About Us

The Lead Pastor of our church was gone within thirty days of the announcement that he was leaving...

As I stepped into the role of Pastor in the wake of the transition, I tried to pick up the pieces and tend to the myriad of broken hearts (including my own). Those initial two years were easily the worst years of my life. My church leadership degree and countless pastoral conferences up to that point did little to insulate me from the onslaught of angry parishioners, hemorrhaging finances, isolation, and abandonment in that season of ministry.

As vital as counseling and coaching would become during that challenging season, what really saved me was a handful of relationships with trustworthy people who chose to care more about me than the ministry. They had no agenda, no expectations for my performance, and no stake in the church's future beyond my own faithfulness. The best way I can describe those friendships is Pastoral Direction. They consistently reminded me I was not alone and that God was just as interested in my personal well-being and formation as in ministering to the church community.

Today we offer that same companionship to pastors and church leaders who find themselves navigating conflict, transition, and the simple daily demands of shepherding people. I founded the Center for Pastoral Direction and Mentorship (CPDM) because I believe pastors need to be heard and seen by someone outside their ministry circle who understands pastoral life, believes they are as important as the mission—and isn’t charging them by the hour.

Pastoral direction is undervalued in a culture captivated by programs and performance because its primary work is neither. Its value is in cultivating the conditions in which pastors can fully inhabit their calling, vocation, and humanity. Healthy ministry rarely begins with better strategies or more resources. It grows from pastors who are themselves being formed and encouraged relationally. CPDM is sustained by partners who believe one of the best ways to cultivate healthy churches is to invest in healthy pastors. Because of their generosity, every pastoral direction relationship is offered free of charge.

Chip Johnson, Lead Director