Jim McInnes

I have known God, wrestled with God, and loved God since an early age. My parents were in church ministry and modelled an authentic faith that left a lasting impact on me. The early death of my father shook my faith as a teenager, but also became the catalyst for a genuine adult faith and calling to vocational ministry. I have pondered the relationship between suffering and faith, and come to know God as a father.

I would describe my own spirituality as broadly charismatic-contemplative. I’m reflective, curious, questioning, and a little bit mystical. By mystical I mean I’m interested in direct personal experience of God’s presence (and sense of absence). I’m especially interested in prayer: the ways we converse with God, and seek to bring our ‘true selves’ to God. I like to talk with God on an empty beach.

I have held various leadership, teaching, pastoral and governance roles in churches and Christian organisations in New Zealand and Asia (my wife and I lived for six years in Hong Kong). Many years ago I cooked on a Pentecostal mission base in the Czech Republic – think goulash and dumplings! More recently I have lectured in Christian spirituality for Carey Baptist College, and regularly preached for an Anglican church in Auckland. My wife and I are taking a mid-life sabbatical year (2026) in Europe, to plumb the depths of life with God, life together, and future vocational possibilities.

Every spiritual-life journey is unique, and no two people encounter God the same way. I love listening to the thoughts, feelings, spiritual experiences, disappointment, joy, or deep longing that resides within anyone seeking to know God. I am aware that when someone speaks about their relationship with God in spiritual direction, they are in fact speaking to God, not just to me. God listens. That makes spiritual direction a bit like prayer. Sometimes God even responds.

I am a trained ministry supervisor. I enjoy supporting vocation Christian workers (church and charity sector) by offering joint spiritual direction and ministry supervision. I am particularly interested in the intersection of personal spirituality, vocational calling and ministry practice. But I also simply enjoy working with anyone wanting to deepen their awareness of God’s presence in their life.