Aaron Welty: The Heroics of Weakness

Aaron Welty grew up with his eyes on the stars — not just the ones overhead, but the ones in stories. Galaxies far, far away, rings of power, and caped crusaders filled his imagination. But while most kids left those adventures behind when the movie ended, Aaron carried them with him. For him, those tales weren’t just entertainment — they were roadmaps pointing the way toward courage, sacrifice, and a bigger purpose.

From the very start, Aaron’s life has looked a bit like a hero’s journey — not with blasters or superpowers, but with quiet strength and a steady resolve shaped by life’s challenges.

He recently shared more about that journey on the Cedarville Stories podcast, opening up about how God has worked through his weakness to create something beautiful and unexpected.

Aaron was born 10 weeks early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy not long after. That alone could have written a different kind of story. But he kept going one chapter at a time: first as a student at Cedarville University, then as a staffer on Capitol Hill, and now as a speaker and author of a nearly finished trilogy of memoirs.

His interest in public service took root back in the seventh grade, when a lesson on U.S. presidents sparked something inside him. Friends told him he’d make a great president someday, and instead of brushing it off, Aaron dared to believe them. That dream found real footing at Cedarville, where he studied public administration and graduated in 2005.

He packed up for Washington, D.C. soon after, spending years working behind the scenes on Capitol Hill and later with the Department of Transportation. His focus? Advocating for disability inclusion and making sure workspaces welcomed everyone.

“It was about affirming the dignity of work,” Aaron said. “Even if only 1% were affected, it mattered to that 1%.”

But Aaron’s impact isn’t just in policy papers and meetings. Over the years, he’s mentored high school and college students, often connecting with them through summer leadership programs. He doesn’t shy away from the hard questions — in fact, he invites them. And more often than not, he draws on the stories that shaped him growing up.

From Star Wars to Lord of the Rings to Marvel’s sprawling universe, Aaron sees more than special effects — he sees lessons on calling, identity, and the grit it takes to keep going.

“These stories aren’t just for fun,” he said. “They’re invitations — to think, to wrestle, to become.”

Aaron knows a thing or two about wrestling. He’s lived through pain and loss and disappointment. But rather than wish those things away, he’s learned to see them differently.

“God didn’t take the pain away,” he said. “He gave me perseverance instead.”

It’s something he calls the “heroics of weakness” — a way of seeing suffering not as something to escape but as the place where purpose can be born. “So often, it’s the thing we wish God would take away that ends up being the thing He uses most,” he said.

One of the pictures Aaron clings to is from Scripture — the idea of fragile “jars of clay” carrying something far greater inside. That’s how he sees his life: breakable, yes, but brimming with meaning.

“You’re not just here to be entertained,” he said. “You’re here to engage — to become who you were meant to be.”

And that’s exactly what Aaron is doing. In a world chasing fame and titles, he’s living something deeper — a quiet legacy of perseverance, presence, and purpose.

https://share.transistor.fm/s/03c5d342

https://youtu.be/Vv_OYW-paE4