Fishermen. Firemen. Misfits. And Still… Chosen.
You may be wondering what qualifies a firefighter to talk about faith.
Honestly? Nothing.
I’m not a Bible scholar. I’m not a pastor. And if you’re looking for a polished, seminary-trained authority—this probably isn’t the blog for you.
But if you’re someone who’s searching, someone who’s felt like maybe faith isn’t for “people like you,” then maybe—just maybe—this post is.
Because the truth is, I’m one of the unlikely ones. And I’ve come to believe that’s exactly the kind of person Jesus is still calling.
Why Does God Choose Unlikely People?
I’ve often wondered—why does God choose unlikely people? How could He want guys like me on His team? The ones who didn’t grow up quoting Scripture… who’ve made mistakes… who still wrestle with doubt and don’t always get it right?
Typically, firefighters can smell nonsense a mile away. In the firehouse, there’s no room for egos, flattery, or people who talk a big game but vanish when things get real. You either have your crew’s back, or you don’t belong.
That’s why I connect so deeply with the kind of men Jesus chose. They weren’t the religious elite. They weren’t theologians.
Some were fishermen—but all were regular guys. Gritty. Unpolished. The kind who sweated through long days, worked with their hands, and didn’t sugarcoat anything. They knew what it meant to struggle—and what it meant to have your crew’s back.
And yet… Jesus chose them to lead the movement that changed the world.
From Nets to New Purpose
Peter—the loudmouth fisherman—was the first one Jesus called.
And Peter? He wasn’t exactly polished. He was impulsive, hot-headed, always saying the wrong thing. The kind of guy who’d leap into action without thinking it through. Sound familiar?
But Jesus didn’t wait for Peter to “get it together.”
He called him anyway. And when everyone else saw a brash, unqualified fisherman, Jesus saw something else. He saw a rock.
Society said, “Not that guy.”
Jesus said, “Exactly that guy.”
Walking on Water… and Still Sinking
There’s this moment in Matthew 14 where Peter actually walks on water. Jesus tells him to come—and Peter steps out in faith.
He gets a few miraculous steps in. But the moment he takes his eyes off Jesus and focuses on the chaos around him—the wind, the waves—he starts to sink.
Jesus grabs him. Doesn’t let him drown. But He also says,
“You of little faith… why did you doubt?”
It wasn’t about perfection. It was about focus.
Peter was bold. But like many of us, he let fear pull his attention off the only One who could hold him up.
“Just Do It Like We Trained”
That story reminds me of my first structure fire as a pump operator.
My leg was literally shaking when I tried to shift into pump gear. I had the training. I had the knowledge. But in that moment—under real pressure—I started to doubt myself.
Then I locked eyes with the chief officer who’d trained me. He knew exactly what I was feeling. And all he said was:
“Rich… just do it like we practiced.”
That simple encouragement grounded me. Brought me back to what I knew. The same way Jesus reached out to Peter and pulled him back above the waves.
Jesus Picks People Like You
So why does God choose unlikely people?
Because unlikely people are real people. And real people? They make real impact.
Peter didn’t have a résumé—but he had the courage to step out of the boat.
If you feel like you don’t have it all together, like your past is too messy, like your doubts are too loud—then you’re exactly the kind of person Jesus used over and over again.
Want to Know How I Ended Up on Team Jesus?
Here’s my full story—from firefighter to faith, and the fire that changed everything.
➡️ Read it here.
Ready to Go Deeper?
This post is just one story. I’ve written a short book breaking down the people Jesus called—the misfits, the outcasts, the screwups—and how He still calls us today.
If you’ve ever felt like the least likely to be picked for something holy… you’re in the right place.