What happens when the job you love starts eroding the man you’re called to be? Police Sgt. Max Gomez shares the cost, and the crossroads.In Part 1 of this powerful two-part conversation, Jeremy Wade sits down with Max Gomez, a Canadian police sergeant with nearly two decades of frontline, investigative, and intelligence experience. What begins as a law enforcement origin story quickly becomes a raw, unfiltered testimony of moral injury, identity fracture, and spiritual surrender.Max’s journey, from growing up in Colombia during the height of cartel violence, to leading major organized crime and human trafficking investigations in Canada, reveals the unseen toll the job can take on the soul. As a first responder and committed Christian, Max wrestled with the growing gap between who he was at work and who he was called to be at home. The result was a slow erosion of integrity, family strain, and a breaking point that forced him to choose between self-preservation and full surrender to Christ.This episode exists because first responders are often celebrated for their strength but abandoned in their brokenness. Mission First Alliance believes the Great Commission doesn’t stop at church doors, it extends into patrol cars, briefing rooms, and crime scenes. Max’s story speaks directly to those silently carrying guilt, shame, or spiritual exhaustion while serving their communities.With clarity and humility, Max unpacks the danger of compartmentalization, the lie of self-reliance, and the freedom found in repentance and obedience. His experience offers hope to anyone wondering if God can still redeem what the job has damaged, and how faith can be lived out boldly within secular systems through ministry collaboration and brotherhood among first responders.About Mission First AllianceMission First Alliance is a national non-profit bringing Real Hope to first responders and their families. We believe the first responder culture is one of the greatest unseen mission fields in our country today, and it’s a mission too important to do alone. Through collaboration and Christ-centered resources, we are not only bringing them the Real Hope found in Christ but we are bridging the gap between the Body of Christ and these brave men and women who serve and sacrifice for us each and every day.Connect: Subscribe to our email list: https://www.missionfirstalliance.com/email-sign-upJoin the Alliance: Do you have a desire to join us in the effort to bring Real Hope to first responders? Are you a First Responder looking for a community, encouragement and support? Become a member. Membership is Free: https://missionfirstalliance.com/membership/Contact Us: Reach out to our team at: https://missionfirstalliance.com/contact-us/Share: Help us grow the mission. Share this podcast and mission with others. Because every first responder needs Real Hope.Follow UsWebsite: https://www.missionfirstalliance.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/missionfirstallianceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/missionfirstalliance/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MissionFirstAllianceContent AdvisoryThis episode includes honest discussions about the experiences of first responders and the challenges they face. Graphic situations may be distressing for some listeners and younger audiences. Discretion is advised.This conversation is shared to bring awareness, hope, and encouragement to those serving on the front lines. If this episode connects with you, reach out or seek trusted professional support. You are not alone.Key Chapter Markers00:01 – Calling & Early Life: From cartel-era Colombia to Canadian policing00:07 – The Hidden Cost of the Job: Moral injury, integrity drift, and identity conflict00:15 – Hitting Rock Bottom: Exposure, brokenness, and the truth coming into the light00:19 – The Decision to Surrender: Choosing Christ regardless of the outcome00:29 – Psalm 51 & True Repentance: Healing the soul, not just behavior