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Inspired by years of accompanying patients and families through suffering, Rick Lee James’ new song, Heaven Is Full of Criminals, reflects on the Christian hope that no one is beyond God’s mercy.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — For most people, a hospital hallway is a place of uncertainty. For healthcare chaplain and singer-songwriter Rick Lee James, it has become a place where questions about faith, suffering, forgiveness, and hope are voiced every day.
Those conversations inspired Heaven Is Full of Criminals, James’ new single featuring acclaimed guitarist Phil Keaggy, released today on all major streaming platforms. Rather than focusing on crime, the song reflects on one of Christianity’s oldest themes: that God’s kingdom has always been populated by people whose lives were transformed by grace rather than earned by merit.
“As a hospital chaplain, I’ve had the privilege of sitting with people during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” James said. “No matter how unique our different circumstances, many people ask common questions: ‘Could God still love me? Have I gone too far?’ This song grew out of those conversations.”
The song’s title intentionally invites listeners to reconsider familiar a biblical story from a differnt angle.
“There is a quote attributed to St. Augustine that I often return to: ‘Do not despair; one of the thieves was saved. Do not presume; one of the thieves was damned,’” James said. “The song reflects on the thief beside Jesus, and others whose stories remind us that redemption has always been central to the Christian faith.”
Before its public release, Heaven Is Full of Criminals reached the Top 10 on the PLAY MPE daily streaming and download charts, receiving early support from Christian radio programmers across North America.
The recording features guitarist Phil Keaggy, whose decades-long career has earned recognition as one of contemporary Christian music’s most respected musicians.
“I’m excited about this new song by Rick Lee James called Heaven Is Full of Criminals,” Keaggy said. “It really tells the story of mercy and redemption. Whoever you are, whatever you have done against God’s loving commandments, still His mercy endures forever.”
James serves full-time as a healthcare chaplain at Springfield Regional Medical Center in Springfield, Ohio. Alongside his ministry in healthcare, he continues to write songs exploring faith, suffering, hope, and redemption. He also hosts Voices In My Head (The Rick Lee James Podcast) and recently contributed electric guitar to Guitar Tree from Antonio Vergara’s Grammy-nominated album The Fury. James is also scheduled to appear on CFN Live, the flagship television program of the Catholic Faith Network, on Aug. 11, 2026.
Watch the official lyric video
Listen to Heaven Is Full of Criminals
Watch Phil Keaggy discuss the song
Read the complete story behind the song
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Media Relations
Rick Lee James Music
Email: Rick@RickLeeJames.com
www.RickLeeJames.com
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of RNS or Religion News Foundation.
