My journey with mental health began long before I knew how to name it. I spent years living inside a quiet heaviness that followed me into every part of my life. I pushed through work, parenting, and daily responsibilities while feeling detached on the inside. At the time, I turned to daily marijuana use for three years to manage depression. I thought it helped me cope, but it slowly became a barrier that kept me numb instead of healing. I grew up in a community where mental health was rarely acknowledged. Strength was measured by silence and endurance. Because of that, I never learned to express emotion or admit when I was struggling. I stayed busy and kept performing, hoping the weight would fade. Instead, it grew. My turning point came in September 2023. My son and I had covid, and I was caring for him alone while sick and exhausted. His mother was out of the country for a wedding, and I was left to manage everything without support. One night, when the anxiety and physical sickness collided, something broke open in me. I cried out to God because I had nothing else to lean on. That moment of honesty became the start of my recovery. That experience reshaped how I see myself and the world. I learned that mental health struggles are real and deserve attention, not denial. I learned that recovery begins with humility and the courage to face my truth instead of hiding from it. I began letting go of false strength and building a foundation marked by clarity and faith. This shift changed my goals. I no longer chase achievement for appearance or pressure. I want a grounded life. I want peace. I want my son to see a father who is emotionally aware and spiritually steady, not a man surviving behind coping mechanisms. My relationships changed too. I set healthier boundaries. I communicate openly. I choose people who bring stability rather than chaos. My healing helped me understand others more deeply. I can look at someone who is struggling and see the version of myself who once felt lost. My understanding of faith also deepened. Recovery taught me that strength comes from surrender, not control. It taught me that healing is possible when honesty meets grace. Today, I hope to help break the silence that kept me trapped for so long. I want others, especially within my community, to feel safe acknowledging their struggles. My journey with mental health shaped my goals, my relationships, and the way I show up in the world. It taught me that healing does not return you to who you were. It reveals who you are becoming.

Recovery is the moment I chose clarity over escape and the steady walk that followed. For three years, I used marijuana every day as a way to manage depression. What started as relief slowly became dependence, and I increased my use while searching for meaning through different spiritual and religious expressions. The more I mixed, the more I drifted from myself. My breaking point came in September 2023 when my son and I both had covid. His mother traveled out of the country, and I stayed home alone to care for him while sick. I felt overwhelmed, empty, and out of answers. Sitting in that moment with my son beside me, I cried out to God with a level of honesty I had never reached before. That cry became the turning point. It marked the start of real change. Recovery to me is not a single event. It is a daily decision to live with intention. It means being honest about my past without letting it define my present. It means choosing healthier ways to face stress and emotion instead of hiding behind old habits. It means walking in humility and recognizing that strength comes from surrender, not self reliance. Most of all, recovery is about relationship. My renewed connection with God gave me direction, identity, and discipline. It helped me become a present and grounded father. Recovery is proof that healing is possible when honesty meets faith. I regained my life and gave my son the father he deserves.

My journey has never followed a traditional path. I am a father, a full-time professional, a returning student, and an entrepreneur all at once. My life looks nothing like the typical student experience, yet I have learned that the most meaningful education often happens outside the classroom. For me, the pursuit of knowledge has always been intertwined with responsibility: raising my son, building a business rooted in faith, and growing through challenges that tested my perseverance and character. A few years ago, I made a decision that completely redefined my life. I returned to school to pursue a degree in Christian Apologetics at Lancaster Bible College, not because it was convenient, but because I knew it was necessary. I wanted to deepen my understanding of truth and learn how to communicate faith with clarity and compassion. Balancing academics with fatherhood, work, and entrepreneurship has been far from easy. There have been nights when I studied after putting my son to bed and mornings when I woke up before sunrise to work on assignments before heading into my full-time job. Every sacrifice has strengthened my resilience and reminded me that faith and discipline can overcome fatigue and fear. The most defining moment in my journey came during a season of personal and financial transition. As a single father, I faced the challenge of providing stability while navigating uncertainty. I remember one night when the weight of responsibility felt overwhelming. Instead of giving in to discouragement, I turned that moment into prayer. What came from that stillness was clarity: that my calling was not just to survive, but to build. That realization gave birth to my business, Parable Golf, a faith-based lifestyle brand designed to merge purpose and sport. It started with one hat and a message that faith can show up anywhere, even on the golf course. What began as a small idea became a symbol of perseverance, hope, and second chances. Through it all, kindness has been my anchor. Whether mentoring younger coworkers, volunteering through my church, or encouraging my peers, I have learned that compassion is a currency far greater than success. My greatest investment has been in people, seeing their potential, listening to their stories, and reminding them that their worth is not defined by setbacks. Andrea Worden’s legacy reminds me of that truth. Her life reflected the power of generosity, empathy, and resilience, qualities I strive to live out daily. My path may be unconventional, but it has been purposeful. Every detour, delay, and hardship has shaped me into someone who no longer measures success by speed or status but by how faithfully I serve others. Like Andrea, I want my story to leave people seen, strengthened, and inspired to keep going, even when their journey looks nothing like they planned.

If I could make one unique contribution to the world, it would be to build bridges between faith, community, and mental health care. I believe that healing begins when people feel seen, supported, and safe. My goal is to create programs that combine spiritual mentorship, practical counseling, and financial accessibility so that no one is turned away because of cost or stigma. Through my work in market research and my faith-based brand, Parable Golf, I have seen how conversation and community can change lives. I want to expand that model by helping churches and local organizations partner with licensed counselors to offer free or low-cost mental health workshops. These spaces would bring professional care and spiritual encouragement together in a way that restores hope and dignity. My vision is to use my education in Christian Apologetics to train leaders who can guide others with both compassion and truth. Affordable mental health care should not be a privilege; it should be a basic part of human flourishing. I want to help make that possible by building systems of care that remind people they are not alone, and that healing is within reach for everyone.

What I want to build is more than a business; it is a platform for purpose. Through my company, Parable Golf, I am building something that unites faith, storytelling, and community. The brand began with a single design and a deep conviction that even the smallest ideas can grow into something that changes lives. Golf, to me, has always represented patience, precision, and perseverance, the same qualities needed to build a meaningful life. Parable Golf was created to bridge those lessons with everyday faith, using apparel and storytelling to remind people that their character matters as much as their performance. But beyond the brand, I want to build something even greater: a legacy of mentorship and impact. I envision Parable Golf growing into a movement that supports young athletes and emerging entrepreneurs, especially those who may not see themselves represented in spaces like business or golf. My goal is to create programs that teach both the discipline of the sport and the values of humility, integrity, and faith that sustain people long after the game is over. I want to build a model that shows others that success is not measured by how much you earn but by how much good you create in the process. This vision also ties directly into how I am building my personal life. As a father, I want my son to see that dreams do not happen overnight. They are built brick by brick through hard work, consistency, and faith. I am currently pursuing my degree in Christian Apologetics at Lancaster Bible College because I believe my education will deepen my ability to lead with wisdom, truth, and clarity. Every class and every project becomes another building block toward the kind of man, leader, and servant I want to become. Building my future means merging faith and function. It means creating something tangible that outlives me, a business that inspires purpose, a community that thrives on integrity, and a life that reflects what it means to walk by faith and not by sight. Through Parable Golf and my education, I am learning that true building requires patience, character, and stewardship. When I look ahead, I do not just see a brand; I see a blueprint for impact. And I am committed to building it one faithful step at a time.

My name is Michael Jones, and I am the founder of Parable Golf, a faith-based lifestyle brand built on the idea that purpose and perseverance can coexist with sport. What began as a small idea in my living room has grown into a movement that connects people through storytelling, apparel, and the game of golf. Parable Golf started with a single design and a conviction that something meaningful could grow from a humble beginning. The brand’s mission is to use golf as a bridge between faith and everyday life, reminding players that discipline, integrity, and reflection are as essential to character as they are to performance. I chose the name “Parable” because it represents stories that teach truth, much like the parables Jesus used to reveal wisdom. I wanted to create products that carry meaning beyond appearance, conversation starters that allow people to share how they found hope, healing, and purpose through adversity. Starting with one hat, one logo, and one idea, I built something from scratch with no formal background in business or design. Every detail, from sourcing materials to setting up vendor tables, was guided by creativity, persistence, and faith. Each small step became a tangible expression of stewardship, teaching me that progress is not defined by scale but by obedience and heart. What inspires me most is seeing how a single product can start a conversation about faith on a golf course or at an event where someone least expects it. Those moments remind me that small beginnings can spark something much greater than I could have planned. The theme “Start Small, Dream Big” is not just a phrase; it captures my entire entrepreneurial and spiritual journey. Parable Golf was never meant to be a brand that existed for profit alone; it was meant to exist for purpose. My dream is to build a company that not only produces quality apparel but also funds mentorship programs and community events where young athletes can learn both the game of golf and the values of humility and discipline. I also hope to create a scholarship fund under the Parable Golf name that helps students and young entrepreneurs pursue God-given ideas without fear of starting small. If awarded this scholarship, I would use the funds to elevate product quality, improve marketing materials, and expand local outreach through pop-up experiences that combine sport, storytelling, and faith. Every dollar would go toward refining this vision and expanding its reach while keeping its roots grounded in meaning. The phrase “Start Small, Dream Big” reminds me that God often hides big assignments in small beginnings. What started as one quiet idea has become a growing reminder that purpose often begins with faith, patience, and a willingness to keep moving forward one step at a time.