There exists a “can’t” mentality within our culture.
One that identifies a line between Patriot and Pacifist. A line that cannot be crossed.
The military is inherently evil. | The military is God’s hand of judgment.
Good Christians cannot be Patriots. | God is with America.
The voices on the edge dominate this conversation. Yet despite this “can’t” mentality, there awaits those of us standing in the gap, where Patriot and Pacifist meet and thoughtful dialogue occurs.
As an advocate, I am a bridge between alienating abstractions about war that shape the American imagination and the lived experience that weighs heavily on soldiers and veterans for whom war is irreducibly personal.
As a Speaker, Consultant, Writer, and Educator, I work with those who want to challenge binary assumptions and conquer the divide to improve conversation and community around members of our armed services.
I am a… Speaker
I speak from a place of thoughtful consideration, tailoring my talks to the audience at hand without exclusion of other viewpoints. Mine is a voice of moderation, open to all possibilities and consistently seeking out resources that can provide for thoughtful and critical conversation.
Who I speak to: Conferences, denominations, military chaplain units, social justice organizations
I am a… Consultant
As a mentor to soldiers and veterans, I realized that I wasn’t teaching organizations how to connect with military personnel directly. It was a calling to consult: To help individuals or small teams think about ways to engage with the military community more meaningfully and effectively in their own specific context.
Who I consult for: Authors & researchers, leadership teams, therapists/counselors, other veteran service professionals
I am a… Writer
I love finding and sharing stories that help people appreciate the richness of our American history and the value of military service. I write more to move than to convince, without excluding readers by either retreating up the ivory tower or by burying my head in the ideological quicksand.
Who I write for: Trade and academic publishers, news outlets, magazines, blogs, and conferences, especially those that are religious
I am an… Educator
As an educator, I stir up deeper questions, using resources that both academic and regular people can connect with. I educate and provoke thought via prepared curricula that can be taught in brief workshops, one-day seminars, or self-paced, modular online webinars.
Who I teach: Students and cadets, administrators, chaplains, military units, clergy, lay ministers, ordinary people
Silence is not an option.
I can’t imagine a world in which I remain silent about what I have learned and experienced as a Christian soldier and combat veteran. I want to break that silence by creating a community where others can find their voice as well.
