Five battle-tested men show that faith isn’t a sign of weakness – and that even the toughest warriors can find strength, purpose and redemption through God.
Veterans and first responders are accustomed to being the tough ones. They run toward things others run from, bury emotions when the job requires it, and sometimes convince ourselves that whatever we’re carrying, we can handle it alone.
Sometimes that leads many of our nation’s heroes to think they are invincible and need nothing.
That attitude can even extend into faith: “I don’t need God. That’s for somebody else.”
If that’s you, consider these five badass dudes who walked the walk. They include Navy SEALs, a Force Recon Marine, an elite UFC fighter and a former Hells Angels leader.
They are among the toughest human beings on the planet. Sure, they have passed their prime and moved on from their incredible roles. Now each has found something else to be a badass over – their love of Jesus Christ.
Shawn Ryan went from the Navy SEAL Teams and CIA contracting to battling drugs, alcohol and the difficulties of adjusting to civilian life. He was close to giving up on life entirely but crawled out of the deep hole he was in.
Ryan, who grew up Catholic, has increasingly spoken publicly about returning to Christianity and taking his relationship with God seriously.
His journey is particularly interesting because another man on this list, Eddie Penney, helped reignite his faith. Ryan has publicly credited Penney with restoring some much-needed faith in his life.
Now Shawn Ryan hosts one of America’s most popular podcasts, The Shawn Ryan Show, and it keeps getting bigger.
Speaking of Eddie Penney, he served as a Marine before becoming a Navy SEAL and ultimately reaching DEVGRU – SEAL Team Six, one of the world’s most elite special operations units, arguably THE most elite.
Yet Penney has openly discussed struggles after combat involving alcohol, pills, anger and finding purpose. Today, he puts his Christian faith ahead of virtually everything else.
He founded UNAFRAID Ministries, which works with veterans, first responders and other men through Christ, Scripture and brotherhood and serves as a premier example of going from expertise to another.
Mel Chancey isn’t a veteran, but he’s a tremendous supporter of the veteran community – and his toughness credentials don’t require much explanation.
The former Hells Angels Chicago chapter president lived through a lot of violence, miraculously. Check out his interview on The Shawn Ryan Show where discusses knocking rival gangmembers’ teeth out, fire bombs, and a host of other criminal activities you’d expect from a major biker gang leader.
It all led him to undergo a profound Christian transformation.
Chancey has described reaching a point where faith stopped being something he merely talked about and became something he actually lives to this day.
Today, Christ, redemption and helping others are central to his public message.
New Jersey’s Tom DeBlass is a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, former UFC and Bellator fighter, elite grappler and internationally respected coach.
He’s also openly religious. DeBlass has spoken about trusting God’s plan while also discussing childhood trauma, his father’s addiction and the emotional armor he developed growing up.
His example is simple: you can be dangerous, disciplined and exceptionally tough while still kneeling before God. Learn more about him on his website www.tomdeblass.com
Chad Robichaux was a Force Recon Marine, Afghanistan combat veteran, professional MMA champion and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt.
Yet after war, Robichaux struggled severely with PTSD, anxiety and depression and has spoken about nearly becoming another veteran suicide statistic. He credits God, his faith and those around him with helping restore his life and marriage.
He later co-founded the faith-based Mighty Oaks Foundation to help other veterans, service members and first responders struggling after service.
So, You Still Think You’re Too Tough?
Faith isn’t a substitute for professional mental-health treatment when it’s needed. But veterans and first responders spend enormous amounts of time discussing physical and mental health while sometimes neglecting spiritual health.
These five men have experienced combat, violence, addiction, trauma and darkness. None could reasonably be described as weak.
Yet each discovered something important: there are some battles you can’t simply muscle your way through.
So if you’re thinking, “I’m too tough for this God stuff”, that’s your choice.
But you might want to ask yourself one question: Are you really tougher than these five badass dudes?
Be on the lookout for future interview articles for each of them exclusively on Homeland Defender Magazine.