Dennis Rice, a former "Manson Gang" member and now a Christian, will speak Saturday, Aug. 31, at 8 p.m. at the Globe Christian Center, 509 E. Maple (across from Globe High School). Rice is being presented by "The Underground," a Saturday night music ministry of the Globe church. Rice will be sharing the spotlight with a guest band from Mesa. Admission is free.

Rice had joined the "Manson Family" after Charles Manson was already in a California jail. "We thought Charlie was Jesus," said Rice. "It sounds insane now, but we would have done anything for him." Rice was arrested as he was stealing dozens of guns for a jailbreak. While serving time in San Quentin, Rice became a Christian. He began to spend many hours in Bible studies and meeting with other Christian inmates, and felt happy that his "spoiled, rebellious nature" was changing.

When Rice left prison, he was determined to live a clean new life for God, but he found himself drifting back into old negative patterns. When he joined an evangelistic church in Tempe, he found Christian friendship, encouragement, and stability for his life. His job and family thrived, and he began "Set Free Ministries," traveling widely to speak to churches and state prisons about the life-changing power of the real Jesus Christ, and the importance of the local church to former inmates in providing rehabilitation that really works.