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Summary The podcast episode Between Heaven and Earth, hosted by Justin and Amy Howard, features Reverend Matthew McIntosh sharing about Encounter Life, a 12-week cohort for pastors and church leaders designed to foster healing, renewal, and sustainable ministry. Born out of the need to integrate powerful encounters with God into everyday life, the program offers a safe, confidential space where pastors can process wounds, uncover lies, and develop healthy rhythms of rest and prayer.

With nearly four decades of ministry experience, Matthew describes how the cohort helped him face deep emotional pain and find freedom through practices like praying with people rather than just for them, recognizing Kairos moments, and cultivating “soul friends” for accountability. Unlike typical leadership training, Encounter Life centers on heart transformation, Sabbath rest, boundaries, and storytelling as tools for healing. Ecumenical in design, it welcomes pastors from diverse traditions. The episode closes with prayer and an invitation to embrace Encounter Culture’s community, reminding leaders that effective ministry flows from intimacy with God and wholeness of heart.

Highlights 🙏 12-week cohort for pastors focused on healing, growth, and renewal. 💔 Creates safe space to face wounds and hidden struggles often ignored in ministry. 🔄 Emphasizes praying with people for Spirit-led encounters. 📖 Curriculum integrates emotional awareness, Sabbath, and storytelling. 🌍 Inclusive across denominations, fostering broad renewal. 🙌 Encourages “soul friends” and trusted relationships for long-term support.

Key Insights 💡 Pastors’ Hidden Struggles: Many leaders mask pain out of fear, leading to isolation and burnout. Encounter Life offers a safe, healing alternative.

🔄 Praying With vs. For: Shifting to interactive prayer invites deeper encounters with God.

⏳ Kairos Moments: Recognizing emotions as signals of God’s timing fosters breakthrough.

🔐 Discerning Lies: Leaders learn to replace false beliefs with God’s truth for authentic ministry.

🛑 Boundaries Matter: The program helps pastors avoid codependency and burnout.

🌿 Sabbath & Rhythms: Healthy leadership requires sustainable rest and soul care.

🤝 Soul Friends: Trusted relationships provide ongoing accountability and healing.

🌐 Ecumenical Reach: Adaptable across traditions, reflecting a growing hunger for authentic encounter with God.

💡 Our podcast is completely crowd-funded. If these conversations matter to you, would you consider partnering with us? Learn more here: https://keap.page/mlh527/podcast-affiliate-landing-page.html

Summary This episode of Between Heaven and Earth with Justin and Amy Howard features Paula Schrod, a therapist and spiritual director, sharing her experience with Encounter Culture Mission Collaborative (ECMC). ECMC integrates therapy, spiritual direction, and healing prayer to create safe spaces rooted in God’s love and emotional health.

Paula describes a life-changing encounter with Jesus through ECMC and highlights how therapy and spiritual direction work together in discipleship. The conversation also introduces Trinitas, a two-year training program co-created by Amy and Paula that blends liturgical, charismatic, and evangelical traditions to equip pastors, therapists, and lay leaders for spiritual direction.

The episode emphasizes supporting pastors through trained spiritual directors, using practical tools like the “four R’s” (repent, renounce, release, receive), and prioritizing God’s love over behavior management in true healing and transformation.

Highlights 🌟 ECMC blends therapy, spiritual direction, and healing prayer. 💖 God’s love is central to healing and growth. 🎓 Trinitas unites three Christian traditions in training. 🤝 Spiritual directors lighten pastoral burdens. 🛠️ The “four R’s” give simple steps for healing.

Key Insights 💡 Therapy + Direction Together: Both disciplines complement each other, countering evangelical stigma around therapy. 💡 Love First: Experiencing God’s love is essential for lasting change. 💡 Trinitas as a Bridge: Training draws on evangelical, charismatic, and liturgical streams for holistic formation. 💡 Shared Pastoral Care: Lay spiritual directors help prevent burnout and strengthen communities. 💡 Practical Tools: The “four R’s” provide an easy framework for daily healing.

Overall, this episode invites listeners into a vision of discipleship that unites emotional health, spiritual formation, and healing prayer—equipping a new generation of spiritual directors to bring renewal in churches and communities.

💡 Our podcast is completely crowd-funded. If these conversations matter to you, would you consider partnering with us? Learn more here: https://keap.page/mlh527/podcast-affiliate-landing-page.html

Summary The Between Heaven and Earth podcast, hosted by Justin and Amy Howard, features Ashleigh Coleman, an encounter life coach and photographer. Ashleigh shares her journey from spiritual numbness to awakening at an Encounter Weekend, moving from head knowledge of God to a heartfelt experience of His love.

She describes spiritual growth as a slow, steady process and highlights tools like the Kairos Circle for healing and discernment. Through coaching and photography, Ashleigh brings dignity and beauty into broken spaces, encouraging believers to embrace curiosity, prayer, and safe community for authentic discipleship.

Highlights ✨ Encounter Weekends bridge head knowledge and heart experience. 🌿 The Kairos Circle guides emotional healing with the Spirit. 📸 Creativity reveals God’s image in places of pain. 💡 Growth is gradual—God’s kindness meets us where we are. 🙏 Safe community fosters confession and restoration.

Key Insights 💖 Transformation involves both knowing and experiencing God’s love. 🌱 Spiritual growth takes time, requiring patience and grace. 🌀 The Kairos Circle is a simple, powerful tool for discipleship. 📷 Art and ministry intersect by honoring dignity amid brokenness. 🙌 Confession in community breaks shame and fosters healing.

Additional Reflections Ashleigh’s story shows how encounters with God, community, and creativity bring lasting healing. Her journey encourages believers to embrace God’s pace and join Him in bridging heaven and earth through everyday life and ministry.