From Navy Veteran to Pastor: Anthony Hart on Faith, Fatherhood & Leadership

Anthony Hart is a husband, father, veteran, pastor, and pioneer who has dedicated his life to raising up leaders in the church, in the home, and in the marketplace. Anthony served 21 years in the Navy as a nuclear engineer before stepping into ministry, where he now leads Open House Community Church in Chesapeake, Virginia. He’s also the co-founder of The Founder Collective, a movement mobilizing believers to live out their faith beyond the walls of the church. This isn’t just an interview — it’s a conversation between two brothers in Christ about faith, leadership, and living with purpose. 00:00:00 - Introduction 00:00:09 - The Importance of Serving 00:00:35 - Leading Like Jesus 00:01:26 - Legacy and Submission 00:02:00 - Being Present 00:03:05 - Introduction to Spartan Leadership 00:03:16 - Guest Introduction 00:03:54 - Pastor Anthony Hart"s Journey 00:04:06 - Running from the Calling 00:04:45 - Returning to Faith 00:04:59 - The Role of a Pastor 00:06:28 - The Journey to Becoming a Pastor 00:08:32 - Finding Personal Faith 00:12:30 - Embracing Personal Identity in Ministry 00:15:36 - Personal Anecdotes and Reflections 00:16:17 - Importance of Checking with God"s Word 00:17:04 - The Danger of Misaligned Messages in Church 00:17:39 - Overcoming Insecurities in Leadership 00:18:34 - The Role of Goals in Faith 00:20:00 - Discernment in Following Notoriety-driven Pastors 00:20:39 - The Importance of Personal Engagement with God"s Word 00:21:18 - The Impact of Charlie Kirk"s Assassination 00:24:13 - The Danger of Building Foundations on Men 00:27:28 - Reflections on Past Mistakes 00:28:03 - The Danger of Mislabeling 00:29:06 - The Role of Discernment in Navigating Political Influence in Christianity 00:31:09 - Navigating Political Extremes in Christian Community 00:31:50 - The Importance of Discernment and Staying Ready 00:32:30 - The Danger of Leading People to Individuals Instead of Jesus 00:32:53 - Dealing with Praise and Compliments 00:34:44 - The Power of Saying "I Don"t Know" 00:35:48 - The Danger of Out-of-Context Interpretations 00:38:41 - The Importance of Doing Your Homework 00:39:00 - Introduction to Warriors for Christ 00:39:38 - What it Means to be a Child of God 00:42:07 - What it Means to be a Brother in Christ 00:44:24 - Accountability Among Christian Brothers 00:46:44 - Understanding Judgment and Accountability 00:47:53 - The Role of Love in Accountability 00:48:10 - Spartan Valor Foundation is dedicated to empowering veterans, military families, and survivors of child trafficking. Through strategic partnerships, we provide critical resources, advocacy, and hope for those who have sacrificed so much. Join us in making a difference—because no hero should stand alone. 🔗 Learn more: spartanvalor.org Support the show CONNECT WITH ME HERE: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn Twitter TikTok YouTube SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST HERE: Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube