FAITH

My journey of faith and life is filled with adventure, valleys, and mountaintops. Since I can remember, I have maintained a close relationship with God, largely influenced by my mother. Growing up, I often found myself in trouble at school—not because I sought conflict, but in defense of my little sister or when I was ganged up on by other kids. At the age of eight, my father recognized that I needed a change and enrolled my sister and me in Faith Christian Academy, where a teacher named Mrs. Wise changed my life forever. Despite my struggles with reading, writing, and math, she refused to give up on me. It was then that I began to believe in myself and found my faith in Christ. Her tough love provided the direction I needed to become the best version of myself, supported by my parents.

I became highly involved in sports like baseball and swimming, as well as my church community. During this time, my parents went through a rough divorce, which led me to be taken in by my pastor, Pastor Dan of Eastland Baptist Church. He became a significant influence in my life as my football coach, mentor, and dear friend. As my father faced a series of battles with the state of Florida, including serving a year in prison for littering his own wetlands, he began to find peace in God. This political shame severely stressed our family life, pushing me to become more independent, responsible, and focused on my dreams and goals.

Throughout high school, I dedicated myself to my baseball career, with my father as my biggest supporter, driving me to tournaments and games while working with me daily. We shared a tight bond, as did my relationship with my mother. My dream was to serve God and make it to the MLB draft, but a few injuries delayed my baseball aspirations, leading me to accept a scholarship at Lander University, a Division II school in South Carolina. During this time, I became involved in Campus Outreach, Bible studies, and leading men’s Bible studies.

After college, I received another baseball scholarship to Erskine College and attended seminary, initially with no intention of serving in the church. However, Chaplain Gore, my systematics professor, encouraged me to explore the Army Chaplain Corps. In 2006, I made the decision to join the United States Army as one of the youngest chaplains in its history. This led me on a journey across Hawaii, Germany, Ireland, Alaska, Kuwait, and two tours in Iraq, as well as assignments in Kansas, Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. Eventually, I transitioned to the United States Navy, serving as a chaplain in Japan and later as the Navy Command Chaplain at Fort Sam Houston in Texas.

I have always felt called by God, much like many others on this journey called life. I have experienced much and, with that, both high successes and failures. In my relatively short life, I have learned that God is real, merciful, good, and just, and I cherish all human life with love and dignity. In our Western culture, we must avoid judging those from other cultures, especially if it harms the innocent. Regardless of creed, color, or religion, I believe everyone deserves love and respect.

I don’t believe that everyone must be rich or poor; with hard work, determination, and faith in God, all things are possible. While the poor and rich will always exist, our purpose is to serve others with love, truth, and integrity to the best of our abilities. In summary, I believe in God and that Jesus is His son, who came to save sinners like me from judgment. I do not look down on those with different beliefs. I honor family, support same-sex marriage, and reject racism. I hold that the Bible is truth and that all of us fall short of God’s law, needing a Savior regardless of our status or position.

I recognize that life is filled with valleys and mountaintops, and I choose to surround myself with a positive mindset. I believe in the saying that "birds of a feather flock together"—the company we keep shapes who we become. I see the gift of human life as something to protect at all costs. Those in leadership should be held to a higher standard, but that does not mean they should be worshiped. I understand that no one can escape death, yet it is our duty to promote health, love, and prosperity.

Life is short, and I strive to enjoy the fruits of my labor while fearing God, as Solomon suggests is the essence of joy. I believe in the sovereignty of God, which transcends human choice. I also recognize that the love of money is the root of all evil, but money itself is merely a tool to help others and those we care about. Nothing lasts forever, and love is often misused in our culture of selfish gratification.

I hold a core belief in the importance of continuous learning and growth, knowing that ignorance and failure hold no value. I acknowledge my limitations in understanding time and existence and accept that God’s plans often exceed my own. My confession of faith is rooted in truth, order, and logic; without these values, I feel I have no worth. I am not perfect and have failed many times, but I refuse to let others label me—only God can do that.

I believe that small-minded individuals seek titles and trophies that will eventually fade away. I view war as a stark reflection of human depravity, where life is cheap and the evil in humanity is palpable. While I do not believe man is inherently good, I recognize that cultural boundaries help uphold human dignity. I love my country, but my ultimate allegiance is to God. When everything else fails, I remain a man saved by grace.

I reaffirm that I am not perfect, but I believe that with time, love, and forgiveness, all things can be made right. I value the lives of children for the joy and love they bring. I advocate for intellectual dialogue grounded in logic and reason, and I believe in the Holy Spirit and the reality of spiritual warfare. I am grateful for the life I have and strive to honor God, my family, and those I serve to the best of my ability.