Exploring Life & Business with Rob Decker of Rise As Lions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Rob Decker.

Hi Rob, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in a home marked by trauma, instability, and pain, and those early wounds pushed me into years of addiction, violence, and self-destruction. It got so dark that I attempted to take my own life. But in that moment, something happened that I still can’t fully explain—God covered me. What should have been the end became the moment I was protected, rescued, and redirected. That moment is what I later wrote about in my book, God’s Awning—the story of a God who covers us even when we’re trying to give up on ourselves.

The journey from there wasn’t instant or easy. I had to confront my patterns, my pain, and the wreckage of my past. Recovery came brick by brick, step by step. But as God rebuilt me, He also gave me a heart to reach others walking through the same darkness.

That calling eventually grew into RISE AS LIONS—a movement committed to recovery, mentorship, and showing people that redemption is not only possible, it’s promised. What started by simply showing up for broken people turned into teams, outreach, and opportunities to share my testimony on platforms like the 700 Club and Life Today.

Today, whether I’m coaching men rebuilding their lives, serving those fresh out of addiction or incarceration, or speaking hope to the hurting, my mission is the same: to remind people that no matter how far you’ve fallen, there is a covering over your life—and your story can still be redeemed.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not.
If anything, the road has been a series of breaking points, lessons, and moments where I had to face the truth about myself.

A lot of my struggles weren’t just external — they were internal. I had to confront the trauma I carried from childhood, the addiction that tried to own me, and the mindset that kept me trapped in self-destruction. Even after God rescued me and pulled me out of that suicide attempt, the process of rebuilding was messy. I stumbled. I fell back into old patterns. I made choices out of fear, pride, and insecurity. And along the way, I hurt people, disappointed myself, and had to learn how to take real accountability.

On the organizational side, growing RISE AS LIONS wasn’t smooth either. When you’re building something rooted in recovery, faith, and transparency, you run into spiritual warfare, broken systems, human politics, and your own blind spots. There were times I was too ambitious, times my heart wasn’t aligned, and times I had to slow down and re-center myself on the mission God gave me.

But the struggle shaped me. It taught me patience. It taught me humility. It taught me to love people even when they fail you, to serve even when it costs you, and to keep my eyes on Jesus when everything in me wants to look away.

So no — it hasn’t been smooth. But every rough place became a classroom, and every setback became a reminder that the story God writes is stronger than the storms we walk through.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Rise As Lions?
RISE AS LIONS is a recovery-driven organization built on the belief that healing happens through community, accountability, purpose, and the love of Jesus. While we offer multiple forms of peer support, outreach, and mentorship, one of our primary and most impactful resources is Recovery Rebels Softball.

Recovery Rebels Softball is more than a team — it’s a lifeline. We created it as a space where people coming out of addiction, incarceration, homelessness, or deep trauma can rebuild their identity through brotherhood, structure, and healthy competition. For many men, picking up a glove becomes the first step in picking up their life again.

What sets Recovery Rebels apart is that it integrates recovery principles with real-time community. Players aren’t just teammates — they’re accountability partners. They show up for each other on the field and off. They learn discipline, trust, teamwork, emotional regulation, and what it means to belong to something bigger than themselves. Many men who had lost hope find purpose again in this environment.

Beyond the team, RISE AS LIONS provides peer recovery support, mentorship, outreach, and spaces where people can be raw and honest about their struggles. But Recovery Rebels remains our heartbeat — the place where transformation is visible, measurable, and contagious.

What we’re known for is authenticity. We don’t pretend to be perfect, and we don’t hide our scars. Our brand is built on lived experience — on men and women who have walked through fire and now stand ready to walk others out of it.

What I’m most proud of brand-wise is the culture: resilience, loyalty, compassion, and the belief that every person — no matter their past — can rise. Recovery Rebels Softball embodies that culture. It proves that recovery doesn’t have to be quiet, isolated, or hidden. It can be loud. It can be passionate. It can be a community cheering you on.

For readers who want to understand our mission:
We help people rebuild their lives — physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually — and Recovery Rebels Softball is one of the most powerful tools we use to do it.

If you need support, want to join the team, or want to help change lives, RISE AS LIONS is here. And Recovery Rebels Softball is where many of those life-changing journeys begin.

Do you any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Playing baseball on Saturday morning—smelling that fresh cut grass and breathing that crisp morning air.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://RiseAsLions.Org
• Instagram: Decker_Rob
• Facebook: Rob Decker

Image Credits
Phil Harding