ABOUT ME
Eddie Howard is a “soldier on the battlefield,” author, poet, motivational speaker and life coach. He was born and raised in Charlottesville (Crozet), Virginia, where he spent his childhood and adolescent years with his father and stepmother. He hung out in the streets and was constantly in and out of jails and institutions for almost 20 years.
He gave his life to Christ and worked diligently thereafter to help others. He attended Piedmont Virginia Community College, Bedford School of Evangelism, the Center for Christian Study at the University of Virginia, the Chalmers Center at Covenant College, and Eastern Mennonite University's Summer Peacebuilding Institute.
Eddie has been a licensed and ordained minister since 2006. He is also a Certified Missionary Worker and Certified Facilitator of Restorative Practices and Therapeutic Options in Virginia (TOVA).
He served as the Men’s Program Coordinator of Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries (VA), co-founded the 5-8 Club biblical life skills program for middle school boys and Buford Academic Mentoring (BAM) program for 7th and 8th graders, and worked with their families. As an avid community activist, he instituted a “Hope Walk” initiative to build rapport between the local police department and at-risk communities in Charlottesville.
He currently works extensively with the Fathers in Training Program in Virginia Beach, preaches, gives motivational speeches, and visits jails to mentor and assist men and women with their re-entry skills for family life, job readiness or other needs.
When he is not a soldier on the battlefield helping others, he operates his own business and works with young men and women at the local technical school for automotive excellence as a part of a job shadowing program.
Eddie resides in Chesapeake, Virginia with his wife, Tonya. He is the father of eight children with the two youngest, Hannah and Elijah, currently at home. He and Tonya minister to others and establish accountability partnerships.
Eddie enjoys working on cars, devoting Sundays to family gatherings, and jet skiing. His newest passion is writing books.