Steve Ruttan, a 17-year veteran Canadian Armed Forces armored crewman and current DP1 instructor at the Armored School in Gagetown, New Brunswick, shares how his Christian faith shapes his military career, family life, and daily walk with Christ.

Faith Journey
Raised by a bold, Gospel-sharing mother and mentored by a faith-filled boss, Steve recommitted his life to Christ around age 21 after recognizing God’s protection during his challenging Katimavik youth volunteer year and after losing his best friend in a car accident.

Family & Church Life
Steve and his wife Megan are active at Oromocto Baptist Church (just five minutes from home), where he’s known for greeting newcomers and making coffee. They pray with their daughter nightly, and the church has connected them with other military families.

Faith in the Military
In his early years in Petawawa (2009–2015/16), Steve kept his faith mostly private amid the intense Afghanistan-era tempo. Now as an instructor in Gagetown, he openly shares how prayer and trust in God give him calm, positivity, and strength—especially during exhausting ruck marches, competitions, and high-pressure training with live weapons and heavy armored vehicles.

Real-Life Examples
Steve points to multiple “close calls” on the range and in training where God clearly protected him and his students (including a near-miss with a live grenade). He credits these moments—and his improved work-life balance since moving to Gagetown—to God’s faithfulness.

Daily Walk
Steve maintains his relationship with Christ through early-morning prayer walks (often to work), family prayer time, and regular church attendance. He encourages others facing “the wall” in training or life to turn to prayer and rely on God’s power rather than their own.

Overall, the episode presents Steve as a humble, steady example of quiet Christian witness in uniform—showing how faith brings peace, protection, purpose, and encouragement in the demanding world of military service and family life. Warm, practical, and encouraging.