Iaomai Farms, LLC - Pastoral Counseling and Spiritual Direction

06/23/2026

Please join me on this journey of sharing about spiritual direction and the gift it can be in your life!

06/23/2026

I am so thrilled to be spending more energy joining people in spiritual direction!

This is a wonderful relationship of attending to a person’s experience of God’s presence and activity in their life. It's beautiful how we encounter ourselves, each other, and God in this sacred space.

Prior to December 2018, I had not heard of spiritual direction. I’d worked in ecumenical and interfaith environments for over a decade. I was close with people whose faith communities included (and some even required) spiritual direction. But I hadn’t heard of it—or, if I had, I didn't truly understand it.

I believe spiritual direction is a relationship everyone would benefit from, and I wish I had learned of it earlier. So, in the coming weeks, I’ll share a few things to help others be aware of and benefit from this too!

For a preview, we’ll touch on:
🌱 My Story: Moments from my own journey and how spiritual direction has deeply impacted my life
🌱 What It Is (and Is Not): How it compares to other familiar roles like counseling, coaching, and mentorship
🌱 The Purpose: The reasons why people pursue spiritual direction and what it accomplishes
🌱 The Deep Impact: Fostering continued growth, self-actualization, and our journeys as humans connecting with God
🌱 The Variations: Different approaches and backgrounds that inform how spiritual directors vary, particularly those of us in Christian traditions
🌱 Next Steps: Where to find a spiritual director, what to consider for yourself, and what to look for in a potential director

And we’ll see what other questions or interests arise along the way.

Regardless of whether you choose to explore spiritual direction with me or someone else, I hope this series brings awareness and sparks an interest in this life-giving relationship for your own journey.



www.iaomaifarms.com

*photo is of the path next ot our livestock's pasture

06/08/2026

Hi friends! We have added Spiritual Direction to our services.

Spiritual direction is a special relationship that focuses on increasing one's awareness and connection with God's presence and activity in one's life. There may be aspects of counseling or coaching present in spiritual direction, but the focus is on one's spiritual growth with increased awareness of and being present in their interior life with self, God, and others.

This relationship is especially helpful:
-in times of vocational discernment, especially in major life transitions
-"Dark Night of the Soul" periods, dealing with significant hardship or wrestling with deep questions of faith
-dealing with burnout, compassion fatigue, and hurt
-if feeling stuck spiritually
-if longing for a relationship where you are cared for, and there is no obligation or focus on caring for others
-when one's faith seems inconsistent with their lived experiences and navigating what to do with that
-wrestling with and healing from spiritual abuse
-deconstructing one's faith
-simply desiring a relationship that gives you space to "be"

Though it has existed throughout Church history, spiritual direction has been less prevalent in Evangelical and Pentecostal traditions. However, it has been gaining momentum in recent decades, especially among people who have striven faithfully to do Gospel work, but often at the cost of not being cared for even as they've unswervingly cared for others.

Since 2018, Brian's life and ministry have been heavily blessed and shaped by ongoing spiritual direction relationships. Brian is now certified as a spiritual director, and though he will continue to offer pastoral counseling, this is the main way he will be serving and connecting with folks.

If spiritual direction interests you, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Whether virtually, locally, or on-site at the farm, let's connect to see how we can support and encourage you on your journey of healing and wholeness! 😊

12/31/2024

Hello friends! Our articles&resources page is up, and we're kicking off with two free resources :)
If you're considering reading through the Bible, we have 180-day and 365-day plans available as free downloads. These include:
-daily Psalm for prayer
-Bible readings 6/days week with study and refleciton questions
-a weekly prayer reflection (Lectio Divina) from the week's readings
-a devotional outline that includes several aspects of daily prayer and reflection

These are the bones of a few workbooks I'm developing. If you're looking for a resource to help with your Bible study and spiritual growth, I hope this is a blessing for you!

*pdfs are linked at the bottom of the article

Did you know if you want to read through the Bible, it only takes… ~4 chapters/day or 10-15 min listening for a 1-year plan ~8 chapters/day or 25-30 min listening for a 6-month plan ~16 chapters/day or 50-ish min listening for a 3-month plan If you listen to the Bible for your morning an

12/27/2024

Though a time of joy, for many the holidays bring a reminder of hurt and loss. Whether it’s feeling the absence of a loved one on otherwise special days, or passing through (another) anniversary of a tragedy that occurred during the holidays…this can be a really difficult time. And then our inner loneliness is compounded as so many around us are outwardly celebrating and expecting good cheer from others.
Even as the struggle is real, you do not have to be alone in it. We are happy to come alongside and journey with you on these hard days.

12/25/2024

There is hope.
Christmas is a day (and season!) of hope…
Not a wishful-thinking sort of hope, but a hope with tangible things to grab on to and affirm something can be different and new. And not because we have positive vibes, but because God cares, He chooses to be WITH us, and to insert Himself in our stories to bring about things that couldn’t be otherwise…especially as we lean into Him. Christmas is a reminder and season of renewal in this hope and reality. May you have a new or renewed experience of God-with-you. Merry Christmas all!