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Joe Spackman's life reads like a novel spanning the Cold War to the pulpit, with unexpected twists that reveal how our darkest chapters can become our greatest ministry tools.

Born in Norfolk, Virginia in 1948 and raised in Lansing, Michigan, Joe's journey took a pivotal turn when his poor college grades resulted in a draft notice during Vietnam. Enlisting for an extra year to choose his training, he selected "fixed siphony repair" solely because it was the longest program available – unwittingly stepping into the world of secure voice communications with a clearance level reportedly higher than the president's.

Stationed in Berlin at the former Liebstandard Adolf Hitler barracks, Joe found himself at a surreal crossroads. Having previously embraced neo-Nazism and occult practices after being rejected when expressing interest in ministry as a teenager, he now stood 110 miles behind what would be enemy lines if hostilities erupted. Military police had clear instructions: ensure personnel like Joe destroyed sensitive equipment and, if necessary, shoot them rather than allow capture – a sobering reality that forced him to reevaluate his worldview.

After military service, Joe reconnected with Nona, whom he'd met at Lansing Community College. Their relationship blossomed into a 53-year marriage that began at Christ United Methodist Church. By 1974, both experienced profound spiritual conversion during a lay witness mission, igniting Joe's second calling to ministry – one that would be affirmed rather than rejected. His theological journey led him through seminary and a transformative year at Wesley's Chapel in London before serving multiple Michigan churches as a circuit pastor.

Perhaps most powerful is how Joe leveraged his journey through darkness to connect authentically with others struggling in similar spaces. When confronted by a troubled goth teenager claiming to be Satan, Joe replied simply, "I've seen Satan and you're not him, but you're always welcome here" – words that helped transform her life and exemplify his core belief that no one is "too bad, lost, or not grown up enough to change."

What unexpected chapters of your own story might become the foundation for helping others find their way?

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