FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
COACHING, COUNSELING, & CARE
FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
COACHING, COUNSELING, & CARE
FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
COACHING, COUNSELING, & CARE
FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
COACHING, COUNSELING, & CARE
FAITHFUL SHEPHERDS
COACHING, COUNSELING, & CARE
A SAFE PLACE TO PROCESS LIFE & MINISTRY
Do you feel pulled to sacrifice spiritual, physical, family, and financial well-being to care for others? As shepherds we also need to be encouraged, find Christ-centered counsel, and experience godly relationships so we can run the race with endurance and help others do the same.
JOIN OUR
INITIATIVE
Our ministry exists to pour into the leaders who faithfully pour themselves out for others. These men and women give their all to shepherd, serve, and strengthen the Body of Christ—often with little rest or support. Your donation helps us provide them with the encouragement and resources they desperately need to keep going. Together, we can lift up those who lead the flock so they don’t have to walk alone!
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*Faithful Shepherds is a non-profit 501c3 organization
What started with a few texts from fellow pastors asking to meet for coffee, has blossomed into a full time ministry focused on providing individualized coaching, counsel and care to the people who are pouring out their lives in service to others.
During a season of transition in ministry, God continued to bring men and women across our paths who needed encouragement, someone to process life and ministry with, listening ears, and a safe confidential space to pray and grow. At the same time, God was working in the hearts of several men and women who are also passionate about helping the church grow and flourish. As only God does, he intersected our paths and Faithful Shepherds was formed.
Everyone has a name, and every name has a story. We believe that your journey is where God has you today, and he is continually refining your story. Like mentors before us, we come alongside you with Biblical counsel to help you flourish right where God has called you to serve.
OUR STORY
Mark & Emily Schuitema
About Emily
Fun Facts
About Mark
Board
You may be thriving in what you do. Praise God. I pray that remains the reality of your ministry. Maybe you just need someone to encourage you to keep running hard after Jesus and to not grow weary of doing good.
Maybe you’re bumping into some things--personally, maritally, or with your children. Maybe you find yourself tired and weary and you just need some coaching and counsel to remember what's true so you can run the race with perseverance and flourish as you do.
a word from MARK
But maybe you've hit a wall. You're tired, you're burned out, you don't know how to keep going. Maybe you have fallen into sin patterns, and you don't know where to go to get help. Maybe you're like a few pastor friends of mine who have bumped into marital or parenting issues and they're afraid to ask the church for help.
No matter where you find yourself, I'd love to come alongside you, listen to your heart, remind you of what is true, point you to Jesus and help you thrive and flourish as you move forward. If you're looking for a "program" or a "system", that's not my approach. I want to meet you where you are, help you see the burdens and hurdles you face with clarity and then give biblical help and care to move forward as you abide in Christ. After 24 years of ministry, I simply want to come alongside shepherd leaders, like yourself, to help you shepherd the flock that God has entrusted to your care while helping you thrive each step of the way. It would be a joy to help you and to walk beside you in your ministry journey.
Mark is certified in biblical counseling from CCEF.
Hello friend. Come close. Breathe deeply. And exhale. This can be a safe place for you. Ministry, life, relationships, parenting…juggling those all the hearts can be exhilarating and rewarding and exhausting and lonely.
Both.
All.
Sometimes even at the same time.
a word from EMILY
I don’t know about you, but there have been so many times I needed to process things going on in my home, in my heart, or in the context of ministry, but I just felt like it wasn’t safe or wise. Even in the context of our small group or friends and family - sometimes the intricacies and proximity of ministry just felt too connected for me to be really honest and freely process. So I usually held it all inside. Thankfully, the Lord meets us. He met me. On the pages of my journals, on walks and runs in the woods, I’d worship and pray and cry, over messages left in encrypted language to a dear friend overseas, the Lord allowed me to grow and trust through many different seasons of life and ministry. And He sweetly brought me to His word each time, leading and meeting, growing and changing my heart.
Though those seasons of life and ministry, God has graciously allowed us to encounter highs and lows, wonderful sweet times and gut-wrenching hard ones and through them all we have seen Him be faithful. The Good Shepherd leading and helping, drawing near, holding on tight to us.
No matter the season you find yourself in today, I pray this is a place you can find hope, help and encouragement so you can continue to invest your life in the people God has placed in your path.
a word from EMILY
Loves people, espresso, strong coffee, Albanese Gummy Bears, water skiing & wake surfing, can get passionate about Michigan State basketball in March, almost always orders fajitas or pad Thai when given the chance, loves to travel & eat the local food, loves to laugh with his kids and wife.
FUN FACTS
EMILY
mark
Loves worship music, raspberries, hot air balloons, being outside and active, traveling to new places, Northern Michigan summers, tulips, walks outside, friends and time with family.
Meet our
Board Members
Matt Burke (President)
Jill Burke
Bjorn Carlson
Kendall Carlson (Secretary)
Steve Crowley
Traci Crowley
Adam Snively (Treasurer)
Jann Snively
Mark Schuitema (Co Executive Director)
Emily Schuitema (Co Executive Director)
Matt Burke
(President)
Jill Burke
Bjorn Carlson
Kendall Carlson (Secretary)
Steve Crowley
Traci Crowley
Adam Snively
(Treasurer)
Jann Snively
Mark Schuitema
(Co Executive Director)
Emily Schuitema
(Co Executive Director)
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We come alongside individuals, couples and families to provide biblical counseling to address spiritual burnout, moral failure, besetting sin patterns, mental health issues, conflict resolution, marriage conflict, parenting concerns, relational issues and more. We want to help leaders thrive and flourish in every season, and many times this comes as a result of walking through a trial or season of struggle. Biblical counseling is what many leaders need to stay the course, endure through the difficult seasons, and to find hope and healing as a result.
COUNSELING
A confidential space to process and have your own heart pointed to the Word
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As leaders in ministry, often the leader is the one who is pouring his or her life into others to help them grow and develop. Who develops the leader? Who helps the shepherd make sure he or she is growing as well? Who asks the shepherd how he or she is doing? How he or she needs to grow? Faithful Shepherds exists to come alongside the leaders in such a way they can pour out while they are personally and professionally growing too.
COACHING
A place to develop professionally and grow personally
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MAIN
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How’s your time in the Word? How’s your connection to God? How is your marriage? How are you doing as a parent? How are you doing feeling connected to other people? Are you taking care of your soul? Faithful Shepherds desires to help the leader’s whole life be nourished and grow. Stepping into whatever part of the journey - marriage, parenting, grief, loneliness, joys and celebrations - we desire to walk with you as you lead and flourish.
CARE
A spot where you can be seen, heard and nourished
Prev
Next
/
We come alongside individuals, couples and families to provide biblical counseling to address spiritual burnout, moral failure, besetting sin patterns, mental health issues, conflict resolution, marriage conflict, parenting concerns, relational issues and more. We want to help leaders thrive and flourish in every season, and many times this comes as a result of walking through a trial or season of struggle. Biblical counseling is what many leaders need to stay the course, endure through the difficult seasons, and to find hope and healing as a result.
COUNSELING
A confidential space to process and have your own heart pointed to the Word
Prev
Next
/
As leaders in ministry, often the leader is the one who is pouring his or her life into others to help them grow and develop. Who develops the leader? Who helps the shepherd make sure he or she is growing as well? Who asks the shepherd how he or she is doing? How he or she needs to grow? Faithful Shepherds exists to come alongside the leaders in such a way they can pour out while they are personally and professionally growing too.
COACHING
A place to develop professionally and grow personally
Prev
MAIN
/
How’s your time in the Word? How’s your connection to God? How is your marriage? How are you doing as a parent? How are you doing feeling connected to other people? Are you taking care of your soul? Faithful Shepherds desires to help the leader’s whole life be nourished and grow. Stepping into whatever part of the journey - marriage, parenting, grief, loneliness, joys and celebrations - we desire to walk with you as you lead and flourish.
CARE
A spot where you can be seen, heard and nourished
VERY FEW PEOPLE HAVE INFLUENCED THE WAY THAT I APPROACH PASTORING AND SHEPHERDING MORE THAN MARK SCHUITEMA. HE AND EMILY ARE SATURATED WITH THE WORD OF GOD AND HAVE GOD-GIVEN WISDOM IN BEING ABLE TO HELP CHRISTIANS GROW AND FOLLOW JESUS IN THE DIFFERENT SPHERES OF LIFE. MARK'S INSIGHT INTO DIFFERENT MINISTRY CHALLENGES AND AREAS OF THE HUMAN HEART COMBINED WITH A DEEP WELL OF MINISTRY EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN INCREDIBLY VALUABLE FOR ME AS HE HAS HELPED ME TO GROW AS A PASTOR, A PARENT, A HUSBAND, AND MOSTLY AS A CHRISTIAN. I'M GRATEFUL TO HAVE MARK AS A MENTOR AND A FRIEND.
Luke H., Pastor
Throughout my journey, Brother Mark and family has provided invaluable assistance regular monthly calls, and ongoing encouragement via WhatsApp communication. Their consistent presence and words of wisdom have not only strengthened my faith but have also inspired me to deepen my relationship with Jesus Christ and grow in my service to others. What sets Faithful shepherds apart is their heartfelt understanding of the challenges faced in ministry and their ability to offer practical, spiritual, and emotional guidance. They have played a significant role in helping me navigate relationships and remain steadfast in my calling, all while keeping Christ at the center of my work and personal life, even while being overseas.
Suleman, Disciple
Kasey C., Pastor
Mark's deep love for Jesus and joyful commitment to the church, positions him perfectly to lead leaders to the Good Shepherd. His ministry leadership experience has helped me navigate real conversations that were improved by his coaching. Ultimately, his mentorship helped me discern God's direction and calling in my life.
Fred C., Elder
As an elder in a local church, I have walked with many shepherds who faithfully bear the burdens of their faith family. But shepherds are sheep too, and sometimes they need help. Unfortunately, too often a shepherd's struggles are only disclosed after the shepherd fails and the church suffers. So, this new work, led by Mark — whom I have witnessed being a faithful and loving shepherd to shepherds-- is incredibly timely. Mark has been deeply formed by God for this ministry. What a gift to the church!
Bjorn C., Pastor
As I transitioned from parachurch ministry into a staff Pastor role, I came face-to-face with my own sense of inadequacy. My focus had shifted from gazing at Jesus to myself, and true to form, Mark lovingly discipled me back to where my true adequacy comes from, coached me through some unique challenges, and helped me prioritize faithfulness over fruitfulness in my ministry.
Bo H, Elder
Mark and Faithful Shepherds bring a wealth of experience in coaching and counseling for pastors and leaders. As a smaller church, he provides our Lead Pastor with valuable insights and Biblical wisdom. His Christ-focused approach is equipping our pastor to lead our church to being a gospel community on mission. In addition to Mark's influence in local church ministry, I've also seen the impact of his coaching and counseling with full-time Christian workers around the world bringing encouragement and fresh perspectives.
Kendall C., Pastor's Wife
Emily's heart oozes Jesus. Any conversation with her will be filled with the words of Scripture spoken with compassion, humility, and authenticity. The Schuitemas have walked alongside us through years and years of growth and struggle, parenting and marriage, work and ministry, rejoicing and suffering. They've been a definitive influence in our lives and home. Emily's wisdom, example, and counsel have consistently pointed me to Christ and His Word and left me reminded of my hope and abiding joy in Him.
Kaely B., Pastor's Wife
Mark and Emily have been faithful and trustworthy mentors of ours for over 16 years. Their empathy and wise counsel have shaped my husband and I significantly, especially our abiding with Christ. Under the headship of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Mark and Emily exemplify what a good human shepherd is, namely: protective and caring for the flock of God’s people through the ministry of God’s Word. Their commitment to believing Jesus and following his commands has produced life giving fruit that we have had the benefit of sharing in with them.
Matt W.,Campus Ministry Leader
Jenny and I have been in college ministry for a combined 40 years, so a sabbatical was much welcomed. We reached out to Mark to help us evaluate our rhythms of family and ministry. Through group and individual sessions, Mark and Emily were able to identify our felt needs, encourage us, and speak truth. We're feeling rejuvenated and hopeful about the path forward. Thank you, Mark and Faithful Shepherds!
Derek K., Missionary
Mark came beside me in a hard moment of my Christian walk where I was truly wrestling with what having Joy means amongst the lows of life. He met me where I was, and instead of just having the right answers, he asked the right questions. True shepherd & genuine love for fellow brothers and sisters. Mark also never failed to stay in touch & follow up on conversations we had.
KIND WORDS
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