The name 'Valor & Grace' was chosen with deep intention. These two concepts, often seen as distinct, are for us inextricably linked, especially in the life of a warrior and in the heart of the Gospel. They form the bedrock of our ministry.

Understanding Valor (The Warrior's Distinction):

• Valor, as we understand it, is not merely a common trait like bravery. It is a distinction forged in the crucible, often in the fires of combat or extraordinary trial. It's a title earned through sacrifice, courage under immense pressure, and a commitment to duty that goes beyond the ordinary. It marks an individual as having faced and endured what others have not. In military service, it's recognized, sometimes decorated. In the spiritual walk, it's the steel in the soul that stands firm when all else gives way. For the veteran, acknowledging this valor is not about pride; it's about recognizing a profound shaping experience, a testament to what they have endured and overcome. The church must also learn to see and honor this.

  The Peril of Valor Without Grace (A Sobering Reminder):

• However, valor alone, untempered and unredeemed by grace, can become a crushing burden. It can lead to an impossible standard of self -reliance, a fear of perceived weakness, or a 'death by comparison' where one's own valor never feels 'enough.' We remember with sorrow the tragic case of Admiral Michael Boorda. The immense pressure related to the public questioning of his valor awards, regardless of the ultimate truth, contributed to an unbearable weight that, in the absence of a sufficient perceived 'grace' or an honorable path through the predicament, led to his devastating decision. His story is a solemn reminder: valor that is not anchored in something greater than itself – something like God's unmerited grace and the possibility of redemption – can become a dangerous idol or an unbearable shame.

  Understanding Grace (The Kingdom's Counterbalance & Foundation):

• Grace, then, is the indispensable counterpoint. It is God's unearned, unmerited favor, His divine strength freely given, His forgiveness offered when we fall short, His power made perfect in our weakness. Grace is no less demanding than valor, in its own way. It demands humility, a willingness to receive what we haven't earned, and a recognition of our dependence on God. For a warrior accustomed to earning everything through strength and effort, embracing grace can be its own act of profound courage. Grace is what heals the wounds that valor alone cannot. It's what offers redemption when valor fails or feels insufficient. It's what allows a warrior to lay down their past burdens at the foot of the Cross and pick up a new, lighter yoke.

  Valor Tempered by Grace, Grace Empowering Valor (The Synthesis):

• Valor & Grace is built on the conviction that these two are not opposites, but essential complements for a whole and effective warrior for Christ. The church needs the valor of its veterans – their discipline, their courage, their vigilance, their leadership. But those veterans, and indeed all of us, need the transforming grace of God to make that valor truly fruitful for the Kingdom. Valor without grace can lead to pride, judgment, or despair. Grace without the call to valorous action can lead to passivity or license. Our mission is to help veterans understand how their God-given valor, refined and redeemed by His amazing grace, can be purposefully deployed for His purposes, and to help churches create environments where both valor is honored and grace abounds.

• A silent crisis weakens our churches. Veterans, rich in discipline and experience, are often pushed to the margins, their spiritual vigilance untapped and leadership potential overlooked. This isn't just a loss for individuals; it's a loss for the Kingdom.

• For Veterans: Isolation and disconnection, their unique journey unaddressed, and their God-given purpose within the church unfulfilled.

• For Churches: Critical strengths are lost, natural watchfulness diminishes, and valuable leadership is left on the sidelines, leaving the body less resilient.

• For the Kingdom: "Much land remains to be taken" (Joshua 13:1), while trained, God-fearing warriors sit unused in our pews.

• Valor & Grace exists to bridge this critical gap.

My path to founding Valor & Grace began in the Navy, serving as a Seabee radioman through three combat deployments. From Ramadi to Fallujah, Kandahar to the remote regions of Southeast Afghanistan, I experienced the crucible of combat while completely separated from the love of God.

• Unlike many veterans with strong faith backgrounds, I came to Christ after my service. What followed was a difficult decade-long struggle to reconcile my military experiences with my newfound faith. The churches I attended seemed to have no framework for helping veterans like me integrate these two crucial parts of our identity.

• The turning point came when I began leading a veterans ministry at Emmanuel Faith Community Church. What started as a small gathering of veterans quickly revealed a profound need: warriors desperately wanted to understand how the Bible spoke to their service, their sacrifices, and their struggles.

• Initially, I encountered resistance. When I approached church leadership about expanding our veterans ministry, I was told it wasn't a priority. They couldn't see the untapped potential sitting in their pews every Sunday – men and women with discipline, courage, and leadership skills going unused.

• Undeterred, I developed a framework for veteran integration that focused on three key elements:

• 1. Biblical reconciliation of military service and faith

• 2. Intentional community building among veterans

• 3. Pathways for veterans to serve using their unique strengths

• The results were transformative. Our veterans ministry grew to serve 150 veterans and their families. But more importantly, these veterans became active, engaged members of the larger congregation. Giving increased. New leaders emerged. The church grew stronger as these veterans found purpose in applying their military discipline to Kingdom advancement.

• This experience revealed a truth I couldn't ignore: what happened at Emmanuel Faith needed to happen in churches nationwide. Valor & Grace was born from this conviction – that when churches truly engage their veterans, everyone benefits. The veterans find healing and purpose, and the church gains strength and resilience it desperately needs.

The vision and principles of Valor & Grace are not born in a vacuum. We stand on the shoulders of faithful watchmen who have gone before us, drawing wisdom and inspiration from leaders whose lives and ministries exemplified the core truths we champion. While many have shaped our thinking, we are particularly indebted to the legacies of

Dr. Charles Stanley

Unwavering Commitment to Biblical Truth: From Dr. Stanley, we learn the vital importance of standing firm on the inerrant Word of God as the ultimate authority. His life demonstrated that true strength is found in unwavering doctrinal fidelity and practical obedience to Scripture. Valor & Grace is committed to being biblically solid and immovable in doctrine, ensuring our resources are always anchored in God's truth.

David Wilkerson

Holy Urgency & Courageous Outreach: David Wilkerson’s ministry exemplified a burning urgency for the lost and marginalized, fearlessly confronting difficult issues and demonstrating radical compassion. His work, especially with Teen Challenge, showed that transformative ministry requires bold action and relentless focus on reaching those others might overlook. Valor & Grace draws its holy urgency and conviction that time is short, calling for courageous engagement with the needs of our veterans and churches.

Pastor Chuck Smith

Spirit-Led Ministry & Empowering Others: Chuck Smith modeled humble reliance on the Holy Spirit, trusting God's leading above institutional conformity. He built a massive movement by equipping and empowering others to ministry. His example teaches us the power of simple dependence on God and prioritizing people over rigid program structures. Valor & Grace learns from Chuck Smith the importance of Spirit-led ministry that trusts God to build His church through equipping dedicated leaders. These streams—Stanley's doctrinal rock, Wilkerson's prophetic fire, and Smith's Spirit-led trust—converge in the heart of Valor & Grace. We believe that modern Watchmen, especially our veterans, need a deep biblical grounding and a holy urgency, all pursued with a humble reliance on the Holy Spirit and applied through reproducible methods.

Valor & Grace is built upon two key biblical principles:

• The Call to Seize Untaken Territory (Joshua 13:1)

• "When Joshua had grown old, the LORD said to him, 'You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.' "

• Just as Joshua was reminded of land yet to be conquered, today's church has significant mission fields - including the military and veteran community - that remain largely untouched or underserved.

• The Promise of Growing Strength (Psalm 84:7)

• "They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion."

• Veterans possess unique strengths forged through military service. These strengths, when properly integrated into the life of the church, create powerful momentum for the Kingdom.

Biblical Fidelity: We ground all resources and teaching in Scripture.

• Veteran-Led: Our ministry is created by veterans, for veterans and churches, with firsthand understanding.

• Gospel-Centered: We put Christ at the center of all we do, not politics or patriotism alone.

• Practical Application: We provide actionable tools and frameworks, not just theory.

• Church Partnership: We exist to serve and strengthen the local church in its mission.

• Empowerment, Not Dependency: Our goal is to equip churches and individuals to thrive independently, creating copyable models of ministry.