Make A Difference Mondays, Meet Claude Ball

Claude Ball, began his story in Detroit, Michigan, off the famous street called The 8 Mile Road,  a desolate existence. Suffering many years from childhood traumas and adversities, he lived a “darkness” throughout his teenage life.

Poor, sexually molested by a trusted relative, removed from his mother and grandmother's’ care, placed into the foster care system, life for young Claude seemed bleak. Continuing down a path of poor choices, his teenage years consisted of  experimenting with drugs and alcohol  and becoming sexually active at a young age. Darkness enveloped his life.

Somehow, by the sheer grace of God, a spark was ignited in Claude. After hitting rock bottom, he became determined to turn his life around. He enkindled a relationship with The King of the Universe- Christ Jesus! That same flame is still on fire today. With a correlation of prayers, tears, and action, wonderful things began to happen: Claude joined the United States Navy, Got married and started a family and turned the rough road into a happy life.

SOUL Full of Heart is a heartfelt book full of hope, peace, love, and joy. It is an autobiographical inspirational book. Claude Ball takes you on a dynamic and suspenseful journey through his horrendous life and shares the powerful message of mercy and forgiveness. Claude's Website

Hear in his own words, how he turned his life around, and is making a difference in others lives.

What do you do in your free time?
I spend it with my wife and three daughters. We like to go out and eat at restaurants, play charades and funny walking game, go to the theater and watch a movie.

Tell our readers how you have made a difference in other people's lives?

Almost three years now, I have been speaking to (mostly) youth groups/Christian groups about my crazy life experiences. And just about every speaking engagement, I’ll have a few come up to me afterwards. Most people like how blunt I am about how to deal with adversities. This is what happened to me, but I refuse to let it get the best of me. Move forward and do your best.

What is the hardest thing you have dealt with?

The answer to this question, without a doubt, being taken away from my mom and grandma. I was eight-years old in my third-grade classroom, and was called down to the office prepared to leave. Had no idea that earlier that morning was going to be the last time I was going to see my mom and grandma, for what seemed like to me a lifetime. Directly, I was placed into the Shelter Care, a foster care system, in and out of three foster homes and never really knowing when my siblings and I were going to officially go home.

What brings you the greatest joy?
All my children: Angelica, Julia, and Claudia. I love them so much.

 Tell our readers about your book.

It’s an autobiography. An autobiographical inspiration, is what I like to call it. I was born in Detroit, Michigan, and grew up off a street named 8 Mile Road. Eminem, the famous rapper, made his number one box office hit movie 8 Mile right down the street from me. Raised in poverty, sexually molested by an uncle at the age of six, placed in a foster care system, got into drugs and alcohol by the age of thirteen, and was in “darkness” as I like to label it, throughout my teenage life. Thankfully, I woke up one day and took control of my life with the help of Jesus Christ—The King of the Universe! My book is packed with well descriptive details of everything I mentioned and lots more. There are over seventy compelling stories that are juicier than you can imagine.

What is your favorite part of your book?
Besides Chapter 7: Bonus Tales Teddy Ruxpin, which cracks me up every time I read it, my favorite part of my book is the very last chapter: The End… Well, Almost Last Words. This was the hardest part of the book to write. It’s easier to write about my experiences, but to write a conclusion, capping off everything I wrote and its purpose and anything else was in some ways daunting, but very difficult. Creating a call to action was important to me. Finally, it broke through and it is powerful! I hope the readers agree.

How did you come up with the title?

After writing down about fifty or so title possibilities, I was quickly narrowing it down. I knew I had to stay away from having 8 Mile in it, in any way. With the combination of being told a lot in my life how big of a heart I have, and how spiritual I think I am, Soul Hearted was jotted down—Soul meaning two things in one word, “So” and “Soul”. Thinking for sure this was going to be it, months later, I was listening to one of my favorite oldies song by the Yard Birds Heart Full of Soul and decided this would be perfect! After researching titles already existed on Amazon, it was already taken or sounds exactly like it. Soon, A Soul full of Heart came to mind. I thought for sure this was the one. Then one day sitting in my “Lab” I was thinking, “Can my title be any better?” Then boom! Soul Full of Heart came out of my mouth and sounded much smoother without saying A.

Do you have any traditions?

Nothing unique really. As a family, we make sure go to Church every Sunday, celebrate our birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc.

What do you like to do to relax?

Sitting on my chair in the living room and read an interesting book, sip on a glass of cabernet or amber ale or dark lager and watch a movie or a tv show with my wife.


How are you involved in the community?

My speeches have been an essential way for me to be involved in the community. Helping to spread a great message, especially to the youth. Hoping to get them to think twice about doing drugs and alcohol and to overall make good judgement.