From Navy SEAL to Shepherd: How God Forged Men into Protectors of Souls

We live in an age where men don’t know what they’re for. They drift through life, distracted and disordered, while their families, churches, and communities crumble. But God is faithful. He will raise up men to be shepherds.

Jimmy Graham is one of those men.

His story begins like many young men—angry, reckless, and foolish. At 18, Jimmy was charged with felony assault after a fight that could have destroyed his life. But God, in His providence, used that low point to wake him up.

Jimmy cleaned up, enlisted, and went through Navy SEAL training. He survived Hell Week, not because he was the toughest, but because he was stubborn—stubborn enough to endure pain, exhaustion, and fear. From there, he was recruited by the CIA to protect American diplomats in the most dangerous places on earth.

By every worldly measure, he was a man’s man. But something was missing.

In the quiet moments between missions, Jimmy began to ask the question that every man must face: “Is this all there is?” God was knocking, and Jimmy couldn’t ignore it. Slowly, God began to reshape him—not just into a warrior, but into a shepherd.

That’s the journey every man must take.

You see, it’s not enough to be physically strong or tactically trained. If you aren’t protecting your family spiritually, if you aren’t leading them in righteousness, then all your strength is wasted. A man’s job is not just to guard against intruders at the door—it’s to shepherd the souls within his home.

Jimmy founded Able Shepherd to train men to protect not just with weapons, but with wisdom. He calls it Protector Culture—where every man takes responsibility for guarding what God has given him: his wife, his children, his church, his community.

Men, this is your calling too.

You were made to build, fight, protect, and lead. Not just with your hands, but with your heart anchored in Christ.

Let me offer some pastoral counsel based on Jimmy’s story:

1. Strengthen Your Spiritual Life
   You cannot lead others to Christ if you aren’t following Him yourself. Read your Bible daily. Pray with your family. Worship with the church. Be a man of the Word.

2. Train Your Mind and Body
   God made us body and soul. Develop mental toughness and physical strength—not so you can boast, but so you can endure trials and serve others when needed.

3. Reject Passivity
   Too many men are content to coast through life. Don’t be that man. Take initiative. Lead your wife. Disciple your children. Step into the responsibilities God has given you.

4. Cultivate Brotherhood
   You cannot walk this road alone. Surround yourself with godly men who will sharpen you, challenge you, and hold you accountable.

5. Shepherd with Courage and Compassion
   Strength is not just for fighting; it’s for protecting. Shepherding is about standing firm in the truth while gently leading those in your care. Be a man of both grit and grace.

Brothers, the world is full of weak men and soft churches. But Christ is building His Kingdom, and He calls you to take your place.

So I ask you—what are you protecting? Who are you leading? Are you building something that will last beyond your life?

If you don’t know where to start, start by submitting to Christ. Everything else flows from there.

Build. Fight. Protect. Lead. This is the call of godly men.

For Christ. For His Kingdom. For your family.