From Broken Past to Bold Future with Ron Armstrong

️ Code Red Talk | From Broken Past to Bold Future: Ron Armstrong on Redemption, Community & a Vision for Jacksonville ✝️️ From addiction to advocate, pastor and nonprofit leader Ron Armstrong joins Pastor Zach Terry to share how Jesus changed his life at 25—and why he’s now running for Mayor of Jacksonville (March 2027). This candid convo hits faith, family, first responders, downtown revival, fiscal stewardship, immigration, and what it means to lead with conviction. In this episode: ✅ From drugs & trap houses to a redeemed life and mission ✅ The crane-operator invite that led to his first church visit (and salvation) ✅ International missions → Hope’s Closet → nonprofit work in 32209 ✅ A coffee company that creates jobs for local youth ☕️ ✅ Why run for mayor now? An outsider plan built on prayer & people, not mega-donors ✅ Mental health & burnout: 24/72 schedules and “Kelly Day” for first responders ✅ Downtown safety, the $8B spending question, and learning from Tampa ✅ Jaguars stadium + jail relocation: costs, displacement, priorities ✅ Immigration: full cooperation with ICE and clearer legal pathways ✅ Religious liberty, civil dialogue (incl. LGBTQ conversations), and church engagement ✅ Family first: a campaign with guardrails—and his wife’s veto if it crosses a line Timestamps 00:00 Cold open: community support & “dog-and-pony show” fatigue 00:57 Intro 02:20 Childhood trauma & early addiction (Daytona) 08:03 Trap house raid & running harder 11:28 First church invite → conversion at 25 14:56 Missions, corporate, and launching nonprofit in 32209 16:36 The “mayor” calling; prayer, elders, and launch team 19:09 Coffee company that creates jobs for youth 27:54 First-responder burnout: 24/72 & Kelly Day 31:19 Downtown safety & the $8B question 47:30 Jaguars stadium & jail relocation (costs, displacement) 58:34 Family first: boundaries for a clean campaign 01:04:53 How to support & sign-off “If she ever thinks it’s time to end it, I’m ending it.” — on keeping family first Subscribe for more Code Red conversations on faith, leadership, and public life.