A former metro area sheriff's deputy says his bosses fired him because he was trying to spread the gospel.
 
Josh McCuen worked at the Hall County jail for eight months.
           
He recently started a Bible study group off site for former inmates and began raising funds to put Bibles in every cell. Commanders said he was fired for breaking rules, but McCuen calls it persecution.
 
Channel 2's Tony Thomas obtained cellphone video of last Sunday night's revival. It included video of a recently released inmate singing about his faith.
 
"It was to help rehabilitate spiritually the guys who are pretty much coming out of jail," McCuen said.
 
Commanders called it fraternizing with inmates or known criminal elements. They said that policy violation, along with two reprimands for insubordination, cost McCuen his probationary job.
 
"It's clear they call it fraternizing. It's actually called being persecuted for Christ," McCuen said.
 
McCuen said that so far, he hasn't been given a reason why he was called in Tuesday and told to resign or be fired. But he said all the questions pertained to the Revival 172 Facebook page that he set up and his fundraising site.
 
Thomas asked McCuen if he believes that he'd still be working had it not been for the Bible studies.
 
"Absolutely, without a shadow of a doubt," McCuen said.
 
Hall County sheriff's commanders wouldn't go on camera about that situation, but sent a statement, which read, in part:: "The supervisor discussing this issue did not make any reference to religious beliefs or actions, but this was brought up by McCuen as a reason for his improper behavior."
 
Mccuen said he's now trying to expand his study as he looks for another job, likely outside law enforcement.
 
"My faith is not shaken," McCuen said.
 
Since he had been on the job for less than a year, he was still on routine probationary status.
 
A department spokeswoman said the jail holds numerous religious services each week and makes Bibles available to any inmate who asks for one.