“That’s where I used to sell drugs at and beat people up—I beat a lot of people up.”

Driving through Marion, Indiana, Daniel Baker remembers growing up on these streets and living in chaos.

“Some people owed me money and so to scare people, I’d get violent with them and blow their vehicles up or burn something or commit arson. Very bad stuff.”

Daniel grew up in a violent, abusive home. Soon after his parents divorced, the seven-year-old was molested by a family member. He told his parents, but they dismissed it.

“I remember feeling very much unloved, abandoned. I didn't know how to deal with any of those emotions. I didn't even know how to comprehend the emotions that I was going through. And so, I got in this state of like rage and anger, especially towards God.”

Daniel soon began getting into fights, drinking, smoking, and using drugs.  At sixteen, he decided to become a drug dealer.

“The things that attracted me to selling drugs was power, money. I had influence over people with drugs. People wanted drugs. I had what they wanted and then if things didn't go my way, it looked like me being violent towards you. I was here to sell drugs and destroy lives.”

While Daniel found success as a drug dealer, his personal life was in chaos.  

“I got married at nineteen, and it was a very toxic, codependent relationship. We said we loved each other, but we cheated on each other. We beat on each other and did all those things that I’d seen my parents doing.”

After a year of marriage, he caught his wife cheating and was arrested on domestic violence charges.

“I was in this position of being all alone and afraid, 'cause I had nobody left. My entire drug empire was falling apart. Everything that I had worked so hard for had just been being ripped right away from me to the point that I had like nothing left.”

In his cell was a Bible. 

“‘I was like, “Okay, well, God, if, if you're there, this is the chance, like, now's the time to show me.” And so, I slid my hand in the Bible, and I started reading. It was a story about a man named Samson and how he married an adulterous woman. It was like God was showing me in that moment, ‘I see you. I've never left you.’”

Even then, Daniel couldn’t accept it.

“I felt really unworthy; I didn't believe that anybody would find interest in me, that anybody would care, that anybody would be genuine to me.”

So, when he was released, he went back to the streets and tried to rebuild his empire. He ended up strung out on his own supply and homeless.

“I was going to die on the streets, or I was going to die in prison.”

There was only one bright spot in his life: a local church.

“When I didn't have any food, they fed me. When I was homeless, they literally let me stay in the church building.  They took a lot of time out their day. They went out of their way, and they didn't ask for anything, and that really softened my heart.”

However, it would take Daniel another year of addiction and homelessness to turn to God. At age twenty-two, he was arrested on numerous charges and sentenced to nineteen months.

“‘I started to cry out to God, for him to help me out of the insanity that I was living. 'cause I felt like I kept doing the same thing over and over and over again, and it just kept ending in the same way. I was broken. I had lied to myself for so long. I was definitely at that point of like, ‘Wow, I've gotta give up control.’ I prayed and I asked God to help me see the truth behind all the lies. And I grabbed the Jesus Calling book and started reading. And it said, “Rest your eyes on my face, the lover of your soul.” It spoke to me, like, God was telling me, ‘Look to my face. I chose to show myself to the world through Jesus. Look to Jesus. You're going to find the truth when you look to Jesus. It's only through Jesus that we're going to get to heaven. There's no other way.’

That was the moment where my heart was like, “Okay, God, I'm all in. Like, whatever you have for me, I will do it. I will do what you tell me to do.”’

As Daniel got clean and began reading the Bible daily, his heart and mind began to heal.

“The biggest part that it changed was my belief that it is possible to change, and that God loves me and is going to meet me right where I'm at. I don't have to be perfect to have a relationship with him. There were lots of voices in my head telling me to do bad things. And I started to really read the word, follow what the word was telling me and listen to God and his voice. And as I did that, those voices faded away.”

When Daniel was released in 2020, he started making amends for his past mistakes and started serving the community. In fact, he retrieved a car he’d stolen and abandoned in another state, repaired it, and returned it to its owner. That was the start of his nonprofit organization, Disciple of Christ garage. He also started three Christian rehabilitation houses nearby, where he shares the hope he’s found in Christ daily.

‘“God is like, ‘I am here, and you can depend on me. And I'm not gonna be like the world. I'm not gonna leave you hanging dry or lead you in ways that are gonna be destructive.’ All of the things that I was striving for and trying to get on my own power, in my own ways, as soon as I surrendered to God and his ways, he gave me all of those things. If I had just believed that it was that simple from the start, that would've saved a whole lot of time.’”

To learn more about Daniel Baker click the Link!  

To learn more about Disciple of Christ Garage click the Link! 

IT IS ABOUT THE BIBLE

Mikella Van Dyke is a remarkable young woman with one love, one passion, and one mission; to encourage Christians to read and study the Bible. She knows the Bible will teach them more about the character of God and deepen their relationship with him. She is laser-focused on her goal. She has no aspirations for social media stardom. In fact, what Mikella is “selling” may never draw thousands of followers. But those who follow where she is leading will likely have a life-transforming experience with the Bible and with God.

MIKELLA’S JOURNEY TO A LIFE-CHANGING LOVE

 It began in Thailand. Mikella’s parents were “passionate” missionaries who devoted their lives to translating the Bible so the people of a south asian minority group could know God and His word.  Mikella says her family life was good, grounded by the stability of her parent’s love. However, she says there were plenty of “chaotic times.”  The family endured floods, home invasions, dengue fever, to name a few life disruptions.  Mikella says she often questioned why these “bad” things happened. “My parents always pointed me to the Bible. No matter what chaos was unfolding. A deep respect and dependence on God’s word permeated our home.”

Mikella’s family returned to the United States when she was sixteen so she could attend an art school for dance.” I really struggled being understood.  I did not understand pop culture or any kind of idiom or slang. It was an extremely hard transition. I had a feeling of intense loneliness like, ‘Am I ever going to get it?’ When I started in the dance school, it was a way to relate to people and identify myself. “This is my identity; I am a dancer. Dance was my safe haven.”

A condition called, “drop foot,” stopped Mikella from dancing for a season.” I got super, super depressed.”  Around this time, Mikella met and married her husband, and got pregnant within two years. She tried over and over to find her way back into dance. “I auditioned in New York to no avail.” Since her husband’s life was firmly rooted in New Hampshire, that is where Mikella needed to be. “I was a lonely, pregnant newlywed living in a strange new town with no friends. My depression deepened. I was drowning and I needed God desperately.” Mikella says she had always

been chasing what was sacred and eternal. “I loved the word of God and became obsessed with it. I would get up two hours early just to read it.  I went to Bible studies and volunteered with troubled youth. My faith was growing and I was taking ownership of it.”

GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT LEADS TO GREATEST JOY

Mikella says since she could not perform anymore, she needed a creative outlet. “Within the pages of scriptures, I got to really know God. The more I knew him, the more I loved him. I began to write devotionals every day about what I learned and heard.” It wasn’t long before Mikella wanted to share what she learned with others. “First, I emailed my devotions to my mom, then, my sister and brother, and my dad. They encouraged me to start a blog. “I felt like the Lord was saying, yes, that is why you are writing. I started a blog on Instagram, and I needed a name

people could relate to. Honestly, I had always been chasing sacred, always been chasing God and it was the only consistent thing throughout my life.” So, Mikella named her blog “Chasing Sacred.” She adds, “We are all on a chase for meaning in life. We do not always know we are looking for our Creator, the one who delights in us.”

Initially, Mikella filled out her blog with the knowledge she had learned from her parents. Then, she felt an urgency to learn more for herself. “I wanted in-depth knowledge of the Bible, to understand the context and to understand my own theology.”

“IN DEPTH KNOWLEDGE” GAINED AT REGENT UNIVERSITY

Mikella enrolled at Regent University and earned her Master’s degree in Practical Theology. She learned hermeneutics (deals with the interpretation of scripture) and the method of Inductive Bible Study (involves observation, interpretation, and application) which gave her a greater understanding of the character of the God she loved. She learned to ask questions and to seek out the original intent of Bible passages, instead of relying on other people’s words, sermons, and takes on the verses.  “I thought, why isn’t someone teaching this to the masses, especially women? I wanted to teach the Bible in more than just “fluffy devotionals.”

To find out more about Mikella Van Dyke and Chasing Sacred click the Link! 

CREDITS

Author of Chasing Sacred: Learn How to Study Scripture to Pursue God and Find Hope in Him; Founder, Chasing Sacred Ministry; Master’s degree in Practical Theology, Regent University; Bachelor’s Degree, Hope College; Speaker/Bible Teacher of Inductive Bible Study; Co-Director of Woman’s Ministries, Hope Fellowship, Jaffrey, NH; married to Jamie with five children

While NFL broadcasts finish and fans exit stadiums, a game-ending huddle gathers at mid-field, where the same opponents that just played, kneel together to pray.    

George Gregory: “A prayer from the chaplain, win or lose, let’s bow our knee to give thanks to our Father. They realize those opportunities can go away with one blow. Gratitude is a part of everyday life in the NFL.”

George Gregory and his wife Tondra, co-chaplain the Los Angeles Chargers’ players, coaches, wives and girlfriends, arriving in 2017 at the request of previously hired head coach, Anthony Lynn.

George Gregory: “We are on a mission from God, right. Whether we are church planting in New York City, or whether we are helping professional athletes and coaches, or whether we’re helping everyday couples."

Tondra Gregory: “To have successful relationships and marriages! That’s what we’re passionate about! That’s what we do – everyday!”

Question: “What’s the most common need from both players and coaches?”

George Gregory: “Really, to be valued and heard. They’re under the spotlight heavily! To be heard, and valued, and loved and not evaluated based off wins or losses – I find, man, that ­­­it’s endearing just to ask him, ‘How are you doing today?'” 

The marriage and relationship coaches speak with pastoral conviction, leading the team’s chapel service, bible studies, and small groups to help bring strength down to the organization’s soul!    

Question: “As a marriage coach it makes sense, doesn’t it, you’re aligned with an NFL team?”

Tondra Gregory: “The similarities I feel are - unconditional love and acceptance, the natural reflection of our relationship with God. To be able to give that and to receive what we all want to experience. We’re made for that! We were created for that! Know what your game plan is as a couple. That you’re unified. You’re running the same plays at the same time to minimize those miscommunications or those conflicts.”

George Gregory: “You got players from different backgrounds, you got different communication style. There’s gonna be conflict on the team and marriage has all those ingredients. The formation of a team – and the marriage – let’s us know that we’re not enemies, brought together in unity and solidarity. We are called to live together as one - in Christ.”

Question: “These are high-achievers. They have what a lot of people want. It’s lived on a short, accelerated timeline …”

George Gregory: “These men are always asked for things. It’s an unbelievable amount of stress that comes. The consequences, sometimes if they’re walking by themselves can crush them. But to have people walking with you on your journey, to show them I don’t want anything! I’m here to add to you, not to take away from you. They can smell a phony­­, they’re gonna call you out on it until they know how much you care. Spending time in relationship, you get to know these guys and when they trust you, they can let you in when I can share answers, when I can talk about purpose way beyond football.” 

Question: “Loneliness more prevalent than we may think?”  

George Gregory: “Yeah, I think Tom, that loneliness is a big part. And you want to come off like the tough guy or the perfect player of the perfect coach. You don’t want to tell your imperfections. Let ‘em know that’s why you’re on a team. You’re not alone. So when you have your darkest moments, God is with you, your teammates are with you, your coaches are with you!” 
 
Leslie Frazier, former NFL Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator: “When you see George and Tondra, when they’re ministering to the players, their significant other, and that’s unique! They get a chance to see a model of Christ-like relationship from a biblical standpoint. Pressures to win at the NFL level - this is stressful! To share with me from God’s perspective on what you’re facing. I’ve seen it time and time again, Tom, where our chaplain, his role has helped our team win, because of the trust our players had in our chaplain.”

Arthur Hightower is in his 19th season as the Chargers’ Senior Director of Player Engagement, who oversees the player’s well being.

Question: “How does that translate literally to what we see on a Sunday?”

Arthur Hightower: “You’re talking about heart and soul when you’re going out to be able to perform – when your home is right, your work is right! Running aimlessly? No! You don’t have that! You’re able to keep your eye on the prize and it allows faith to overcome.”  

Question: “Do these wives and girlfriends risk being oversha­dowed?”
 
Tondra Gregory: “Most definitely! Football is the main priority. These ladies make a lot of sacrifices to their own careers. Uh, medical students, Yale law school, doctors, professional athletes themselves, top-level collegiate athletes. They are elite in their own right. It’s something that those couples have to do together and be in agreement about.”  

Question: “Tondra, what’s the most common challenge that you have to process with them?”

Tondra Gregory: “I think the search for that significance! Having some permanence of their identity and their worth. They have sort of a nomadic life. You’re relocating and it’s hard to dig in roots. Community is very important because it’s very isolating. It’s hard to find that safe place where you can really talk about what your challenges are, to grow and share things, and have fun because that’s the thing that keeps your relationship thriving. You have to fight for that!”

Question: “The identify turns to a jersey number. How significant is the wrestle that goes on with distancing themself from a false self?”

George Gregory: “We’re not our profession. Football is a stop on your journey. It’s not your ultimate purpose. If they’re believers, we tell them: ‘you’re not just a football player. You’re a man of God!' Or if it’s a wife, ‘you’re a woman of God.' And so your true identify is who God made you to be, more than a number, made to do something, and we think that something is to say ‘yes’ to faith in Jesus Christ.”

Question: “What do you think is most misunderstood about Jesus?”

George Gregory: “That He’s out to get us! That’s very far from the truth. You see, the God that I know through Christ, He’s all forgiving. He’s so gracious for every downfall that we have, for every way we need to be redeemed. Christ came to die for your mess-ups that we may have life with Him forever and ever.”  
 
 
 
 

Just days after Adrian was born, doctors found a hole in his heart. His parents could not afford the operation and without it, little Adrian could die. His older brother, Alejandro, did the only thing he knew to do.