The Irish Troubles & PTSD - Sapper Allan James | Theology, Things & Stuff #012

J. Christopher McMichael was privileged to be raised in a Christian home, attending church his entire life. He surrendered his life to the Lord as a child while at a summer Baptist youth camp in the mountains of Tennessee. As a teenager on his first missions trip, he began to recognize the call of God to ministry. He earned a degree in earth sciences from Tennessee Tech University and enjoyed a successful career as a geologist in geotechnical engineering and mining. In 2007, he and his wife Manda were installed as the pastors of Engrafted Word Church while continuing to consult as a geologist for the next thirteen years. Today, Chris’ focus in solely on the church and world missions. After authoring six books and learning the ins and outs of book publishing, he launched Petra Press Publishing in 2023, with the goal of helping pastors and ministers publish their God-inspired work with the highest standard possible. Chris and his wife have three children they love raising in Tennessee.

Born in Sunderland, England, in 1960, Sapper Alan James (#871) joined the British Army in 1978 and served for 12 years in the Corps of Royal Engineers before joining the police force in 1990. He recounts his time serving as a patrol officer during The Troubles (also known as the Northern Ireland Conflict), openly sharing about his battle with PTSD and how he became a born-again follower of Christ in his mid-fifties. Still living in the UK, this army veteran is a faithful member of New Life Church in Billingham, where he testifies to having found his place building God’s Kingdom through the structure, accountability, and support of his local church.