Reverend Ryan Lamont Jones, a 6-foot-9 certified professional speaker, consultant and hospice chaplain from the Empowerment Clinic, appeared on “Let’s Talk About It with the Turners” to share simple, powerful spiritual strategies for men seeking success in life, family leadership and personal growth.
Rev. Jones focused on spiritual grounding as the essential foundation for men. He stressed that true success begins with a genuine connection to God or a higher power, separate from formal religious routines or “holier-than-thou” attitudes.
“One of the things that I would encourage men to do is get spiritually grounded and spiritually connected,” Rev Jones said. “Now, if that means you become a member of a synagogue or church or mosque, then that’s what it will be. But for me, it is to encourage men to always look to be spiritually grounded and not to be religious, not to be holier than thou, but to be spiritually grounded.”
He explained that once spiritually anchored, other parts of life tend to fall into place. Rev. Jones encouraged men to be honest about their personal spiritual journeys and to respect that everyone’s path is different, even within the same faith.
The discussion addressed a common barrier: “church hurt” and church abuse, which have turned many men away from traditional services. Rather than requiring church attendance, Rev. Jones promoted “significant servant leadership,” where true greatness comes through humble service.
“In order for me to be significant on the highest level, I have to be willing to serve on the lowest level,” he said.
For men ready to start, especially those hurt by past church experiences, Rev Jones offered two practical, beginner-friendly steps: build a simple prayer life and exercise faith.
He said prayer should be honest and conversational, not fancy. “Listen, God, I’m struggling today. I just need you to just be with me because I just don’t know what to do,” he suggested as an example.
To explain faith, Rev. Jones used an everyday comparison: “I’m sitting right now in a chair in my home office. I did not examine this chair. I just sat down in it. But I trust it and believe that this chair is going to always hold me and always going to sustain me.” He urged men to trust God the same way, believing divine support will hold them steady.
When asked if attending church is necessary, Rev. Jones answered honestly, No. Drawing from his work as a hospice chaplain, where he serves as the spiritual leader for people who cannot go to church, he noted that strong faith can exist without physical attendance, especially for those limited by work, health or other circumstances.
Dr. Turner countered by highlighting the value of community, saying gathering with believers provides encouragement, comfort and growth that is hard to find alone. They compared leaving church because of hurt to quitting work after a bad job, better to find a healthier fit than abandon the pursuit.
To listen to the full interview, click the link above.