Holding up the arms of those who hold up the church.
Church For Pastors exists because no shepherd should walk alone, and because the people doing the quiet, sustaining work of caring for pastors are the ones the church most needs.
Behind every sermon, every funeral, every late-night phone call, a pastor.
Pastors are present for everything. The births and the burials. The crisis at midnight, the wedding on Saturday, the staff conflict on Tuesday. They carry weight that most people in the pew never see.
And too often, they carry it alone. Few have a place where the mask comes off. Fewer still have someone who sees the whole picture and says, simply, 'I've got you.'
Church For Pastors exists to be that someone. Not a program. Not a conference. Presence. The kind that doesn't ask a pastor to perform, only to show up and be cared for.
When Moses’ arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur held them up.
Exodus 17 tells of a battle Israel could not win on its own. As long as Moses' arms were raised, the army prevailed. When his arms grew weary and dropped, the army faltered.
Aaron and Hur stood beside him. They placed a stone for him to sit on. They held up his arms, one on each side, until the sun set and the battle was won.
It's a small story, easily missed. But it names the work of Church For Pastors more clearly than any mission statement we could write. Pastors are Moses, weary in the work of standing for others. We are Aaron and Hur. Present, steady, holding up the arms of the ones holding up the church.
“When Moses's hands grew heavy, they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat down on it. Then Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other so that his hands remained steady until the sun went down.”
Exodus 17:12
Five rhythms of care.
“To care for those who care for others by offering Christ-centered worship, teaching, fellowship, intercession, and restorative ministry for pastors and their families.”
- 01
Worship
Centered on Christ. The source and end of all our work.
- 02
Teaching
Sound, sustaining truth for those entrusted with truth.
- 03
Fellowship
Real friendship across the long arc of ministry.
- 04
Intercession
Prayer that goes the distance, on behalf of those who pray for everyone else.
- 05
Restorative Ministry
Tangible care for the weary, the burned-out, the post-ministry.
Anchored in the Des Moines Metro.
We are local on purpose. Pastoral care isn't something that scales well. It requires presence, proximity, and the kind of trust that grows from showing up in person, year after year.
Every pastor we come alongside is here. Every gathering happens in a familiar room. Every prayer partner can be reached by a short drive. Des Moines is small enough to know each other and big enough to make a difference.
The people behind the work.
- 01 · Board Member
Dr. Ryan Whitson
Lead Pastor at New Hope Church in Adel, IA. Part-time professor of Philosophy and author of two books (Dangerous Discipleship and Reasons to Believe). Married to Laura for 25 years; four kids.
- 02 · Board Member
Dr. Laura Whitson
Doctor of Naturopathy and licensed neurological rehabilitation therapist. Owned her own PT clinic in Denver, CO before bringing a holistic approach to patient care across trauma recovery, autism, and addiction. Married to Ryan; four kids.
- 03 · Board Member
Steve Lahey, LMHC
Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Iowa, with a Master's in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and a B.A. in Religion and Ministry from Luther Rice. Eight years as a youth pastor before pivoting into counseling. Married 19 years; six kids.
- 04 · Board Member
Carissa Lahey
Bio coming soon.
- 05 · Board Member
Kristine Hickman
Married to David for 37 years; 14 of those years in vocational pastoral ministry. Bachelor's in psychology from Crown College, master's in education from Bethel University. Serves on the board of the Care and Counseling Ministry at New Hope Church and on the Replanted ministry team.
David Hickman
Strategic Planning Partner
David donates EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) training to CFP, helping us build the rhythms and structure that let care happen consistently. Bio and headshot to follow.
Three ways to come alongside.
Real care looks different for different seasons. Here's how that takes shape in CFP today, and what's coming next.
01Events
Times throughout the year to gather, breathe, and remember you are not alone in this work. Including our 1st Annual Bags Tournament Fundraiser on June 27.
See upcoming
02Get involved
Sign up to be among the first to hear about new programs, serve alongside us, or send a prayer request.
Three ways in
03Mentorship (coming soon)
One-on-one care with seasoned pastors. Launching in 2026. Sign up to be on the first cohort list.
Get notified
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