My Journey

Life is easy and predictable, everything goes just how I plan, I've never messed anything up, and I have a dozen certifications that make me an expert at everything!

Just kidding. 

I'm Stephen Ertel an imperfect human being, with broad life experience and a tendency to find deep meaning and truth in even the small things. I believe God is active in my life, that He always has something to teach, and that He wants me to journey with, encourage, and care for His people with everything He's given me.

My marriage with Brittany hasn't always been easy, and that's taught me how to listen, understand, and persist for almost 15 years.

My two sons are exuberant, independent, and tender-hearted, and they've taught me patience, gentleness, and that there's power in just being there sometimes.

I mentor at-risk kids in Spokane's toughest neighborhoods, and I walk away feeling like I've gained more wisdom than I had to offer.

I have a college degree I don't use, I've started and closed businesses, been fired more than once, served in the military, been a stay-at-home dad, and even been unemployed a few times. But chances are, we're more alike than different.

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God hasn't given me a perfect story to parade on social media, he's given me a purposefully messy story so that I can better understand your journey and walk with you toward The Clearing that's just ahead.