A Warrior’s Story, A Servant’s Heart
David Bogaards has worn many uniforms in his life—Marine, police officer, EMT, ministry leader—but at his core, he is a man after God’s heart, shaped by trials, forged in faith, and called to serve.
Born with a deep sense of duty, David joined the United States Marine Corps and deployed during Operation Desert Storm, where he experienced the intensity, brotherhood, and loss that come with combat. In those harsh conditions, leadership became survival, and David rose to every challenge, placing others before himself time and again.
But when the war ended, a new battle began.
Like so many who serve, David brought home more than just memories—he carried the unseen wounds of war. PTSD, anxiety, and depression became his daily companions, threatening to silence the purpose that once burned inside him. For years, he wrestled with feelings of inadequacy, isolation, and the question that plagues many veterans: "What now?"
And yet—through every dark valley—God was not done with him.
After leaving the military, David continued his mission of service in civilian life. He served in law enforcement, standing on the front lines once more—this time in his own community. Later, he transitioned into emergency medical services, where he still serves as an EMT. Whether responding to trauma scenes or comforting the brokenhearted, David has always shown up when people needed him most.
But his heart for service didn’t stop there. David spent over a decade leading in youth ministry, pouring into the next generation with honesty, grace, and a steady presence. He’s mentored young people through life’s challenges, offering them the same hope that sustained him through his darkest seasons.
Despite his lifelong commitment to others, David often struggled with a quiet, painful doubt: "How can I help other veterans when I’m still healing myself?"
But God had an answer for that—one David couldn’t ignore.
"God doesn’t call the qualified—He qualifies the called."
What if his brokenness wasn’t a disqualifier, but a bridge?
What if his scars were the very thing that could speak life into others still bleeding?
What if God was calling him not because he had it all together, but because he was willing to walk with others through the same valley he’s known?
That question became the vision for Warriors Rally Table.
David founded Warriors Rally Table to create a space where veterans could gather around truth, community, and healing. A place where they could drop the mask, lay down the weight, and experience the restoring power of Christ. The mission is simple but powerful: Come As You Are, Heal Together.
At Warriors Rally Table, no veteran is judged, no story is too heavy, and no soul is too far gone. It’s a table where faith meets pain, where warriors become brothers and sisters again, and where God does what only He can—restore, redeem, and revive.
David will be the first to tell you—he’s still a work in progress. He still has hard days. He still wrestles. But through it all, he stands firm in this truth: God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. His life, marked by both suffering and grace, is a living testimony that healing isn’t a destination—it’s a journey walked in community, in faith, and in the presence of a loving Savior.
Through Warriors Rally Table, David is inviting others to walk that journey too—there is always a seat at the table, "Come As You Are, Heal Together." Because no warrior should have to fight alone.
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9
Contact Information
Mailing Address:
825 N. Houk Rd. #1053
Delaware Ohio 43015