I attended college on a football scholarship after high school and made a god of sports. Later I found myself coming up short in the draft lottery, so I enlisted in the U.S. Navy. While at Great Lakes Naval Base, I met a coastguardsman who witnessed to me. That night in an old WWII wooden barracks, I was saved by calling upon the name of the Lord, confessing my sins and receiving Christ as my personal savior. Subsequently, I followed the Lord with obedience and was baptized by immersion in an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church.
I served as Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam War era and served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and USS Marathon. I was called to preach in the Pacific Ocean while on board the USS Kitty Hawk. This service included serving as the gunboat medical Petty Officer to a PT boat SEAL team unit accompanying my gunboat group. It was a privilege to serve the wounded from the Vietnam War in the Naval hospital intensive care unit, operating room, aboard ship and later with the P.O.W.’s that returned from Vietnam. My heart is always heavy when I think of these brave men; many of whom died while I tried to save their lives. I served as Navy Corpsman during the Vietnam War era and served aboard the USS Kitty Hawk and USS Marathon. I was called to preach in the Pacific Ocean while on board the USS Kitty Hawk. This service included serving as the gunboat medical Petty Officer to a PT boat SEAL team unit accompanying my gunboat group. It was a privilege to serve the wounded from the Vietnam War in the Naval hospital intensive care unit, operating room, aboard ship and later with the P.O.W.’s that returned from Vietnam. My heart is always heavy when I think of these brave men; many of whom died while I tried to save their lives.
It is my calling to bring Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their family members into good fundamental churches. We also hope to provide assistance for military members transferring to a new duty station and find good churches for them to attend. We will provide a church name, pastor and phone number. Of course, we will not recommend a church without confirming that they meet Biblical standards. I will also recruit future missionaries and assist in church planting close to military installations worldwide.
I have prepared for this task all my life by training and experience. I have earned several degrees from colleges and seminaries (B.A., M.Min., M.A.B.S., ThD, D.D.). I served as the associate pastor at Tidewater Baptist Temple, Chesapeake, VA for two years. Later, I became Senior pastor and founder (12 years) of the Tri-County Baptist Church of Franklin, WI. God then led us to become Senior pastor of the Maranatha Baptist Church of Lyons, New York (8 years). I am the commander of the United States Operational Support Command where we recruit and train other pastors to be able to access police, fire departments and emergency services units. I am also a chaplain with the Air Force Auxiliary (Civil Air Patrol) and serve as the Air Force chaplain with the 347th Air Force Recruiting Squadron in Milwaukee, Lt. Colonel Ronald Jackson, commanding. I serve in this capacity on orders from Scott Air Force Base, IL. I am also the senior chaplain at the Milwaukee Military Entrance Processing Station in Milwaukee, Major Marco Suarez, commanding.
I have also worked as military missions pastor at a local church near a military installation and the Field Representative with a military mission agency for five years, working full time with American and foreign militaries. I also am now the International Representative for Armed Forces Baptist Missions. Presently I am authoring a book commissioned by the University of Ecology & Politology in Moscow, Russia on the impact of religion on military performance and work there with the freedom of religion movement.
My wife and I are members of our sending church, Calvary Baptist Church, 971 W. Milwaukee Avenue, Jefferson, Wisconsin, 53549.
I was born on September 19, 1961 in Putnam, CT, the second son and fifth child of Mr. & Mrs. Francis W. Carragher. I was raised as a Roman Catholic and was sprinkle baptized as a baby, made my first communion at age 7 and was confirmed into the faith at age 12. I joined the Army when I was 17 and lived in the world going from one ecumenical faith after another. On December 24th, 1986, I told my wife there was something missing in my life. She advised me to speak to the local priest and I walked the two blocks from my home to the Catholic Church. After knocking on the parsonage door, a woman answered and asked me if I knew what day it was? I told her yes and I needed to speak with the man of God. After some discussion, she stated she would try to get me in next week. I would never step foot in a Catholic Church again.
For seven more years I would struggle to fill the void in my heart. In June 1993, I reported to the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy. There I would be paired with a Ranger Buddy named Willie Vernon Watson. Willie was different than the rest of us. He was always smiling and relying on the Lord to take him through life and not of his own strength. On October 14th, 1993, I asked Willie what made him different? He answered as he had many times before “If I died right now I would go to Heaven!” These words would resonate in my mind as I tried to sleep that evening. The next morning I would report with Willie to take an Army Physical Fitness Test. Willie failed his push-ups and was complaining of weakness. After the run, Willie would die in my arms. That same day through the testimony of a Baptist Chaplain, I accepted the Lord. No one had ever told me that I could know for sure I was going to Heaven. He showed me I John 5:13. He then led me through Romans 3:10, 6:23, 5:8 and Romans 10:9-10. He advised me to visit with an Independent Baptist Pastor.
From that day forward I would always attend Fundamental Baptist Churches. I would win my first soul a few months later and by God’s Grace I have never lost the desire to win souls. Daily, I thank God for His son’s saving grace. My wife was saved nine months later. We have been married since October 8, 1983. It is both of our first marriage. We have two boys, Douglas II born February 20, 1991 and Daniel born April 29, 2005. Douglas my oldest son was saved at a young age. Daniel my youngest son, thought he was saved several times and recently gave himself unconditionally to our Lord and was baptized by Pastor Mros in 2002. Daniel feels called to preach the Gospel and Doug is called to be a surgeon. Both boys are members and are in good standing at Good News Baptist Church.