#264: From Military To The Ministry, Army War Vet Preaches & Teaches Biblical Leadership

After a nearly 14 year Army career, being a leader most of that, this combat vet is leading in a new way - as an associate pastor and leadership coach in Columbus GA. We talk about what he learned in the Afghanistan War...why health concerns ended his time in the military...getting the call from God...what football taught him about being a leader...and co-hosting a podcast based in the Bible.

(2:30) Jekiel (Jay) Bishop dives into why he joined the Army, mentoring younger soldiers, and seeing gruesome things in combat in the Middle East.

The paratrooper-turned pastor (10:27) also discusses on the podcast what serving his country taught him about faith and himself, telling us "God used the Army to prepare me for ministry." How did chaplains help him get through what he saw in combat? 6 blood clots, some after COVID vaccines, led to God showing him it was time to end his Army career. In some of his last months in uniform, this Infantryman also gave his life to the Lord, then came the Call into ministry. Jay Bishop has now been an Associate Pastor at Church on the Trail in Columbus GA. He talks about the different between being a faith leader and Army leader.

(24:50) We talk about his leadership lessons from coaching youth football - as a teen when he was also playing, eventually taking the field in junior college football. (28:25) As the founder of Shepherd's Way Leadership, he points to Jesus and a lot of people in the Bible as examples of servant leaders! We also chat about listening...and the differences between leading tough and caring for the people you lead.

(37:17) He now co-hosts the "Black White and the Red Letters" podcast with Pastor Ed Grifenhagan: https://www.facebook.com/blackwhiteandtheredletterspodcast. We talk about what's next for him and what he teaches through the Shepherd's Way business: https://www.shepherdswayleadership.com/

(47:57) And Pastor Jay closes our episode in prayer. Make sure to subscribe to "Run The Race," tell others about it, rate and review it on Apple and Spotify. Thanks for listening!

On your journeys of fitness and faith, we are helping you stay motivated to be stronger physically and spiritually on the new RUN THE RACE podcast. Host Jason Dennis - veteran WTVM news anchor, marathon runner and missionary, will talk to experts and people with inspiring stories as we dig deeper into the mind, body and soul.