This week's episode dives into Willis Johnson’s story on the Engage Your Destiny Podcast. We hear the incredible journey of a Vietnam veteran who went from shoveling chicken manure on a ranch to building a $40 billion company — all while keeping his faith at the center. 

From his father’s relentless work ethic, to surviving ambushes in Vietnam and earning a Purple Heart, Willis reveals how prayer guided every decision in life and business. He opens up about what war taught him about leadership, responsibility, and valuing people, and how those same lessons built a global enterprise rooted in integrity and generosity.

Today, Willis and his family steward a foundation that invests in Christian causes and missions across America, living proof that success without faith means nothing. His story is one of grit, faith, and legacy.

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/suicideispreventable?
📕 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.  

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This week we hear more of Adam’s story on the Engage Your Destiny Podcast. We see a journey of redemption, resilience, and faith after years of trauma on the frontlines of policing in Los Angeles.

From enforcing impossible mandates during COVID and facing the chaos of the George Floyd riots, to walking through divorce, brokenness, and isolation, Adam’s story reveals the heavy toll of public service. But it doesn’t end there.

Through the forgiveness and faith of his wife, and a personal encounter with God’s grace, Adam found restoration. Today, he is not only reunited with his family but has built a new life in Tennessee, founding White Shepherd Coffee, a place where faith, loyalty, and trust shape every cup served and every conversation shared.

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/suicideispreventable
📕 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 transforming lives.

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

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Former California police sergeant Adam Sturgeon shares his journey of trauma, faith, and redemption.
For 16 years, Adam served as a police officer, working gang units, narcotics enforcement, robbery task force, and even the COVID incident management team. He faced life-and-death moments, including a shooting that left him questioning everything he believed.

Behind the badge was a man wrestling with trauma, grief, and doubt about God’s goodness. From officer-involved shootings… to the struggles of policing after George Floyd… to building a new life as the founder of White Shepherd Coffee—Adam’s story shows the cost of service and the hope of redemption.

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/suicideispreventable
📕 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  
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Timestamps 
00:00 – Welcome & Introduction to Adam Sturgeon
02:00 – Adam’s bio: 16 years as a police officer, gang/narcotics enforcement, robbery task force
04:00 – Officer-involved shooting: a suspect tries to stab Adam and his partner
07:00 – The emotional aftermath: “He could’ve been me”
10:00 – Growing up in California and family background
13:00 – Police academy training in Long Beach
17:00 – Policy changes from Rodney King to George Floyd
22:00 – Classmate shot in week three of training – a sobering reality
27:00 – Learning how to talk to people vs. using force
31:00 – The struggle with faith: “Does God even exist?”
36:00 – Robbery task force and life on the streets
38:00 – COVID Task Force: freezer trucks, fear, and city protocols
40:00 – Closing & Engage Your Destiny mission

In Part 2 of Anna’s story on the Engage Your Destiny Podcast, we witness her story become one of redemption and faith after enduring sexual assault, abuse, loss, and isolation during her military service.
From facing trauma, alcoholism, and jail time, to finding mentorship under a Christian general in Korea and reconnecting with her faith through Engage Your Destiny — Anna’s testimony reveals how healing, faith, and community can transform a life.
Today, Anna is stepping into her calling: serving other women in the military, sharing her testimony, and helping soldiers break free from shame, trauma, and isolation.

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 – Introduction to Part 2 of Anna’s Story
01:00 – Facing fear and threats after sexual assault
04:00 – A destructive relationship, loss, and arrest
06:00 – Jail time and turning back to God
10:00 – Alcoholism, promiscuity, and military stigma
13:00 – Finding mentorship under a Christian general in Korea
20:00 – First experience with Engage Your Destiny
23:00 – Healing through Warrior Wednesdays and retreats
29:00 – From soldier to ministry leader
34:00 – Supporting other women through trauma
37:00 – Sexual assault, isolation, and suicidal struggles in the military
42:00 – How Engage is changing lives and military culture
44:00 – Anna’s vision for faith and healing on military bases

Staff Sergeant Anna Weisel shares her story of resilience, faith, and survival in the U.S. Army.
At just 19 years old, Anna joined as a Field Artillery Fire Direction Controller—a rare combat arms role for women. Over seven years, she rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant, deployed to Europe, and served across eight countries. But behind the uniform was a story much deeper.

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 to Anna Weisel
02:00 – Anna’s Army journey: 19 years old, Combat Arms
06:00 – Growing up with faith and an absent father
10:00 – Miscarriage and the emotional toll of silence
16:00 – Debt, failure, and choosing the Army
21:00 – Breaking her leg in basic training & restarting from scratch
27:00 – Fort Hood and the darkness in the military
33:00 – Sexual assault during deployment in Germany
37:00 – Finding God and rebuilding faith

In this episode of the Engage Your Destiny Podcast, host Ben Peterson sits down with Army veteran Nathaniel Champion to explore one soldier’s journey through instability, identity loss, and addiction—and how a spark of faith helped rebuild everything that felt broken.

Nathaniel’s story speaks to the silent battles many service members face, mental health, trauma, suicide attempts, substance use, and how resilience and connection can bring healing.

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 & Introduction

02:00 – Meet Nathaniel

05:00 – Childhood instability

13:00 – Military trauma

26:00 – Mental health & substance use

38:00 – Breaking point

52:00 – Redemption & new identity

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.   

📢 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/suicideispreventable
📕 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 & 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 
Follow us on Instagram: / 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 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