Earlier this month, Marc Eckel released his new novel, “ReBoren: A Novel Based on the Two Lives of Chaplain John Boren.” Boren was the chaplain at the Kosciusko County Jail before passing away in 2012. The book is inspired by Boren’s sordid past and eventual transformation into a beloved part of the community. (Photo provided)

It was at the Kosciusko County Jail that Marc Eckel first heard John Boren’s incredible life story. Boren, the jail’s chaplain at the time, had himself spent time as an inmate in the very same jail.

“I was volunteering in the jail during chapel services with John one night in 2008,” shared Eckel, owner of Blue Spaghetti, a creative arts company.

“John told a short version of his incredible life story before sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. During the first chapel service, his story amazed me. During the second, I thought his story should be in print. During the third, I started taking notes for the book I felt led to write.”

Eckel, who lives in Claypool, met with Boren at Bob Evans every few weeks to hear every last detail of the man’s sordid past and eventual transformation.

“John had lived what many believed to be a model Christian life, though he was secretly living a life filled with pornography, theft, drunkenness and dishonesty. He was a two-faced man,” explained Eckel. “While in jail, he saw the need of the men and turned his life around.”

Boren went on to be named the Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce’s “Man of the Year” in 2008. This marked the first time the honor had been awarded to someone other than an influential businessman in the county.

“John impacted so many lives,” said Eckel. “Every time we met, we were interrupted by people who knew him, were affected by his jail ministry, thanked him or gave him an update on their lives.”

Earlier this month, Eckel released his new novel, “ReBoren: A Novel Based on the Two Lives of Chaplain John Boren.”

“I weaved a story around many different true events in John’s life, adding just a touch of fiction for drama’s sake,” said Eckel. “But overall, the book is about 98-percent accurate to John’s life experiences.”

Unfortunately, Boren passed away in 2012 from cancer, but not before reading a draft of Eckel’s homage to his life’s story.

“It’s not a great story because I wrote it, but because it’s just a great story,” said Eckel. “Although John was hesitant to read the book at first, he eventually realized it needed to be shown how bad he was to show how great God can be.”

Eckel is also the author of the novel “Leperd” and the author-illustrator for the “Train Tales” children’s series. He has also released several e-books and is currently working on his next novel, “Saying Goodbye to the Tigers,” a baseball book that is not really about baseball, but about being a good father.

Eckel, who is also a Christian performance artist, has been featured on two tours with Grammy-winning Christian band, Casting Crowns.

“‘ReBoren’ is for three people,” says Eckel, who with his wife of 18 years, Juli, has three children. “It’s for the church, which needs to rejoice that God can save a soul. It’s for the people in need of a Savior who can redeem them. And it’s for Christians who are sitting on the fence who are neither hot nor cold.”

“ReBoren” is available locally at Bibles n’ Books in Warsaw and Eagle Creek Farms Market in Winona Lake. For more information on Eckel and his books, go to splatexperience.com.