Bill Ballenger ended up in Wabash County Indiana at the age of 16 - a resident of White's Residential & Family Services. From there he would see freedom only briefly before heading to prison, Somewhere in the midst of his prison time, just as it seemed his path to ruin was inevitable ,Bill Ballenger found God - or perhaps - God found him. After 2 years and a miraculous turn of events he was released from prison early.

Bill has used his background and his speaking ability to bring a message of hope in the midst of the storm. He has spoken to young people at schools and assemblies across the country and leaves them different. His message is always worded so that any school can feel comfortable to have him in and yet empowering to make his impact one that the young people will never forget.

  He also has a message of hope for those in business. In this age of everything goes, he has a message that it is never wrong to do what is right. This message resonates from the boardroom to the workshop as he shares from his heart the importance of thinking before one acts. That is a message that all of us need to hear.

Not long after he began pastoring, leading worship services, holding prison seminars, preaching and performing concerts. His most recent endeavor has been to establish "Teenrock" a ministry focused on equipping teens to accomplish their dreams. Ballenger is soon to release his 5th CD as lead vocalist for the Wabash based group "Crossover".

Since his release from prison so much has changed for this man as he has been blessed to perform 100's of concerts around this nation along with appearances in Russia, China, and before an estimated crowd of 90,000 at the Indianapolis "Circle of Lights." Ballenger has went on to appear internationally on the Trinity broadcasting networks "TBN". And is a frequent guest on the New Jim Bakker show in Branson, MO, a broadcast that reaches over 200 countries world wide. "His world is forever changed, his heart forever healed. "Things are much better, now... says Ballenger. There has been no drugs in my life for many years and I have truly been blessed with a wonderful wife, family & ministry."

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Testimony of Bill & Jodie

Bill Ballenger has both literally and figuratively been set free. But it's hardly by coincidence that one of the songs on his latest CD is also called "Set Free" The words only begin to tell the story of his triumphant life.

Ballenger was born in Franklin Indiana, but ended up in Wabash County at the age of 16 - a resident of White's Residential & Family Services. From there he would see freedom only briefly before heading to prison, having been sentenced to six years. Somewhere in the middle of his troubled life, just as it seemed his path to ruin was inevitable, he found God - or perhaps - God found him. Trouble worked it's way into Ballenger's life at an early age. He was incorrigible and By the time he turned 16, he was being sent to reform school. "I actually asked to be sent to White's," Ballenger told The Plain Dealer in a recent telephone interview. I knew they had a smaller school and a sports program. He arrived in February of 1985. He quickly got involved with the basketball program under the direction of coach Larry Vaughn. He described him as "inspirational," along with then-house parents Mike and Tammy Ruse (now owners of MTR Service Center), and sub house parent Jason France. He said his decision to go to White's was definitely a good one.

"We had chapel every day. They (the staff) always work to develop their youth," he said. "They (the youth) have a much better chance in society and have a good chance to get free from addictions." He also mentioned the help he received from teachers Jay Driskill, body builder and weight lifter, as well as Clyde Lovellette, Olympic champion and Basketball Hall of Famer.

"They all planted some seeds in me," he added. But no one could have known how long it would take those seeds to grow. While there, he met Jodie, who was only 15. Caught up in a life of promiscuous sex and an overindulgence in drugs, Jodie had been arrested and sent to White's. The two fell in love. Jodie was released and returned to her home in Muncie a little more than a year after arriving. About a month after her release, Ballenger, too, was released and went home. "I was 17 and soon ran away to be with Jodie," he explained. "I stayed until I was 18 and we could be married." It was 1987. Their daughter, Mindy, was born four months after the wedding. Now in their own apartment, their lives became one big party, complete with drug dealers and drive-by shootings. The Indianapolis SWAT Team raided their home. Ballenger said drugs were never found because they had just used what was left. The couple was taken to jail and their baby was placed in foster care.

Convicted of three Class D felonies, they were each sentenced to six years in prison. They were each taken to different facilities. That was where Ballenger began really studying his Bible, attending a prison Bible study and delving into God's word as never before. Separated from each other and their daughter for nearly two years (Mindy had since been placed in the custody of Ballenger's mother), they began praying for an early release. They petitioned the court to grant them an early release - and then prayed ... and prayed.

They were filing their own paperwork and eventually heard back from the judge, who informed the couple, "You can save your ink and save your paper; there is no way you are getting out. You are going to do all your time," Ballenger said.

So I prayed again. I said, 'I'm not praying to the judge - I'm praying to you, God,'" Ballenger recalled. His strength came from a Bible verse from Proverbs 21:1: "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord and He will turn it the way He wants it to go." "Finally a higher court ordered a hearing for the Ballenger's." I remember the sheriff drove us to court that day. It was the first time we had seen each other in nearly two years," he said of the reunion. But they also didn't know if that would be the last time they would see each other for another year.

There was no reason to believe that the judge would let them out, no reason to believe she would change her mind. But that's exactly what happened. Less than two months after they were told to forget it, the judge mysteriously had a "change of heart."

"I felt like God was putting it all together. There was no possible way she was going to let us out - but God changed her heart," he said. They were set free on March 7, 1991. A couple of months after that, their daughter was returned to them, (with no strings attached) Today, Mindy is 19 and her brother, Jared, is 15.

After prison Ballenger began pastoring, leading worship, holding prison seminars, preaching and performing concerts.

In November 2003, he performed before an estimated crowd of 90,000 people in the downtown Indianapolis Christmas celebration, "Circle of Lights." Ballenger would later go on to appear world- wide on the Trinity broadcasting networks "PRAISE THE LORD PROGRAM". He also is a frequent guest on the New Jim Bakker show in Branson, MO.

In 2004 he released his fourth music album, "Dream." Since the fall of 2005 Ballenger has been the lead vocalist of the Christian rock band "Crossover". His world is forever changed, his heart forever healed.

 "It's a much better life, now. There has been no alcohol and no marijuana in my life since 1988 and I have truly been blessed."

"THANK YOU JESUS!"