I want to take a moment to give a heartfelt testimony about Joe Humphries and the impact he has had on my life. From the very beginning, Joe took the time to truly listen. He didn’t just hear words; he heard the heart behind them. His ability to listen deeply made me feel seen and understood, which is rare. Joe was always encouraging, offering not just words of comfort but genuine smiles and support that lifted me during challenging moments. He would send thoughtful texts at just the right time and make personal phone calls to check in and lift my spirits.

What truly stands out about Joe is his wise and strategic mindset. He didn’t just offer advice; he provided well-thought-out plans and practical steps that made a real difference. His wisdom was always coupled with his unwavering faith in God, which was evident in every conversation and interaction. You could see that his strategies were rooted in prayer and trust in God’s guidance. He wasn’t just concerned about me; he cared deeply for my family and the church’s overall health, showing a level of commitment and love that spoke volumes. Joe’s heart, faith, friendship, and strategic insight have been a blessing, and I am so grateful for his impact on my life.

Eric Newkirk, Senior Pastor of Wellspring Church, Wake Forest, NC

I have had the privilege of knowing Joe Humphries both personally and professionally. His unique approach to mentorship, which I have witnessed firsthand, is invaluable.

Mentorship expresses guidance. In a formal context, it identifies an advisor. Such terminology fits Joe’s mentorship. Consider Joe’s program, Safe Place. Joe developed this concept from his research to purchase a home safe for his most sensitive documents. A practice that every person can relate to. Yet, Joe’s reflective thinking exposed a copious need for personal relationship(s) for one’s most sensitive emotional issues. Joe demonstrates such a need from his journey from the projects to the boardroom while validating the need from today’s headlines: the tragic demise of so many leaders. Such insight caught my attention during a happenstance meeting in a coffee shop. I desired to find out more.

When Joe and I met, he quickly exposed the need for a safe place in my area: Christian Leadership. A vocation that has its headlines of fallen leaders. He pointed out my isolation and need for one to three relationships for a safe place. Why did I need such relationship(s)? As Joe said, “My health is essential because I cannot lead people to health if I am unhealthy.” Joe’s mentorships focus on health—total health that he calls “The Five F.”

According to Joe, these five areas—faith, family, friends, finance, and fitness—are the treasures of life that should be intentionally safeguarded. Joe’s mentorship has been instrumental in helping me understand that health is much more than physical. It is spiritual, relational, and emotional. His guidance leads me to a healthier lifestyle by teaching me to develop a safe place.

I contend that Joe’s mentorship would provide the same benefits for you.

Michael Craver, Lead Pastor at Tally Ho First Baptist Church, Stem, NC

Over the past several years, as an executive pastor of a large church and, most recently, my return to the marketplace as a director of operations, I’ve been fortunate to have Joe Humphries walking beside me. I’m positive Joe’s mentorship is ordained by God, and the fruit it has yielded in my life, internal and external, bears the marks of Christ-centered devotion and leadership.

The 5F coaching program—Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, and Finances—that Joe often references is a recurring theme in every moment I’ve spent with him. These are not presented as a “program” to be followed but as part of the fabric of daily life available to all who turn their hearts toward Christ and those on a journey to discover who they were created to be. Joe’s mentorship in my life has so many memories that shaped and guided me, always pointing me back to the practical truths of scripture that I not only hear expressed by Joe but see lived out in his own life.

David Howell, (Retired) Executive Pastor for Crossroads Fellowship, Raleigh, NC