From the Battlefield to the Pulpit

People often ask me how I went from being a soldier to being a minister, as if those two roles are completely different. But the truth is, both roles taught me the same essential lessons about service, sacrifice, and showing up for others when they need you most.

Lessons from Basic Training

Military training strips you down to your essential self, then builds you back up with purpose and discipline. It teaches you that individual strength means nothing if you can't work as part of a team. It shows you that real leadership is about serving those under your command, not commanding those under your service.

In basic training, I learned that courage isn't the absence of fear – it's action in spite of fear. I learned that integrity means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. I learned that commitment means following through on your word, especially when it's difficult.

These same principles became the foundation of my ministry. Every lesson the military taught me about character, discipline, and service prepared me for a different kind of battlefield – the spiritual and emotional battles that young people fight every day.

Combat Zones and Sacred Spaces

In Iraq, I learned to recognize the sound of incoming danger. I learned to stay calm under pressure and make life-or-death decisions quickly. I learned that survival often depends on your ability to trust your team and have your team trust you.

In ministry, I use those same skills. I can recognize when a young person is in crisis, even when they're trying to hide it. I can stay calm when emotions are running high and help de-escalate volatile situations. I know that healing often depends on building trust and creating safe spaces where people can be vulnerable.

Both combat and ministry require you to be fully present in life-or-death moments. The difference is that in combat, you're fighting to preserve physical life. In ministry, you're fighting to preserve hope, dignity, and the will to keep going.

Brothers in Arms, Family in Faith

Military service taught me about brotherhood – the kind of bond that forms when you're willing to lay down your life for someone else. That sense of family, of having each other's backs no matter what, translated directly into how I approach ministry.

The young people I work with become my family. Their battles become my battles. Their victories become my victories. When one of them is struggling, we all rally around them. When one of them succeeds, we all celebrate together.

Just like in the military, no one gets left behind. No one fights alone. We succeed together or we struggle together, but we never abandon each other.

Different Uniform, Same Mission

When I put on my military uniform, I was representing something bigger than myself. I was standing for freedom, justice, and the protection of those who couldn't protect themselves. When I step into my role as a minister, I'm still representing something bigger than myself – I'm standing for hope, redemption, and the possibility of transformation.

The mission has changed, but the heart remains the same: serve others, especially those who society has forgotten or written off. Use your strength to protect the vulnerable. Use your voice to speak for those who can't speak for themselves.

Weapons of a Different War

In the military, I carried weapons designed to destroy. In ministry, I carry weapons designed to heal and restore. Instead of ammunition, I carry words of encouragement. Instead of protective gear, I wear compassion and empathy. Instead of tactical strategies, I use prayer and unconditional love.

But make no mistake – ministry is still warfare. We're fighting against hopelessness, addiction, abuse, poverty, and all the forces that try to destroy young lives before they have a chance to flourish. The enemy is different, but the stakes are just as high.

The Ultimate Victory

In the military, victory was measured by missions accomplished and objectives secured. In ministry, victory is measured by lives transformed and futures reclaimed.

Every young person who breaks a cycle of violence is a victory. Every kid who chooses school over the streets is a victory. Every child who learns to process pain in healthy ways instead of destructive ones is a victory.

These victories don't make headlines, but they change the world one life at a time.

Continuing to Serve

I may have taken off the military uniform, but I never stopped serving. The battlefield changed, but the mission continues. God took everything the military taught me about service, sacrifice, and strength, and He's using it to fight for the hearts and minds of the next generation.

From the battlefield to the pulpit, it's all been preparation for this: to stand in the gap for young people who need someone to believe in them, to fight for them, and to show them that their lives have value and purpose.

The war for their futures is worth fighting. And by God's grace, we're going to win.