The same year Gavin was in Israel with Covenant Journey, he also was deployed as a U.S. Army Reserve officer to the Horn of Africa on an intelligence-gathering mission to monitor threats.

"We were always on edge, tracking threats,” Gavin says. ”Some of my best friends were on the wall and I wanted to keep them safe."

Over just one nine-month period, Gavin worked in Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, and other countries; helped evacuate a U.S. embassy staff member; and prevented a Benghazi-like situation from developing in South Sudan.

His unit also focused on giving local soldiers the skills necessary to keep peace and carry out other roles that remain classified. "There is a lot of hope now," he says of the area. "It’s much more stable."

Being an Army captain and leading roughly 100 soldiers was only one of Gavin’s three jobs! He was also the youngest elected county commissioner in Florida. He was reelected in November 2018 to continue serving his 200,000 constituents in District 4 of Clay County.

Gavin wanted to bring hands-on knowledge of the government's impact on businesses, and he was involved in several businesses, from developing better helmets for soldiers to new Wi-Fi options and even a custom clothing shop. He brought an entrepreneur's perspective to the county’s board meetings.

Gavin’s third job was teaching U.S. and world history to high school students. His school has an initiative to integrate special needs kids into regular classes using iPads and other technology that unlocks their ability to communicate and integrate into classes.

For Gavin, Christianity is woven into all these roles. "It’s everything, from issues of life, or government accountability, my Christianity affects everything,” he says. “I try to model Christ's servant leadership in everything I do, from running and training with soldiers, and in teaching, which requires a large amount of patience. It is always needed."

Gavin recalls one of his favorite memories from his Covenant Journey experience: "Standing on Mt. Carmel, you can see the clouds coming from the Mediterranean right where the showdown was between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. It is full of tension and conflict that's impossible to explain."

He also found that going to Israel is "like coming home." Gavin says. "When you've visited Israel, it's hard to explain the deep connection you develop with the people of Israel. It’s almost like you can see good and evil being played out right in front of you. I think it will continue to impact me through Scripture and also politically."

Gavin recognized that "God’s timing was amazing." The journey "helped prepare me for deployment, which was not an easy time."

One of the memories that stayed with him was from the Sea of Galilee, where he heard the testimony of Cindy Matthews, vice president of Covenant Journey. During the boat ride there, Cindy shared a personal story about the peace of God after suddenly losing her husband in a tragic accident, and how God calms our storms.

"One of the songs we played in Israel, 'God of Angel Armies,' became really meaningful in Israel, and during deployment, and at home," Gavin says.

Gavin grew up learning about history's great generals like President Dwight Eisenhower. "I felt I had a purpose to make a difference." From an early age, he "felt called into the political arena,” he says. “Christians can't sit by; we have to engage."

A Covenant Journey tour of Israel is unlike any other, as it is designed specifically to motivate participants to affirm and deepen their Christian faith and identity through a spiritual and educational experience of biblical, historic, and modern Israel.

Your donation today will be used, in part, to help offset the cost of these trips so that more defenders of Israel can be raised up!

Raise new leaders for Christ and the Holy Land!

Gavin is just one of many young people who have been transformed by these impactful trips. God has done miraculous things in putting young leaders in places where they can be most effective for His purpose. In the coming weeks, I’ll share more of these inspiring stories.

In the meantime, please prayerfully consider supporting our vital work with a generous donation. Your gift makes it possible for Christians in Defense of Israel to stand for Israel in U.S. legislatures, public policy venues, and around the world.

And you will also help raise up more young leaders for Christ and Israel, defending the Jewish state in elected offices, businesses, media centers, and other centers of influence. YOUR GIFT MATTERS!

Mat Staver
Chairman
Christians in Defense of Israel

P.S. Please also prayerfully consider making a recurring monthly donation to fund our work defending Israel! Even a small monthly amount would be helpful.

LAST THING! You can help bust Biden’s Boycott of Israel by visiting the Holy Land with us! Our Covenant Journey program takes Christians on a once-in-a-lifetime guided educational tour of Israel. Our next available travel date is in April 2024. Don’t miss your chance to bust the Biden Boycott by spending money directly with the Israeli people! Learn more at CJTravel.org.

Source:

“A Passion for Statesmanship: Gavin - Covenant Journey.” Covenant Journey, April 10, 2018. Covenantjourney.org/details/Gavin.