In March of 2022, I was informed that my wife was seeking a divorce. She declined counseling and reconciliation and chose to move forward separately. After 17 years of marriage, this came as a shock. At the time, I believed we shared a common faith, shared goals, and a shared commitment to our family.

The divorce was financially devastating. Although the court acknowledged that I was a devoted and involved father, my former spouse sought sole custody and requested that my contact with the children be restricted, including supervised visitation. When asked in court for the basis of this request, she stated that she did not want me to see the children.

The court accepted testimony regarding my income, applied an imputed figure for child-support purposes, awarded alimony, and assigned the majority of the marital debt to me. I have worked to accept these outcomes without bitterness, but they have placed me under ongoing financial strain.

By God’s grace, I was awarded primary custody of my son, who testified and now lives with me full-time. However, despite safety concerns raised during the divorce proceedings, my former spouse was awarded primary custody of our daughters. I hoped this outcome would lead to healthier co-parenting. Unfortunately, that has not occurred.

I entered counseling to process the divorce and to become the best father I could be. I made a deliberate effort to move forward with faith, forgiveness, and a desire for peace. Despite this, the safety concerns involving my daughters did not resolve and instead escalated.

Over the past year, my daughters have been placed in circumstances that raised serious safety concerns. Attempts at cooperative co-parenting were unsuccessful, leaving me with no alternative but to pursue further legal action in an effort to protect my children.

Most recently, an individual who was subject to a permanent protective order prohibiting contact with my children violated that order and was arrested on felony aggravated-stalking charges. This arrest is a matter of public record. While this incident did not initiate my concerns, it underscores the seriousness of the situation. Because a custody order is currently in place, the only avenue available to me to protect my children is through the court system.

This process requires emergency hearings, legal counsel, Guardian ad Litem involvement, filings, investigations, and extended litigation.

The divorce proceedings lasted from March 2022 through October 2023. This current custody matter began in October 2024 and remains ongoing. I have taken out loans, sold personal belongings, and exhausted my resources in order to continue advocating for my children.

As of this past September, it appeared that a Guardian ad Litem would soon be formally appointed to investigate and submit findings to the Court. That order has not yet been finalized, the financial burden has continued to grow, and the case remains unresolved.

I have tried to keep these matters private. I do not ask for help lightly, and I do not want my family’s struggles to be public. But my responsibility as a father requires me to do everything within my power to protect my children.

I trust God daily. I pray for everyone involved, and I believe He is able to redeem even this.

Children deserve safe, loving, and stable homes. Ideally, parents work together to provide that. When that is not possible, the courts become the last line of protection.

If you are able to help us continue this legal process, we would be deeply grateful.

If you are not, I ask only that you pray for my children.