38. Interview with LCDR Jason Bilbro: US Navy Veteran, Marriage Counselor, Doctoral Seminary Student

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Today we dig into the story of Jason Bilbro who is a 24-year veteran of the United States Navy. While on active duty, he made seven deployments, visiting 39 countries around the globe. He completed his BA in English from the University of Missouri (Columbia) and his MS in Human Systems Integration from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. He retired as a Lieutenant Commander in 2019 to pursue the call of God on his life and moved with his wife and two daughters to Ozark, MO. Jason completed his MA in Theological Studies from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, in May of 2023 and is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Ministry program, with an emphasis in contextual leadership and spiritual formation. Jason and his wife Tatum both have a heart for pastoral and marriage ministry, and to develop passionate followers of Jesus Christ. 

Resources:

• Vimeo: Jason and Tatum’s Marriage Testimony
• Broken Bonds Ministry (Website)
• Broken Bonds Ministry (Facebook)
• The great porn experiment | Gary Wilson | TEDxGlasgow
• Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction
• The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows
• Brene Brown TED Talk: The power of vulnerability
• Soul Care: 7 Transformational Principles for a Healthy Soul
• Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones
• Jesus Is the Question: The 307 Questions Jesus Asked and the 3 He Answered
• Talk: Do You Want to Get Well?
• Thundering Legion Podcast Episode 19: Is Pornography Killing Your Soul, Relationships, and Military Unit? (with Sam Logan)

Episode Notes:

• Background: Diagnosted with ADHD early. Achievement oriented: joined Navy out of high school. Got married after deployment and immediately regretted decision, which kicked off 5 years of pain. Jason and Tatum saw multiple counselors and relationship struggles continued to escalate to physical danger, causing separation and nearly divorce.

• Testimony: Preacher’s kid. Check the box “Christian.” Pornography addiction caused detachment, suppression of conscience, and years of marital problems which nearly led to divorce.

• Calling: Started informally mentoring other couples. Online testimony began to spread and help other couples. Now leading Broken Bonds Ministry and pursuing Doctorate of Ministry program with a heart for pastoral and marriage ministry.

• Favorite Books of the Bible: Questions of Jesus. "Do you want to get well?"

• Advice: Have a battle plan. Find community and accountability

• Contact Jason

Reflect:

• What does this episode reveal about God’s character?

• How does this episode cause us to see our need for a Savior? 

• How can we apply lessons learned from this episode to our life?

Follow Christ for this day!

• ✝️ “Choose this day whom