Replenish is the story of my own journey as a pastor.  After more than twenty years as a lead pastor, I joined the staff of Saddleback Church as a teaching pastor and executive pastor where I served for more than seven years.

I have always had an interest in matters of the soul, but the crushing organizational demands often pushed my own spiritual pursuit to the fringe.

When I stepped down from my role at Saddleback in 2006, I did so with a conflicted soul.  I was tired, weary, emotionally empty and a little disillusioned.  I assumed that when I left I would go back to being a lead pastor, but that was driven more by the need to make a living than by any sense of passion or calling.

It was my wife who one day said "I'm not sure God wants you to take a pastorate right now.  With all that God has brought you through, maybe he wants to use you to minister to other pastors." I was open to what she was saying, but for more than 25 years we had done life as a local church pastor.  

A variety of opportunities began to surface and truthfully it was all very confusing.  I left for a trip to Asia where I was consulting with a church in Singapore.  I will never forget that flight.  It was the middle of the night and the lights were down… and there was an unusual silence.  Most everybody around me was sleeping, but I couldn't sleep.  My mind was pre-occupied with my future.  

I prayed and reflected and journaled.  High above the pacific, in the middle of the night, I remember praying "Lord, there are a lot of things I could do, but I'm not sure what YOU want me to do in this season of my life.  What do YOU want me to do?"  And as clearly as I have ever heard God in prayer, the answer came back "I want you to help pastors be healthy, holy, and humble."

Immediately I responded with "That's something I could give my life to."  Out of that defining moment came a clear call and the beginning of a ministry we now call Replenish.

REPLENISH has been born out of my own struggle and journey as a pastor.  I know what it is to feed others while starving my own soul.  I know what it is to play the "image management" game.  I certainly have not arrived, but I love the path God has me on.  My love for Jesus is deeper and richer than ever before and God has ignited a passion in me to refresh and nurture the souls of Christian leaders.