I didn't set out to become a Chaplain, let alone a Pastor, but I truly believe that I was called into the fire, literally. It started out with a need. The local fire department that I was Chief of, was facing tragedy after tragedy and they were the kind of calls that don't physically burn the skin, but scorches the soul. The men and women that I was serving with, all showed bravery in the face of danger, but behind closed doors, they were bleeding inside.
After a call where we lost a 3-month-old boy, the pain became real for multiple firefighters and the question arise for me, "Who is there for them spiritually?" As I stood back and processed the thought, I realized that I could not look away as if there wasn't a basic need for support, specifically, spiritual support.
So, I stepped up, not because I felt ready, but because I knew that they needed someone who wouldn't flinch in the face of pain and someone who truly understood what they were going through. That's how I became a Fire Chaplain, not by ambition, but by necessity. I learned to pray in smoke-filled silence, to speak hope over broken radios, and to carry the weight of grief without letting it crush me. I wasn't just ministering; I was being ministered to by the rawness of human suffering and the relentless grace of God.
There was something deeper stirring within me and the firehouse was just the beginning. As I walked with my fellow first responders through the trauma, I began to see the same spiritual wounds in families, churches, and communities. Fear. Silence. Isolation. People weren't just hurting they were spiritually buried. And that's when the call shifted and I wasn't just a Chaplain anymore. I was called into church ministry as a Pastor. To preach. To proclaim that in Christ, we are planted and not buried.
That's when Shields Under Fire, Incorporated was born which eventually lead to Bearded Chaplain Ministries going live in 2025!
Together, they both are more than just names, they are personalities, they are ministries, they are disciples, they are missions. Bearded Chaplain Ministries is a voice for the voiceless. A place where warriors are equipped and encouraged, a place where families are fortified and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached without apology.
I wear the beard because it is a part of who I am, but I carry my cross through the fires of this world, armed with His Word, because of who He is.
~Chaplain Josh, 2025.
Chaplain Joshua D.J. Watts, MA Psychology
Pastor | Emergency Chaplain | Behavior Consultant | Life Coach
With over 26 years of service as a volunteer Firefighter, EMT, and eventually climbing to the rank of Fire Chief, I’ve led through crisis, mentored teams, and supported communities in their most vulnerable moments. I hold a master’s in psychology degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, I am a Certified Christian Life Coach, and Emergency Chaplain through Shields Under Fire, Inc., which was founded in 2019 to provide emotional and spiritual support to first responders and their families. In July of 2025, Bearded Chaplain Ministries was founded to bring faith-based wellness to the front lines, bridging the gap between trauma and transformation. My pastoral leadership includes over five years as a Licensed Local Pastor, where I offer spiritual guidance, preaching hope and love, provide Christian Pastoral counseling, and walk with people through all the seasons of change in life.
Throughout my life, I’ve combined experience insight with spiritual care to help individuals overcome adversity, rediscover purpose, and live with renewed strength. My mission is to help others live whole, walk free, and serve boldly—with grace, grit, and God at the center.
I am also a newly published author, writing my first book, "Rising from the Ashes" which is my personal testimony of how fire, failure, and Grace rebuilt my life. My book can be purchased on Amazon or in person for those who are local. Amazon purchases can be made at: https://a.co/d/0aXdbqIu. Thank you all for your support! ~Chaplain Josh Watts, 2025
Walking Through Fire is my testimony of how Christ meets us in the hardest seasons and reshapes our hearts through His truth and grace. I share a real, vulnerable story of struggle with addiction, surrender, and transformation — not as theory, but as lived experience. Whether I’m speaking to a church, a men’s group, a conference, or a recovery community, my message invites people to face their own fires with courage, trust God’s refining work, and discover the hope found only in Jesus. Speaking dates are available for churches and ministries seeking a biblical, authentic, and Christ‑centered voice.
In addition to speaking engagements, I have begun to publish a new series of books on Amazon. Rising From the Ashes is my first published book in the "Walking Through Fire" series. It is now available on Amazon- E-book, Paperback, and Hardcover options. https://a.co/d/0ehO62NL
Book your book-signing and speaker engagement today!
Contact me for more information at chaplainscorner@beardedchaplain.com
- Josh
ABOUT US
Our vision is to ignite a global movement of faith-driven warriors who rise from the ashes of fear, grief, and silence to proclaim the Gospel with unshakable boldness. Bearded Chaplain Ministries envisions a world where families are fortified, first responders are spiritually equipped, and believers of every generation stand planted in truth, rooted in grace, and ablaze with the power of Christ. Through preaching, discipleship, and digital outreach, we will raise voices that echo through culture, pierce darkness, and awaken revival—one soul, one sermon, one spark at a time. ~Chaplain Josh, 2025
Bearded Chaplain Ministries exists to awaken warriors of faith in a world gripped by fear, equipping families, first responders, and everyday believers to stand firm in biblical truth, speak boldly in love, and live planted, not buried. Through fire-tested preaching, Spirit-led discipleship, and unapologetic proclamation of the Gospel, we raise voices that will not be silenced and hearts that will not be shaken. We are not here to survive culture, we are here to transform it in the name of Jesus Christ. ~Chaplain Josh, 2025
To ignite a global movement of faith-driven warriors who rise from the ashes of fear, grief, and silence to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ with unshakable boldness. Bearded Chaplain Ministries envisions a world where families are fortified, first responders are spiritually, equipped, and believers of every generation stand planted in truth, rooted in grace, and ablaze with the power of Christ. Through preaching, discipleship, and digital outreach, we will raise voices that echo through culture, pierce the darkness, and awaken revival-one soul, one sermon, one spark at a time. ~Chaplain Josh, 2025.
We are not buried by fear, we are planted by grace. In every storm, every loss, every moment of silence, God is still speaking He is the One who brings life from ashes., strength from weakness, and purpose from pain. We promise to stand on the unshakable truth that Jesus Christ is Lord, that His Word is alive, and that His Spirit is moving. No weapon formed against us shall prosper, no lie shall silence our voice, and no darkness shall overcome the light we carry. We are warriors of faith, rooted in scripture, rising in power, and walking bodily into the calling God has placed on our lives. This is our promise: We will not bow to fear, We will rise in faith.
~Chaplain Josh, 2025.
1. God: We believe in One God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is holy, sovereign, and loving.
2. Jesus Christ: We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, fully divine, and fully human. He was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died on the cross for our sins, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven. He will return in power and glory.
3. The Bible: We believe that the Bible is the inspired, infallible, and authoritative Word of God. It is the final standard for truth, faith, and life.
4. Salvation: We believe salvation is by grace through Jesus Christ alone. It is a gift from God, not earned by works, and available to all who repent and believe.
5. The Holy Spirit: We believe that the Holy Spirit dwells within every believer, empowering us to live godly lives, convicting us of sin, and equipping us for ministry.
6. The Church: We believe that the Church is the body of Christ, made up of all believers. We are called to worship, serve, disciple, and proclaim the Gospel together.
7. Baptism and Communion: We believe in the ordinances of baptism and communion as outward expressions of inward faith. They are acts of obedience and remembrance, not requirements for salvation.
8. Humanity: We believe every person is created in the image of God, with inherent dignity and purpose. We are all in need of redemption through Christ.
9. Marriage and Family: We believe God designed marriage as a covenant between one man and one woman, and the family as a foundational unit for discipleship and spiritual growth.
10. Eternity: We believe in the bodily resurrection of the saved and the lost. Those who trust in Christ will spend eternity with Him, and those who reject Him will face eternal separation through the second death.
OUR MISSION
Bearded Chaplain Ministries exists to awaken warriors of faith in a world gripped by fear, equipping families, first responders, and everyday believers to stand firm in biblical truth, speak boldly in love, and live planted, not buried. Through fire-tested preaching, Spirit-led discipleship, and unapologetic proclamation of the Gospel, we raise voices that will not be silenced and hearts that will not be shaken. We are not here to survive culture, we are here to transform it in the name of Jesus Christ. ~Chaplain Josh, 2025
Mission Statement: “To offer unlimited support for the overall mental and spiritual well-being of first responders and their families; before, during and after traumatic events”
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