Iaomai Farms’ Story
Aimee and Brian first dreamed of Iaomai Farms nearly a decade ago while serving as Army chaplains overseas. They are a married couple of Veteran military chaplains who have walked roads of life change, deployments, combat, child loss, injury…and experienced God meeting them in those struggles. They share a passion for meeting people where they are in life and love seeing how God wishes to work in the unique, wonderful people created in His image, whom He dearly loves and desires to bring healing and redemption to.
Aimee and Brian moved to the farm in early 2020, just as the world ground to a halt. Aimee had retired from the Army, Brian began a 1-year sabbatical, and together they began building their home on this raw piece of land in central Texas. It has been a labor of love, endurance, and interior work—along with all the demanding physical, exterior labor involved! During their first year on the farm, God brought much care, comfort, healing, and rest. As Brian transitioned from his sabbatical and prayerfully considered God’s leading for this next season of life, God’s Spirit led him to Paul’s words to the Corinthians (2 Corinthians 1) about God’s comfort—both to them and God’s ministry through them. It was clear God was inviting Aimee and Brian to move forward with a focus on caring for the wounded and hurting, walking with people in their journeys of healing, comfort, and wholeness in Christ. They had done similarly in their roles as military chaplains. Now they would do so amidst God’s creation on the farm, from a place of healing and comfort with their own wounds and different rhythms of abiding with God.
The farm—a working homestead with miniature cows (zebu!), miniature goats, kune kune pigs, chickens, geese, sometimes turkey, and a variety of produce depending on the time of year—provides a wonderful space for God’s healing work. Whether meeting on the farm, off-site, or virtually, Aimee and Brian facilitate a relational space that is Christ-centered, Spirit-led, grounded, caring, unhurried, and present with each other and God.
-
Pastoral Care Chaplain
Aimee is a retired Army Chaplain, bride and mother, homesteader, and Pastoral Care Chaplain. As a military chaplain and otherwise, she has lived around the country and the world, including several years in South Korea. Aimee has a fierce love for God and compassion for people—especially those experiencing the hardest situations life brings. When she’s not repeatedly feeding tiny humans or keeping chickens, goats, cattle, kune kune pigs, geese, and ducks alive, she loves to garden, work out, cook (and eat!), and attempt to read good books uninterrupted.
Ordained with the Assemblies of God and endorsed as a Pastoral Care Chaplain by the Assemblies of God Chaplaincy Ministries, Aimee earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology from Evangel University, a master’s of divinity from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and completed units of Clinical Pastoral Education. She has over two decades of ministry leadership and pastoral care experience. Aimee is also trained and has previously been a certified facilitator for about a dozen different life-enrichment curriculum and coaching tools such as the suite of Frankly Covey resources (7 Habits for Highly Effective People/Families, Speed of Trust, etc), How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk/Jerkette, LINKS Couple Commuication, Prep (marriage enrichment), 5 Love Languages, and Couples Collaborative Counseling.
-
Pastoral Care Chaplain, Spiritual Director
Brian is a Veteran Army Chaplain, husband and father, homesteader, Pastoral Care Chaplain, and spiritual director. As a military chaplain, Brian served with a variety of organizations across the country, deployed multiple times (combat and operational), lived in Korea for two years, and loved being with his soldiers and their families. Since 2018, Brian’s personal journey has been especially impacted by spiritual direction—something like a pastor who comes alongside other pastors and explores where God is present and what He is doing in those experiences. Along with formal counseling and chaplaincy training, this has greatly impacted Brian’s approach to his pastoral counseling and care. He has since become certified as a spiritual director and especially loves joining people in their journeys in this way. When he’s not playing with his kids or working on their family’s homestead, you might find Brian making music with his guitar, listening to a good audiobook, or enjoying the quiet of nature.
Brian is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, endorsed as a Pastoral Care Chaplain by the Assemblies of God Chaplaincy Ministries, and a member of the Christ-Centered Spiritual Direction Association. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and French from the US Military Academy, a master of divinity from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, a certificate of spiritual direction from the King’s Seminary, and is in progress (ABD) on a doctorate in Spiritual Formation and Direction. He has over two decades of ministry leadership and pastoral care experience. Brian is also trained and has previously been a certified facilitator for about a dozen different life-enrichment curricula and coaching tools, such as the suite of Frankly Covey resources (7 Habits for Highly Effective People/Families, Speed of Trust, etc), How to Avoid Marrying a Jerk/Jerkette, LINKS Couple Communication, Prep (marriage enrichment), Real Life Management, 5 Love Languages, and Couples Collaborative Counseling.