As a pastor for nearly two decades (half as a Family Pastor and the other half as a Lead Pastor), I loved counseling and shepherding people in my church and community—especially people in difficult situations where they needed someone to walk with them gently and patiently. This desire grew as I sensed God’s calling to receive more training and transition into full-time counseling of all ages and consulting pastors, ministry leaders and churches.

I feel like God has called me to compassionately walk with people in their pain. As someone who has experienced various forms of suffering in life and ministry, I love listening to the hearts of real people and applying the tenderness of the gospel to the deepest realities of their lives.

I enjoy being outdoors as it has a way of calming me and reminding me that “this is my Father’s world.” I’m a firm believer in finding safe people and safe places where my soul feels a sense of security and wholeness. Coffee and deep conversations with my wife and close friends help with this!

My heart is for people who are struggling through life’s disappointments and the shame and anxieties of their own stories. I am honored to counsel and consult with many pastors (and their spouses) as I can relate to their experiences. I also have worked with a lot of married couples at various life stages and enjoy helping them through conflict toward deeper connection. Recently, I’ve also counseled many folks who have struggled with shame, intrusive thoughts and perfectionism.

It’s hard to choose specific books, but some of my favorite authors are (in no particular order): Brad Hambrick, Curt Thompson, Eugene Peterson, Diane Langberg, Esther Smith, Eric Johnson, Ed Welch and Chuck DeGroat.

I try to see Jesus as a present friend walking with me throughout the day. I long to join him in what he’s already doing in people’s lives and ask for his grace to be sufficient in my weakness. I enjoy looking for beauty in all four seasons of the year. Often I imagine myself walking with God as I take long walks outside. It helps ground me in the present and remember that I’m known by him and loved by him.

I love spending time with my wife and kids. I enjoy being outdoors and exercising regularly. My wife and I enjoy attending our house group with our church, going out to eat, and drinking good coffee together.

I had the honor of serving with Dr. Tony Rose and Dr. Eric Johnson back when I lived in Kentucky. These humble men helped to shape my understanding of weakness and grace, union with Christ, and the need for soul care and spiritual formation in the church. As a pastor, I have also walked through deep, relational suffering myself, which has helped me see and relate to Jesus as a man of sorrows and a close friend who knows me and sympathizes with me. I relate so much with 2 Corinthians 1–as a weak man who has received much comfort from God in my affliction and now sharing that comfort with others.

I don’t always handle this well; I’m in process. I read the psalms and gospels nearly every day as it helps me to be honest in prayer and see Jesus as real, present and active in my life. I’m learning to reach out to real people who know me and love me and can pray for me. I also have found comfort in the practice of breathe prayers and journaling on a daily basis as well as regular exercise.

Understanding and embracing our identity as God’s beloved children can bring us deep security. Asking the question, “What does my soul want most right now?” has a way of clarifying our heart’s desires and how Jesus meets us in those desires.