A glazed donut becomes the unlikely catalyst for a spiritual transformation in this powerful conversation with Dr. KW Tulis, pastor of the historic Willow Street Baptist Church in Los Angeles. Born to a 16-year-old single mother in Compton and raised in South LA, Dr. Tulis shares his raw, unfiltered journey through family trauma, identity struggles, and divine intervention.
The turning point came when he was just 13 years old, facing the prospect of foster care as his mother battled crack addiction. That night, remembering a sermon about prayer from a church he initially attended only for the Sunday school donuts, young KW made a fateful promise: "If you just help my mother one time, I promise you I'll serve you till I die." What happened next changed the trajectory of his family forever—his mother found deliverance through their local church community, beginning a 34-year journey of sobriety that continues today.
Dr. Tulis takes us through his evolution from church attendee to armor bearer, from youth pastor to community activist, revealing how mentors like Pastor LC Carter and Reverend Al Sharpton shaped his understanding of ministry and social justice. With remarkable transparency, he discusses navigating his dual identity as both "church boy" and football player at Locke High School—a place many believed nothing good could come from.
The conversation doesn't shy away from complex topics, including Dr. Tulis's nuanced perspective on women's reproductive rights informed by his own origin story. His willingness to engage with the gray areas of faith and social issues embodies the podcast's mission to move beyond simplistic answers.
Subscribe now to hear the full story of how donuts led to deliverance, and how personal testimony becomes public ministry in the hands of someone committed to both spiritual growth and community transformation.

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