For many veterans, the transition from military service to civilian life is more than a career change. It can be a deeply personal season of reorientation, rediscovery, and renewed purpose. For Chris Gardner, Director of Ministry, Training, and Technology at Legacy Ministries, that transition became part of a larger faith journey shaped by marriage, service, prayer, Scripture, and a lifelong desire to serve Christ in every area of life.
As part of Living My Faith with Chuck Coker, Chris shares a story that many veterans and military families can understand: the challenge of learning how to live beyond the structure of military life while holding tightly to faith, family, and calling.
A Veteran’s Transition Back to Civilian Life
Chris served in the Navy, and his enlistment ended in 1985. Like many who have worn the uniform, he needed time to adjust to civilian life. He and his wife were young and had married while serving, which meant they both had to learn how to build a life together outside of the rhythms and structure of the base.
Reflecting on that season, Chris describes the transition as challenging but also meaningful. The Navy was good to them, and in a personal way, it helped introduce him to his wife. That gratitude remains part of his story.
For veterans navigating a similar transition, Chris’s experience reminds us that adjustment takes time. Civilian life can feel unfamiliar after service, but it can also become a place where faith, relationships, and purpose deepen in new ways.
Living Faith at Work, at Home, and in Community
Chris has worked in the Information Technology industry since his military service ended. Since 2007, he has also led, launched, and helped others activate faith-based employee groups in a variety of companies. That combination of professional responsibility and ministry calling reflects a core theme of his life: faith is not limited to one setting.
For Chris, living out faith means serving Christ in daily responsibilities, whether in the workplace, at home, in ministry, or in the community. He and his wife also hosted a house church from 2010 to 2023, and they serve on the leadership team at Legacy Ministries while he continues to fulfill his responsibilities in the IT industry.
Faith in the Workplace
Many veterans understand the value of discipline, service, and commitment. Chris brings those same values into his professional and spiritual life. His work with faith-based employee groups shows how believers can encourage one another, pray together, and grow spiritually even within the demands of a busy workplace.
This is especially valuable for veterans entering civilian careers. The workplace may look different from military service, but it can still be a place of mission, encouragement, and faithful witness.
A Life Verse for Work and Service
One Scripture that has been especially meaningful to Chris is Colossians 3:23-24:
“Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”
For Chris, this passage is one of his “life verses.” It reminds him that no matter what work he is doing, he is ultimately serving Jesus Christ. That perspective can be powerful for veterans, professionals, ministry leaders, and anyone seeking to connect daily work with eternal purpose.
Military service often instills a strong sense of duty. Scripture adds another layer to that calling by reminding believers that faithful work is an act of worship when done unto the Lord.
Faith Moments That Shaped the Journey
Chris points to several experiences that significantly deepened and shaped his faith. One was a Cursillo weekend in 1995, where he experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit. Another came in 2000, when his wife faced death due to a major illness. Following deep prayer, Chris shares that the Lord healed her both surgically and post-surgery.
He also describes a major spiritual transition as he and his wife moved from liturgical church backgrounds into a Charismatic church experience. Cathy had been raised Roman Catholic, and Chris came from an Episcopal background. Beginning in 2007, they entered what he calls their “Bible college era,” emerging deeper in love with each other and with the Lord.
These moments reflect a faith journey marked not by a single event, but by ongoing growth. For veterans and military families, that can be encouraging. God often works through seasons: service, transition, crisis, healing, study, community, and renewed calling.
About Legacy Ministries
Legacy Ministries is a non-profit Christian organization committed to establishing and maturing a community of believers in Jesus Christ. Located in Peachtree City, Georgia, Legacy Ministries offers training and mentoring services grounded in prayer and worship.
Its programs are offered in person and online and include discipleship, mentoring, speaking, writing, and more. Each offering supports the spiritual journey of those seeking a deeper walk with Christ.
Supporting Spiritual Growth Through Discipleship and Mentoring
For veterans, discipleship and mentoring can be especially meaningful. Military life often provides structure, shared mission, and community. After service, many people look for new ways to experience belonging and purpose. Christian discipleship can help provide spiritual grounding, accountability, and encouragement.
Legacy Ministries’ emphasis on prayer, worship, training, and mentoring aligns with the needs of believers who want to mature in their faith and live more intentionally.
Practical Encouragement for Veterans Growing in Faith
Chris’s story offers several practical takeaways for veterans, military spouses, and anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with Christ.
1. Give Yourself Grace During Transition
Re-adjusting to civilian life can be challenging. Chris and his wife had to re-learn how to live off base and build a traditional civilian life together. That kind of transition takes patience, humility, and grace.
2. Let Scripture Shape Your Work
Colossians 3:23-24 offers a steady reminder that you can do all work for the Lord. Whether you are serving in ministry, technology, leadership, family life, or a new civilian career, your work can have spiritual significance.
3. Seek the Lord Through Available Tools
Chris encourages those struggling to live out their faith to seek the Lord and use today’s tools to find Him in Scripture. The goal is not simply to gather information, but to connect personal struggles with God’s understanding and encouragement.
4. Be Willing to Walk with Others
For those helping someone else grow spiritually, Chris encourages believers to be a “Paul” to them, walking with them into a deeper relationship with Christ while showing respect and dignity to those who think differently.
5. Build Community Around Prayer and Worship
Faith grows in relationship. Whether through ministry, workplace faith groups, house church, discipleship, or mentoring, community can help believers remain encouraged and rooted.
A Faith Journey That Continues
Chris Gardner’s story reflects service, transition, gratitude, healing, and ongoing spiritual growth. From Navy service to civilian life, from the IT industry to ministry leadership, from personal trials to deeper faith, his journey reflects a commitment to serve Christ wherever he is called.
For veterans, his story offers a grounded reminder: life after military service can still be full of mission. Faith can guide the transition, strengthen the family, shape the workplace, and open the door to mentoring others along the way.
Take the Next Step in Your Spiritual Journey
If you are looking for Christian discipleship, mentoring, training, prayer, or encouragement as you grow in your walk with Christ, connect with Legacy Ministries and explore the resources available to support your spiritual journey.
