My name is Dave Heasler. I’m a pastor, a coach, a husband and a dad.  I like to get to know the people I interact with daily and find that happens more naturally if I let them get to know me. So please permit me to tell you a few things about myself.

I grew up in a Christian family with my parents coming to faith in Christ before I was born. We were heavily involved in church life but struggling as a family – Dad as a board member, mom as a Sunday School leader and myself as a teenager. I found out at an early age that Christians  struggle.

At one point things became so bad that I considered taking my own life. Thankfully I prayed … ‘God if you’re really there … if you can make my life worth living, you can have it. ‘You’ll be God of my life from this day forward.’ That moment I experienced God.

Since that time, life hasn’t always worked the way I wanted it to, but it has worked. I’ve gone where I believed God wanted me to and done what I believed God wanted me to do, no matter what. Over and over again He’s led me into difficult situations. Through the process I’ve come to a strong conviction that no one should ever have to face their struggles alone. Someone should be there to help.

Four years ago I vowed to be that person. Since then I’ve devoted myself full time to coming alongside pastors, churches and people who are struggling in one way or another. Helping them believe again, that God is there, that He does have a plan, helping them find their way to the life He always intended.

If this were anything else but ‘the real world’ that might be the end of the story. It isn’t.  I’m a Christian leader today working with Christian leaders across Canada and I still struggle.

Some time ago a young man contemplating the Christian faith asked me …

‘If God is really there and the key to living is to live in relationship with Him, why are so many Christians struggling so much in their Christian lives?’

The question stopped me dead in my tracks. I’d been a pastor for many years and I’d seen Christian struggle with all kinds of stuff. I’d seen those who seemed to be doing just great, fall flat on their faces spiritually, and lose everything they hold dear. Why?

I breathed a word of prayer to God and what came back has shed light on the struggles in every church I’ve worked with since then, and the struggles of every leader including myself.

Coming to Christ is a matter of saying, ‘God, I can’t do this. I can’t live life the way I think you’d want me to, I can’t even live life the way I want to. God help me!’

Continuing in the Christian life requires continuing in that same mind set. The moment I begin to rely on myself – my own wisdom, strength or experience – is the moment I begin to struggle.

I don’t know where you are at in your life. But I’m convinced there are keys to success.

The first is to …      Let God be God.
The second is to … Get close to Him daily and draw on His strength.
The third is to …     Reach out to other Christians for help.

If you’d like to talk about entering into a relationship with God or about an area where you are struggling in your Christian life, I’d consider it a privilege to help you however I can.