Brothers and Sisters,
“Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
I have always tried to be obedient to the Lord John, because He has always been faithful to me.
Even when I was diving hundreds of feet into the ocean or defusing bombs on the battlefield as a U.S. Navy officer, I knew the Lord was by my side.
But it was a long path to get to my faith.
Let me start with my testimony.
I was born into a Buddhist family and grew up in Muslim countries in West Africa. I always knew there was a God, but I never knew He wanted a relationship with me.
But all along, God was there. He made a pathway for our family to escape Communist Vietnam and start a new life in America.
In this strange new world, I had a lot of incredible opportunities – including being accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy to serve the country that saved my life. I was ready for all the challenges the Navy would bring…
…But then I failed out!
Just like that, all of my hopes and dreams were gone. I couldn’t understand it.
But a voice inside my head told me that I would be back. I didn’t know how. No one comes back to the Naval Academy once they are disenrolled.
I enrolled in college back home and did everything I could to get my way back to Annapolis. I made the Dean’s list every semester. But the answer from the Academy was the same every time I reapplied - no!
That was when a close mentor told me he had a strong belief through prayer, that I would make it back to the Academy. And when I said it was impossible, he told me about Jesus and how He always makes a way even when there doesn’t seem one. I was introduced to a God that loved me so much, He gave His life for me. So I gave my life to Him.
A few months later, the impossible happened: I was one of the first to be re-accepted to the United States Naval Academy. I never took anything for granted again, and I put my trust in Jesus.
Six years after I re-entered the Naval Academy and graduated, I re-connected with a woman I knew from my time back home in Virginia, and we’ve been married for more than 25 years and have five beautiful children.
I had to get kicked out of the Naval Academy to find God and find my wife.
Since that moment, I never questioned the Lord my God. When He says, “Whom shall I send. And who will go for Us?” I say “Here I am! Send me.”
So when I heard a voice inside me telling me to retire from the military and run for office, I did not question it. I left a 25 year career I absolutely loved to answer God’s new call to service.
I left a life of honor in the military with the hope of bringing honor back into the U.S. Senate.
This is a tough fight, but as a Christian, I know Christ already won the war. We are called to be obedient and endure the battles until the end.
I ask you to stand with me, a servant of our Lord and Savior, and help me bring our country back to victory in God’s image.
