

Think about it. If you firmly believe Jesus when HE said He is Alpha and Omega. he knows our beginnings and end---the whole history of the universe.
Then Mr. Jeffrey Dahmer is included in this.

God could have (and can) taken the life of Dahmer right then and there when he was arrested or allowed an evil spirit to torment him to suicide. If we believe in Scriptures and nothing is impossible with God, then we know He could have made Mr. Dahmer's story different.

Yet God allowed this controversy to reveal in every believer His amazing grace. To trust in Him regardless of evil men and women or calamities or circumstances.

God never promised our world to be peaceful. He simply said His peace will be with us and that is enough to overcome.

Mr. Dahmer's murders is wicked, but no more wicked than children in poor countries, where life is cheap, to be used for years as sexual slaves and more. Even now people abuse and murder people. Unknown to media, in some places there are people like Dahmer perpetuating this crime. A place unlike America that can prosecute a cannibal murderer.

This book will let you ponder on grace, forgiveness and evil in this world.

I'm glad to be in Jesus Christ.

I was only one or two chapters into this book before I started recommending this book to my friends. The message(s) of this book is very powerful. I'm not one to write in books, but my copy of DARK JOURNEY, DEEP GRACE is covered with blue ink, underlining words and making notes in the margins.

I believe this is a book every Christian should read. It will not only teach us to forgive others, but it will remind us of how very powerful and incredible our own salvation is. None of us are deserving, yet God saved us from darkness and sin.

Wisconsin minister Roy Ratcliff, through a series of unexpected developments and coincidences, was offered the opportunity to spiritually counsel serial murderer Jeffrey Dahmer while he was serving fifteen life sentences. Dahmer made headlines in the early 1990's for his cannibalism, necrophilia, and dismemberment of 17 male victims. Ratcliff's story, however, is slim on the true crime details, and rich in spiritual reflections on his relationship with one of America's most notorious serial killers.

Ratcliff baptized Dahmer in the Church of Christ at Wisconsin's Columbia Correction Institution. Dahmer had completed church workbooks and study guides prior to his request for baptisim. Ratcliff's book describes his relationship with a man who was shunned not only by America as a whole, but by the Christian population of America.

Minister Ratcliff describes a strong friendship from which both men grew and developed spiritually. Ratcliff was subject to harsh criticism for counseling a man that most believed was unfit for heaven. His story, however, is not that of a jailbird conversion, but of a friendship with a deeply troubled man who long knew that his urges were demented, but was unable to control them. Dahmer was murdered in prison in 1994, but Ratcliff continues to minister to prisoners to this day (he had never visited a prisoner prior to Dahmer's request for religious contact in prison).

This book is a slim volume that is rich on reflections about religion, friendship, God, spirituality, and society's concept of forgiveness. It is (thankfully) short on true crime details. Admittedly, the dialogue does read as amateurish, and Ratcliff appears to paint himself in an overly angelic light, but this is still a worthwhile read about religion, friendship, and a crime that is imprinted in America's collective psyche.

Roy does a wonderful job of showing you another side of Jeff. He gives a very honest and open account of his friendship with Jeff. He is also honest about the naysayers and doubters of this story. Regardless of what people think of Roy's motives, this is the work of a man who God chose to befriend and tell the story of a sinner who was saved.

I thought I understood grace and I thought I understood that EVERYONE who calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved. But this book challenged my heart-view of grace. It gave me a deeper understanding of Isaiah 55:8 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways..." In my own walk with Jesus Christ I have been growing in my understanding of the truth that I am absolutely and completely sinful in nature. This book enlarged my understanding that if I believe Jeffrey Dahmer does not deserve heaven, then I do not understand my own sin.

Those who say such foolish comments as, "...if Jeffrey Dahmer is in heaven then I don't want to be there...," are comparing Jeffrey Dahmer to his/her own righteousness. That is not the comparison that should be made; the comparison is to be made with Jesus Christ. Only in looking at Jesus will we realize that our sin nature is the SAME as Jeffrey Dahmer's. And THAT is the offense of the cross!!

I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to better understand grace.

A great example of God's GRACE that is available to each one of us no matter how bad we've been. I really enjoyed it!!!!