Trusting The Leader

A moment inside a Chinook helicopter taught me that real leadership isn’t about being loud, it’s about being steady. In this episode, I share how trusting my commanding officer in combat helped me understand biblical leadership through the eyes of Joshua, Moses, and David.

You’ll learn why great leaders must first be great followers, and how trusting God’s authority shapes the way we lead our families, ministries, and communities.

Plus, I introduce my new children’s book, A Message to Dad, designed to raise kids who know how to carry the message.

 Listen now!

#CombatPastor #ChristianLeadership #FaithInAction #MensMinistry #VeteranPodcast #MessageToDad

Chapters

• 0:08 Welcome to Combat Pastor
• 1:26 The Chinook Moment
• 6:01 Real Leadership Requires Following
• 10:27 Joshua's Leadership Lesson
• 14:39 A Message to Dad Revealed
• 18:38 Final Thoughts

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:08

Welcome back. I'm Tyler Fulton. This is Combat Pastor. We're in the ministry and I've been blown up, broken down and built back by the grace of God. Now I serve as a husband, a father and a shepherd. I share stories of faith and family, marriage and mission, and I just want you to know that you're not in this alone. We're fighting together. So let's move out. All right, welcome back.

Speaker 1: 0:32

This past week was crazy. I was so busy. My wife was in Iowa for a wedding, I was at home with the four of our boys and they ended up getting strep throat, throat, and so it was a mess. There was a ton of whining, but we had a good time. So I had to take a little break here. But we're back.

Speaker 1: 0:51

So our topic of the day is leadership, and not like some quick tips for change that you can make today, but some things that you need to unpack and mull over, one of those things being the fact that to be a good leader, you have to be a good follower. I'm going to tell you about a moment that completely changed how I understood leadership and how honestly it was a long time coming. I just had to get my head out of the sand and stick around. I'll also share a bit about a project that I've been working on for a long time now and I'm proud to say that it's finally completed. Our group was getting ready to head out from a hangar that we were sleeping out of at the time and the Chinooks were spinning up that deep thump, thump, thump in the air. You can feel it in your chest. It's such an awesome sound and feeling and even though we trained for this, that moment still hit different, because we knew that this next flight here could be our last and that reality is so much different than the ideas that we get in our heads of how things will be. So we loaded in full battle rattle, each of us trying not to roll an ankle or snap a knee, stepping up into the chopper That'd be such a lame way to look back at this moment. So two rows of marines sitting shoulder to shoulder you could feel the tension Gear strapped, tight eyes forward, everyone thinking their own thoughts in their own heads. I remember gripping my rifle, not because I didn't want to drop it, because I just needed something to hold on to. You can train all you want, but that moment before the unknown, that's real. I had a burner phone that I picked up in Oman and it had one album downloaded onto it Metallica Black Album. So I will admit, I was fulfilling my childhood fantasy of heading into a combat zone with Don't Tread on Me playing in the background. That's something I will never forget. I felt cool, but only slightly, mostly overwhelmed, scared and vulnerable.

Speaker 1: 2:56

Then there was Lieutenant Ford, enlisted, turned officer, the Mustang that led us, a man that I thank God for sending into my life. I needed him. I wouldn't be the man I am today without his example, his leadership and the support I've gotten from him over the years. And boy is he good. Looking Back, during training, when Ford would check in on us, we'd give him the usual half serious yes sir, kind of like we got this no big deal, not really trying to be disrespectful, but more so ignorantly thinking that we somehow compared to the knowledge and experience that he had. It's one of those moments you wish you could go back and tell yourself to lock in, shut up and listen, soak up the experience. But hey, you can't win them all. Back to the chopper.

Speaker 1: 3:49

I feel like there was this barrier we all walked through on the ramp entrance, one that, once you crossed it. You left behind a piece of you that was naive, like stepping through a doorway that stripped away our imagination and dropped us straight into cold reality, whether you were ready for it or not. Now we were locked in but, most importantly, we were looking to him, the guy that knew what to do. He could do the thing that was needed, and that is special. He did his checks on each of us. While I had single thoughts going through my mind, he was filled with responsibilities and plans. He was always zooming around, checking and making sure and verifying all that officer stuff, that leader stuff. I don't know if he had or not, but he handled himself like he had done this before. While we were gripping tight, trying not to show nerves, he looked like he was ready to go, lying on his feet, focused.

Speaker 1: 4:44

We had a lot of pep talks from some pretty high up folks, but also some pretty odd ones, like some dude from the Panthers, random Miss America and Craig Morgan, often long and drawn out and really trying to be inspiring, but none of them as impactful as the few words Lieutenant Ford shouted back to us in the chopper. He said something like you with me, boys, and all of us yelled back without hesitation. Yes, sir, that was the moment we weren't pretending anymore, we were all in and we trusted him. It was like this complete giving over of our own way of thinking or our own preconceived notions, replaced with confident submission. We are at the peak of instant willingness and obedience to orders that, in the hands of competent leadership, can accomplish anything.

Speaker 1: 5:35

The perfect, symbiotic relationship of the hardest task for humans Follow the leader. Leadership hits different when you realize it's not about being the guy with the best speech or the most impressive resume. It's more like being the guy who stands still when everyone else is scrambling. When the chaos hits, people look to the one who's not losing it. Ford wasn't the flashiest guy. He didn't need to be. He just knew what to do and he did it without making a big scene. That's what stuck with me. It wasn't that he barked the loudest, it was that he was steady, focused, solid. That kind of leadership gives people something to hang on to. You don't have to be perfect, just trustworthy. You show up, you hold the line and people know that they're not alone. You hold the line and people know that they're not alone.

Speaker 1: 6:25

I realized later that if I wanted to lead whether it's my family, a team or anyone else, I need to be grounded in something more solid than my own strength, because when things get real, people don't need a hype man, they need someone who won't flinch. Whether I'm leading my kids or my church, I feel that pressure Not to have all the answers, but to be someone worth following. No-transcript, he didn't throw out motivational quotes willy-nilly, he just moved with purpose, quiet, confidence, like I've been here before and I'm not rattled. And man, that steadiness, it's contagious. We didn't follow him because we were ordered to, although we were. We followed him because we believed in him. We believed that our lives were safer in his hands than our own.

Speaker 1: 7:27

Wow, how much does that sound like how we're called to trust and follow God. That's the kind of trust we're called to have in Jesus. It's one thing to know in your head that God's way is better. It's another thing to actually trust him. When you're stuck in the thick of it, faith in the one who leads you is handing over the wheel, even when everything in you wants to grab it back.

Speaker 1: 7:54

That moment made me realize something that hit a little harder Than all the pep talks combined If you want to lead well, you better be grounded in something stronger than yourself the bigger picture, the thing that's more than short-sighted, comfortable, sometimes even fully comprehensible, because when stuff gets sideways, people don't need another guy trying to hold it all together on his own. They need someone who's anchored. Ford didn't have to put on a show, he just showed up and stayed steady. That taught me that real leadership isn't about forcing people to follow you, it's about living in a way where people want to. That's the kind of leadership I want to bring to my family, my church, my community.

Speaker 1: 8:40

Not loud, not polished, just faithful, just consistent, just locked in on the mission, no matter how minuscule or tedious the task is or how chaotic and brutal the moment gets. The same way we locked in on Ford, fully willing to follow his lead. That's the same kind of anchored trust we're called to have in God. Not shallow belief, not a backup plan, just real trust, not because we understand every move he makes, but because he's the one who sees the full picture, and we know we're not. But like I said before, you can become a great leader. You've got to learn to be a faithful follower. That's something I learned the hard way and, honestly, it's something that doesn't get taught enough. Our culture says be your own boss, trust your gut, be the best version of you that you can be.

Speaker 1: 9:37

And while confidence and ambition have their place, scripture paints a different picture. Leadership begins with submission to those who came before you, to the authority God puts in place over you and, ultimately, to God himself. Trusting the ones over you is trusting that God put them there. Just imagine if Joshua had ignored God's command and gone off script, done whatever he wanted to. Or if David had rushed the throne instead of waiting on God's timing. Or if the disciples bailed the moment things didn't go the way they expected. None of those stories would have ended in legacy and impact. They'd have ended in regret and mispurpose. One of the clearest pictures of this is in Joshua 1, 1-9.

Speaker 1: 10:26

Now, before we talk about Joshua, we have to talk about Moses. Moses didn't start out as a leader. He actually resisted the call at first. When God spoke to him through the burning bush, moses doubted himself. He doubted his speech because he had a stutter and his ability to lead he thought would be impacted by that. But God reminded him that he would be with him. Moses had to take a leap of faith to trust God's direction and go back to Egypt, even though it meant confronting Pharaoh and risking everything. Even though it meant confronting Pharaoh and risking everything, over time Moses grew into the role, not because he was naturally bold, but because he submitted to the authority of the one who called him. His leadership journey was built on obedience and trust in God's plan. That foundation is what prepared Joshua to take over when the time came. Moses, the greatest leader Israel had ever known, had just died. And now Joshua is up.

Speaker 1: 11:29

Think about the pressure Leaving a whole nation into an unknown land filled with enemies. And yet what does God say to him? Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord, your God, will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1.9. Let's break down the whole passage that leads up to that. Joshua 1.5 tells us that I will never leave you nor forsake you. And this isn't a motivational poster, it's a covenant promise. It ties back to God's faithfulness to Moses. He reminds Joshua that God's presence is a game changer. He's not walking into this alone.

Speaker 1: 12:07

Joshua 1.7 says be strong and be very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you. Here's where the leadership gets tested. Courage without obedience is just reckless. God's saying stick to what I've already taught you. Obedience here is the anchor.

Speaker 1: 12:29

Joshua 1.8 says keep this book of the law always on your lips, then you will prosper. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Prosperity here isn't about personal achievement, it's about mission success. God's version of success is tied to faithfulness. Then, joshua 1.9, do not be afraid for the Lord. Your God will be with you wherever you go. It closes with reassurance. The power isn't in Joshua's personality or perseverance, it's in God's presence. That's why leadership is a spiritual responsibility, not a spotlight. The best leaders I've ever met weren't the ones who talked the most. They were the ones who listened the best, who submitted to the right voices before ever trying to use their own. So let me ask you who are you listening to? Who are you following? Because if you're trying to lead your family, your team, your church or even just yourself, without learning to follow God and submit to his authority, you're going to burn out or, worse, lead others in the wrong direction.

Speaker 1: 13:42

Before we move forward, let me say this this idea of leadership being built on trust isn't just about Marines and ministry. It's about every area of life where people are watching you and depending on your direction. It's especially true in the home. A husband who leads not just physically, not just in a protective manner, but also fulfills the needs of a spiritual leader, gives his wife confidence that the direction they're going isn't just based on his emotions but on God's truth. Wives love being led by a man who knows where he came from, why he's here and where he's going. That kind of clarity is rare and it's rooted in godly submission. Now, god's not asking you to have all the answers. He's asking you to trust the one who does. Now, god's not asking you to have all the answers. He's asking you to trust the one who does. And just like Ford turned back and locked eyes with us, I think God's doing that too, every day. He's steady, he's present and he's asking you with me, are you? That's where good leadership starts, not with your voice but with your ears.

Speaker 1: 14:53

I want to share a quick story with you. A man I know, someone much further along in life and someone I'm blessed to call a mentor, once gave me advice when I asked how do you hold it all together? I was stressed and a little overwhelmed at the time, and so he told me about a season in life where he was overwhelmed. He was a husband, a father and a missionary. After being overseas for a long time, he returned home and noticed just how much his kids had grown. He felt torn between the call of God and the pull of home. He told me about a car ride that he was in with his wife, where he, finally was opening up to her and he was saying how much he missed everybody and he doesn't know if he can keep going. He doesn't know if he can keep doing the Lord's work. He feels like he's just missing out. And she responded in a way that only God could have orchestrated exactly what he needed to hear. She said Honey, I'll follow you no matter what choice you make. But I'd rather follow you knowing that you're following God, and if you're following him I'll be satisfied wherever that leads. So he left again the next morning, not because it was easy, but because he knew he wasn't leading alone. That moment of being trusted to lead because you were first willing to follow is the heartbeat of why I wrote A Message to Dad.

Speaker 1: 16:26

That's my project. I've been working on it for a long time. It's a children's book, sure, but it's really about something bigger. It's about teaching kids the kind of character that grows into leaders worth following. It's about perseverance, responsibility and learning to carry a message with honor, even when it's not easy, because that's what leadership is Not doing your own thing, but being faithful to the mission someone entrusted with you. I should have done it sooner. I had the idea, but I didn't really follow through until recently. Maybe life got in the way, I don't know.

Speaker 1: 17:06

The book is loosely based on a lesson that I learned from reading A Message to Garcia, which is a required reading in bootcamp. They pretty much give it out to everybody. I don't know if they do that in all the branches, but every Marine I know has been given the book A Message to Garcia at one point in bootcamp. And the principle there is follow through. It's doing the hard thing without excuses, and that really stuck with me, even though at first I wanted nothing to do with it. When I was a boot I did not care at all about this book, didn't give it a second thought, but for some reason this book stayed in the back of my mind. Maybe that's why they do it. Marine Corps wins again.

Speaker 1: 17:50

But now, as someone who's been entrusted with leadership and after I've seen good leadership and bad leadership, I understand how important that kind of submission and willingness is. So that's why I wrote a message to Dad To give parents a resource to teach these values early. It's for kids, but it's also for parents who want to raise kids that they can be proud of, kids that don't flinch in hard times, who understand the power of trust, follow-through and purpose. So if that speaks to you, check it out. It's available now on amazon paperback and kindle. Share it, use it. Make it part of your own mission of raising kids who don't just hear the message but carry it. The next generation of leaders. This is Combat Pastor. Stay in the fight, Keep the faith, hold fast and remember you're not walking alone. I'll see you next time.