In 2009, Adam Davis raised his right hand and swore an oath to serve his community as a law enforcement officer.

He started as a night shift patrol and worked his way to day patrol. From there he worked in homicide, criminal investigations and hostage negotiations. 

"When I started, I had been married 9 years at the time. I thought I had a pretty strong faith," said Davis. "My parents divorced when I was very young, and my mom remarried a Pentecostal preacher. We were in church anywhere from 12-13 times a week. I thought I had a strong faith."

He says nothing could prepare him for what he would witness and experience throughout his career. 

"It took a toll on my relationship. I started drinking heavily," Davis explained. "I was using it to cover up being raped as a little boy and as a teenager in church, and then all the things I was seeing in law enforcement. Instead of taking it before God, I tried to carry it on my own."

This led him down a path of self-destruction. 

"My moment came when I was sitting in my patrol car with my sidearm in my left hand, laying on my left thigh, and separated from my wife," said Davis. "Suicide had been on my mind for a very long time, and in a moment I stopped. I didn't pull the trigger. I said I don't know where you're at, I don't know if you can hear me, I don't know if you're busy, but if you can do something with my life, you can have it, otherwise, I'm done. And then I surrendered. Nothing compares to the embrace I felt in that patrol car."

Adam, together with Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, a former U.S. Army Ranger for 24 years, have made it their mission to strengthen and restore the well-being of other first responders through a new book, Prayers & Promises for First Responders.

Through affirmations, scriptures, prayers, and thought-provoking questions, Davis and Grossman, highlight a diversity of attributes and traits required for the calling of first responders. They hope to help first responders find confidence, perseverance and peace through solid faith.  

Today on Connections, Adam shares his testimony. He also shares why it's important to have resources available for first responders.