2/6/2026
When people find out I’ve spent a significant portion of my life as a Youth Pastor and a Biblical Studies major, they sometimes seem surprised to find me on a firing line or behind a lines of code. To some, these worlds feel miles apart.
But after years of mentoring students in the church and junior developers in the tech world, I’ve realized one thing: The fundamentals of leadership never change.
Whether I’m teaching a teenager how to navigate a difficult life choice, a developer how to debug a failing application, or a student how to safely handle a firearm, the goal is the same: Servant Leadership.
In ministry, you learn quickly that your position isn’t about being "the boss"; it’s about being a steward of the people under your care. The same applies to firearms instruction.
When a student walks onto the range, they are often nervous, vulnerable, and looking for direction. A leader’s job isn't to show off how fast they can shoot; it's to create an environment where the student feels safe enough to learn. We aren't just teaching "gun handling"; we are stewards of their safety and their confidence.
In coding, you don't scream at a program when it crashes—you patiently look for the bug. In youth ministry, you don't give up on a kid when they make a mistake; you mentor them through it.
On the range, "bugs" happen. Grip issues, flinching, and mental blocks are just part of the process. My background has taught me that a calm, patient instructor produces a calm, capable shooter. If you lose your cool as a leader, your student loses their ability to learn.
My B.A. in Biblical Studies taught me to look for the "Why" behind the "What." We don't carry a tool for protection because we are looking for a fight; we carry because we value life.
Being a "Warrior" in the context of The Warrior Chicken means being a protector of the innocent and a watchman for your community. It’s a heavy responsibility that requires a solid moral compass. Leadership is about ensuring that our skills are always balanced by our character.
A firearm is just a tool. A line of code is just a command. But Leadership is what determines how those things are used to impact the world. Whether you are leading your family, your team at work, or yourself, remember that the heart of a warrior is the heart of a servant.
Since we're talking about leadership and responsibility, take a moment to set up Legacy Contacts on your Apple or Google account. It’s an act of leadership for your family—ensuring they have access to your digital "estate" if anything ever happens to you.
(Next Week: See my "Developer’s Verdict" on smart safes and high-tech carry gear)
