Hi! I'm Kent.

 I have been a follower and friend of Jesus since my earliest memories. Baptized as an infant, raised in a home filled with faith and love, nurtured in Christian community to love the Lord and love my neighbors with Godly love. My faith in Jesus Christ and my daily life have been inextricably intertwined.

 

I felt a call to some sort of ministry in my high school and college years which led me to become a church camp counselor in the mountains of Montana during college, where I was introduced to the writings of Thomas Merton and began my own, halting contemplative prayer practice, because no one I knew ever talked about such things. After college I served as a Youth and Family Ministry Director for three years, where I was introduced to Peer Ministry Leadership Training, teaching youth to be deep listeners to others, and to God. My journey was not always a straight path, but eventually, with a lot of “Spirit nudges” I attended seminary to become a Pastor. While in seminary, my wife and I got married. In my second call we had our first child, a beautiful girl, and two years later came our lovely son.

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In seminary, I was introduced to the practice of Lectio Divina and silent meditative prayer practices. Shortly after being ordained I met my first Spiritual Director, and began both group and individual spiritual direction. Spiritual Direction and contemplative prayer practices have grounded me and helped me grow deeper in my relationship with God in Christ Jesus through the Spirit, and kept me centered in that loving, grace-filled relationship throughout my twenty-six years serving the same congregation.

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It has been a life-changing blessing throughout the process of becoming a certified Spiritual Director, growing and stretching me in more ways than I am fully aware. It is a sacred privilege to accompany people on their faith journeys, both as a Pastor and now as a Spiritual Director.

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Education and Experience:

• Spiritual Direction Certification from the Christos Center for Spiritual Formation

• Pastor at Christus Victor Lutheran Church for 26 years

• Masters of Divinity, Luther Seminary

• Youth and Family Ministry Director for 3 years

• Bachelor of Arts, Luther College