A TRUSTED ADVISOR WITH REAL HELP THAT UNDERSTANDS THE HEART OF YOUR MINISTRY.
Pastoral Leadership Coach · Ministry & Organizational Consultant
- 20+ years in ministry
- Pastoral & organizational
- Local & remote
Who I Serve
For ministry leaders, teams, local churches, and parachurch ministries.
The local church is an institution unlike any other where success is defined not by numbers, noses, and organizational structures alone, but by the heart-posture with which ministry is carried out and the heart transformation that God brings about in the lives of His people.
Unfortunately, many ministry leaders seek solutions that address organizational challenges with a DIY approach that seeks to draw on the tactics and practices from the corporate world without understanding the unique nature of the church and its calling.
As a result, church leaders feel the pressure to operate more like pseudo-CEO’s running a for-profit business than spiritual leaders of a spiritual body, and their team feels like they traded “organizational results” for the spiritual impact that led them to pursue ministry in the first place.
Having served as a pastor and organizational leader in the church world for more than two decades, I know what it’s like to walk in your shoes.
As a ministry practitioner with a passion for organizational leadership and health, I’ve devoted myself to learning and contextualizing key principles and practices of organizational leadership and putting them to work in the unique context of the local church.
If you’re a ministry leader, team, local church or parachurch ministry, I offer real help that understands the heart of ministry.
A quick introduction
Why Right Heart
Real Help that Understands The Heart of Ministry
The right solution for a church can’t be copied and pasted. It has to be contextualized—spiritually, relationally, and organizationally—so the path forward fits your people, your calling, and your season.
Less Chaos
Stop putting out constant fires. With the right help and clear ownership, you can escape the “tyranny of the urgent.”
More Time
Increased effectiveness, means more time to focus on the things that matter most, helping leaders gain 8+ hours back to their week.
Increased Joy
Whether paid staff or volunteer leaders, people don’t serve in ministry for the money. Healthier ministries and ministry leaders help everyone experience the fulfillment they long for, leading to greater retention, longevity, and joy.
Greater Impact
When fishermen don’t fish, they fight. In contrast, healthy leaders and ministries maintain the right focus, and have a greater kingdom impact that reflects their own health and alignment as a team.
Get to the Heart of what holds you back
Introducing tools, processes, systems, and strategies without understanding yourself or your people is like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Real change requires combining organizational prowess with a people-first, heart-level approach that fosters cultural alignment for lasting change.
Draw on two decades of unique expertise
I offer a unique combination of expertise, drawing on more than twenty years in pastoral ministry and organizational leadership—scaling organizations through seasons of growth and change, developing teams, raising capital, casting vision, and walking with people through every season of life.
Custom Solutions that reflect your heart
No cookie-cutter approach. Whether an individual, team, ministry, or organization, the goal is the same: a concrete path forward that reflects the heart of who you are and what you're called to.
Right Heart Operating System & Toolbox
Six interlocking components that determine whether your ministry is healthy, aligned, and built to last. I offer help customized to your needs—wholistic organizational strengthening or targeted help.
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01
Vision
- Why does your ministry exist?
- Is your vision clear, compelling, and commonly shared by everyone?
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02
Strategy
- Does your ministry have a clear and effective strategy for how it “wins”?
- Do you have practical metrics that define and measure success?
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03
Culture / Values
- Culture is a set of “beliefs made visible.”
- What shared values actually show up in behaviors that set you apart?
- How do your values shape who you hire, fire, train, and reward?
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04
People
- Have you defined your ideal talent needs and team structure?
- How do you find, manage, develop, retain, and evaluate them?
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05
Operations
- The systems, processes, and rhythms that turn vision and strategy into consistent daily execution.
- Meeting cadences, Goal Setting, Marketing, Ministry Departments, etc.
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06
Governance
- For organizations with a Board—including most churches.
- Maximizing the relationship between your governance board and day-to-day operations.
- Defining the Board’s role.
What I Do
Coaching and consulting built around your heart and your ministry.
Choose the level of support that fits the season you’re in—from personal coaching to a defined consulting project to a yearlong leadership development process.
01
1-on-1 Personalized Coaching
Virtual or in person
Private coaching for pastors and ministry leaders who need clarity, support, and a practical plan for the season ahead.
02
Project-Based Consulting
Onsite & virtual
Focused consulting for churches and ministries navigating culture, governance, conflict, staff alignment, vision, or retreats.
03
12-Month Leadership Development Programs
Onsite & virtual
A yearlong rhythm of team training and individual coaching that builds ownership, health, and leadership capacity over time.
Services
Three ways to get to the heart of your ministry.
Service 01
1-on-1 Personalized Coaching
Available virtually or in person
For pastors, ministry leaders, and couples in ministry who need space to name what is happening beneath the surface and develop a practical plan for the season ahead—focusing on the growth, clarity, and sustainability you desire.
- A personalized plan tailored to your goals and situation.
- Practical tools and capacities for lasting change.
- Theological perspective available, for those who desire it—serving clients of any faith persuasion.
For churches and ministries facing a specific organizational challenge—culture, governance, vision, team health, conflict, or leadership structure. I help you diagnose what is really happening, clarify ownership, and build a path your team can actually carry.
- Vision, mission, and values identification. Team and organizational health assessments, strategic planning.
- Culture-aligned, results-oriented annual appraisal systems.
- Board governance, meeting cadences, conflict resolution, and team development and retreats.
- Scalable church-wide shepherding & discipleship strategies.
Most ministry leaders lack the margin to develop their teams to full capacity while juggling daily demands. This 12-month program is tailored to the heart and needs of your ministry—ordinarily including monthly 3-hour onsite workshops plus monthly 1-hour individual coaching for every leader on your team, building shared language, ownership, and sustainable leadership over time.
- Monthly onsite team trainings tailored to your ministry.
- Individual coaching for every leader on your team.
- A 12-month arc that builds lasting leadership capacity.
About Me
Hi, I'm Michael.
For over two decades I have combined pastoral care and organizational leadership to help people and organizations identify the heart issues that keep them stuck—and tap into the motivations that move them forward to navigate seasons of growth, change, and transformation. I partner with individuals, couples, leaders, and organizations to build practical, lasting paths to growth.
Most recently, I served as the Pastor of Ministry Development at Christ Redeemer Presbyterian Church (Hilton Head Island, SC), helping to scale Christ Redeemer from a single location to a multi-campus organization with an expanded vision and regional impact. In addition to my work at Right Heart, I also serve with Life-On-Life Ministries, facilitating train-the-trainer style workshops and providing personalized coaching with cohorts of leaders around the world since 2016. I am currently finishing my DMin in Pastoral and Organizational Leadership at Covenant Theological Seminary, where I have continued to hone my passion for helping leaders and organizations thrive.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
A few things people often want to know before reaching out.
What is the difference between a coach / consultant and a counselor?
As a coach / consultant, my focus is on helping you get to the heart of the issues confronting you or your organization and achieving the growth you desire. My approach draws on my experience over the last two decades as an organizational leader and ministry professional.
While there are numerous similarities between the work I do as a coach and the work of a counselor, there are two key differences: focus and expertise.
- Focus — To oversimplify, the focus of counseling is often on the past (hurts, wounds, traumas, etc.) and the way these past experiences shape you in the present. While my work with clients often includes story work as part of understanding your heart as a leader, my focus is on helping you achieve your present and future goals.
- Expertise — As an experienced pastor and organizational leader, I also draw on a wealth of expertise that most counselors lack, combining the worlds of personalized care and organizational leadership in my work. Unlike a licensed mental health professional, I am unable to provide any sort of formal mental health diagnosis, but I have a referral network of trusted counselors I heartily recommend.
Why hire a coach / consultant? Can't I just do this by myself?
As a DIY enthusiast myself, this is a question I ask a lot in every arena of life. There are several reasons why enlisting the help of an outside coach / consultant is a worthy investment, whether your focus is your own growth or the organization you lead. Here are just a few:
- Fresh Perspective — No matter how skilled or experienced you are in an area, enlisting the help of a trusted advisor ensures you are getting perspective you might otherwise lack, and serves as affirmation for where your plans are already on track.
- Saved Time — Enlisting the help of a coach / consultant can help you “get there faster” and better. As I know firsthand, a leader's time is limited, and the demands of leadership are endless. My desire is to honor your short-term investment to help you make the most of your time and maximize the health and impact of your ministry.
- Outsource Expertise, Insource Execution — Building a ship and sailing it are two different endeavors. Many leaders would benefit from outside assistance to develop sustainable solutions to the perennial challenges they face. One way I can serve you is by helping you create and implement a solution that you can then manage on your own.
- Shoot the Messenger — To put it crassly, there is immense value to hiring a trusted advisor whose role is time-bound. Navigating challenging internal organizational problems often requires identifying obstacles and dynamics that are difficult for an inside voice to address. A trusted outside set of eyes and ears can identify obstacles and offer solutions without the pressures that come with being a permanent fixture in the organization. This allows me to surface obstacles those in the ministry might otherwise avoid, with the freedom that comes from knowing my role is time-bound. My role is not to become a permanent fixture, but to add value by helping you develop a concrete solution.
What is the investment required?
Each situation is unique, and so is the associated investment required. Cost is determined by the scope of program, project, or personal coaching needs.
If you're interested in learning more about how I can help you get unstuck and develop a solution that reflects the heart of your organization or ministry, please use the form below to schedule a discovery call or your first session.
Do you work with churches of any size or denomination?
Yes. I work with churches and ministries across sizes, traditions, and denominations. My approach is contextual—I don't import a generic playbook. I help you get to the heart of what's unique about your ministry and build a path forward that fits your theology, context, and calling.
Ready for help that understands the heart of ministry?
Let's talk about where you, your team, or your ministry is stuck—and build a path forward.
Contact
Let's start a conversation.
Tell me about the challenge in front of your ministry. I’ll follow up personally to schedule a conversation and help you discern the right next step.
Based in Bluffton, South Carolina, I work with pastors, ministry teams, churches, and parachurch ministries locally and across the country.
Your message goes directly to Michael. He'll personally follow up to schedule a conversation.