To me, being a first-generation college student means translating the unspoken dreams of my parents into tangible action. Neither of my parents graduated from high school. Growing up in the unstable shadows of poverty in the 1980s, higher education wasn’t a topic of conversation, survival was. Walking into academic spaces later in life meant navigating an entirely unfamiliar system without a familial roadmap. Yet, carrying the weight of being the first to pave this path did not break me; it built a foundation of resilience. My journey to higher education was delayed by necessity. When my father became a double amputee, I stepped into the role of primary caregiver, putting my own academic aspirations on hold to support my family. Later, I spent eight years serving as an enlisted soldier and infantry officer in the United States Army. While the military sharpened my leadership, transitioning back to civilian life as a disabled veteran brought its own profound mental and emotional hurdles. Throughout these trials, my ultimate driver has been a deep devotion and love for God. I believe that true faith is reflected in how we love our families and the people around us. Having maintained a 4.0 GPA during my undergraduate studies, I am now pursuing a Master of Divinity at 45 years old. For me, education is not about personal accolades; it is a vital tool to acquire the resources, clinical insights, and theological depth needed to extend genuine care and compassion to those in deep distress. My dream is to build a ministry that serves as a vital bridge between spiritual guidance and mental health advocacy, specifically targeting marriage counseling, domestic restoration, and support for the homeless. Having survived childhood poverty and the rigors of military service, I want to use my education to destigmatize seeking help within faith communities, ensuring that the brokenhearted have a safe sanctuary to heal. The Bick First Generation Scholarship will provide the critical financial support necessary to sustain this rigorous academic preparation. Navigating graduate school as a father of four requires balancing immense familial responsibilities with academic demands. This scholarship will directly alleviate the financial strain of tuition, allowing me to fully focus on my studies and future ministry. By investing in my education, the Bick Charitable Foundation is not just supporting a first-generation student, you are empowering a leader dedicated to turning personal scars into a roadmap of restoration, grace, and communal support for anyone in need.

The Heart of a Servant: Leadership Through Humility In a world that often equates leadership with power, prestige, and the command of others, my personal philosophy stands in stark contrast. To me, the pinnacle of leadership is not found in being served, but in serving. This perspective is deeply rooted in the transformative words of Jesus Christ in Matthew 18:1-4. When the disciples asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" Jesus responded by placing a child in their midst, stating that whoever humbles himself like a child is the greatest. This radical inversion of hierarchy defines my life’s mission: to lead by descending into the needs of others. A Life of Service to the Next Generation My commitment to servant leadership began with the youth, where the lessons of Matthew 18 are most visible. By teaching biblical principles, I aim to provide a foundation of integrity and hope. However, service often requires meeting people in their darkest moments. In my work teaching behavior therapy to at-risk youth, I have sought to stand in the gap between the streets and the justice system. By truly listening to their stories and equipping them with practical life skills, I strive to prevent the cycle of incarceration. This isn't about exerting authority; it is about providing the tools for their liberation, reflecting the compassion Christ showed to the vulnerable. Leading in Uniform and Community The military is often viewed as the ultimate hierarchy, yet even there, the best leaders are those who prioritize their subordinates. During the Iraq War, I was tasked with training future Army officers. My goal was not simply to teach tactics, but to instill a mindset of stewardship. I taught them that to lead a platoon effectively, they must first care for the lives of the soldiers under their command. Beyond the battlefield, my service has extended to the pillars of our community. Whether it is assisting veterans who have sacrificed so much, supporting widows and single mothers, or volunteering at food pantries for the homeless and elderly, I believe that a leader’s hands should never be too clean to help. In these moments, the "kingdom of heaven" becomes tangible through simple acts of care and presence. The Home as the Primary Mission Field Perhaps the most significant application of servant leadership is within my own home. I believe that a successful father and husband is one who seeks to understand the nuanced needs of his children and spouse. My priority is to foster their desires and help them achieve their goals before my own. By finding fun, memorable ways to develop their character and support their dreams, I am modeling a leadership that values the growth of others over personal comfort. Conclusion: A Legacy of the Heart Ultimately, my view of leadership is a journey toward the heart of God. When my life reaches its end, my hope is not for accolades or titles, but for a simple affirmation from my Creator. I want to know that God is proud of my heart—that I genuinely sought to show care and compassion for every person He placed in my path. By embracing the humility of a child and the hands of a servant, I find the only greatness that truly matters.

Leadership is often characterized by authority, strategic oversight, or the ability to command a room. However, my understanding of what it means to lead was forged in a different fire. My leadership was first developed through the privilege of being trained and mentored by pastors and biblical leaders during my teens and twenties. These mentors did not teach leadership as a ladder to be climbed, but as a basin and towel to be used. Their philosophy was rooted in servant leadership, a model where the primary focus is the growth and well-being of people and the communities to which they belong. This perspective is anchored in the teachings of Jesus regarding true greatness. In Matthew 18:1-4, when the disciples asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus placed a child in their midst and stated, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” This scripture defines my personal and professional mandate: to lead is to humble oneself and to serve. I have strived to live out this ethos across diverse environments. In my twenties, this manifested as a youth group leader, where leadership meant listening to the struggles of young people and providing a grounded sense of hope. Later, as a military officer, the stakes changed, but the principle remained the same. True command was not about the rank on my shoulder; it was about ensuring the safety, development, and morale of those under my charge. I learned that a leader’s success is measured by the success and security of their team. In my current role as a campus director at a collegiate institution, servant leadership remains my North Star. I see my role as an architect of opportunity for my employees, identifying their unique strengths and helping them take steps into greater responsibilities. By putting their professional growth at the forefront, the entire institution thrives. This commitment to service extends into the most vital area of my life: my family. As a father and husband, my focus is consistently on putting the needs, cares, and compassionate focus of my spouse and children before my own. Leading a household requires the same humility described in Matthew—being willing to serve in the small, quiet moments to build a foundation of love and security. Finally, leadership must reach beyond the walls of the office or the home. My family and I seek to be of service to our community, dedicating time every other month to serve the homeless, support food pantries, and assist the elderly through our local church. Identifying the needs of the vulnerable and genuinely meeting those needs is the ultimate expression of leadership. To me, a true leader is not the person standing at the front of the line, but the person ensuring that no one is left behind. Through humility and service, I aim to lead by example, proving that the greatest among us is truly the one who serves.

The journey of my life began in the unstable shadows of the 1980s, where the seeds of my resilience were planted amidst childhood poverty. My mother’s departure to escape abuse when I was four left me in the care of my father, who was then battling a deep drug addiction. This early landscape of survival created a baseline of grit that defined my entry into the U.S. Army. My military career was a period of profound evolution; I began my service as an enlisted soldier, learning the value of discipline and ground-level camaraderie, and eventually earned my commission as an Infantry Officer. Serving as a Lieutenant, I transitioned from following orders to bearing the heavy responsibility for the lives and well-being of my soldiers. As an Infantry leader, I saw firsthand the hidden costs of multiple deployments. I witnessed the slow erosion of soldiers’ spirits and the quiet fracturing of their families under the strain of prolonged separation and combat stress. It became clear to me that the greatest obstacle to a soldier’s success was often the stigma attached to seeking support. In the high-stakes environment of the Infantry, vulnerability is frequently mistaken for weakness. I realized then that true leadership requires removing the masks we wear; it is the commander’s duty to destigmatize mental health care, ensuring that seeking help is viewed as a strategic necessity for the mission and for a healthy life. However, the "armor" I wore as an officer did not fully protect me from my own internal battles. The transition to civilian life, combined with the suppressed trauma of my childhood and the rigors of service, led to a deep struggle with depression and anxiety. I eventually recognized that I could not lead others to a place of healing if I refused to go there myself. My restoration began when I sought help from mental health professionals and leaned into my faith. This personal struggle fundamentally reshaped my goals. It taught me that altruism is one of the most potent forms of therapy. By pouring into others—veterans navigating the same transition, single mothers facing the isolation I saw my father endure, and widows in my community—I found a renewed sense of purpose. Helping others is not just an act of service; it is a restorative practice that adds profound value and compassion to one’s own life. These experiences have fueled my ambition to become a minister who serves as a bridge between the pulpit and the therapy room. Having maintained a 4.0 GPA during my undergraduate studies at 45 years old, I am now pursuing a Master of Divinity to turn my lived experience into a professional platform for service. Much like John Acuña, who used his military background to pave a path for others through the Santa Ana College veteran center, I intend to use my education to create sanctuaries of support. My goal is to provide expert marriage counseling and resources for the homeless, specifically targeting the domestic strife that separates families. By being open about my journey as a disabled veteran and a survivor of poverty, I aim to destigmatize mental health within the church and the veteran community alike. I plan to champion altruism as a therapeutic approach, teaching my community that service to others is a vital tool for emotional regulation and clarity. This scholarship represents more than financial assistance; it is an investment in a leader who understands that the mission of restoration is never truly complete until the most vulnerable among us are brought back into the light of communal grace.

The trajectory of my life was forever altered in 1984 when, at just four years old, I watched my mother walk away to escape an abusive relationship. I was left in the care of my father, a man then battling deep drug dependency and the crushing weight of systemic poverty. My childhood was a blur of instability, defined by the constant threat of homelessness and the "trap" of the 1980s. These early experiences did not just create financial hardship; they planted the seeds of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression. For years, I existed in a state of "survival mode," where my mental well-being was overlooked in favor of basic endurance. Mental health is profoundly important to me as a student because I have learned that academic success is inextricably linked to emotional resilience. After graduating high school in 1998, my dreams of becoming a first-generation college student were deferred for two decades as I became the primary caregiver for my disabled father and elderly grandmother. Later, my eight-year tenure in the United States Army added new layers of complexity to my mental health. The rigors of military service, combined with the suppressed trauma of my youth, culminated in my status as a disabled veteran. When I finally returned to academia at age 45, I realized that I could not succeed by simply "powering through." I had to actively manage my mental health, integrating clinical support with spiritual grace. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA during my undergraduate studies was not just an academic achievement; it was a testament to the power of mental health awareness and self-care. I advocate for mental health in my community by fostering open dialogues to dismantle the "tough it out" culture that permeates both the military and the Black community. I have seen firsthand how stigma creates a barrier to healing, leading many to suffer in silence. To combat this, I serve as a mentor for non-traditional students and fellow veterans, sharing my journey to prove that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. By being transparent about my struggles with anxiety and the transition to civilian life, I help create a community of empathy where others feel safe to share their burdens. Currently, as I pursue a Master of Divinity, I am actively working to bridge the gap between the pulpit and the therapy room. My ambition is to transform the church into a sanctuary that recognizes mental health as a vital facet of human fragility. I intend to use my education to provide expert guidance in marriage counseling and support for the homeless, specifically targeting the domestic strife that often leads to childhood trauma. My mission is to ensure that the darkness of mental health struggles is met with the light of honesty and professional resources. By integrating spiritual disciplines with practical advocacy, I am dedicated to changing the narrative around mental health, ensuring that my community has the tools to reach their full potential before they reach a breaking point. Through this scholarship, I will be able to dedicate my full focus to these graduate studies, further empowering me to serve as a beacon of restoration for families and individuals navigating their own paths toward healing.

The "darkness" mentioned in the Ethel Hayes scholarship is a landscape I have navigated since childhood. My journey with mental health did not begin in a doctor’s office, but in the unstable shadows of poverty and the "trap" of the 1980s. Watching my mother walk away at age four to escape abuse, and being raised by a father battling drug addiction, planted the early seeds of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression. This upbringing, defined by the constant threat of homelessness and the weight of systemic struggle, created a baseline of "survival mode" that followed me into adulthood. While my father’s radical transformation to faith when I was fifteen provided a beacon of hope, the transition to adulthood brought new weights. When my father became a double amputee, I sacrificed my academic dreams to become a caregiver. However, the most significant catalyst for my current mental health challenges was my eight-year tenure in the United States Army. The rigors of service, combined with the underlying trauma of my youth, culminated in my status as a disabled veteran. The transition from the structured, high-stakes environment of the military to civilian life stripped away my "armor," leaving me to face the deep-seated depression and anxiety I had suppressed for decades. For years, I viewed my mental health struggles as a sign of weakness—a common stigma within both the Black community and the military. However, I have learned that "bringing the darkness to light" requires the courage to be humble. My restoration began when I stopped trying to carry the burden alone and sought help from God, my family, and mental health professionals. This collaborative approach to healing has fundamentally transformed my perspective and purpose. I now understand that mental health is not a lack of faith, but a facet of our human fragility that requires both spiritual grace and clinical expertise. Seeking help has allowed me to break the cycle of suppression, fostering deeper, more honest connections with my loved ones. These struggles have narrowed my focus toward a singular mission; having maintained a 4.0 GPA during my undergraduate studies at 45 years old, I am now pursuing a Master of Divinity to turn my pain into a platform for service. My ambition is to become a minister who serves as a bridge between the pulpit and the therapy room. I intend to use my graduate education to provide expert guidance in marriage counseling and support for the homeless, specifically targeting the domestic strife that separates families. By being open about my journey as a disabled veteran and a survivor of childhood poverty, I aim to destigmatize mental health in the church. My life is a testament to the fact that small, humble steps toward help can lead to the accomplishment of massive goals. I am ready to turn my scars into a roadmap for others, ensuring that the light of honesty eventually fades the darkness of suffering. In my future ministry, I plan to be an active listener for those who feel unheard, providing a safe sanctuary for the brokenhearted to share their burdens without judgment. I will teach my community to utilize prayer and meditation not just as religious rituals, but as vital tools for mental clarity and emotional regulation. Furthermore, I intend to champion altruism and service as a therapeutic approach, helping those struggling with mental health to find renewed purpose by pouring into others. By integrating these spiritual disciplines with practical service, I hope to lead others out of the isolation of their pain and into a life of restoration and communal grace.

Resilient Roots: A Journey of Restoration Growing up in a single-parent household shadowed by addiction and poverty, my life was a blur of instability. By age four, my mother had left to escape abuse, leaving my father to raise three sons while battling drug dependency. We teetered on the edge of homelessness until a pivotal shift occurred: when I was fifteen, my father underwent a radical spiritual transformation. His sobriety taught me that no cycle is unbreakable, inspiring me to graduate high school with honors, poised to be a first-generation college student. However, perseverance took a different form when my father became a double amputee. I chose family over my immediate academic goals, spending two decades as a primary caregiver and provider. Though I climbed the corporate ladder, my heart remained with my early years in youth ministry. After my family members passed away, I returned to college at 45. Maintaining a 4.0 GPA, I proved that delay is not defeat. Now pursuing a Master of Divinity, I aim to heal the fractures I experienced as a child. My goal is to provide expert marriage counseling to prevent domestic strife and to create a sanctuary for the homeless and single parents. I am actively pursuing this by excelling in my current studies and re-engaging in community service. This scholarship will allow me to transition from the "survival mode" of working multiple jobs to focusing entirely on my graduate training. At nearly 50, I am ready to use my lived experience to ensure that love and reconciliation reach families before they reach their breaking point.

Resilient Roots: A Journey of Grace, Sacrifice, and Restoration The trajectory of my life was forever altered in 1984 when, at just four years old, I watched my mother walk away for the last time. She was escaping an abusive relationship, leaving my father—a man then in his mid-twenties, deeply addicted to drugs, and unable to maintain steady employment—to raise three sons alone. My childhood was defined by a blur of instability; we moved constantly, often teetering on the edge of homelessness, and spent long stretches living with my grandparents while my father served time in jail for selling drugs. Yet, even in the shadows of the "trap" and the weight of systemic struggle, God’s grace was quietly at work. The pivotal moment of my upbringing occurred when I was fifteen. My father underwent a radical transformation, giving his life completely to the Lord Jesus. Watching a man move from the depths of addiction to a life of positive goals and spiritual sobriety reshaped my own worldview. Inspired by his change, I pursued my own goals with vigor, graduating high school with honors in 1998. I was poised to become the first person in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree, fueled by the excitement of breaking a generational cycle of poverty. However, life presented a unique and demanding challenge that tested the very core of my character. As I prepared for college, my family’s health took a devastating turn. My father became a double amputee following a series of severe diabetic attacks, leaving him completely disabled. Faced with the choice between my personal academic advancement and the survival of my kin, I chose the latter. For the next two decades, I set my dreams aside to work multiple jobs, becoming the primary provider and caregiver for my grandmother, my disabled uncle, and my father. During these years, I climbed the corporate ladder in sales and marketing, achieving what the world calls "success," yet my spirit remained unfulfilled. It was only after my family members passed away and entered their heavenly rest that I felt a definitive tug on my heart to return to my original calling. I recalled my years as a young youth minister between the ages of 19 and 24—those were the most fulfilling years of my life, spent directing the community toward the love of God. Despite the daunting reality of being out of school for twenty years and the fear of starting over at 45, I returned to finish my bachelor’s degree. I did not just pass; I excelled, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and proving that it is never too late to finish what was started. My four children and spouse have been positively affected by my renewed desire to seek to advance my education and they are also doing extremely well in their academic studies. If I am not studying, I often am praying and teaching my children about the love of God, I am always reading Christian literature, making positive hip hop music that honors God, and in the gym seeking to stay fit so that I can love on my family and community until a good old age. I currently serve in my local church in the local missions ministry as my wife and I always seek ways to help and support single mothers, widows, and anyone needing support love and help. Now, as I stand on the threshold of graduate school to pursue a Master of Divinity, my mission is clear: I intend to use this education to mend the very fractures that defined my early life. I will seek to heal the confusion, pain, anger, and sadness that I felt as a child by providing expert guidance in marriage counseling, aiming to prevent the domestic strife that separates mothers from their children. My ministry will be a sanctuary for the homeless and a lighthouse for single parents, providing them with the tangible resources and spiritual empowerment needed to step into their own divine goals. I plan to shed God’s light a thousandfold into my community, ensuring that love, service, and reconciliation reign supreme before families reach the point of breaking. This scholarship is not just a financial reprieve; it is a vital investment in a future of community restoration. By easing the burden of working multiple jobs to cover bills, this support allows me to dedicate my full intellectual and spiritual energy to my graduate studies. I am ready to enter the ministry at nearly 50 years of age, more excited than ever to serve, teach, and love a community that desperately needs the truth of Jesus.

Resilient Roots: A Journey of Grace, Sacrifice, and Restoration The trajectory of my life was forever altered in 1984 when, at just four years old, I watched my mother walk away for the last time. She was escaping an abusive relationship, leaving my father, a man then in his mid-twenties, deeply addicted to drugs, and unable to maintain steady employment, to raise three sons alone. My childhood was defined by a blur of instability; we moved constantly, often teetering on the edge of homelessness, and spent long stretches living with my grandparents while my father served time in jail for selling drugs. Yet, even in the shadows of the "trap" and the weight of systemic struggle, God’s grace was quietly at work. The pivotal moment of my upbringing occurred when I was fifteen. My father underwent a radical transformation, giving his life completely to the Lord Jesus. Watching a man move from the depths of addiction to a life of positive goals and spiritual sobriety reshaped my own worldview. Inspired by his change, I pursued my own goals with vigor, graduating high school with honors in 1998. I was poised to become the first person in my family to obtain a bachelor’s degree, fueled by the excitement of breaking a generational cycle of poverty. However, life presented a unique and demanding challenge that tested the very core of my character. As I prepared for college, my family’s health took a devastating turn. My father became a double amputee following a series of severe diabetic attacks, leaving him completely disabled. Faced with the choice between my personal academic advancement and the survival of my kin, I chose the latter. For the next two decades, I set my dreams aside to work multiple jobs, becoming the primary provider and caregiver for my grandmother, my disabled uncle, and my father. During these years, I climbed the corporate ladder in sales and marketing, achieving what the world calls "success," yet my spirit remained unfulfilled. It was only after my family members passed away and entered their heavenly rest that I felt a definitive tug on my heart to return to my original calling. I recalled my years as a young youth minister between the ages of 19 and 24, those were the most fulfilling years of my life, spent directing the community toward the love of God. Despite the daunting reality of being out of school for twenty years and the fear of starting over at 45, I returned to finish my bachelor’s degree. I did not just pass however, I excelled, maintaining a 4.0 GPA and proving that it is never too late to finish what was started. Now, as I stand on the threshold of graduate school to pursue a Master of Divinity, my mission is clear: I intend to use this education to mend the very fractures that defined my early life. I will seek to heal the confusion, pain, anger, and sadness that I felt as a child by providing expert guidance in marriage counseling, aiming to prevent the domestic strife that separates mothers from their children. My ministry will be a sanctuary for the homeless and a lighthouse for single parents, providing them with the tangible resources and spiritual empowerment needed to step into their own divine goals. I plan to shed God’s light a thousandfold into my community, ensuring that love, service, and reconciliation reign supreme before families reach the point of breaking. This scholarship is not just a financial reprieve; it is a vital investment in a future of community restoration. By easing the burden of working multiple jobs to cover bills, this support allows me to dedicate my full intellectual and spiritual energy to my graduate studies. Inspired by the resilience Marie J. Lamerique, I am ready to enter the ministry at nearly 50 years of age, more excited than ever to serve, teach, and love a community that desperately needs the truth of Jesus.

My life’s journey has been a testament to the belief that it is never too late to embrace a calling. In 1998, I graduated high school with honors, eager to conquer the world; however, life presented a different path that required sacrifice over personal ambition. For over two decades, I set aside my academic goals to work multiple jobs, providing essential care and financial support for my grandmother, my disabled uncle, and my disabled father. While I eventually built a successful career in sales and marketing, a sense of fulfillment remained elusive. It was only after my family members passed away that I felt a profound spiritual tugging to return to my roots. I vividly recalled my years as a young youth minister, where the act of teaching and serving my community in the love of God brought me unparalleled joy. Despite the fear of returning to the classroom after 20 years, I hear God voice calling me back to learning, finishing my bachelor’s degree with a perfect 4.0 GPA. My experiences have taught me value in resilience and a career aspiration rooted not in profit, but in the serving others, the teachings of Jesus. Currently accepted into a Master of Divinity program, I am preparing to enter the ministry as a pastor at the age 45. My mission is to use this graduate education to teach, love, and lead my community toward the truth of Jesus, aiming to impact thousands of lives through compassionate service. Debra Jackson’s legacy resonates deeply with me; her courageous return to college at age 40 to transform her life and serve her church mirrors my own late-season transition. This scholarship would serve as a vital investment in my calling, alleviating the financial burden of bills so I can focus entirely on academic excellence. I am thrilled to return to a life of prayer, specifically to love and serve single mothers, widows, and the homeless who are seeking to find value in lives marked by rough seasons. As a chaplain, I plan to be a steady presence of support for families in palliative care, offering love and strength as children and loved one’s transition. This calling is not merely about increasing my academic acumen; it is a rigorous training to become a servant leader who brings light and love into the darkest areas of our community. While I will be nearly 50 when I enter full-time ministry, I have never felt more ready to prove that education and service have no expiration date.

A Journey of Grace: From Palomar Mountain to the Pulpit. In 1995, my life was forever altered by a miracle in a small, quiet room where my father, desperate and suffering from years of drug addiction, called out to the Lord Jesus after a life-threatening overdose. Within days, the power of addiction vanished, replaced by a man who meticulously read his Bible and prayed; he told his three sons that Jesus had touched him and he would never be the same. Witnessing his radical transformation planted a seed in my heart that led me to a church pews a year later, where at age 16, I personally gave my heart to Jesus Christ. This was not just a conversion, but the beginning of a lifelong tug on my heart to share His love with the world. As I grew in my faith, the Lord revealed a spiritual gift for teaching and preaching. My first major turning point occurred in the year 2000 during a high school summer camp on Palomar Mountain. Despite having no formal biblical education, I was asked to share God’s word. I felt inadequate and fearful, knowing my mentors were monitoring me. Yet, I heard the Spirit whisper 2 Timothy 2:15 into my soul: "Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved". That night, as I shared with "loaves and fish," Jesus fed the multitude; more than a dozen students were saved, and many are head pastors today. This "Great Commission" moment defined my purpose: I wanted to serve the Lord in this capacity for as long as He allowed. However, the path to ministry is rarely linear. In 2007, recognizing a need for greater discipline and virtue, I joined the military during wartime. Following my service, I transitioned into a career in university admissions, where the Lord’s grace allowed me to rise from an entry-level staff member to a Regional Director earning nearly 200k a year. While successful by worldly standards, the Lord began a "Great Re-Commission" in my heart in 2024. Using the words of John 21:15, Jesus asked me, "Tyrone, do you love me more than these?". My "yes" meant leaving a lucrative career in faith to return to my original calling: feeding His lambs. Career Aspirations and Professional Goals My future plans are centered on returning to full-time vocational ministry with a refined, intellectual, and cultural strength. Upon completing my studies, I seek to serve as a pastoral staff member at my current church, focusing on teaching and preaching. Additionally, I aspire to serve as a chaplain, providing essential counseling and spiritual palliative care to those in their most vulnerable moments. If the Lord opens the door, I also hope to contribute to the academic community within a Christian University, utilizing my decade of leadership experience in higher education to mentor the next generation of kingdom leaders. The Impact of the receiving this scholarship is a vital component of my academic and professional preparation. Following the counsel of my mentor, Dr. Hal Seed, I have been accepted into Liberty University’s Master of Divinity and Theology program. While the Lord miraculously provided for my family through VA claims the same month I left my career, these resources are a fraction of my previous income. This scholarship would bridge the financial gap, allowing me to focus entirely on my theological training without the burden of significant debt.This support is not merely a financial transaction; it is an investment in a shepherd who has been tested in the fires of military service and corporate leadership. It will enable me to gain the formal biblical foundation I lacked during my early years of ministry, ensuring I can "rightly handle the word of truth" as I serve the church and the community. My goal is to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. With your support, I can fulfill this re-commissioning and honor the legacy of those who have dedicated their lives to serving Jesus