My spiritual awakening began with Jesus at age 15. This was a radical life change. Much of my early formation was shaped by deep friendships, my church and a collection of mentors who valued the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit. Many of these influences came from an evangelical-charismatic family of churches known as Foursquare. It was through those experiences and relationships that I received a call to ministry as a young adult. As I listened and responded to God’s promptings, my service to God took shape as a credentialed minister in various leadership roles locally, regionally and nationally with The Foursquare Church.

As a Christian leader in my thirties, I enjoyed recognizing, equipping and releasing women and men for Kingdom impact (outward-doing). I also became more aware of common warning signs that precursors burn-outs, blow-ups, or implosions that often sideline leaders under the constant pressure of ideals and expectations. Learning from those stories, I sought ways to feed my inner life in an attempt to keep up with my growing ministry responsibilities.

My hunger led me to seek out relationships and resources that cultivated a deeper attentiveness to God and integration of my inward-being and my outward-doing. This was a personal transformation that brought increased depth and clarity to my personal calling.

Looking back, this was a season of spiritual differentiation within my spiritual family of origin. This work brought me a sense of personal distinction without the need to disconnect from my roots. This expanded my devotional practices to include more contemplative ways of relating with God that were less familiar to me.

While serving in a senior pastor role, I had a desire to lead differently than what had been modeled to me and I felt the freedom to experiment in new ways. Those years solidified a conviction for collaborative leadership that was less program driven and pastor-centric. The byproduct was a life-rhythm that was slower and ministry approach that was more process oriented rather than program driven.

Around this same period, I entered what felt like a winter season in my soul. A wall. A wilderness of sorts. I experienced a grinding futility that mocked my ideals and eroded my confidence to identify and solve problems. My charisma and skill reached a limit as I walked alongside a family member that descended into a ten year addiction that included mental health challenges. The agonizing chaos of their choices brought me to a demoralizing breaking point.

Gratefully, the Lord met me in that vulnerable place of exhaustion as I cried out, “This is NOT the way it’s supposed to be!!!” In reflection, it was this very moment that God was inviting me to something new.

The ensuing years brought me to a new and humble awareness of my own limitations. Eventually I came to see the goodness of God even in brokenness, as I worked to embrace situations that I was unable to influence, change or control. As I lived through the grief and leaned into the support of loved ones, mentors, a therapist and spiritual director, I found a new acceptance and eventual purpose through the pain.

Eventually, I could sense the Lord leading me to step away from my role as senior pastor. It was a pleasure to pass the baton to my associate pastor who was ready and willing. I then spent the next two years without an official role in vocational ministry. There was no scandal or crisis. I simply wanted to pivot away from organizational leadership. I then put my headphones on and poured myself into other pursuits while keeping a low ministry profile. As I was quiet and more introverted, I experienced a healing freshness rise in my soul. Coming out of that season was the beginning of a new chapter in my story that led me to this ministry of SoulFriend.

As I continue my journey to be an authentic Jesus-follower, I am committed to cultivating and nurturing a greater God-awareness, self-awareness and other-awareness in myself and with those God may bring in and through my life.

I am motivated to come alongside men and women who are ready to take proactive steps toward their own spiritual maturity and expression of their unique personal calling.

For me, this ministry is being worked out in what I am defining as SoulFriend - a blending of the roles of a life coach and a spiritual director.

As I walk alongside others in this role, my ongoing prayer is that God would expand the following gifts in us for the sake of others.

Supernatural Discernment - that we may develop God-given and trustworthy intuition to recognize where God is at work in circumstances and His movements in the greater world around us.

Supernatural Wisdom - that we may receive an appropriate attitude, posture and perspective to guide IF, WHEN and/or HOW we are to engage with a given situation.

Supernatural Courage - that we may be able to exercise a faith-informed boldness by pressing into hard and complicated matters as we trust the Holy Spirit to provide timely and practical insight.

Supernatural Favor - that we may experience grace and anointing for walking confidently into our future with a robust supply of faith, hope and love that fuels our very being.