He was the minister and preacher at our church all growing up and then went on to be the Executive Director of International Disaster Emergency Service (ides.org). In all the years growing up he taught me what a real man is. He walked the talk and showed me in numerous ways how to put masculinity into Christianity.
While he raised me to know the true Alpha male (Jesus), God and the Holy Spirit, he also raised me to know Clint Eastwood, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Sylvester Stallone. Whenever we were together, we would talk theology and watch war movies. It is growing up with him as a preacher’s kid and also serving in ministry myself that I realized how hard and isolating ministry can be. Especially for those that hold the line in declaring God’s Truth.
There is a spiritual and mental battle that many ministers face. The worst part is that many try and fight those battles alone because they have no one they can turn to for help or confide in without their humanity being used against them.
My dad had a heart for those in Christian leadership and up to the moment he went Home he supported and poured into them. My dad’s life was cut short, but he lived a full and faithful life. He was a fighter and fought the good fight until there was no more battle to be fought. My sister coined a phrase that summed up his personality and character, especially towards the end of his life this side of Heaven:
STUBBORN HOPE
Stubborn Hope
I am no hero, but I was raised by one. My dad was one of the manliest men I have known. He was the manliest man I have ever known not because of some feat of strength but because of his strength of character.
MINISTERS
IN LOVING MEMORY
That’s why in my dad’s memory we have a special part of Alpha Overwatch that we provide to ministers. If you (or your minister) need someone to talk to or are interested in having an all-expenses paid trip to have time in Solitude with the Father, please fill out the nomination form and email us at rjett@alphaoverwatch.org or info@alphaoverwatch.org
While our focus is to help Veterans and First Responders to Go Forth and Conquer, we also recognize that those staying true to God and proclaiming His word boldly are frontline workers as well. If this is, you (or your minister) then in order for you to Go Forth and Conquer you will need “stubborn hope.” In order to keep or renew that stubborn hope, you need high quality time with the Father or someone you can talk to that gets it and can walk with you through those hard times.