About Randy

I sensed in my spirit sometime in my twenties that God had a plan for my life that was going to require that I transition from public accounting into full-time ministry someday in the future.  At the time, I felt some internal resistance.  I didn’t see how a transition into full-time ministry would be possible, especially to make a living at what I was designed to do.  The last thing I ever wanted to do was raise money to support a ministry like the one that God was beginning to unfold before me.  That sounded terrifying to me.

Without knowing exactly where The Lord was leading me, I attempted to follow Him closely and take each step I sensed Him prompting me to take along the way.  First, it was joining a small group of Christian believers, where I could learn and grow.  Then it was leading small groups of my own.  Later, it involved coaching small group leaders, and then coaching coaches of small group leaders within my church.

The major pieces all seemed to center around developing people one-on-one and in the small group context, which happened to be the two places where I found my own most powerful life-changing experiences.  As I continued to assist God in developing others, my core spiritual gifts flourished (shepherding/pastoring, encouragement, wisdom, discernment, and faith) and my passion for lovingly investing in individuals who would then be able to lovingly invest in others soared (which to me is to be the very heart of the church – discipleship).

Along The Way:
Along the way, people personally invested in me, for which I am profoundly grateful.  I experienced inner transformation on the receiving end, which taught me so much about being on the guiding side.  I did my own internal work (though I have much more to do).  I made the most of every opportunity I could to experience things firsthand and learn from them.  I attended every kind of training class I could, and read hundreds of books that helped me grow and do what I do more effectively.  Most importantly, I practiced and lived out what I learned, continually leading and developing people with increasing levels of effectiveness.

As I journeyed, I developed a passion for young people in their twenties and early thirties, maybe because it was at that age when so much transformation happened in own my life.  I think it is also because I see the dwindling numbers of that age group in church and have a growing heart and concern for this demographic, as well as for the Church.  They are a key generation to the future of the Church.  Without them stepping up, much of the church will die off of old age.  If that happens, future generations may not experience the beauty of the Church, along with its many imperfections, which also help us grow and become more Christ-like.

Stepping Out:
Twenty-some years later, in 2006 (after twenty-some years of training, wrestling, experimenting, practicing, surrendering, and being a CPA), I finally sensed God asking me to step into full-time ministry.  Thankfully, through His preparation, I was ready…even to raise support for a kingdom cause and ministry that I had come to believe in so strongly!

My Credentials:
I have no official credentials, no impressive reason anyone should come and see me, but they do anyway.  And somehow God shows up in our meetings and does incredible things.

I’ve been told that I’m an excellent listener, who asks soul-piercing, laser-like questions at just the right time and with just the right amount of love and encouragement, strength and gentleness, and without judgment.  I create a safe space where people can bring hidden things into the light, where God joyfully transforms them.

I’ve also been told that I’m wise and discerning, with life-changing insights, and that I’m very gifted at developing people and guiding people into experiential encounters with God.

Though people may come to me expecting me to immediately share my insights and tell them what to do (after all, isn’t that what a mentor does?), I, instead, choose to listen first and basically help people tap into their own inner wisdom and discernment, help them become more aware internally of both God and themselves, and help them learn to trust their own decision making processes…which ultimately creates leaders.  While I’m doing this, I’m continually pointing them to God.  At the end of the journey, I don’t want anyone dependent on me.  I would have failed them if they were.

One of the secrets of my success is that I know that I don’t have the answers and a person’s transformational process isn’t about me or my giftedness – it is between God and the person.  I just help facilitate some of the discovery process.  To do so, I attempt to get out of the way, and let God and the person I meet with guide the journey.  I simply follow the trail the two of them lead me on and I ask questions along the way that help me, and subsequently the other person, understand what is happening.  I make recommendations when the person gets stuck or doesn’t know how to proceed on the journey, or maybe isn’t seeing something that I am seeing as an outside, objective observer.  I choose appropriate books and spiritual exercises for what they are dealing with and share tools and illustrations that I have found helpful in people’s transformation.

As we  journey together, people discover things they didn’t know about themselves (both beautiful and painful), they recognize and begin to overcome things that are blocking them from fully living out of their true selves, they fall more in love with God and experience more of God’s love and healing, they hone their gifts and strengths, they become more emotionally healthy in the ways they interact with others and do ministry, and they more effectively live out their unique designs and giftedness, doing some truly inspiring things that bless the world.

    

In My Free Time:
When I’m not mentoring young leaders, I enjoy:

• sharing a meal once a week with my Dad, along with my sister and brother-in-law, who join us every other week.  Don’t tell anyone, but the servers at Olive Garden usually give my Dad and I extra mints for being regulars!  Woo-hoo!
• connecting with numerous friends.  For example, my friend Bruce and I meet every other week at a coffee shop for about 2 ½ hours to catch up and process our lives.  We’ve been doing that for over nine years.  After all this time, we’re still discovering and pulling new things out of each other.
• watching movies and some of the amazing shows on cable TV, usually with my roommate.  These days I get most of my entertainment through the public library for free – so please don’t tell me how anything ends.  I’m usually a season behind.  What?  My favorite character just got killed off in season four of that show I’m three seasons into?!  Where was the spoiler alert?
• reading books on spiritual and emotional growth and transformation.  (See the Book Recommendations section.)
• reading soon-to-be best-selling fiction before bed.  I like to find stuff before it gets really popular.  Like I somehow discovered it, which I know is ridiculous, but it brings me some sort of pleasure, like finding hidden gems and then sharing them with other people.  I don’t want to brag, but I was the first in my adult circles to read (discover) the Hunger Games.  I knew immediately, Katniss was destined to become a star.  Similarly, I see the star potential in the people I choose to mentor.  Keep an eye on them.  Their day is coming.
• listening to music.  One of my favorites is a relatively unknown artist named Bob Schneider from Austin, TX.  I’m still waiting for him to become popular, so I can believe I discovered him.
• attempting to express myself creatively – taking artsy photographs, writing creatively, drawing and painting.
• participating in friendly pools for sporting events like March Madness and the World Cup.  After the 2014 World Cup, whoever won the pool got treated to dinner at an ethnic restaurant serving the cuisine of whichever country won the whole thing.  Germany won…and so did I!  I got treated to a German meal in a beer garden!  It was Ausgezeichnet!
• going for walks and hikes, especially in National Parks when possible, which isn’t possible often enough.  The little “lake” by my house has to do.
• doing crossword puzzles and playing Candy Crush Saga.  Is being beyond level 250 considered an addiction?  Are there twelve-step programs for that?
• being a part of a small group and a bi-weekly healing prayer group.  Both have brought about continued growth and healing, in community, at times when I needed it.
• experientially connecting with God.  I love God and I love experiential spiritual exercises that help me connect with Him more tangibly.
• loving and following Jesus, who still saves me every moment of every day and who modeled for me how to live this human experience and love extravagantly – I’m still learning how.

Thank You:
I’m so deeply grateful to the people who have helped make this ministry possible by supporting it financially and prayerfully…as well as emotionally and relationally.  You know who you are.  Thank you so very much.  We are definitely making a difference in people’s lives, and subsequently in this world…thanks to God, and thanks to you.

May the Lord bless you abundantly,

In His Love,
Randy