Contributors

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Host

Rick Campbell

Hi, my name is Rick Campbell pastor of Deployed Church, an online ministry of OromoctoBaptist Church. I want to invite you to a new podcast for Christian military members and retirees.

The aim of this podcast is to discuss faith, family, and work life as a Christian who is currently active or retired from the military.

The goal of the podcast is to pass on the experiences of Christian military members and retirees to other members, their families and to the broader church family.

The topics we will be discussing are faith, family, and work. I look forward to the experiences that are shared in the podcast, that they will uplift and strengthen you in your walk with Christ.

Recording will be done in audio and then posted to our podcast platforms. You will have the option of not using your name or using initials or a first name. If you have any questions or comments about the podcast, please contact Rick Campbell at deployedchurch@obchurch.ca 

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Editor

Mark Tully

 Mark Tully, a long-serving member of the Canadian Armed Forces in Gagetown, New Brunswick, shared his journey to faith in Christ during an interview with Rick Campbell. Raised in a small Ontario town, he kept a small red Bible from public school but only began seriously reading Scripture amid personal hardships, including a separation and custody challenges, influenced by a Christian farmer employer and his devout father-in-law. He came to faith after gentle conversations led him and his wife to attend Oromocto Baptist Church, where they have been active for over 12 years. Mark stays close to Christ through daily Bible reading, prayer, Christian community, and family involvement, emphasizing listening for God's presence and leading by serving others—especially in his military role helping medically releasing members transition to civilian life. He openly shares his faith at work through a visible Bible on his desk, the Sentinel program, and compassionate listening.

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Guests

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Guest

Anthony Lessard

Anthony Lessard, a 41-year-old Canadian Army Sergeant with deployments to Afghanistan and Poland, shares his powerful testimony of faith. Raised in a Christian family in Quebec City, Anthony committed his life to Christ as a teenager but strayed after his parents' divorce, delving into drugs, alcohol, and crime, including drug dealing. Meeting his future wife prompted him to quit that lifestyle and join the military, but his Afghanistan experiences led to severe PTSD, emotional numbness, renewed drug use, and suicidal tendencies, straining his family relationships. A pivotal moment came during a solitary summer job removing bombs, where a YouTube video about heaven and hell convicted him, leading to intense spiritual oppression, prayer, and eventual surrender to God on January 2nd, 2026. It resulted in profound transformation on January 4th, 2026, filling him with joy, delivering him from addictions, fear, and anger, and reigniting a passion for the Bible and sharing his faith.

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Guest

Peter Richardson

Peter Richardson, a 19-year veteran career officer in the Canadian Armed Forces, shares his faith journey on the DP1 Podcast. Raised in a Christian home and having prayed the sinner's prayer as a young child after watching a Jesus film, he later drifted into skepticism and materialism during his teens and early adulthood, influenced by secular education, unanswered questions about science and faith, and a lack of satisfying answers from churches. Exposure to C.S. Lewis's *The Screwtape Letters* via YouTube proved pivotal, as its depiction of unseen malevolent forces aligned strikingly with his observations, ultimately dismantling his materialist worldview. Late one night, he knelt, confessed his sins, surrendered to Christ, and sought forgiveness as the prodigal son. He later reconnected with a longtime Christian friend who had prayed for his salvation daily for over a decade, confirming his return to faith amid subsequent trials.

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Guest

Steve Ruttan

Steve Ruttan — a 17-year Canadian Armed Forces armored crewman (armored NSM) currently instructing at the Armored School in Gagetown (Oromocto area, NB) — shares his personal story of faith, military life, family, and how Christianity shapes his work and daily walk.