Ron Mills was desperate in 1987 and needed hope.
Since he found it, he’s been sharing it with other desperate people as a vocational evangelist, providing hope to those who also have a need for repentance, holiness and restoration.
“From time to time I went to church as a child,” Mills recalled, “and was exposed to the gospel as a teenager.”
But church was never one of his priorities.
In 1980 Mills and his wife, Cheryl, were experiencing financial and marital problems, along with their daughter’s extreme physical illness.
“I became aware that I was not in control of the circumstances surrounding my life,” Mills recounted. “Depression set in and a desperation for help.”
Changing life
In February Mills saw a TV program that created a glimmer of hope. He started reading the Bible, which gave him “a new source of hope.”
A month later he repented from his sin, asked God to forgive him and invited Christ to be his Lord. He followed up with baptism, and preached his first sermon in September.
“The Lord performed many wonderful miracles in my early Christian life,” Mills recalled, “which deepened my love for my Savior and brought about some very rapid growth. God not only healed the relationship between my wife and I, but made our marriage better than I ever expected it could be.
“Two weeks after my conversion God restored the health of my daughter,” Mills remembered. “The desire for the things of the world simply vanished as I truly became a new creation in Christ Jesus!”
Today the Mills are active at First Baptist Church Blue Springs, Missouri, when not ministering elsewhere.
About six months after he accepted Christ Mills said he began sensing a burden to see lost people come to Christ, as well as a heaven-sent revival in the church.
“The more I saw of Christians, the more I was reminded why lost folks didn’t want anything to do with the church,” he recalled.
“Even as a new Christian with limited knowledge of the Word of God, I knew all was not right with the Body of Christ. This burden continued to grow to the point that I could no longer deny the calling of the Lord to, ‘Go and stir my people.’
“After surrendering my life to ministering to the Body of Christ, there was an immediate confirmation from the Holy Spirit that this was God’s will,” Mills recalled. “I really don’t believe I could ever be fulfilled doing anything other than preaching the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Benevolence
Now, as a member of the Missouri Baptist Fellowship of Evangelists, Mills preaches 35–45 times annually in Missouri and other states; he also has preached in 12 countries. Events include revival meetings, conferences and conventions, winter Bible studies, youth camps and senior adult studies.
In 2020 Ron Mills Ministry “took a drastic turn from ministry in church buildings to benevolence ministry in the community,” he said.
Prior to ministry Mills was an auto mechanic. That experience moved him over the last three years toward helping unemployed families with car repair and other needs.
“We don’t charge for labor and most of the time we provide parts as well,” Mills said. “I am also pretty good with handyman stuff so we do a lot of home repair: washing machines, refrigerators, plumbing and electrical.”
As with auto work, parts and labor are supplied at no charge.
“I’ve discovered that when I repair someone’s car or house for free, people are willing to listen to an explanation of the plan of salvation through Jesus Christ,” Mills said. “These past three years we’ve seen as many, if not more, decisions for Jesus than during any time of our evangelistic ministry.”
Mills’ ministry is supported by a prayer team connected through email.
“Prayer partners scattered all over the world pray for a need when I send them an email,” Mills said. “I also send them a weekly video of encouragement, devotional, Bible study and plan of salvation.”
He posts needs and videos to his website, as well as YouTube and FaceBook channels. Mills may be contacted at www.ruhb.com or ronmills@ruhb.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Michael Smith and originally published by the Pathway.
