The Lord Will Always Make A Way
A conversation between Tyler Russell (guest) Devaughn and Rosa Williamson (hosts).
Ttyler grew up in the Bahamas, where basketball was everything. Like a lot of young men around him, he chased what people called “the Bahamian dream. By 18, though, his life felt scattered. He was partying, drifting, and unsure of where he was headed.
In December of 2012, Tyler hit a breaking point. In a moment of desperation, he cried out to God and confessed he didn’t know what he truly believed. That same day, a stranger messaged him on Facebook and pointed him toward Jesus. Tyler decided to follow Christ. This decision changed the direction of his life forever.
Tyler’s faith showed up in very bold ways when he first new Jesus. He spent his time evangelizing and sharing what he believed wherever he was. Over time, he felt God asking something harder of him that would require more sacrifice and a faith elevation. Tyler felt called by God to continue his education and potentially leave the Bahamas.
During this period of wrestling with God about the future, Tyler was working at Atlantis and met David and Tierney Abel from Pennsylvania. They asked him questions about his future and challenged him to think bigger than the life he was settled into. This conversation reminded Tyler of the vision he felt God had placed in his heart and encouraged him to take it seriously. Before they parted ways, the Abels offered Tyler a place to live if he chose to further his education in the United States.
After this, nearly everyone in Tyler’s life told him not to go and warned him against trusting strangers. Even still, Tyler felt a strong sense of peace about saying “yes” and going to stay with the Abels. He began telling people he was leaving for school, packed his bags, and gave away most of what he owned.
Tyler reflects on God’s goodness as he completes his degree at Oral Roberts University
Tyler moved to Pennsylvania, where the Abels welcomed him into their home and supported him through four years of school, covering roughly $160,000 in expenses. What looked reckless to others became the doorway to a new chapter of Tyler’s faith journey.
Tyler’s story is not about blind optimism and luck. It is about obedience, even when things don’t make sense circumstantially. Tyler encourages listeners to be obedient and bold in their faith and to always trust God with their lives.
If this story has impacted, inspired or reignited your faith to believe God’s promises for your life, we would love for you to consider becoming a partner of Faith Ignite so we can share even more stories like Tyler’s all around the world! With your partnership, faith can be spread across the world and transform even more lives.
Devaughn Williamson President, Faith Ignite Inc.
