By OBBM Network Editorial Staff

Derived from an episode of Get on The Ark.

“I was living a prodigal son life, flopping with pigs,” Chip Yant admits, a stark confession that sets the tone for a story of profound loss and even greater restoration. From a childhood of “drugged” church attendance to a spiral of addiction and homelessness, Yant’s narrative is a vivid reminder that even the deepest valleys can become launch pads for purpose.

Messy Beginnings: Faith Tested Early

Yant recalls a chaotic childhood where church attendance was more a parental convenience than a spiritual invitation. “My parents would drug us to church so they could have some time apart from the kids,” he jokes, yet the humor masks a genuine yearning for authentic faith. A Baptist preacher uncle introduced him to the Christian faith, but teenage rebellion soon took hold, leading him away from the church during high school and college.

College brought a brief return when Yant joined Campus Crusade for Christ, immersing himself in discipleship groups. “I was back in the Christian walk,” he says, only to discover that his motives were still tangled with ego and a desire to “fill out my resume for God.” The pattern of leaving and returning, likened to Jonah’s flight from Nineveh, set the stage for the deeper crisis that would later define his life.

Rock Bottom and Redemption: The Dark Night of the Soul

After graduation, Yant’s pursuit of success led to a marriage that crumbled and an addiction that spiraled out of control. He describes a period of homelessness, jail stints, and a pervasive sense that “the enemy had a foothold” in his life. “I didn’t care if I lived or died,” Yant confesses, highlighting the depth of his despair.

It was in this abyss that Yant says a “still small voice” whispered a call to read the Bible. Though initially fearful, he began to engage with Scripture, eventually reading it cover to cover multiple times while incarcerated. “They don’t let you have many books, but they let you have a Bible,” he notes, underscoring how the Word became his lifeline.

The Role of Scripture: From Survival Tool to Daily Discipline

Yant’s relationship with the Bible evolved from a desperate clutch to a disciplined daily practice. Influenced by Dr. Chuck Missler’s “The Bible in 24 Hours,” he first experienced Scripture as a comprehensive narrative rather than a collection of verses. “I downloaded the app and thought, when am I going to spend 24 hours listening?” he recalls, only to have a canceled flight turn the journey into a 12‑hour drive—what he describes as an answered prayer.

Today, Yant follows a structured routine: reading, journaling, and noting insights each morning. He emphasizes the importance of mentorship, saying, “Seek out people who know more than me and look at it more as a little point in time, little scripture memory, but it’s a whole love story.” This disciplined approach has helped him restore “the stolen years” and “the locust ate” parts of his life.

Business Leadership Guided by Faith

Beyond personal transformation, Yant channels his restored purpose into entrepreneurship and community advocacy. He describes success not merely as financial gain but as “the lives you impact along the way.” This perspective informs his leadership style, where accountability groups and men’s breakfasts serve as platforms for mentorship and spiritual growth.

Yant’s story illustrates how faith can shape business ethics: “If I do that from a place of ego, that’s empty at the end,” he warns. By grounding his ventures in humility and service, he aims to model a blueprint for other entrepreneurs seeking to align profit with purpose.

Hope for the Community: A Call to Recognize the Unseen Battles

Yant’s testimony also raises awareness about the intersection of mental health and spiritual warfare. He recounts a tragic encounter with a man diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia who, after a brief church outreach, set himself on fire. “The demonic world can try to influence our thinking,” Yant reflects, urging vigilance and compassionate support for those wrestling with unseen struggles.

His message is clear: while darkness may loom, “God is not silent today; He is all around us and maybe likes to remain anonymous.” By sharing his journey, Yant hopes to reassure others that redemption is possible, even when the path seems obscured.

Chip Yant’s story, shared on Get on The Ark, serves as a compelling reminder that faith, when truly embraced, can turn the most broken chapters into testimonies of hope and impact. As listeners reflect on his words, the invitation remains: to seek the small voice, to read the Bible with intentionality, and to let those discoveries shape both personal recovery and broader community influence.

The full episode of Get on The Ark is available on OBBM Network TV.