Mark Tully - “You Just Can’t Get Close Enough To Christ”

Mark Tully, a Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) member posted in Gagetown, New Brunswick, shares his personal testimony of coming to faith in Christ, his family life, and how his Christian faith influences his military career and daily life.

Background and Personal Life

Mark grew up in a small Ontario town, joined the military right after high school in 2009, and has been posted in Gagetown ever since (hoping to retire there). He serves in the armored corps but currently works in a transition unit, assisting medically releasing CAF members with their shift to civilian life. He is married to Kelsey, has a blended family (including adult children from a previous marriage—one daughter in Ontario, a son in the Navy, and a daughter nearby—plus younger children at home), and emphasizes family prayer and modeling faith for his kids.

Coming to Faith

Mark's journey began subtly in public school, where he received a small red Bible (Psalms and New Testament) that he kept despite peers discarding theirs—it's still on his nightstand today. During a difficult separation, custody battle, and financial struggles, he turned to it sporadically but didn't fully engage.

A turning point came while working part-time for a Christian farmer who quoted Scripture and offered support. Later, meeting his future father-in-law (a devout Christian) was pivotal—the gentle, non-pushy sharing of Jesus' impact stood out. This led Mark and Kelsey to explore church; they joined Oromocto Baptist Church where they've attended for about 12–13 years under Pastor Perry.

Staying Close to Christ

Mark maintains closeness through daily Bible reading (as much as possible), prayer, community involvement, and listening for God's presence. He admits challenges and "knocks" pull him away at times, but returning involves intentional looking/listening—Christ is always there. He stresses Christian community for mutual support, accountability, and encouragement during trials.

Family practices include bedtime prayers (e.g., comforting a scared child), mealtime thanks, and prioritizing visible faith to lead by example.

Experiences of God's Action

- As a non-believer in high school, his mother nearly died from an unknown condition; doctors predicted no recovery or vegetative state. A pastor prayed for her healing, and she survived with quality of life (despite some ongoing issues)—a clear miracle that planted seeds.

- During ongoing pain from not seeing his daughter (due to custody issues, over 12 years), a timely sermon brought overwhelming peace, joy, and comfort—like a "warm hug"—amid despair.

Being a Christian in the CAF

Mark sees few major tensions personally; faith discussions are generally acceptable if not forced. He keeps a Bible on his desk as a conversation starter, participates in the Sentinel program (peer support), and shares faith through testimony, Scripture, compassion, and non-judgmental listening—balancing military discipline with love.

Leadership shifted post-conversion: from authority-focused to servant-leadership (inspired by Christ), humility, and self-checking intentions. He once aspired to be a chaplain but realized God wanted him "in the mud with the troops" for greater impact—leading to more opportunities to share Christ.

Recent examples include a former subordinate expressing growing belief after years of Mark's influence, and placing transitioning members in church jobs (e.g., audio roles) as entry points.

He notes more Christians emerging in the CAF (e.g., a growing Tuesday Bible study/prayer group in Gagetown), especially as life's hardships highlight the need for Jesus.

Closing Thought

The title captures his core message: "You just can't get close enough to Christ."

In Part 3 of his heartfelt story, retired Canadian Armed Forces veteran Jimmy Damiani, shares how his deepening Christian faith transformed his life and military service. From struggling with addiction and physical challenges in boot camp—where a passage from Isaiah 40 gave him supernatural strength to run 10K—to facing mockery from an atheist platoon mate and navigating tensions around sexuality and faith in later postings, he describes how regular Bible reading became God’s primary way of speaking guidance, peace, and answers into his daily struggles. Jimmy emphasizes stewardship, opening his garage as a blessing from God for others to use, maintaining strong work ethics, staying connected through prayer groups and carrying his Bible on exercises, and boldly yet kindly sharing his faith—whether through everyday conversations, acts of service, or compassionate responses to challenging encounters—always aiming to reflect Christ’s love and point people toward preparation for eternity rather than fear of end times.

In this heartfelt episode of an interview series (Part 2 with Jimmy), a Canadian military veteran shares his personal routine for maintaining a close relationship with Christ through daily Bible study via the free World Video Bible School (WVBS) online resources, morning devotions from The Good Seed and Our Daily Bread, prayer, and consistent spiritual nourishment alongside his believing wife. He opens up about the limited number of family members who are Christ followers, his ongoing prayers for unsaved loved ones—including his daughter who is taking over his "Military Prayer Warrior" website—and how God's transformative work in his life, from overcoming anger and past trauma to involvement in supporting veterans with PTSD and suicide prevention, has been evident. The conversation highlights powerful testimonies of God's intervention, particularly in miraculously providing their current home through repeated price drops and favorable negotiations during a time of transition from military service, underscoring faith, persistence in prayer, and reliance on Scripture amid life's challenges.

Jimmy shares his compelling life story on the DP1 Podcast, recounting his upbringing in an Italian Roman Catholic family in Hamilton, Ontario, before moving to New Brunswick amid family turmoil caused by his father's infidelity, leading to a drift from faith and a troubled youth marked by delinquency and lack of guidance. He describes working 25 years at Hub Meat Packers, struggling with addictions that destroyed his first marriage and finances, and a pivotal encounter with a Christian coworker named David who persistently shared the gospel. Rock bottom prompted Jimmy to join the military in 2008 after an unexpected online meeting with a devout Christian woman on a dating site, who became his wife and guided him back to faith; he enlisted with a Bible, deepened his studies during service, and fully committed to Christ in 2010, now enjoying retirement, attending a small Baptist church, and reflecting on God's interconnected interventions throughout his journey.