My father was a humble man trying to follow Jesus, and that example left a deep mark on me. Now that I’m a dad myself, I realize the best gift I can give my daughter is that same kind of authenticity. Living out my faith in front of her—not just preaching it, but practicing it—is what matters most. My mission as a dad is clear: to see my daughter passionately pursue Christ. My goal is simple: to live in a way that points my daughter to Jesus.

I learned about most things in life on my own—drugs, alcohol, relationships, school...It all came crashing down when I was arrested for a string of thefts on campus. When I called my dad from jail to bail me out, he hung up. That night I cried out to God...and it changed my life. Dad Academy helped me look at my own childhood and see how it shaped the kind of dad I want to be. Our son is sixteen. He loves Jesus, and he still loves us. To me, that’s winning.

One memory (of my dad) that’s always stuck with me is when we were playing catch. I missed a throw, and he stopped playing. That moment hit me hard, even as a kid. It taught me how much patience, presence, and encouragement matter to a child. Those few seconds told me everything I didn’t want to repeat.