What If Your Worst Years Become Your Ministry

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A suspended license, a traffic stop in Louisiana, and a truck loaded with cocaine somehow drives away. That’s the kind of “near miss” that should wake you up, but for Pastor Mike McLeod, it wasn’t enough. His story keeps going until the moment many people recognize but few admit out loud: waking up alone, sick, ashamed, and realizing the life you built is not the life you want.

We talk with Mike about how addiction actually grows, from early experimentation to heavy drinking, cocaine use, and drug runs across state lines. He shares the damage it did to his marriage and his relationship with his daughter, and the heartbreak of realizing he “loved the high better” than the people he was meant to protect. Then the conversation turns to the most unexpected turning point: cleaning his house, finding a mysterious picture of Jesus, and whispering a simple, desperate prayer, “God, I need help.”

From salvation to sobriety to marriage restoration, Mike explains what changed and what it took to rebuild trust. We dig into why restoration is not built on feelings, but on friendship, forgiveness, and agape love, and how a “shady past” can become a lifeline for others who are still stuck. You’ll also hear how recovery support and community matter, including Mike’s work with men in rehab, and Ron’s practical action steps for resisting temptation, naming triggers, and getting back up after failure.

If you or someone you love is battling addiction, relapse, or crushing shame, listen closely, share this with a friend, and then subscribe, leave a review, and send this episode to one person who needs hope today.

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