Officer searches for his destiny

I grew up in a Christian household. My relatives as far back as my great grandparents on both sides are all Christians. Growing up I was always involved in the kid’s programs and the youth group. I learned all the stories and I knew just enough to talk to people here and there about Christ.

When I hit my teen years I began to do my own thing, but no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get away from God. Throughout high school I was involved in athletics, and baseball was my god, but I was not happy. I knew there was something else out there and for whatever reason I was not finding it in baseball. I was quit before the season ended.

I came into contact with an old friend who walked beside me and shared with me the things that Christ was doing in him. In him I saw the passion that I was looking for. I sensed that God was on the verge of doing something great.

I joined the Masters Commission program to learn more beyond Bible stories and to experience the power of Christ in my life. This lasted for three years. During those years God honored my commitment to Him, and He blessed me in ways that I never would have imagined.

I can remember the second year came to a close and the leader of Masters Commission was asking if I would be coming back for a third year. At the time I did not want to. I had been talking to numerous police officers' about what I needed to do in order to get hired on with a local police department. One officer in particular came right out and said, "You need to quit that church stuff and go to college or go into the military or you will never be a cop." I knew this was the world’s view, and that God is not confined by our human laws and guidelines, but I began to really question doing a third year of Masters Commission. With this dilemma I went to an elder of the church for guidance. When I told him my concerns he came right out and said, "Don't listen to them. God can make you a cop overnight if he wants to. You do what you know is right and let God take care of everything else." With this encouragement and more prayer I decided to do a third year of Masters Commission.

Over the year I started testing with different agencies. I wanted to be a cop all my life, but I also wanted God's will more than anything. I can remember one specific moment in time when I threw my hands up and said, "God, whatever you want. I don't care anymore." When this commitment was made things began to move. I ended up getting hired with a local police department at the age of 22 years old. Though I had college credits, I did not have a degree. I had no military experience or much life experience for that matter, but God gave me the job. I know that there is no humanly reasonable excuse for me to be where I am today. However, through God, this became a reality.

I got married to a Godly woman who is willing to put up with my inadequacies and career. I cannot deny that God has a plan for my life. I no longer can go about my life haphazardly. God has shown me too much and I have gone too far. The Word says it would be better for me if I had never known than to have known the Truth and then walked away from it. My prayer is that God continues to reveal more of himself to me and to use me in any way he sees fit.

Tyler Cristian