Tyler McDonald

I grew up in a Navy family and moved frequently, which shaped my appreciation for community and adaptability. I attended the U.S. Naval Academy and spent 20 years serving as a submarine officer, moving often and worshiping in many different church contexts.
Although I was raised Christian, it was during my early years in the military that God showed me just how limited life is when lived in my own strength. During that season, He placed several older, wiser men in my life who discipled me, challenged me, and helped ignite a deeper passion for Jesus and an urgency to serve the Kingdom of God. 
My wife, Mary, and I have been foster parents for over 11 years, and foster care has become one of the clearest ways we live out our faith—loving the vulnerable, supporting families, and trusting God in the uncomfortable and unseen moments.
After retiring from the military, I now own a real estate business and enjoy hobby farming, fitness, and nature. I experience God most clearly in His creation—sitting on a surfboard, hiking a mountain, or walking quietly through the woods—and I’m grateful to be part of a church committed to making disciples and serving “the least of these.”