Brandon M.

Background

About Brandon M.

After realizing that I couldn’t be a Jedi Knight when I grew up, my goal was to go into ministry. At 18, a pastor discouraged me from going to seminary. As I hold pastors in high regard, I listened to him and never thought twice about it. I moved on thinking that I wasn't righteous or talented enough to serve Jesus full time. So, I took the traditional route went to college in the early 90s, where I failed algebra five times yet got an A+ in intramural racquetball. Eventually academia started fitting me like a nice pair of Hammer pants and I earned degrees in Physical Therapy. I then met a pretty girl named Shay, but the work schedule at the sports medicine clinic was cramping my romantic style - which didn’t need any more cramping. So, I left a physical therapy practice to go see about a girl. After somehow convincing Shay to marry me, I changed my career and earned a degree in marketing because I thought I could get paid to be a free-thinking creative rebel - which is my natural state when I’m out in the wild. I continued to resist God’s calling into ministry full-time. My dual background in healthcare & advertising led me to an MBA and career in healthcare marketing. It was the perfect career fit for the RESUME that I had acquired - but it wasn't ME. I was good at it. I climbed the corporate ladder. I won awards, spoke at Congressional caucuses and dined with with the POTUS. I got to be a guest lecturer at M.I.T. – yes, the same guy who failed algebra five times spoke at M.I.T. But, I was miserable. In my efforts to survive in the often Machiavellian corporate culture, I slowly (and unknowingly) began morphing into a person I wasn’t. My empathy turned to cynicism in this "kill or be killed" environment. It was time to listen to God. Like college algebra, God’s calling eventually sunk in after some painful lessons. I went to seminary and earned a bachelors of divinity degree and began a pastoral career at my church. I founded a nationwide biker ministry. I minister to Muslims on outreach trips to the Middle East. I spend my days with the intent of making more and better disciples. I no longer have wealth or the corner office - yet my life has never been richer. I have the joy, contentment and gratefulness for getting to serve Jesus every day. God is good! Proverbs 3:5-6