Who's Who at AC3--Chad Dodds

In our mission to be a safe church for seekers, we sometimes hear those attending say that they don't know who someone is. We want you to get to know the faces you see around AC3. We are starting with the Triad, and last time we introduced you to Braeden Crain. Next up, we have Chad Dodds, one of our AC3 Board members.

Questions: Spiritually-minded

• How I clear my mind after a challenging day:

Loud, very loud music on the drive home, typically rock or metal; I try to get the frustrations out and leave the problems behind me. I also try to stop and workout on the way home, which works even better! On the drive in, I usually listen to worship music to charge me up for the day.

•  Advice to a person of faith dealing with a broken relationship with their church:

My advice here is to do what I say and not what I do! I left my childhood church and didn’t go back to church regularly for 20 years. I knew something was missing from my life and so we went searching. We were very fortunate to find AC3! We love it. My advice would be to attempt reconciliation, but then don’t hold a grudge against God or all Christians based on the fallen people of one church.

• When I declared I was going to walk along with God, instead of away from him:

As soon as I saw the profound, positive changes he was working throughout my family very shortly after we opened our hearts to him.

• Change I’d like to see among Christians today:

Chad and wife of almost 19 years, Jaime

Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Matthew 7:3 (NASB). I am guilty of this, judgmentalism, and a few other things. I find it far more valuable to try focusing on my own issues instead of complaining about or judging others for their own flaws.

• Moment I saw significant change in my servant life:

Right around the same time God pointed out my own flaws for me! (See the previous answer.) I had never wanted to volunteer for anything, even when I was in the military and it was highly encouraged. I was always too self-centered to spend my time worrying about others. Now, I enjoy serving others, mostly in the background, and just wish I had more time to do so (maybe after school ends!).

• How I found my way to AC3:

Google! I’m not even joking. We searched and created a list of churches and were going to start shopping until we found one we liked. AC3 was at the top of the list and we loved it right away, we never even visited church #2 on the list.

• Advice I’d give to Younger Me:

You have a lot to learn, you do not know everything; don’t pretend that you do.

• Gifting I most admire:

Compassion and Mercy

• Favorite serving experience: 

First Fruits Farm! I miss going there on Saturday mornings. It sounds weird and smells even weirder, but the smell of compost in the morning can be very therapeutic after a tough work week. It always put me into a better frame of mind for the rest of the weekend.

• What I tell others about serving:

YOU will gain more from serving than you will ever be able to share with others.

Questions: Secular-minded

• If you could eat only one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Ribeye steak and baked potato, mmmmm...

• There is a zombie apocalypse...What is your weapon of choice?

A huge double-bladed ax! Zombies aren’t so tough without their heads or limbs.

• What is your dream vacation?

Any place that does not require work or allow me to receive messages from work. Sun, water, and maybe a beach are bonuses. I would also sign up for historical sites where I can see or learn from something ancient, but I don’t want to be on the run the entire time. Oh, and I need at least a week of vacation to mentally disconnect from work before the real vacation starts. Where do I sign up?

• You have a day with NOTHING planned and no responsibilities! What do you do? 

Hang out with friends, grill or smoke some meat to enjoy, maybe watch a movie or two.

• What is the last thing you binge-watched? 

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I’m only about halfway through Season 5, no spoilers. 

• Morning person or night owl? 

Night owl, but I have trouble sleeping in past 7:00 AM most days now so that may be changing.

• What is your favorite sport to watch? Team to follow?

Pool. I like Efren “Bata” Reyes, The Magician, Shane Van Boening, Earl Strickland for the drama, and a guy I played against named Brandon Shuff. I don’t watch a ton of professional sports, but I have liked hockey (Capitals) for a long time. I am a fairly new football fan; I only became interested after we moved to Seattle in 2010 and got pulled in by the 12s. They are contagious!

• You can only listen to the same song OR watch the same movie for the rest of your life. What do you choose? 

That sounds dreadful! One song? I don’t even get to pick a band? I feel like I’m getting better value from a 90+ movie vs. a 4-minute song so I’ll pick The Matrix.

• What are your top 3 hobbies?

Pool, video games, and just about anything technical (spreadsheets count, right Dan?).

Chad, wife Jaime, daughters Hannah, Courtney, and Amelia

• Marvel or DC?

Marvel. No doubt.

• Favorite season? Why?

Spring. It’s like the rope that someone throws you to pull you out of the cold, wet, dark winter slush.

• Beach or Mountains? Why?

Beach! You don’t have to climb a beach.

Best advice I’ve ever gotten:

Don’t eat yellow snow.

• Something that your mother/father said to you when you were little that you now say to your kids (or did when they were younger.)

Close the window/door! I’m not paying to heat/cool the entire neighborhood!