10/27/2009
Role Models Dan in the Lions’ Den
As a firefighter by occupation, and as a spiritual leader of a married couples’ ministry, Dan Thomas knows how crucial it is for people to believe that God is a protector of those who trust Him. If you have any doubt about Dan’s faith, just ask to see his tattoo.
A tattoo of Daniel in the lions’ den spreads across the back of his shoulders. Dan says the famous Bible story is a reminder that no matter what danger he gets into, God will always be there to protect him. Just as God was ever present for ancient Daniel, He is at work today in the life of our modern hero, Dan.
Dan and his wife, Jessica, are both leaders at the Rock Church in San Diego of a young married people’s ministry, called Young Married Café.
Dan and Jessica met while volunteering to build a home in Mexico. They were just friends at first, but they quickly discovered that they had many things in common. Both of their lives revolved around sports, fellowship and adventure. They courted while training together for a marathon. Since they've been married, they have worked together as partners to help each other realize their dreams. With Jessica's help, Dan was able to graduate number one in his class at the Fire Academy. Now, they are working together to make Jessica's personal training business a success.
But in the forefront of Dan’s mind is the bleak statistic that 85 percent of firefighters end up in divorce court. Dan and Jessica are committed to putting God first in their marriage and are helping other couples do the same. They donate long hours to help couples work through the challenges in their marriage and grow stronger in the Lord. They both understand the trials that come with marriage and can relate to the young couples to whom they minister.
For Dan the path is clear-- when you're staring down a fire, in work or life, putting God first is the way to protection.