Michael Paul Vollbrecht

Make meaning of your inner life one conversation at a time.
Spiritual direction for a more compassionate, grounded, and awakened you.

Discover Spiritual Direction

About My PracticeIn 2022, I began offering private spiritual direction sessions to support people as they deepen their connection to what is most personally meaningful in their lives. Since then, this work has grown into a spacious, integrative practice, one that honors the uniqueness of each person’s inner world and journey.At its heart, my work is about paying attention to your life, your patterns, your questions, and the deeper currents moving within you.I offer spiritual direction alongside Enneagram-informed guidance for those seeking a more meaningful and aligned way of living.What to ExpectOur time together is a space to slow down, listen deeply, and notice what is unfolding within you.Drawing on the contemplative practice of spiritual direction, the insight of the Enneagram, and gentle forward-looking reflection, I will sit with you as you:

  • Explore your spirituality or sense of meaning

  • Grapple with questions, doubts, or transitions

  • Notice patterns in how you think, feel, and respond

  • Discern what matters most in this season of your life

  • Respond with greater intention and clarity

This is not a space where you will be “fixed” or given all the answers.Instead, it is a space where you can become more fully who you already are.A Space for EveryoneI work with a diverse range of people, including:

  • Those rooted in a particular faith tradition

  • Spiritual seekers exploring new questions

  • Agnostics and atheists

  • Anyone longing for a thoughtful, nourishing conversation about life and meaning

In all that I do, I honor that spirituality—and the search for meaning—is deeply personal. There is no one path, no single framework you need to fit into.My ApproachMy role is not to direct your life, but to accompany you with presence, curiosity, and care.Together, we listen for what is true, what is emerging, and what is asking for your attention.I trust that you are already carrying wisdom within you. My work is to help you notice it, name it, and live more fully from it.Begin the ConversationIf this resonates with you, I invite you to contact me.

More

Click the links below and wander where your curiosity leads.

About Michael

I grew up outside of Seattle, Washington, and since 2013, have lived in Lawrence, Kansas, a city rich in history and poetry, once home to Langston Hughes and William S. Burroughs. It’s here that my family, including our beloved Siberian Husky mix, Karma, has found deep roots and a vibrant community.

I am the Senior Minister of Colonial Church UCC in Prairie Village, Kansas. I often officiate weddings, memorials, and other sacred moments that invite us into connection with something greater than ourselves. My calling is to do the work of welcome, one that creates space for people to learn, grow, and belong, especially those who haven’t always felt seen or included in spiritual communities.

A lifelong seeker, I’m also a meditation teacher, student of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and a practitioner of the Enneagram. Through my private practice, I hold space for individuals and groups: seekers, skeptics, and the spiritually curious, offering opportunities for grounded spiritual growth, both in person and online.

I have earned a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and a Master of Divinity in Theology and Community Advocacy, along with certifications in Social Justice Education, Nonprofit Fundraising, and Spiritual Direction. These experiences have shaped my work at the intersection of faith, generosity, and community life. I am currently pursuing a series of courses leading to Professional Certification as a Teacher within the tradition of The Narrative Enneagram.

My life has always been fueled by curiosity: about what makes us human, how we make meaning, and how we can learn to live with greater empathy, intention, and love.

“The privilege of a lifetime is to become who you truly are.”
- Joseph Campbell

Generosity Consulting

Fundraising with Heart.
Strategy with Soul.

I bring over a decade of experience in faith-rooted and nonprofit leadership as a Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) strengthened through my past experience as a Generosity Officer for the United Church of Christ National Ministries and as a consultant for several organizations in Kansas City and beyond. My work centers on the belief that generosity is a practice and that fundraising can be both effective and deeply meaningful when our human generosity intersects with our economic vitality.Through my consulting, I help churches and mission-driven organizations connect with donors, clarify their vision, and cultivate sustainable generosity.

Areas of Expertise

I offer coaching, teaching, and strategic support on a wide range of topics, including:Major Donor Engagement
Cultivating transformational relationships with high-capacity givers.Capital Campaign Strategy
From vision to celebration, I can help you shape a campaign rooted in clarity, courage, and community.Narrative Budgeting
Move beyond spreadsheets—tell the story of your mission in ways that inspire giving.The Spirituality of Generosity
Teach and preach the deeper meaning behind giving—and how it can form lives, not just fund ministries.Planned Giving
Develop long-term sustainability through legacy gifts and donor conversations grounded in the value of reciprocity.

Who I Work With

  • Local congregations (especially progressive or justice-focused communities)

  • Nonprofits and denominational bodies

  • Clergy, boards, and development staff seeking clarity or capacity-building

Let's Talk

Interested in working together? I’d love to hear more about your goals and see how I can help. Leave a message below and I'll get in touch with you soon.

Ceremonies: Weddings, Memorials, and More

Sacred moments, held with care.

Every life is made of turning points: some joyful, some tender, some full of mystery. Whatever you’re celebrating: a wedding, honoring a life well-lived, welcoming a child, or simply pausing to mark a meaningful transition, I’m here to walk with you.I offer personalized ceremonies for all of life’s sacred moments crafted with compassion, collaboration, and deep respect for your story.

Weddings

Whether you're planning a large celebration or an intimate elopement, I work with couples to create ceremonies that reflect your unique love story and values. LGBTQIA+ affirming, joy-centered, and fully customizable.

Memorials & End-of-Life Rituals

Funerals, celebrations of life, and moments of remembrance, crafted with deep listening, storytelling, and love. I offer grief-informed support to families as they honor those who have passed.

Baptisms, Naming Rituals & Blessings

Rituals to welcome new life, affirm identity, or mark a moment of spiritual commitment. Inclusive, gentle, and designed to meet you wherever you are on your journey.

Life Transitions & Custom Ceremonies

Moving, retiring, coming out, recovering, letting go, starting again...life offers so many moments that deserve to be marked. If you’re looking for a sacred pause, we can create something meaningful together.

Who I Work With

I joyfully work with people of all genders, orientations, backgrounds, and beliefs. My approach is grounded in progressive Christian spirituality, but always open, affirming, and attuned to the uniqueness of you.

Let's Create Something Together

If you’re planning a ceremony or simply wondering if a ritual might help you mark a moment in your life, I’d love to hear your story. Leave me a message below and I'll get in touch with you soon.

Reading List

Books that have shaped my work and my way of being in the world.

I return to these again and again for inspiration, grounding, and guidance. These books span the inner work of spiritual direction, the outward practice of generosity and fundraising, and the contemplative life that holds it all together.

Spiritual Direction

Books that explore what it means to listen deeply, walk with others, and trust the unfolding of the soul.

  • Holy Listening by Margaret Guenther

  • The Practice of Spiritual Direction by William A. Barry & William J. Connolly

  • With Open Hands by Henri Nouwen

  • Between the Listening and the Telling by Mark Yaconelli

  • Sacred Companions by David Benner

  • Let Your Life Speak by Parker Palmer

  • Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation by Lanta Davis

Contemplative Spirituality

Wisdom for living slowly, noticing deeply, and showing up fully.

  • The Way of the Heart by Henri Nouwen

  • Everything Belongs by Richard Rohr

  • An Altar in the World by Barbara Brown Taylor

  • The Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo

  • The Wisdom Jesus by Cynthia Bourgeault

  • No Time Like the Present by Jack Kornfield

  • A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer

  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Generosity & Fundraising

Explorations of money and meaning—rooted in values, not pressure.

  • The Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen

  • Ask, Thank, Tell by Charles R. Lane

  • Graceful Giving by Laurie Selzer and Michael Durall

  • The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist

  • The Seven Faces of Philanthropy by Russ Prince and Karen File

  • Reinventing Philanthropy by Eric Friedman

  • Decolonizing Wealth by Edgar Villaneuva

  • The Ethical Rainmaker Podcast by Michelle Shireen Muri (not a book, but essential listening)

More from Michael

Here you'll find information about my spiritual direction practice, rituals and ceremonies to mark your important life moments, sermon snippets, and more.

Contact

Whether you're feeling drawn to spiritual direction or interested in exploring your life through the lens of the Enneagram, I’d be honored to connect.I usually respond within 24 hours.