How Team Room Started

After successfully defending my dissertation in 2021, the doctoral committee asked what the 10-week project would become—a 2.0 version for the future. As a newly minted Doctor of Educational Ministry, there were some thoughts laid out in chapter six, but at that moment, it was about relief. The five-year doctoral journey was finally coming to a successful end! 

In the spring of 2023, I was asked to prepare sixteen lessons based on my experience and knowledge of combat-induced posttraumatic stress and discipleship for the Institute of Leadership and Coaching at the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary in Lviv, Ukraine. The lessons were to provide supplemental lessons for students enrolled in the Joni and Friends Beyond Suffering + course being taught over four semesters. Thus began the 2.0 version of my doctoral project.

During my first trip to Ukraine in the Fall of 2023, I sent a email to my doctoral committee that the 2.0 version of my project is coming to life as the Lord had opened a door to begin teaching in Ukraine. But the real 2.0 version was not revealed until a year later after several trips to Ukraine to teach students, pastors, and chaplains and apply these lessons among Ukrainian combat veterans and their families. Although the lessons were prepared for ministry in Ukraine, the lessons were also being taught among combat veterans and their spouses in the United States. 

Thus the founding of Team Room: War, Hope, and Growth in July 2024 to continue sharing the new and expanded version of my doctoral project.   

"Expect great things from God, attempt great things for God."

 - William Carey -