#279: Police Officer Turned Minister Helps Us "Reach One Heart At A Time"

He was a police officer in East Alabama, where he grew up, then Mack Ballard got a new call from God. Now, for more than four decades, he's been a minister and missionary and chaplain for the Opelika Police Department. And he just wrote his first book - helping us better be able to witness to others - called "One Heart At A Time: Simplifying Outreach For the Body of Christ." https://www.amazon.com/One-Heart-Time-Simplifying-Outreach/dp/1257028081.

(3:30) Chaplain Mack is open about his chaotic and troubled childhood...seeing difficult things as a policeman...God saving him and being on fire for the Lord.

(19:04) Along with his calling to write multiple books, we dive into his journey from law enforcement to chaplain for those in the dangerous jobs.

(28:02) His book focuses on BEING Witnesses, as it says in the Bible, not doing witnessing...and praying for God to open doors for that...and advice for others who may not think they can talk to strangers about the Lord. Mack has stories!

(35:02) He also did ministry in places like Russia, India, Mexico where their spiritual lives are much different...places where he learned a lot about outreach.

(45:15) God has also told Chaplain Mack to REFIRE not Retire. At any age, we can learn from his tidbits on telling others about Jesus and not focusing on meeting so-called church standards.

(49:14) And my guest closes us out in prayer. Thanks for listening to "Run The Race." Tell others about it, listen to past episodes on faith and fitness, leave a review on Apple.

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.