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What happens when a missionary kid becomes a Special Operations soldier—and then uses those skills to rescue children from the darkest places on earth?

In this powerful episode of Followed by Mercy, Austin Gardner is joined by long-time friend and mentee, Stephen Underwood. Stephen’s journey is nothing short of miraculous: from the mission fields of Peru to long-range surveillance in the Iraq War, and now to the helm of the Black Flag Innocence Foundation.

In this episode, Austin and Stephen discuss:

• The Transition: How serving in the military prepared Stephen for a life-or-death ministry.
• The Mission: The work of Black Flag International in executive protection and the high-stakes rescue of child sex trafficking victims.
• Eternal vs. Temporal: Why saving a child from harm is only the first step—and why the Gospel is the ultimate rescue.
• The Veteran’s Battle: A raw look at PTSD, the tragedy of veteran suicide, and why "adapting and overcoming" requires the grace of God.
• Legacy and Family: Stephen’s story of marriage, fatherhood, and the "Tennessee Volunteer" spirit that drives his life.

This isn’t just an interview; it’s a call to action for every believer to realize that mercy isn’t passive—it’s a pursuit.

• Learn more about Stephen’s work: BFI-Innocence.com
• Private Security Services: BlackFlagInternational.com
• Connect with Austin: waustingardner.com
• Leadership Mentorship: Alignment Ministries

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