Ra’Shaud’s Story

Hello to all!

I am Ra'Shaud Javon Graham.  I am a 26 year old chaplain, mentor, teacher, coach, motivator, and ambassador for Christ!

I wasn't always this guy though, so here's my story in a nutshell!

I grew up in a small town in Lake City, South Carolina where about 85% of the black community was below the poverty line.  Growing up, my family raised us pretty tough and we enjoyed the little things, but now that I'm older and I reminisce, I'm sure that we were below that poverty line as well. It was no big deal for us to come home after school and the water or lights not be on. Though, those things didn't phase us. We thought life was good.

My teenage years were as young, wild and free as they come.  I was plagued with the arrogance that screamed "I know I'm the man" and I'm sure that cost me a lot.  I was a decent 3 sport athlete, I took part in student government, I was an honors student with grades (I won't even say good or decent).  I lived a hypocritical life though.  I did the goody-two-shoes deal all day long at school and threw the best parties at night. I drank the most and I think I smoked, but I'm sure I was too drunk to remember.  I cared about popularity and girls more than the normal hormonal teenage male and I loved me more than Kanye loves Kanye. I wanted to be in the streets so bad, but I didn't want people to know so I wanted to do it low key, like the mafia.  Because of those street dreams, I led some loved ones of mine in the wrong direction and I pay for that daily.

My life took a turn one night in the driver seat of an old Buick my grandparents would let me drive.  My brother was involved in an incident that hurt him pretty bad and I was determined to seek revenge. I stormed to my car, headed home to get a gun and another guy that was out with us that night said to me "Let me do it, you have a future".  I froze for a second, still angry as ever and I realized that I had been spending time in the company of those that didn't feel like they had a future.  Sure I wanted to be in the streets, but I didn't think that was IT.

Shortly after that night I began to "tamper" with the Bible, Christianity, and actually thinking about who Christ was.  I read stories of people's testimony and I could feel the presence of Christ all around me.

One Sunday in IHOP, this lady came to me and told me about the mass shooting that happened in a movie theater in Aurora,Colorado. She explained how everyone in there probably wasn't saved and that I should give my life to Christ.  At first, I was mad because she was interrupting my omelet and grits, but I ended up accepting Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior right there in that IHOP.

Christ dealt with me in a special way and I grew tremendously in the few short months before college. I managed to get accepted to The Citadel and somehow got school payed for (we're still trying to figure out how that happened).  I was given a car (free of charge).  I was blessed with a strong Fellowship of Christian Athletes group and great friends, leaders and mentors.  While at The Citadel, I accepted my calling to share the Gospel and I was afforded several opportunities to speak to large congregations.

My time at The Citadel meant more to me than a lot of people realized because in my eyes, I was somewhere that I never thought I could be.  I was surrounded by young, ambitious, self driven, intrinsically motivated young men and women, whose presence blessed me on a daily basis. Everyday I came in touch with someone from a different race or ethnicity than mine and I grew because of that.  It took me 2 years to realize how great of an institution I was a part of and when I did, so many doors opened that I never dreamed of.

On 2 separate occasions I was afforded the opportunity to impact the masses and pour into the lives of people who are now like brothers and sisters to me.

I eventually graduated The Citadel after 4 "Roller Coaster" years and a "Victory Lap".

After a few short endeavors, I returned to Lake City, South Carolina to teach 6th, 7th, and 8th grade History, be a Head track & field coach and an assistant football coach.

I am now serving with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes as the Campus Representative and football team chaplain at The Citadel.  On my time away from campus, I motivated numerous organizations, teams, units, and churches about a variety of topics that were mainly related to inspiration and the Gospel.

However, I am just a nobody trying to tell everybody about somebody who can save anybody, and share some things that can change everything.

(written by Ra'Shaud Graham 2019)