Anthony Lessard Part 3 "Did He Really Change?"

In a heartfelt interview titled "Anthony Lessard Part 3: Did He Really Change?", Canadian Armed Forces member Anthony Lessard shares how his dramatic transformation after encountering God on January 4th has freed him from past burdens, making him fearless in sharing his faith. He recounts seeking divine alignment during a challenging March break family trip to Quebec City, and how his wife Sandra's affirmation of his genuine change to a recently suicidal friend opened doors for deep conversations, planting seeds without pressure. Embracing Jesus' commands to love God fully, love others, and make disciples, Anthony finds seamless support in the military through prayer and song-sharing with his sergeant, and advises fellow Christian soldiers to prioritize impactful actions over words—standing for justice, practicing small daily kindnesses, and always asking "What Would Jesus Do?"—while seeing God everywhere, from Afghanistan's star-filled skies and loyal pets to family interactions. To remain close to God on deployments or exercises, he stresses consistent prayer, Bible reading, and wise use of time by avoiding distractions like video games, and as a newcomer at Brunswick Street Baptist Church in Fredericton, New Brunswick mentored by Charles Millet, he plans to build Christian networks and boldly shine his light outward to reach others rather than hiding it within the church.

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

You've given me a lot of of good information and a lot of good s good stories there of what's been happening to you. And so what experiences have you and your family faced where you have seen God act in in your lives? And I I I think you've you've you've I think I said it a lot.

SPEAKER_02 0:22

You said it already already.

SPEAKER_00 0:24

You answered yeah, yeah. People answered that question.

SPEAKER_02 0:26

Yeah, yeah. Because even let's say this week, I can give you another example. That's a tiny example.

SPEAKER_00 0:31

Sure.

SPEAKER_02 0:32

But last week we went for the March break in Quebec City.

SPEAKER_01 0:36

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 0:37

And the kids were out of this world. They were and I've not been very patient last week. And I tried, and I took some time off with God to be like, I need to go align with you, and you know, but sometimes kids can get the best of you, right? So and and then one night we went to a friend's place, Eric Noel, and my wife, it's it's a good friend of her, and he was like, Okay, so let's talk about God and Jesus. Like he was kind of like pompous or whatever, and I was like, Okay, go, let's go. I'm I'm all in, no problem. And we were talking, and at some point he turned to Sandra, he's like, Did he really change? And Sandra just went, and Sandra said, like, I have to admit, yes, and and he stopped right there. He just went like, Oh, okay, like I got nothing, like he got nothing else, you know. And and he started listening. It was it was it was weird, but I mean, my wife seeing that, I know I know she see the difference, and and she just went like he was like kind of laughing, did he really change? And and she went like he actually changed, and you he just went like ew. Wow, just like that. And and then I was like, now are you really ready to to talk about it? Because now I'm ready, you know. Like I told you when you see the change in the person or whatever, and and it was coming from Sandra, like God used Sandra actually to close his mouth and listen. And I'm not I'm not saying it's safe, I'm not saying we didn't win there, but but he told me I want to know more when I left. So, okay, uh let's talk, let's talk about it when you're ready. Uh, whenever you're ready, I'm here, no problem. And that guy tried to commit suicide like a couple months ago, before that. So I'm like, you know, maybe it's time, maybe it's time, you know.

SPEAKER_00 2:31

So but you're but you're planting those seeds, uh Anthony. That's that that's amazing.

SPEAKER_02 2:37

But I I he said he gave us three commands, Jesus gave us three commands. Love God with with your spirit, all your spirit, all your heart, and all your strength, with all your body, basically. And then Jesus said, like, love each other like I loved you. And then he said, make of the world like all the nations in the world, like like disciple of of Jesus, basically. So it's I'm trying to live like he asks us to do.

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Wow, yeah. And the opportunities that that that I'm hearing about are just amazing. And I see, I know it's yeah, I see that.

SPEAKER_02 3:19

I know it's him. So I I don't like sometimes people want proof or whatever, and this and that. I I don't need proof anymore. I'm I'm uh the proof he gave me the proof on the fourth, the fourth of January. I uh I I I went the exact opposite that I what I was, and I was free of so much stuff, and and I know I'm safe. So if I know that I'm safe, right? Why would I worry? God is with me. That's right. Who can be against me? Nobody. So I'm not afraid anymore. If I see that, no, that that's if I want to talk about God and Jesus wherever, well, if you're not happy about it, keep walking. You can yell at me, you can do whatever you want. I don't care, it's not gonna change me, it's not gonna change Jesus. You're not gonna throw God uh down his throne. You've seen it all, you know what I mean? So it's I'm not stressed at all. Yeah, if if somebody's open and God show me that he's open and it's my it's my job. If he gave me the job to do it, the authority to do it, then it's okay. I'm gonna go all in. If it's not the time, there's some people, it's not the time. I'm talking with them, and like nothing happened, you know, it's just a normal casual conversation. I'm not pushing it, I'm not gonna push it. I could say at the end of the discussion, God bless you, or something, but I'm not gonna try to push it. But like when I see an opening, every time, when you see those openings, I'm saying that to the Christians. If you see an opening, you feel it, you feel it, you you can see that something changed in the demeanor of that person, that's your opening. That's what God gave you right now. You're gonna have a victory every time, and it it's not it, it doesn't mean the victory doesn't mean like to that the the guy's gonna be saved at night or whatever, but it's the time to plant seed, that's the time poo poo-poo-poo, and after that you leave because it's not your job to make the seed grow. No, no, all right. So so yeah.

SPEAKER_00 5:29

So you're you're still in the military. Yeah. Do you find that there are any tensions or challenges in being a Christian in the military?

SPEAKER_02 5:43

No, my sergeant is Mark Dully, so it's pretty easy. We call each other and we pray for each other, and and we're just like praying and exchanging uh songs and stuff like that. So it's good to be honest, though, I could see I could see it to be a challenge.

SPEAKER_00 6:00

Uh-huh. What would you say? What would you say to people who are in the military and and are Christians? How would how would you help them or advise them?

SPEAKER_02 6:12

Uh I would say the military got a tendency to actually like there's some good stuff in the military in the sense that they want to build a team, they want to build and like a team spirit and everything. So it's a good relationship. So you can have good, really good relationship and intense relationship relationship with other people that you would have never had. So that's a good thing for Christian. The downside of this, it's like it's usually based on on performance. Like you need to be big, you need to be in shape, you need to be this, you need so it's a lot relying on on uh on carnal stuff instead of spiritual. Okay, so so I would say the best thing I could say it's little little actions. If you see something that's not right, like be always for justice. It's it's written in the Bible as well, like the armor of justice. And like, is it the armor of justice? Yeah, I think so. Anyway, the the the justice, justice is important, and I would say, especially in the military, let's say, like a combat trade, you could see like stuff that and even sometimes it's your fellow soldiers who can do stuff that you're like, eh, don't be afraid to talk, don't be afraid to talk, don't be afraid to fight for justice. And like I said, like your action, your action do a lot more than you're talking, right? So that's that's what you would you can you can be a guy. I think I think Paul said it in one of his one of his uh verse there. He's talking about like the tongues or whatever, but you say if I can say five words of wisdom instead of a thousand in intelligible inintelligible word, whatever word, yeah, yeah. I would say five words. So I would definitely go by that. Do an action and and say like a word or two. That's it. But make sure that your action that you're doing, that's the right action. That's an action that Jesus would do, like the be all the what will Jesus do? What would Jesus do? Right, you know, so uh yeah, think about that. Think think like that, I would say.

SPEAKER_00 8:24

So that that would be your advice to to anybody else that is in the military who's a Christian and um to help them out, eh?

SPEAKER_02 8:31

Yeah, action, action, action, okay. And that's what we like in the military, action, okay. Just action, do little stuff. Like uh, I I found that in little stuff, God is in little stuff, he's not on big stuff all the time, like it's not he's not gonna like uh save uh a guy on fire every time, you know what I mean? But in little stuff, you can give like just a smile to somebody and it's gonna make his day, so it makes a difference, and you don't know, so yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 9:06

Okay. So how did how does being a Christian in the in the in the Canadian Armed Forces help with your work life? Like, how does that help with you?

SPEAKER_02 9:19

Actually, I I didn't really experience that too much. Uh that's right. But I would say it opens opportunities like this one that I can actually like speak about my testimony and speak what I'm seeing. So that's a good thing, right? There, like through through Sergeant Martelli, I was able to talk to you. And I know there's like uh engagedown, I think every Tuesday on lunchtime, they got like some prayer for Christian on base at the Bible study, don't they? Yeah, yeah, yeah. The chapel Bible study. So there's opportunity to find other Christian in the military and create a new a network of Christians. So I uh I would like maybe to develop more that I actually yeah, yeah. I would take the opportunity because I probably don't have a lot left in the military, but I will try to take an opportunity to create a little network of of people if I can help them with anything, or you know, um like because I I've been through a couple stuff through tours and through exercise through the military life. Like I said, I got 19 years, so if some younger guys, Christian guys got problems with maybe I could shed a light or something on something, you know, just to help them out. So yeah, yeah. So I'm always open.

SPEAKER_00 10:41

I I I think that from what I'm seeing or what I'm hearing, Anthony. I I think God's gonna provide you with uh lots of opportunities to help people and to get his message out. I I I'm uh I'm open to it. I yeah, I see that I wouldn't say no. I would not say no. You're on fire, man. You're you're just I don't want to say no anymore.

SPEAKER_02 11:02

I say it uh long enough.

SPEAKER_00 11:04

No, it it's that this is great.

SPEAKER_02 11:06

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:09

This is a question, you know. I I know you you're you've really you've really remet God in in January, so I guess my questions are are sort of for work were work related, but how do you think a a Christian would that some somebody who's a Christian who's a Christian in the military, how do you think they would how could they stay close to God when on exercises or deployments? Like if you were let's say you went to Latvia, if you if you had to go to Latvia or um let's say you you had to go to actually I can give you an example from Afghanistan that I'm thinking about.

SPEAKER_02 11:55

Yeah, go for it. Because I mean, even even if you didn't, even if you're you're not all in, God is there, you know what I mean? So I remember in Afghanistan a couple nights actually when we were in MSG. So I was moving a lot around, and when we were in MSG, we're on top of the mountain, and there's no there's no light around, there's no light pollutions or anything, and to see the sky, those those stars and the the the galaxies, and you can see you can see the color you see on those pictures, you know, those pictures with the colors and everything. Yeah, you can see that for your own eyes. I remember I was wow probably every night that I was there. Me and one of my buddies duPont, we were sitting there at night smoking cigarettes and just looking at this, and just this it gives you peace, just in his nature, like the nature he built for us.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

He's there, like you you see him in the you see him in the sky, yeah. How what he's done in the sky, right?

SPEAKER_02 12:57

It's it's crazy. Like, yeah, a painter, a painter could not do better than this. It's it's beautiful, and uh uh I got those images sometimes that comes back to me in my head, and I'm just like, wow, wow, you know, and you don't need too much. I mean, look the little thing. I'm talking about the sky, that's a big thing, but I mean I see God in my dog now. It's crazy, in a sense, like my dog, you know how a dog look at you, and he's like, Oh, he's following you, he loves you, and it's me, it's me with God. That that's what I want to be for God. Like, not a dog, but I mean, I want to look at him, I want to be with him, I want you know, so I he's talking how he's a father for us, but think about it, you're a father too. I'm a father too. How much you love your kids, like you don't want anything to happen to them, but sometimes you have to let them go so they can learn something, you know. And it's tough to do, it's tough to do when you think about it. That's what he does with everybody, he let them go, learn, learn, and come, but come back, come back to me when it's not going well, you know. And even when it's going well, go back to him. Hey, thank you, it's amazing. I like that, you know. Like it's just like with your kids, you can see it. You can see it with your kids. I I mean, I see it in my kids now, like they come to me, they're like, Oh, I'm I'm not having a good day because of this and that. And then, like, five minutes later, look, I did a drawing, it's amazing. Look at this, yes, yes, good. I like that, you know. And yeah, I think you can see it everywhere, like in your day-to-day work, you can see it everywhere. But if you really want a practical side of it, I would say keep praying, keep keep reading the Bible, it's very important. And but look at the little signs, look at the tiny stuff, tiny stuff that nowadays we're on our cell phones, TV, and everything, and this and I'm not playing video games anymore. It's been three months. I uh I've not um I don't want to. I don't feel I don't feel like I feel like I'm losing time. And okay, the only thing we have on earth is time. So that that's and I want to give time to others. I don't want to lose time on stuff that means nothing.

unknown 15:22

Right.

SPEAKER_02 15:23

So it's it's just like it's it's crazy. It's uh I don't know how to explain it, but it's okay. You're doing it.

SPEAKER_00 15:31

Oh you you you're doing great.

SPEAKER_02 15:33

And yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:35

How did how did and and do you show your faith to others when asked, or if the opportunity arises to talk about it? Well, I mean, you've been you've been telling me all about that through this whole interview.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Yes, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:49

Oh, just just amazing the the stuff that's going on with you.

SPEAKER_02 15:53

Yeah, no, and it's just three months, so I can't wait in I can't wait in 10 years, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:01

Anthony, uh I you're this has been a great interview, man. This has just been awesome. Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 16:08

Uh I I prayed. It's been it's been a week. I'm praying for that interview.

SPEAKER_00 16:11

So yeah, me too.

SPEAKER_02 16:13

I want I want God to come out of that screen and hit everybody, like not hit, but like hit with love, you know.

SPEAKER_00 16:21

Yeah, uh what I was wondering was after you I I take it you're gonna get out soon.

SPEAKER_01 16:27

Yep, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:28

Okay. So I'd like to do a follow-up interview later on down the road, say six months or a year later, just to see how you're doing and and hear more of your experiences.

SPEAKER_02 16:43

Yes, I'm gonna have a lot more. I know I'm gonna have a lot more.

SPEAKER_00 16:47

So here keep going to Brunswick Street.

SPEAKER_01 16:51

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:53

They there's they're good people there. They will they'll help you, you know, they'll keep you on on the right path if you if you listen to them. And and yeah, who who did you say was that gave you the Bible?

SPEAKER_02 17:06

Charles, oh Charles Millet, eh? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Charles Millet, yeah. Yeah, just he's the best guy, he's the best guy I could have met at that moment. Okay, to be honest with you, like God put it put him right there. And I every time I I meet him, I'm like, Thank you, Charles, because you take your time. And every time he's like, No, you're a blessing to me. Like, I I got I he said he said not that he's not having any friend, but he's like in French, he wants to do it in French a little bit, like it's easier, like in your mother language, right? Yeah, so and he's like, Oh, it's a blessing. Uh, you're a blessing, Anthony. And I don't feel like a blessing at all, but I'm like, no, no, thank you, Charles. And he's like, Thank you, Anthony. We're just like, it's just fun, it's very fun. I like it.

SPEAKER_00 17:55

Anthony, do you think there's a need for more more French Bible study?

SPEAKER_02 18:01

I would say Bible study, maybe French, even a church, maybe a church maybe in French and further exam.

SPEAKER_00 18:06

Yeah, okay, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 18:08

In that area, yeah, definitely. Yeah, definitely. Uh but uh yeah, even I got I got some stuff I think coming uh in the sense I I I want to I would like to move some stuff too at the church, maybe like not now because I'm too new, kind of, but I mean I I think we like I keep reading in in Matthew, like uh the lights that we put under a bucket. That's what Jesus was saying. The light should be on the chandelier, yeah, shining on everybody. So don't hide in your church, go outside and let that light spread, you know. So I think sometimes we we feel comfortable in the church because it's fun. I mean, yes, you're with other Christians, so it's easy. You can talk about God. It's yes, yes, but at the same time, you need to go outside because that's where that's where Jesus wants you to go to save people, like to so he can save people through you and and yeah, anyway, you you understand what I mean. Like, don't don't hide your light, yeah, put your light and shine it.

SPEAKER_00 19:14

Oh brother, you're your light is shining. You're you're very bright. I try, I try. Yeah, yeah. Well, listen, I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna conclude our our Yes, yes.

SPEAKER_02 19:28

I need to prepare supper anyway.

SPEAKER_00 19:30

Yeah. I want to thank you, man. I really appreciate this. We hope you have enjoyed this episode of DP1. Also, if you are hoping to connect with other military Christians in your area, consider joining the Military Christian Fellowship of Canada, which you can connect with online at mcfanada.ca.