A Three-Generation Brigade Story: The Wells Family
For Tim Wells, Christian Service Brigade has never been “just a program.” It has been a steady thread woven through three generations of his family, shaping character, faith, leadership, and a lifelong commitment to investing in young men.
Early Years in Brigade
For Tim, it all began in fifth grade, when his dad, Doug, connected with a local church that hosted a Brigade unit. Doug started to attending with his sons, Jeff and Tim, and that weekly commitment soon became a defining part of their family rhythm. Meetings, friendships, father-son campouts, canoe trips, achievements, these were more than activities. They were shared experiences that shaped the Wells men.
“They were shared experiences that shaped the Wells men.”
Tim vividly remembers canoeing on the Trinity River during one of his earliest Brigade trips. He laughs now at how he and Jeff didn’t exactly paddle well together, “our teamwork was so poor we found ourselves in separate canoes with new partners by the second day of the trip,” he recalls. On another trip, he remembers watching his dad spontaneously leap out of the canoe to steady his brother’s direction down the river. Those moments, full of teamwork, laughter, and lessons learned, stayed with him. They were small snapshots of a deeper truth: through Brigade, Tim was learning patience, leadership, and perseverance.
Growing Through the Ranks
When Tim’s older brother Jeff reached Battalion age and moved into a CSB Unit in Modesto, CA, Tim could hardly wait for his turn. He advanced through the ranks all the way to Two Star. Though he never reached Herald of Christ, that goal still holds deep meaning for him today, a reminder of how seriously Brigade shaped his spiritual aspirations.
Looking back now as a husband and father, Tim sees what he couldn’t fully appreciate then: the sacrifices his dad made.
“I see now how much my dad and those leaders gave to us.”
Doug Wells’ investment in his sons through the Full Brigade Experience set something powerful in motion: a legacy of Christian manhood, modeled first by a father, reinforced by faithful leaders, and now passed on to the next generation.
Entering Adulthood
As Tim moved into adulthood, he found himself relying on what Brigade had planted in him. Entering the workforce with little real-world job experience, he was surprised to discover that many of his strongest leadership examples came from Brigade, serving at camps, learning from good leaders, practicing teamwork, and seeing Scripture lived out by the men around him. Those experiences gave him confidence and clarity during early interviews, and they prepared him to navigate conflict, make decisions, and lead with humility.
But Tim’s journey wasn’t without struggle. As he entered his college years, he encountered new temptations and distractions, a side of the world he had never experienced before.
“Despite the Biblical lessons I knew well from my time in CSB from verses like Romans 12:2 & James 4:4 cautioning against conforming to the world or becoming friends of the world, I found myself learning what this means in reality, the hard way. I started pushing boundaries, which is a dangerous game to play with the world, and the wiles of the devil, as God’s Word warns us. Before long, I looked back and realized how playing with fire had led to compromising the standard of excellence I had purposed in my heart to uphold. It was a sobering realization.
The need for accountability, Christian friendship, and a grounded spiritual life, all things Brigade had taught me, became unmistakably clear.” – Tim Wells
Coming Full Circle
In his late twenties, God brought Tim full circle. He returned to serve with the Modesto, CA Battalion, re-engaging with the ministry that shaped him. Later, he helped launch a new unit in St. Helena, CA. And today, he and his wife live in Napa, CA, where Tim started yet another Brigade unit, this time for his own two young sons and the boys of their community.
For Tim, that weekly gathering around Scripture, skill-building, and Christ-centered mentorship is priceless. “You never get those early years back,” he says. “That time you carve out with your sons, that’s what makes a lifelong impact.” Tim didn’t get to experience Tree Climbers when he was young, so sharing that father-son experience with his boys now is significant. Beyond leading at the local level, Tim also serves on the CSB Board of Directors and faithfully supports the ministry financially.
“Every young man needs this.”
Brigade shaped him when he needed it most, and now he is deeply committed to ensuring that every boy has the same opportunity.
A Legacy Continued
The Wells family story is a beautiful illustration of what God can do through Brigade when one generation invests in the next. Doug poured into Jeff and Tim. Tim now pours into his sons. And through his leadership, giving, and service, he is helping hundreds more boys experience the same life-changing ministry.
