It was a battle.
Kevin Shipp, a former CIA officer who served for 17 years, recently discussed the challenges he faced in balancing his Christian faith with his work in the intelligence field. Shipp shared his story during an interview with podcaster Candace Owens, reflecting on how his career led him into morally difficult situations. His journey began during his CIA interview, where a senior officer asked if he had ever broken the law. At the time, Shipp had already become a Christian, and his honest response, “Yes sir, I have,” marked the start of his internal struggle between his beliefs and the agency’s work, which often involved deception.
Throughout his career, Shipp advanced in counterterrorism, gathering human intelligence in situations that sometimes required him to “drink with the enemy” and engage in morally questionable actions. He admitted that during this time, although still a Christian, he struggled with his faith and felt spiritually “backslid.” Shipp explained that his role involved activities like stealing and lying, which tested his moral values and made him question the direction of his life.
A pivotal moment came while Shipp was stationed near the Soviet Union. While shopping in a mall, a woman approached him with an offer to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Though he initially declined, the encounter prompted deep reflection. This moment of self-realization led Shipp to decide he could no longer continue in the CIA. Despite being offered a new position, Shipp chose to leave the agency, rejecting the lucrative offer and choosing instead to pursue a path aligned with his faith.
Shipp also shared that his faith had been tested even before his CIA career. At 26, he experienced kidney failure and was given only six weeks to live. His mother, despite being agnostic, reached out to a prayer group that believed in divine healing. After 30 days in the hospital, Shipp experienced a remarkable recovery, which he attributed to the power of prayer. This experience further solidified his belief in the importance of faith in his life.
In addition to his reflections on faith and morality, Shipp is known for his outspoken views on CIA operations. In 2011, he claimed that the agency had misused the State Secrets Privilege to cover up a water contamination issue at a CIA facility. Although the case was dismissed due to national security concerns, Shipp’s revelations have raised important questions about the intersection of personal values, faith, and government work.