Rev. Michael Paul Vollbrecht

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
— Mary Oliver

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:

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:

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.

• Ceremonies
• Sermons
• Consulting
• Gallery

Mostly work. Some rest. Definitely dogs.

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 work that creates spaces for people to learn, grow, and belong, especially those who haven’t always felt seen or included in spiritual communities.This community organizing intersects with my work in generosity building and fundraising. As a former fundraiser for the national offices of the UCC, I've worked with individual donors to help align a shared vision for justice in the United States, and in particular throughout the Midwest.

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

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.

Contemplative Spirituality

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

Generosity & Fundraising

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

Professional Experience

I help people find the resources, relationships, and possibilities that allow our communities to flourish.I’m Michael Vollbrecht, CFRE, a fundraiser, nonprofit leader, communicator, and ordained minister based in Lawrence, Kansas.For nearly two decades, I’ve worked with mission-driven organizations to bring people, purpose, and resources together. My work has taken me from nonprofit communications and organizational leadership to major gifts, planned giving, fundraising strategy, and community engagement.What I DoNonprofit Leadership
I understand nonprofits from more than one seat at the table. My background spans development, communications, administration, relationship building, and community organizing for those most in need.Fundraising & Philanthropy
I help people connect their generosity with work they care deeply about. My experience includes major gifts, planned giving, donor cultivation and stewardship, annual giving, and campaign strategy.Storytelling & Communication
Good organizations need more than good programs. They need to be able to tell people why their work matters. I bring extensive experience in donor communications, strategic storytelling, public speaking, and facilitation.Teaching & Consulting
I enjoy helping organizations and leaders think differently about fundraising, generosity, communication, and organizational life through workshops, presentations, consultation, and conversation.A Few Things About My WorkCFRE
Certified Fund Raising ExecutiveNearly 20 years
of experience across nonprofit, education, financial services, communications, fundraising, and ministry.Where I’ve BeenMy professional journey has included work with the United Church of Christ, Communities In Schools of Mid-America, the Kansas-Oklahoma Conference of the UCC, Washburn University, The University of Kansas, and other mission-driven organizations.Along the way, I’ve worked with donors, nonprofit executives, boards, clergy, educators, volunteers, community partners, and people simply trying to make something good happen in the world.Education & CredentialsI hold a Master of Divinity in Theology & Community Advocacy and a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, with certificates in Social Justice Education and Marketing.My professional credentials include the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) designation and the Executive Certificate in Fundraising from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.I’ve also completed specialized training in nonprofit leadership, civic engagement, and adaptive leadership.The Work That Interests MeI’m especially interested in work involving philanthropy, nonprofit leadership, generosity, community engagement, and the ways people make meaning and find purpose.I’m drawn to organizations that are curious about what they can become, serious about making a difference, and willing to imagine new possibilities.Want the Full Story?This page is intentionally the short version.If you think our work might intersect, I’d be glad to hear from you.

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’ve found me through my writing, my work, somewhere out on the internet, or we already know one another, I’m glad you’re here.Use the form below to get in touch. Whatever brought you here, I’d be happy to hear from you. I usually respond within 24 hours.