Jacob Williams

Quick Facts

Program: Bachelor of Applied Theology
Graduation Year: 2016
Current Job Title: Director of Counseling and Lead Pastor at Guardian Community
Hometown: Menifee, CA
Current City: Fortuna, CA

Life at CBU

Why did you choose your major? What interested you in this particular field of study?
This is a wonderful question and extremely difficult to summarize but I will do my best. Essentially, in 2011,  I was called by Jesus into a relationship with the Triune God. During a time of deep healing, as a result of wounds received both in the military and outside of it, the Holy Spirit guided me toward an understanding of and response to a specific calling of gospel advancement, evangelism, shepherding and counseling. I was excited by this transformational insight but was simply unaware of the people(s)/location(s) in which to experience, practice and live out the specific call God had prepared and shown me. 
 
After many prayerful conversations with my parents and sister, along with ongoing direction from my pastor at the time, Dr. Steve Lennertz, the Lord led my steps to CBU. More specifically, the Bachelor of Applied Theology program. Side note, I personally really never sought out school. In fact, my inner being cries every time I think about school. However, the "why I choose the BAT program" originated out of intentional and consistent time spent abiding in the Lord and, as a result, He guided my choice and steps to what He was already doing at CBU. I was simply invited to be a part of and watch the Holy Spirit move across the campus orchestrating significant changes which caused ripples of Kingdom-guided advancements.  
 
These questions are intense! Goodness, now I know what people mean when they tell me I ask deep questions too soon in the conversation (lol). But seriously, this is a great question. In order to answer this question, I need to ask a question in return. How would you decide which qualities to highlight when someone asks you to describe one of your more profound and transformational seasons of life? Is it even possible to articulate in the English language, what you felt deeply during those seasons and to accurately describe the enormity of their refining? 

What did you like about being in this program at CBU?
Okay, what I like about the BAT family encompasses a largely known word called, "community." We are created for connection. This is a simple but terrifyingly wonderful truth. God, the Creator. The One who declared the stars into existence. Who placed the boundaries and borders of the ocean. He who made the heart of the tiniest ant in all of its' splendor and artistry. Through which your breath and my breath draw their very existence. Yeah, so He basically reminded me posturing myself in a place to learn more about Him, which he was providing through the BAT program, would produce longer-term godliness in turn helping do the specific calling He had shown earlier. This is what I like the most about the BAT program.

What did you think about your professors?
BIG SMILES! Causes me significant joy to reflect on each professor who was used by the Lord to profoundly shape, inform, encourage, rebuke and LOVE me consistently to Jesus and practically to His image bearers. Dan (I really enjoy being able to use our professors' first names now that I have graduated), Chris, Tony, Greg, Stephen, Fyne, and countless others are extensions of the Lord but also extensions of the heartbeat that is CBU. It is truly a wonderful eyeful to see the Lord position leaders in places of authority and who then use that trust to foster a loving but dead-eyed focus on God's mission for His glory. These are the qualities I rally behind when sharing about my professors.

Did you complete an internship?
Yes. I began serving at a local church in Menifee, CA. Dr. Steve Lennertz is the shepherd of EagleRidge. This was a transformational and incredibly refining internship. As a result, I would be given additional opportunities to serve alongside individuals I call "Shepherd-Warriors" because of what the nature being called to serve as a pastor entails and how it requires men and women of grit, willing to surrender and submit and then utilize the gifts of the Spirit to persevere and protect not just the Church, but also the lost. This is just a fraction of the visual responsibility, heaviness and joy being called to shepherd really is. This was a foundational lesson I will not forget.

Did you participate in anything else at CBU?
I was allowed to serve as a veteran focus leader for what I believe was the very first veterans focus group started back in 2016. This was incredibly fun! As a veteran, it is nearly impossible to communicate (but not impossible) how foreign I felt at a university initially. And, when you really think about it, missing a limb is kind of a signature mark not found on most people. But in all seriousness, in one of my classes we were asked to share a bit about ourselves and as various students concluded, drawing closer to my turn, I had one thought in my...Dear Lord, I have nothing in common with these kids! While they were in middle school I was in the military exploring the vast desert of Iraq and all that jazz. Essentially, I was a professional soldier. But, because we have a great Lord, He reminded me that while I may be a professional soldier, they were professional students and I could learn from them and vice versa. I say all this because the veterans focus group allowed me to share these transformational lessons in real-time.

How did you grow (spiritually, socially and educationally) while in this program at CBU?
Well, socially I am still awkward ... not really, or at least I hope not. But to be serious, these three areas in my opinion are all connected. For me, my spiritual growth shaped and molded my social and educational growth. I would really enjoy sharing my comment on this question in more depth and encourage you as the reader to feel free to ask me when you see me. 

Did your major help you figure out your purpose?
The BAT program helped influence and inform the already existing adventure the Lord was directing me through. And, in many ways, the BAT program was a tool in the Hand of the Creator artistically moving toward the purpose of refining my call, refining my heart, refining my dreams and passions, and ultimately reveal a completely different but uniquely same person obediently desiring to answer the battle cry of ministry. So, yes! The BAT program in many ways helped me say “yes” to my purpose. 

Life after CBU

What have you done since graduating?
Well, since graduating, I have slept, a lot. Unfortunately, that isn't true. But here are a few stories and details as snippets into my life post-CBU. I was allowed to serve at four local churches: with Dr. Lennertz at EagleRidge, with Taylor Mendoza at Northpoint, with Amanda Carney at Pathway, and with Justo Lucero at Calvary Chapel. Every one of these ministry settings and the leadership at the time were used to helped refine and showcase Jesus' love to me. And, I also want to solidify my own convictions toward the Bride of Jesus that we must work together across denominational differences because our mandated command is to love our Triune God, love others unreservedly and stop biting and devouring each other. 
 
I FINALLY graduated from Gateway with a master's degree. 
 
I have been allowed to tell my story across many platforms and in many countries. The Prodigal Son is a powerful narration with God's transformational spirit driving it to awaken dead hearts igniting them in glorious freedom. This is my story and being allowed to share it is truly a miracle designed by God. 
 
I married my beloved darling during one of the most refining and mind-blowing years ... also known as 2020. She is a masterpiece and compliments me as a helpmate in so many ways. We have two handsome and pretty-faced boys Joses and Tobias who are the joys of my life. There is so much more! So, I guess we will just need to get a meal or cup of tea together.

What are your current job duties?
I am currently serving as a director of counseling and pastor through a non-profit organization called Guardian Community. We are specifically providing resources and care to veterans, first responders and their families with real-world issues. This looks like buying bunkbeds for a recently widowed wife of a veteran and their two wonderful girls and, more recently, our team worked together to prevent a veteran from succumbing to suicide, which more than 22 veterans (not counting first responders) are successful in doing every day. Lives are being lost and what we are doing at Guardian Community is priceless; because there are so many organizations accomplishing the same mission, just doing it differently which is GREAT! And, we provide free counseling for the life of our military, first responders and their families. 

How has your major and time at CBU prepared you for your life and career after college?
God used CBU during my ongoing journey to love Him, despite the ongoing painfully wonderful transformational life lessons, and to love Him means to love His people, always and even when. To love others without reserve. To love others by letting the callouses on my knees be love’s evidence. And, God used CBU to remind me He chooses people to be vessels for His good will, and that means sometimes leading from the second chair.  

Is there anything you learned at CBU that you still use in your professional life today?
I sure hope so! One practical skill I use in my ministry/professional/personal life is the power to simply be present. The power of presence changes lives. Stopping and being still long enough to hear what is being said is transformational.

How are you making a difference in the world? How are you living your purpose?
I am not entirely certain how to answer these questions. Making a difference can mean and look different depending on content, context and culture. Honestly, at the end of my life, if there is at least one person God used me to help somewhere along my journey through life, then I did live my purpose and made a difference. But, if it wasn’t done in and with the love of Jesus, then everything is meaningless. 

What are your future goals and plans?
To live one day at a time and make every opportunity within what is possible, to love my God and from His love for me, to love others well. Even if and even when.

Would you recommend CBU to others?
I would 100% recommend and do recommend others to CBU. 

Anything else you'd like to add?
Just a final thought, Jesus is a Shepherd. But He is also a Warrior. What would it look like for us to furiously nurture, defend and champion relationships with others, in hopeful and tactical preparation to wage war for these very same people, because eternal lives depend on it?