By David Harry
Staff Writer

Brad Watts has lived a life of sharp contrasts.
He has scrapped on the streets of Biddeford and Portland, fought in Iraq as a Marine and is a familiar, youthful face throughout Biddeford, Saco and Old Orchard Beach because of his faith-based and community service.
“Ministry is my way of loving people and I find fulfillment by loving people,” Watts said.
On Sept. 25, Watts will leave the area to head to south Boston to work with children through programs offered by the Salvation Army.
Before he departs, Watts is throwing a going-away party at the Salvation Army at the corner of Church and Sixth streets in Old Orchard Beach. Watts said the free party begins at 6 p.m. Saturday and is open to the public. It will feature at least seven Christian bands that will play acoustic, rock and rap music.
After, Watts will leave for a mission he said is his calling, continuing a journey from a rocky childhood, combat in Fallujah and a bumpy transition to civilian life.
“I never had a childhood,” he said. “God gave me my experiences to share with these kids. I have deep remorse over the way I spent my teenage years.”
Watts, 27, volunteered at the Salvation Army, Stone Soup Food Pantry in Biddeford, served as chaplain at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7997 in Old Orchard Beach and headed Tighe-Beaudoin-Farley American Legion Post 26 in Biddeford.
“He is just a special person. He has that Marine Corps push and drive,” said Richard Giroux, commander of the Old Orchard Beach VFW post.
Watts also marched in annual Memorial and Veterans Day parades in the area, most frequently as a companion to Old Orchard Beach resident Nancy Lee Kelley.
“He became an adopted son to me,” said Kelley, a Maine Gold Star mother whose son, Army Capt. Christopher Cash, was killed in Iraq in 2004.
Kelley said she got to know Watts through several organizations, including the Salvation Army and United Baptist Church in Saco.
Watts said the church is where he found God and turned his civilian life around. At the outset, he was seeking a place to hold an open house to show local clergy how they could help returning veterans. Ultimately, Watts said Rev. Dr. Burton “Pastor Burt” Howe guided him to a deeper understanding and acceptance of faith.
It was a time when Watts said he was dealing with post-traumatic stress problems from his service in Iraq and accompanying substance abuse problems.
“God was reaching out, but I kept saying ‘I got this,’” Watts said.
Watts said he dreamt he walked through a desert to find a fountain of blood where he washed his hands and credited Howe for showing him the blood was the redemptive love of Christ.
“My heart was poisoned by what I felt – anger and hate,” Watts said. “Once I accepted Christ, chunks of poison were replaced with love.”
The work in south Boston is his way to express the peace and joy he takes from his faith, Watts said.
“I have an overflow of love I need to share,” he said.
A high school dropout who said he could not read when he was 15, Watts this year earned a communications degree from the University of Southern Maine and is studying for a master’s in pastoral counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.
While at USM, Watts led the effort to establish a service center for veterans. The center helps veterans and their families navigate through processes needed to gain federal GI benefits.
Last fall, Watts ran for the Maine House District 133 seat held by Democrat Donald Pilon.
Watts lost 1,929-1,481 in the district comprised of Saco, but said he gained a valuable lesson.
“When I ran for office, I learned how to talk to people one-on-one,” he said.
Giroux said Watts is adept at making people much older listen to him.
“He makes himself heard and he will do it so he is not insulting you,” Giroux said.
Watts said though most of his friends are older and much of his volunteer work locally has been with adults, he will be adept at getting youth in south Boston to listen.
“They cling to me,” he said. “It is easy with kids, they are less guarded and you can read them quickly.”
After sharing stories of their lives and long discussions about the Bible, Kelley said she has no doubt Watts is the right man to reach children in need. But she will miss him when she raises a flag in honor of her son at Memorial Park on Veterans Day.
Watts told her he would be unable to make the parade and ceremony in November.
“I told him ‘I’ll just envision you next to me, so handsome in your uniform,’” she said.