A decorated U.S. Army Colonel.
A husband and father.
A man who nearly lost everything to shame, addiction, and suicide.

In this powerful episode, Kevin Pulaski, a 27-year Army veteran, multiple combat tours, and full-bird Colonel, shares his raw journey from the battlefield to the brink of taking his own life.

For years, Kevin carried the weight of death in Afghanistan, overseeing the transport of fallen soldiers home. He drowned his pain in busyness, alcohol, and silence, until his body shut down and his mind nearly did too.

But God wasn’t finished.

September is Suicide Prevention Month. Military suicide is an epidemic, but it’s not the end of the story. This testimony is proof that redemption is possible, healing is real, and life still wins.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.   

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❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/suicideispreventable
📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book   

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Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Kevin’s Army journey
05:00 – From Catholic guilt to finding Jesus
13:00 – Iraq & the dangers of Route Irish
18:00 – The family cost of leadership
26:00 – Afghanistan: surrounded by death
34:00 – The breaking point & suicide attempt
38:00 – Rehab, redemption & forgiveness
46:00 – Rebuilding trust with his kids
57:00 – Freedom in Jesus

The assassination of Charlie Kirk shocked a nation.
In this week’s episode, Ben Peterson, Army combat veteran and founder of Engage Your Destiny, processes the murder of a respected leader, Charlie Kirk while issuing a sobering reminder: our battle is not with guns and bullets, but for the soul of our nation.

Ben shares the heartbreak of seeing the video of 
Charlie’s death, his prayers for resurrection, and how God gave him clarity in the midst of grief. From the martyrdom of Paul and Peter… to the radical conversion of John Newton… to the true meaning of the Great Commission—this message is both a call to spiritual war and a challenge to lay down our lives for the sake of others.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith. 

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families- 
❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now 
📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book 

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers. 

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! 

LET'S CONNECT: Follow us on Facebook: / engagedestiny 
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TIMESTAMPS
00:00 – Welcome & why Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a wake-up call
02:00 – Light vs. darkness: the real spiritual war
04:00 – The martyrs of history: Paul, Peter, Joan of Arc, MLK
06:30 – The Great Commission: multiplying leaders, not personalities
08:00 – The Kingdom suffers violence: what that really means
10:00 – Strongholds, weapons of the Spirit, and the fruits of the Spirit
11:30 – The redemption story of John Newton (Amazing Grace)
14:00 – The danger of pointing fingers vs. the call to love
16:00 – Measuring faithfulness through God’s eyes, not the world’s
17:30 – Daily surrender: “Here am I, Lord. Send me.”
18:30 – Closing prayer for Charlie’s family and our nation

The assassination of Charlie Kirk shocked a nation. In this powerful episode, Ben Peterson—Army combat veteran and founder of Engage Your Destiny—issues a call to war. But not a war with guns or bullets. A war for the soul of our nation.

From the story of Nehemiah rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls… to the pendulum of history swinging between unity and selfishness… to Ben’s own battles with trauma, fear, and faith—this message is a challenge to sharpen your sword and fight back against darkness.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith. 

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families- 
❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now 
📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book 

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers. 

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review! 

LET'S CONNECT: Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny
Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ 
Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson

Timestamps 
00:00 – Welcome & why Charlie Kirk’s assassination is a wake-up call
02:00 – Light vs. darkness: the real spiritual war
04:00 – The story of Nehemiah and rebuilding Jerusalem
08:00 – The Pendulum Theory: how history repeats itself
14:00 – Ben’s personal story: childhood trauma, bullying & combat PTSD
17:00 – Nehemiah 4: Fighting for your family with a sword in one hand and work in the other
19:30 – A 40-day fast: breaking addictions & sharpening the sword
21:00 – The challenge: what’s holding you back?
22:00 – Closing prayer for revival & the Kirk family

In this episode of the Engage Your Destiny Podcast, host Ben Peterson sits down with Army veteran Sylvester Jenkins III—a soldier who survived five combat tours, broken family cycles, and the brink of suicide.
From sleeping in a car as a child and joining a gang at 13… to failing grades, addiction, and military demotions… to the night he sat in his living room with a loaded gun ready to end it all—Sylvester’s story is one of brokenness turned to redemption.

What changed everything? A moment of hearing God’s voice that pulled him back from the edge and launched him into a new mission as a husband, father, pastor, and leader helping others find hope.

Sylvester’s story is raw, real, and life-giving—shedding light on the silent battles of mental health, trauma, suicide, and addiction that so many service members face. And it proves that even in the darkest places, faith can ignite a new beginning.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-
❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now
📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET'S CONNECT:
Follow us on Facebook: / https://www.facebook.com/engagedestiny Follow us on Instagram: / https://www.instagram.com/engage.your.destiny/ 
Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction
02:00 – Meet Sylvester
07:00 – Childhood poverty, gangs & broken family cycles
19:00 – Failing school & searching for identity
26:00 – Military career begins, early failures & demotion
44:00 – Five combat tours in Iraq & Afghanistan
55:00 – Losing a close friend to an IED
59:00 – Divorce, addiction & empty house
1:00:00 – Near-suicide & hearing God’s voice
1:08:00 – Faith, family, and rebuilding a new life
1:14:00 – Becoming an author, speaker, and pastor
1:18:00 – Impact of Engage Your Destiny on soldiers
1:21:00 – Closing reflections & prayer

What if I told you drunk driving, credit card debt, and suicide in the military had one thing in common? They're all preventable. Completely preventable.

This week, we share a very special episode telling the raw, personal story of a soldier, Andrew.

From a childhood marked by pain and loneliness, to the heartbreak of losing his grandfather, to serving in the military where suicide cast a dark shadow over his unit — Andrew’s story shows the real struggle of fighting unseen battles and what happens when faith enters in.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of veteran suicide by equipping our Bravest with the spiritual tools they need to face any battle.

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families –

❤️ DONATE TODAY: PreventSoldierSuicide.com

📕 READ THE STORY THAT’S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET’S CONNECT:

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In this deeply moving episode of Engage Your Destiny, host Ben Peterson speaks with Army pilot and combat veteran Paul Jordan, whose journey takes us from the chaos of war and emotional shutdown… to a life-altering encounter with God that healed what war and trauma had broken.

Paul’s story is vulnerable, honest, and painfully real. After flying 600+ combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan—often under gunfire and while rescuing Navy SEALs—Paul returned home a shell of himself. Numb. Disconnected. On the verge of losing it all. Until one night, alone in a hotel room, everything changed.

Today, Paul is a new man. He’s walking in purpose, leading his family, and using his story to help others find the same healing he once believed was impossible.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith. 

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-

❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now

📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET'S CONNECT:

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Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro & recap of Paul’s military background 

01:10 - Rescuing Navy SEALs & gunfire every night 

05:30 - The weight of trauma begins to show 

08:00 - Emotionally numb & detached from family 

12:00 - Breaking point: crying in the kitchen 

14:20 - A hotel room encounter with Jesus 

17:40 - Paul's spiritual transformation begins 

22:00 - Restoring his marriage & fatherhood 

25:00 - Encouragement for those still struggling 

28:00 - Closing thoughts & mission invitation

Feeling drained, exhausted, or stuck in burnout?

In this episode of the Engage Your Destiny Podcast, we dive deep into how to overcome burnout and heal your mind — spiritually, mentally, and physically.

From childhood trauma, combat stress, and performance-driven living… to finding hope, healing, and renewed strength through faith and practical lifestyle shifts — this message is transformational.

Whether you’re in the military or just fighting your own battles with stress and exhaustion — this episode offers a roadmap to healing, freedom, and lasting peace.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-

❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now

📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET'S CONNECT:

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Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson

Timestamps

00:00 – Welcome & Podcast Mission

00:57 – Personal update: New baby & ministry launches

02:18 – Prayer & introduction to today’s topic

03:55 – Childhood trauma, bullying, and coping with addictions

06:48 – Military combat trauma & performance-driven living

07:39 – Burnout and body collapse at age 30

10:40 – How trauma affects the nervous system

14:01 – Renewing your mind through Scripture (Romans 12)

17:00 – Power of memorizing Scripture against temptation

21:45 – Assessing habits: caffeine, alcohol, sleep, sugar, phones

25:02 – Sleep as a superpower for nervous system healing

26:33 – Eliminating distractions & dopamine hits from your phone

27:51 – Neuroplasticity: you can rewire your brain

28:58 – Closing prayer & encouragement

In this week's episode of Engage Your Destiny, host Ben Peterson speaks with Army aviator and Marine veteran Paul Jordan, whose journey takes us from a violent childhood, family trauma, and war-torn skies… to divine protection, spiritual awakening, and purpose.

Paul’s story is emotional, intense, and deeply human. Raised in chaos, marked by abuse, and haunted by false accusations as a child, Paul turned to violence and survival. He went on to serve 22 years in the military, flying over 600 combat missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, including rescuing elite operators under fire, and personally transporting Vice President Joe Biden.

Yet, it wasn't the battlefield that broke Paul—it was what came after. Confrontations at home, battles with fatherhood, and a desperate need for healing drove him to a final surrender… to Jesus Christ.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith. 

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-

❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now

📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET'S CONNECT:

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Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson

Timestamps:

00:00 - Intro 

01:15 - Meet Paul Jordan: Marine & Black Hawk Pilot 

02:55 - 600+ Combat Missions, 1,000+ Combat Flight Hours 

04:00 - Childhood: Broken Home, Abuse, and Early Trauma 

07:00 - False Accusations & Church Hurt 

09:00 - Violence, Rage, and Emotional Isolation 

13:45 - Gunpoint Confrontation with His Own Father 

15:55 - Teenage Rebellion and Fighting 

17:15 - Football Injury 

18:50 - Joining the Marines & Getting Married 

20:45 - Wild Marine Corps Stories (Japan, Fights, and More) 

23:50 - Near-Fatal Car Crash & Hearing God's Voice 

25:50 - Desire to Fly, Applying for Army Warrant Officer 

31:30 - Black Hawk Flight School & Aircraft Selection 

35:00 - First Combat Deployment to Iraq 

38:10 - Dust Landings & Learning to Fly in Combat 

39:50 - First Time Getting Shot At 

41:00 - Miraculous Protection in Combat 

43:00 - First Air Assault Mission with Fifth Group 

44:00 - Flying Joe Biden & “Rick Flair” 

What happens when you've lost all feeling—and all hope?
In this episode, Eric Newberry shares how hitting rock bottom led to a life of meaning, service, and global impact. His path from emotional shutdown and addiction to leading efforts that have helped free thousands from modern-day slavery is both powerful and deeply human.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-
❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now
📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET'S CONNECT:
Follow us on Facebook: / engagedestiny
Follow us on Instagram: / engage.your.destiny
Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome & the heart behind Engage Your Destiny
02:00 – Introducing Eric Newberry and his story
06:00 – Early life, culture, and challenges in small-town Ohio
13:00 – The roots of pain: addiction, loss, and survival
28:00 – Losing touch with emotions and self-worth
50:00 – A turning point: one night, one decision
1:02:00 – Finding direction, rebuilding from the ground up
1:08:00 – Final thoughts on purpose, faith, and lasting impact

In this powerful message, Ben Peterson—veteran and founder of Engage Your Destiny—shares how to walk in the authority God has already given you. Drawing from the story of Solomon in 1 Kings 1, he teaches how to:

✔️ Recognize your God-given kingdom and calling

✔️ Hear from prophetic voices in your life

✔️ Walk in spiritual authority with boldness

✔️ Break victim mindsets and embrace leadership

This episode isn’t just about biblical history—it’s a wake-up call for a generation lost in distraction, fear, and identity confusion. Whether you're a leader, parent, soldier, or simply hungry for purpose… this message will challenge and empower you to take your rightful seat at the table.

WATCH UNTIL THE END - this story could change how you see pain, purpose and the power of redemption. Engage Your Destiny (EYD) is a 501(c)3 on a mission to help combat the deadly epidemic of military suicide with faith.

📢 WANT TO BE PART OF THE MISSION? | Help us continue to reach U.S. military members, veterans, and their families-

❤️ DONATE TODAY: https://engageyourdestiny.org/donate-now

📕 READ THE STORY THAT'S CHANGING LIVES: https://engageyourdestiny.org/book

NEW EPISODES EVERY WEDNESDAY! SUBSCRIBE to never miss an episode & TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS to see how faith is impacting our soldiers.

Want to see more behind-the-scenes, more interviews, or something different? Drop a comment or leave a review!

LET'S CONNECT:

Follow us on Facebook: / engagedestiny

Follow us on Instagram: / engage.your.destiny

Follow us on Pray.com: / https://www.pray.com/benpeterson