John Ware is a Spiritual Director with Soul Shepherding and the founding Lead Pastor of Lifehouse Church in Newport News, Virginia. He has served in full-time ministry for 20 years, including 11 years in youth ministry and 9 years as a lead pastor.

John’s passion for spiritual direction grew out of his own experience with exhaustion and near-burnout in 2020. During that season, he discovered Soul Shepherding and the teachings of Dallas Willard, beginning a journey of emotional and spiritual renewal that reshaped the way he relates to God, himself, and ministry.

Because of that experience, John has a particular heart for pastors, ministry leaders, and others who spend much of their lives caring for people. He understands the pressures of leadership, the struggle to separate identity from performance, and the challenge of creating space to simply be with God.

In spiritual direction, John offers a safe, unhurried space to slow down, pay attention to what is happening within, and discern God’s presence and invitation.

John is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, holds a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Manna University, has completed Soul Shepherding’s Spiritual Direction Certificate training, and is pursuing graduate studies in Spiritual Formation and Christian Leadership at Friends University.

He lives in Hampton Roads with his wife, Kristen, and their three sons, Jaxson, Judah, and Dallas.

You can contact John at John@lifehouseNN.com. If you’d like to book a free, 15-minute consult with John before moving forward with a full Spiritual Direction session, you can do so here (click the link, scroll down to John, and click “select”).