August Ministry Spotlight: Sean Carter - Speaking in Silence

It’s not very often that you get to interview a public speaker who is unable to speak…

And yet,

that’s exactly what I had the unique privilege of doing.

I sat down with Sean Carter—not just to hear his story, but to listen to his dreams and the calling God has placed on his heart for the future.

Twenty years ago, Sean was a 22-year-old college student at Midwestern State University, majoring in Business Administration. He had worked as a model, spent time in New York, and was living what many would consider a normal life for a college student—studying, working, and hanging out with friends. The problem? That fun included alcohol and marijuana use. One night, after a long evening of drinking, Sean became, in his words, “the drunk passenger to an even more drunk driver.” Just five minutes from his apartment, the driver lost control, and the car slammed into a tree—on the passenger side.

Sean sustained a traumatic brain injury and woke from a coma 39 days later. He could no longer speak, and his only physical movement was limited to his left arm and index finger. Both lungs had collapsed, he had a tracheostomy, a pelvic fixator holding things in place, and multiple fractures throughout his body. He was on a feeding tube for 75 days and unable to communicate for nearly five months.

Now, 20 years later, Sean lives with 18 pieces of metal in his body and over 35 scars—physical reminders of that night. The brain injury he suffered (a severe diffuse axonal injury, or DAI) damaged the nerve fibers needed for speech and so much more. Though his vocal cords function, the part of the brain responsible for motor planning does not, which prevents him from speaking.

🡒 You can watch Sean share his story here: Sean's Story

One of my favorite moments from our interview was when Sean’s mom, Jenny, recalled the first time Sean ever spelled something out after the accident using his left index finger and a printed alphabet sheet. Before then, he would lose focus and never complete a word. But one day, a young lady he used to date came to visit. She climbed into his hospital bed beside him, held up the alphabet sheet, and asked if he could spell his middle name. Slowly, letter by letter, Sean spelled: “R-O-B-I-N-S-O-N.” They were overjoyed.

After she left, Sean was still grinning from ear to ear. Jenny thought, “This is it. He’s about to say thank you for being here with me through everything.” She held up the alphabet again and asked what he was thinking. Without hesitation, he spelled out the name of the young lady who had just left. “Of course, he was still thinking about that pretty girl!” Jenny said with a laugh. We all laughed along.

While there were joyful moments like that, there were far more filled with discouragement and despair. For months and even years, Sean wondered what he had done to deserve this. He questioned why God didn’t just let him die. Comparing himself to others his age only brought grief and anger.

But God…

God never stopped pursuing Sean. Through his dependence on others for care and provision, Sean began to realize that he needed more than just human help—he needed God. He saw how, even before the accident, he had been trying to fill a void with partying and distractions. That void could only be filled by the One who created him and gave him purpose. Today, Sean trusts God fully to lead his life, praying daily for God’s will and trusting Him to provide what he needs—and to withhold what he doesn’t.

Two years after the accident, Sean and his mom, Jenny, began sharing their story publicly through Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Today, that mission continues through powerful partnerships with TXDOT and Texas A&M AgriLife. Since stepping into the public speaking arena, Sean has shared his testimony with more than 450,000 people at over 650 venues across Texas. He’s received countless messages from individuals whose lives have been transformed by his story—some chose not to end their lives, others walked away from destructive habits—all because of the way God is working through Sean’s life and story.

Sean is not on disability. His speaking platform has become his ministry—and the way God provides for him.

Five years after the crash, he began an intensive exercise program. At that time, he was hemiplegic—paralyzed on one side of his body—and relied completely on a power wheelchair. Over the next five years, he made the incredible transition to using an upright walker and being able to complete many of his daily tasks independently.

Ten years.

That’s how long it took.

Ten years is 3,652 days in a wheelchair. I couldn’t stop thinking: What if Sean had given up on day 3,640? How many of us quit praying or stop believing God for something because it’s taking “too long”?

When I shared that with Sean, the idea that many people would have given up, he pointed back to God's hope—knowing Him—as what kept him going.

Today, Sean continues that therapy seven days a week at home and several times a week through the University of Houston Clear Lake Exercise and Health Sciences program. His progress is directly tied to this hands-on work with students pursuing their master’s degrees in exercise science. It’s also the reason he and Jenny moved from College Station to Seabrook.

When I asked Sean about his dreams, he typed out a response on his tablet: marriage, going on a mission trip, and walking independently again. But more than anything, he desires to share his testimony in churches. His passion is unmistakable—and for someone who cannot physically articulate that passion, it speaks volumes.

Sean uses a tablet to type his message, which plays back through a computer-generated voice. It doesn’t carry tone or inflection, but Sean’s face does. His joy and emotion are visible in every expression. When he described speaking at his home church, he also shared some of the challenges he faces—like not having a seminary degree or people assuming someone who can't speak couldn't be a compelling speaker.

Cue his witty grin.

Let me tell you: Sean doesn’t need a seminary degree. He has a testimony that is deeply compelling, Spirit-filled, and powerful. The clarity of God’s provision, redemption, and purpose in his life is undeniable.

I left that interview feeling charged by God to share Sean’s story—because his voice, though not spoken aloud, echoes loudly with truth, courage, and faith. His life is a testimony of endurance and hope. And his desire to glorify God by sharing his testimony in churches is one I hope many of us will help make a reality.

If Sean’s story moved you, take a moment to pray for him. Reach out. Invite him to speak at your church or event. You won’t just hear a story—you’ll encounter a life marked by grace and driven by purpose.

🡒 You can contact Sean directly at: sean@whenseanspeaks.com

Thank you to our listeners and supporters. Your continued support makes it possible for us to share powerful stories like Sean’s and to spotlight ministries and lives transformed by the love of God.

Let’s keep spreading hope. Let’s keep making space for redemption. And let’s keep listening to the voices that truly matter—even the ones we can’t always hear.