Our Shepherds

Jim and Debbie Hogan have worked together in ministry for over 20 years.   In 1985 Jim was elected to the elder board of one of the largest churches in the nation located in Orange County, California and in 1988 became chairman of its board.  In 1989 he became the executive administrator of the church, a position he held for 5 years. Jim was in charge of 150 employees including 15 associate pastors.  One of his roles was being the pastor to the pastors. Jim and Debbie discovered firsthand the demands placed upon those in full-time ministry. During this time Debbie was the teaching leader and Titus Mom for MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), a position she held for 11 years. She has had the privilege of being a mentor to many of the young mothers who attended her classes. Currently she is a guest speaker for MOPS groups throughout Southern California. In addition, she has been involved with many women’s ministries and charities in Orange County.

Jim graduated from The Master’s Program, a 3-year program developed by Bob Shank in 1999. The Master’s Program is designed to coach Christian leaders who want to change their life from being successful to being significant for God’s kingdom. Debbie is a graduate of The Partner’s, a ministry for spouses of those in The Master’s Program. During this time Jim and Debbie developed a vision to encourage those serving in full-time ministry.  They began operating Standing Stone Ranch in Southwest Colorado in 2002 where they hosted ministry couples for a one week retreat to establish a lasting mentor/mentoree relationship.  In 2011 they founded Standing Stone Ministries with a desire to serve a greater number of ministry leaders and their spouses.  In 2013, the Hogan’s wrote Shepherding, Shepherds: The Standing Stone Story.

The Hogan’s were married in 1969.  They have two married sons and six grandchildren.  They live Orange County, CA.

Jim and Debbie have a deep passion to mentor and serve ministry couples who have dedicated their lives to serving others.  They consider it a great privilege to be part of Standing Stone Ministry as they help to Shepherd the Shepherds.

Ken has served in pastoral ministry for 45 years and has planted three churches over that period of time. He has served in multiple ministry positions including lead and executive pastor. His wealth of pastoral experience and relational connections with ministry leaders across the United States has prepared and equipped him to successfully direct the ministry efforts of Standing Stone.

Ken’s passion in ministry is building up the emotional and relational health of ministry leaders and the churches they serve. He has been helping pastors strategically build bridges to connect their churches to their communities by emphasizing the value of ministering to married couples struggling in their relationships.

Before joining Standing Stone's team, Ken, and his wife Leslie, served as directors of Marriage Growers International. As marriage educators and counselors, they have helped thousands of couples around the country and different parts of the world experience the joy and benefit of walking in unity and true partnership in their relationships. 

Ken has been happily married to Leslie for 40 years and loves working with her in this ministry.

Pastoral ministry is filled with enormous, sometimes overwhelming challenges, and a high number of pastors experience burnout, discouragement, and loneliness. Pastor Dave Beckwith has a “big heart” to listen and give grace as a “shepherd to the shepherds.” Having faced the realities of pastoring for over 40 years, he shares his life journey—the good, the painful, and the disappointing—in a way that helps others facing similar challenges. Renewed and energized pastors light the fire for a vibrant church.

Dave and his wife, Joanne, are both serving as Standing Stone Shepherds. Dave is senior pastor emeritus for Woodbridge Church in Irvine, California, where he served as senior pastor for nearly 20 years. He also serves as a Retool Trainer for Converge Worldwide, a writer and small group leader for Saddleback Church, and a lead pastor for churches going through transition. Dave’s ministry experience includes camp and youth ministry, church administration, and over 30 years as a senior pastor. Dave is a graduate of Biola University (BS-Business Administration), and he did his seminary work at Talbot (MA-Chr. Ed.), Grace (MA-Biblical Studies), and CalGrad (PhD-Church & Family Ministry).

Dave and Joanne were married in 1969, and their two daughters and their families are a source of joy. Dave enjoys hangin’ out and trying to keep up with his 4 grandchildren—biking, playing basketball or baseball, swimming, and hiking.

John has served as an ordained minister and biblical counselor on church staff for over 30 years. He and his wife Anne have been married over 22 years and have seen firsthand the needs of vocational pastoral leaders. John has the ability to discern the needs at hand and bring hope to the most difficult of issues. John has the heart of a pastor and desires to see that God’s leaders are heard and have a voice during the most challenging times. John and Anne have been called to minister to fellow pastors, their wives and families. They have lived in Nashville, TN since 1996 and have three children: a daughter at Samford University, a daughter at Texas Christian University and a son in high school.

John has said, “I have seen and experienced the silent hurt that ministers experience, the unrealistic expectations of family demands and the world of false perceptions and reality from inside the church. God has called me to serve my fellow pastors in a new and unique role as counselor, advocate and friend.”

John also serves as a Tennessee Supreme Court Rule 31 Listed General Civil & Family Mediator. John is a member of the Nashville Bar Association (committee member of the Alternative Resolution Dispute Commission) and the Tennessee Association of Professional Mediators (Board Member). John teaches Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars on ethics and is a featured writer for the Nashville Bar Journal.

Kimble Knight has served in full time ministry for nearly four decades and in nearly every pastoral capacity in mega churches and small churches. Whether as a lead pastor, associate pastor, pastor over singles and youth, or pastor over small groups (450 groups in one church), Kimble has proven to be a shepherd who cares for those entrusted to him.  What has uniquely positioned Kimble as the Director of Prayer for Standing Stone has been his experience as Pastor of Prayer for two mega churches. Kimble has also written and published leadership manuals and created radio shows. He has used his ministry gifts in teaching, preaching, and counseling. Kimble also served with Dr. C. Peter Wagner as the Ambassador of Wagner Leadership Institutes, where he traveled throughout the country assisting pastors, school chancellors and deans in establishing Leadership Institutes.

As Standing Stone’s Director of Prayer, his mission is to:

1. Mobilize Christians to specifically pray for pastoral leaders, their spouses, and other ministry leaders around the world.

   • By building and training prayer teams through social media

   • By building and training prayer teams in local churches

2. Establish a Rapid Response Prayer team that will specifically pray for our Standing Stone Shepherds and those pastoral couples being cared for through retreats and shepherding relationships.

   • Rapid Response team members are committed to praying within minutes of receiving RRP (Rapid Response Prayer) emails.

3. Create awareness among Christians for the need of focused prayer for pastoral leaders, their spouses, and other ministry leaders whose health and safety are essential for the success of churches and Christian ministries in fulfilling the Great Commission.

One initiative Kimble is introducing to churches nationwide is the “Prayer Shield”. This is a strategic partnership between church congregations and their pastors to engage in prayer for their pastor. Zechariah 13:7 says, “Smite the shepherd and sheep will be scattered.” This prayer initiative forms a shield of protection around the pastor from the attacks of enemy. Where Kimble has taught the Prayer Shield, pastors are experiencing a renewal in their ministry, their spiritual lives, and healthy relationships.

Kimble says “When I help a pastor, I have helped a church and when I have helped a church, I have helped a community!”

Kimble has been married to Melinda since November 1st 1980. They have three grown sons, two daughter in laws, one granddaughter and another grandchild on the way.  Kimble & Melinda currently live in the New York side of New Jersey. 

James and René independently received God’s call on their life while at the University of North Texas. They married during the summer of 1983 and stayed in Denton while René finished her master’s work. Shortly before René graduated she discovered she was pregnant with their first son and all of their plans changed. God directed them to join the staff of Family Life, a division of Cru. They enjoyed their four years with Family Life and felt like God was directing James to attend Phoenix Seminary. Upon graduation God called James to pastor Stone Creek Church in Phoenix, AZ. They served there for 13 years. Since leaving Stone Creek Church, James has been consulting/coaching faith-based nonprofits.

Both James and René are passionate about coming alongside ministry couples. They know the great highs and lows of ministry life since they have spent almost 30 years in ministry. They understand the expectations that are put on the ministry couple and their family and they know first hand the pressures of a couple raising a family while serving the body of Christ.

James has been married to René for 33 years. God has blessed them with two sons and two daughters of which three are married & their first grandchild is due in October 2016. René is a Flight Attendant with Southwest Airlines and they both lead a young couples class at their local church where James is also an elder.

​"Pastor, I share your heartbeat. I know what it's like to lead, teach, and love God's people, while quietly enduring your own stress, anxiety, and fatigue. I know the high expectations you face and the toll it takes on you and your family. In the midst of it all, Jesus is calling us to come away with Him to a quiet place to rest. Pastor, you pour into so many. Who is pouring into you?​ ​My mission is your​ ​deep renewal​. It's my honor to walk alongside you​, care for your soul​, and help you nurture a ​rhythm of life​ ​with God that​ ​centers​ ​​and revitalizes all that you do for God."

Neil is an ordained pastor with over 20 years of ministry experience, the last 10 of which he served as Senior/Lead Pastor of Coast Bible Church in San Juan Capistrano, CA. He is a graduate of Biola University and Talbot School of Theology, and has worked as an associate pastor, teacher, youth pastor, and missions director in various churches and non-profits. Neil is spiritually gifted in wisdom and discernment. He's drawn to 1-on-1 and small group relationships where deep listening, reflection, and strategies for spiritual health and fullness can be cultivated.

Neil remains deeply in love with his college sweetheart, Casey. The Andersons and their 3 kids live in Knoxville, TN. They enjoy morning coffee on the deck, reading, traveling, hiking the Smokies, Taco Tuesdays, and family movie nights. In addition to Standing Stone, Neil serves on the Executive Board of SOULeader Resources, a ministry designed to empower wholeness in Christian leaders and churches.​

John’s heart for leaders in full time ministry is a natural outgrowth of a life spent watching God turn pain and tragedy into comfort and healing. “I had a childhood that may have qualified me to be the least likely person to go into ministry” John said. “But then Jesus showed up!”

Planting churches spread from East Coast to West with one in Chicago, John’s unlikely story was always highlighted by what he calls “Two Sides”. “Often it is in that secret vulnerable pain and embarrassment behind our stories we find the deeper truth - grace is more than a concept.” John’s story has given him a passion for those in ministry effected by abuse of all kinds, addictions, tragedy, pain and even congregations. 

“We know Jesus had something special to say about sheep,” John said. “Sometimes we forget that the best way to help sheep is to take care of their shepherds.”

Kyle has worked with teenagers for over ten years, and served as a full time youth pastor. During that time he and his wife, Sarah, experienced firsthand the loneliness that can come from being in ministry, and the need for a unique kind of support and encouragement that pastors require. God has given Kyle both the desire and the opportunity to come alongside other youth ministers as a coach, mentor, and friend. He has served in that capacity since 2015, and has developed  a two-year curriculum designed to equip and empower young ministers for a lifetime in ministry. He and Sarah live in Nashville, TN where they have just been approved as a foster family, and are eagerly awaiting their first placement. In his spare time, Kyle enjoys good coffee and good books, playing and watching sports, and spending time outdoors camping, hiking, and mountain biking. 

Kyle has said, “There’s nothing in the world like having a gospel friend walk with you in the journey of life. You will often find yourself taking second glances at them, thinking that Jesus had taken their place."

Joanne’s life as pastor’s wife began within days of returning from her honeymoon with her husband, Dave. Little did she know what would be expected of her, how lonely she would feel, and the pain that would accompany church ministry. Having ministered alongside of Dave for over 40 years, she has shared in the joys, frustrations, and misunderstandings that often come in ministry. Through her pain, she has experienced God’s marvelous love, grace, and healing. Her passion is to come alongside of women in their ministry journey, offering a listening ear, friendship, and God’s love, grace, and hope. Pastor’s wives hold a special place in her heart.

She has worn many ministry hats, including working with children and youth, serving as church administrative secretary, and filling in when needed along the way . . . i.e., greeter, hospital visitor, pianist, nursery worker, hand holder, sound tech, bathroom monitor, etc. (pastor’s wives will understand this). During her nearly 20 years as Director of Women’s Ministry at Woodbridge Community Church in Irvine, California, she was involved in providing vision, mentoring, leadership development, event planning, teaching Bible study, and leading small groups. At the top of her “ministry joy” list is coming alongside of other women.

Joanne is a graduate of Biola University with a BS in Nursing. Most of her career has been in the field of psychiatric nursing, which provides many opportunities to offer compassion and hope. The principles she has learned regarding human relationships and mental illness have provided a backdrop for working within the church family. Joanne and Dave have served churches in Northern and Southern California, retiring in 2007. They continue to serve the body of Christ. Their two daughters and their families love the Lord and are an important part of their lives.

“If you could be on a team with pastors who shepherd the shepherds in God’s Kingdom, where would you serve?” Becoming a Shepherdess at Standing Stone Ministry was just right for me.

Dena is a pastor’s wife for over 40 years and has seen how the Lord Jesus Christ will meet needs at every level of ministry. She has been married for almost 50 years to Andrew, raised 7 children, and has 21 grandchildren. Care-giving to her family has been and continues to be a high priority. Dena has been primary caregiver for 5 members of her immediate family through illness and death—a beloved son being the most recent to be with the Lord. Her family history includes family members’ divorces, difficult financial reversals, personal health issues, and learning to have victory over discouragement, pain, and exhaustion through it all.

She has served the church as a trainer/teacher of marriage classes, Mom’s groups, Sunday School classes with her husband, and evangelistic outreach through Adult Evangelism Explosion and Kids’ EE at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. She assisted Andrew when he was Director of Crisis Marriage Programs for Marriage Dynamics Institute, a national ministry, and was co-trainer in many A New Beginning Workshops across the US for troubled marriages. Dena is a published author by Thomas Nelson in 1995 with her book, Connect With Your Kids For A Lifetime and has spoken on child-rearing methods to congregation at home and abroad.

Through it all, Dena has felt the profound comfort of the Lord Jesus. She desires to come alongside ministry leaders’ wives, who along with the joys of serving may experience anger, loneliness, and disheartenment with trying to balance life, family and ministry.

Dena knows those who serve Christ in leading ministry or a spouse who supports a ministry leader need the safe haven of someone who will listen to and understand what they are facing. Dena offers that kind of compassion, insight, and guidance.

“If you could do anything in ministry, what would it be?” Andrew’s response: “I would love to help pastors and missionaries be encouraged, supported, and successful in their ministries!” Becoming a Shepherd at Standing Stone Ministry was an immediate fit.

Andrew has been in ministry for over 40 years and he has found it a wonderful experience of finding the sufficiency of Christ. He deeply loves the Lord Jesus, his wife Dena, their 7 children, and their 21 grandchildren.

He knows the joys and difficulties of church ministry, as well as experiencing years of caregiving responsibilities, family members’ divorces, and the deep sadness of the loss of a child. Through it all, he has found the comfort only the Lord Jesus gives. He is able to come alongside ministry leaders, who with the joys of serving, may also experience the disappoints, loneliness, heartaches, and struggles of balancing life, family, and ministry.

Most of his ministry was in Fort Lauderdale as a pastor serving in various positions at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church such as Minister of Counseling, Executive Administrator, and Minister of Adult Ministries. He was also a pastor at Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville. As Director of Crisis Marriage Programs for Marriage Dynamics Institute, a national ministry, he and Dena led many A New Beginning Workshops across the US for troubled marriages. He is a coach, consultant, and mentor for pastors, missionaries, and leaders of Christian ministries. His doctor of ministry degrees are in biblical counseling and in strong and healthy families.

Andrew knows from experience that those who serve Christ in the front lines need the safe haven of a listening ear, encouragement, refuge, help, and many times, healing. Andrew offers compassion and guidance to victoriously face the pressures and storms of life and ministry.