Pat Forrester, former NASA chief astronaut, made a remarkable career shift from space exploration to ministry support. After three space missions and leading NASA's astronaut office, he left his prestigious position to pursue a deeper connection with church life.

In 2021, at age 63, Forrester joined Capitol Hill Baptist Church (CHBC) in Washington, DC, as a pastoral intern. He traded his corner office at Johnson Space Center for a simple desk in a Sunday school room, driven by a spiritual calling rather than career advancement.

Born into a military family, Forrester attended West Point and served as an Army pilot before joining NASA. During his astronaut career, he completed three space missions, including critical work on the International Space Station. Despite his professional success, he felt a growing desire for deeper spiritual engagement.

His transformation began during regular visits to CHBC while on NASA business in DC. The church's expositional preaching and strong community drew him and his wife Diana closer. After completing the CHBC internship, Forrester initially returned to NASA in an advisory role at their DC office.

In 2023, he took another leap of faith, becoming the development manager for 9Marks, a ministry focused on building healthy churches. While fundraising wasn't his natural inclination, his leadership experience and dedication to church ministry made him an ideal candidate.

Today, Forrester continues serving the church community, sharing his experiences with interns, mentoring young church members, and supporting pastors through his work at 9Marks. His journey represents a unique transition from exploring the frontiers of space to strengthening the foundations of church ministry.

"For however many years the Lord gives me, I would like to serve him with all that I have," Forrester said. "I want to be in an organization whose direct mission is the spread of the gospel."

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