THE PASTOR | Ron Miller Jr.

While playing on scholarship for basketball at Florida State University, Ron Miller Jr. realized his purpose in life one night while attending a campus ministry meeting.

“God called me into ministry when I was 21 years old, it was like he had a full-time calling on my life,” Miller, 37, said.

At an age when indecision usually reigns supreme, Miller immersed himself in the ministry. More than a decade later, he has helped bring athletic training, mentoring and public service to the community – along with a bold message for the people of Tallahassee.

“The challenge,” he said, “is to prove that God is real.”

Although Miller’s church, Every Nation Tallahassee, is relatively young, church attendance has grown during the five years he has served as senior pastor, attracting people – many of them young –– from different denominations, as well as different levels of faith and dedication.

Miller spreads the word of Every Nation via a plan he calls the “4 C’s of Tallahassee.”

“Our desire is to reach out to the campuses because they are our future leaders, the community because we want to see our families healthy and strong, commerce because we desire to see business men and women serving God in their professions, and the capital because we believe God has given Tallahassee an important leadership role in the state and the world,” he said.

With ministries on the local college campuses, Miller aims to help students alleviate the stresses that accompany becoming an adult.

Through his involvement in local schools, a Web log and a monthly radio show, Miller always tries to keep the public informed and involved with the church. He also has helped groom the “athletic arm” of the church, Champions for Christ.

“Through this program, college and professional athletes are targeted to help them realize their strengths and give guidance in their lives,” Miller said.

His mission in community involvement includes hands-on efforts in several outreach programs. “Refuge of Love” is a social-service program helping to meet public needs for free – from job placement to language classes, free music lessons and sports-specific training. In addition, the Corey Simon Success Center, located on Tallahassee’s south side, reaches out to youngsters with socioeconomic disadvantages.

“This being my home, I don’t want to just do church – I want to serve the city,” Miller said.

Miller’s ministerial efforts are shared by his wife, Cindy, who also serves the church as a senior pastor. In addition to their work with the church, the Millers also share responsibilities as the parents of three young children. – Jessica Stasiw