As a U.S. Merchant Marine Commander, Rocky was sentenced to life in a Mexican federal prison for conspiracy to overthrow the national government and international drug trafficking in a misguided attempt to help indigenous people in southern Mexico. Yet, arrest, sentencing, incarceration, and pardon occurred miraculously in 72 hours. His zeal to preach the Gospel and his high tolerance for risk and adventure landed him in the Sandinista Civil war in 1989. That is where he met his wife and ministry partner, Joske, a Dutch nurse serving in the conflict. Together they began ministering to the children – the victims of war, sex trafficking, and slavery. Internationally they serve 20 million PK-12 children, teachers, and families in over 23,000 schools. In 2021, Rocky and his family moved to Houston, Texas, with the vision to bring their international successes to U.S. public schools through the National School Chaplain Association.