“We” is really me, up there in the front.  I say we to make clear that this site is only possible with the indulgence and support of my family.

I am Graham Schultz.  I’m a forty-something, father of two, husband of one, currently out-of-work pastor.  My life has certainly been rewarding in many ways, however, it has also had it’s fair share of difficulties.

As a  very young child I was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and had a constant shadow of illness that hung over me.  From the age of 4 on till I was about 19, I spent somewhere between 1/3 to 1/2 of my life in hospital.

As an adult I trained in pastoral ministry and worked in two different churches over the course of 10 years.  During my first term of service I went blind in both eyes for a term of about 3 months and remain blind in my right eye now.  After being released from my second position due to a national economic downturn, I experienced a significant secondary health complication which caused my kidneys to shut down.  This prevented my immediate return to work.  After receiving two different organ transplants (kidney and pancreas) over the course of the next two years, I have been blessed with wonderful health. I’m now diabetic free and am healthier the an I ever imagined I would be, praise God.

As I healed from the surgeries I eagerly awaited returning to the work force. To use the gifts that God shared with me. Unfortunately, the time off of work used for healing later proved to negatively influence my goal of returning to work. Opportunities have been sparse and those times where interviews have been granted, questions about my time out of work seem to be the death of those opportunities.

In addition, about a year and a half ago my wife and children were involved in a car accident which resulted in my wife being unable to return to work. My wife suffered a serious concussion and my children were left with emotional scars that resulted in us taking a step back and focusing on healing once again, this time, for my family – my greatest supporters.

Since then my family has continued in the path of healing. Improvements have been made but my wife continues to be out of work due to ongoing complications from her concussion. It has proven to be a slow healing process with no certain outcomes.  We continue to hold on, trusting God to bring about His own ends.

Throughout my time off work, I have continued to feel God’s call to serve in a pastoral form of ministry and the passion I initially felt to pastoral work has not diminished in any way.   Out of several discussions with my wife the idea for this site was born.  Although opportunities to serve in a local church have not become available I am hoping to join you in your spiritual and personal journey as I share using the gifts God has given me to encourage others through this venue.   Whether that is through providing encouragement during a difficult time or encouragement towards further growth, it is my hope that you will find a place to interact and to soar, even in the downdraft.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

Pastor Graham Schultz, MDiv

& Soaring in the downdraft Co-founder