Nearly 30 years ago, Dale Sutherland walked the streets of Washington, D.C., undercover, arresting drug dealers and witnessing firsthand the devastation of addiction, violence and brokenness. Today, he still walks alongside people in crisis, but with compassion instead of a badge, prayer instead of handcuffs and faith that God can redeem any story.
Known as “the Undercover Pastor,” Dale’s life is a powerful example of how God transforms hearts and how that transformation overflows into action for others.
You can hear the full conversation with Crystal Thornton and Dale Sutherland in the podcast below.
A Calling That Never Let Go
Dale once believed ministry was his future. After attending Bible college, he sensed God calling him to serve in an urban setting, but he knew he didn’t yet understand the streets.
So he tried law enforcement.
What was meant to be a two-year experiment turned into a 29-year career. For the final 12 years, Dale lived in two worlds at once: serving as a narcotics officer while also pastoring. His daughter eventually gave that unusual balance a name the Undercover Pastor.
Working during the height of the crack epidemic in the 1980s, Dale says Scripture helped him make sense of what he saw every day.
“It was a Bible being lived out before me,” he says. “People in need of salvation. And the only real hope I saw was lives being changed by Jesus.”
That conviction never left him.
An Arrest That Led to Redemption
One of the most powerful chapters in Dale’s story involves Julian Johnson, a man Dale arrested early in his undercover career during a federal drug case in the early 1990s. Julian served five years in prison.
Years later, Dale heard something unexpected: the man he once arrested had become a pastor.
Unsure but curious, Dale reached out with a simple text.
Five minutes later, his phone rang.
Julian remembered everything.
Their first in-person meeting happened at an IHOP. The two recognized each other instantly and sat down to share where God had taken them since those early days. What they discovered was not resentment, but redemption.
“God didn’t just redeem our stories,” Dale says. “He redeemed a relationship I never thought could be healed. The man I once arrested is now my brother and living proof that no one is beyond God’s reach.”
Today, the former officer and former inmate serve together in ministry, living proof that reconciliation is possible when hearts are surrendered to Christ.
Faith in Action: Meeting Crisis With Compassion
Dale’s calling didn’t end at personal transformation. It grew into service.
He founded Boost Others after realizing how often families fall through the cracks during moments of crisis. Instead of guessing who needs help, the ministry partners directly with social workers, trusted professionals who submit verified requests for urgent, unmet needs.
What began with a few requests a year has grown into nearly 1,200 families served annually, with about 60% involving pediatric hospital cases.
Needs range from a $200 medical tube for a child returning home from chemotherapy, to rent assistance, transportation, funeral costs, or a small court fee holding a family back from stability.
“We solve things in the crisis right then,” Dale explains. “Spiritually and physically.”
Standing With Families in Their Darkest Moments
Some of the hardest moments Dale encounters involve families who lose a child. In those spaces of shock and grief, Boost Others steps in to shoulder practical burdens, so families don’t have to worry about everyday needs while facing unimaginable loss.
“Government doesn’t pay for funerals,” Dale says quietly. “So we help where we can. Everybody makes a difference. It really does.”
Stories That Keep Hope Alive
Despite decades of exposure to heartbreak, Dale stays encouraged through daily time in God’s Word and by witnessing lives transformed.
One story still brings him to tears. While working undercover, Dale built a relationship with a fellow officer who was living far from faith. Through prayer, honest conversations and the gift of a Bible, her life slowly began to change.
Years later, Dale stood at the altar, not as a colleague, but as a pastor, officiating her wedding. Today, she’s walking with the Lord and raising a family grounded in faith.
A Message for Anyone Who Feels Too Far Gone
For those who believe they’ve gone too far or that reconciliation is impossible, Dale offers hope rooted in the Gospel.
“God can soften hearts that can’t be softened,” he says. “Jesus went to the cross for enemies, for people who had no interest in Him. He is the ultimate picture of reconciliation.”
Boost Others also supports families facing terminal illness, sometimes meeting immediate needs, other times stepping in with larger solutions like rent assistance or reliable transportation. The average cost to help a family in crisis is about $200, but Dale says every gift, no matter the size, matters.
When asked what he hopes people remember most about his life, Dale doesn’t point to his career or accomplishments.
“That God was faithful,” he says. “That He can do miraculous things in the lives of the most broken. I’m just an example of His grace.”
To learn more or support families in crisis, visit boostothers.org.
