John Chaffee left traditional Church work to teach about the Rascals of Church History (& Other Things).

“I am so grateful for John Chaffee. He is a gifted writer, thinker, guide, and spiritual coach. Each week, I look forward to his weekly email, and I am thrilled he has written this new book to help people live by a wisdom that many consider foolish.” – Brian D. McLaren, author of Do I Stay Christian and Faith After Doubt

“I always think of [John] as a modern desert father.” – Rev. Leah Q.

“Spending time talking with John is more like spiritual therapy than anything else. I often joke that you were more of a therapist/counselor to me than my first 2 therapists.” – Josh S.

“It was so good to have you (for a retreat) and the people who came have had so much to talk about. You are sharing and working through topics that are incredibly important, and you’re doing it in a way that draws people in.” – Rev. Kaitlyn W.

“Taking your class was a blessing in itself and to be put with a professor who knew what he was talking about and loved talking about it was amazing. You opened my mind up to so many new ideas and objectives that I want to reach in life. I would say that you are one of the most influential teachers/professors that I have ever had.” – A Former Student

“Every Friday, [the 5 on Friday Newsletter] challenges me to think a little differently.  After a couple of months, I see things in a whole new way.” – Anonymous

“The spiritual wisdom of a sage, the empathetic non-judgment of a therapist, the sensitivity to God’s voice of a prophet, the shame-free love of a parent, and the attentive listening of a close friend. John Chaffee is a healing balm for a hurting soul. If you want a safe space and a trustworthy guide to help you navigate your faith journey, do yourself the favor and talk with John. The love, freedom, empowerment, and hope you will experience is priceless!” – Joshua S.

“When I feel I am losing my way, [John] inevitably say[s] something that reawakens and refreshes my spirit.” – Tom

“I have just started to pursue spiritual direction with John. I found him to be easy to talk with and a good listener.  He paces the session well and makes helpful observations and comments based on his vast knowledge of reading various Christian authors over the centuries. I plan to continue working with John and look forward to our next appointment.” – Don Z.

“I participated in John’s Fully Alive in the spring of 2025. This class gave me an opportunity to explore my spirituality in an atmosphere where there were not right / wrong answers. The study text was easy to follow, and provided a good framework for deeper thinking.

Overall, I came away from the class with a deeper understanding of my own spirituality, and how I intend to live in this absurd and beautiful World.” – Todd B.

Being part of the Fully Alive group was an amazing experience. John is a gifted spiritual teacher and he led us through conversations that totally expanded my understanding of what a faith based on a “living spirituality” could mean for me going forward. After every session, I took away learnings that I would often weave into conversations with family and friends. John inspired me to see that all of us in the “second half” of our faith journey should aspire to being “wise elders” in the spiritual development of our younger generations seeking their own North Stars during these challenging times.” – Karen H.

“I absolutely enjoyed being a part of the Fully Alive 2025 summer cohort! This course is brilliantly designed to foster deep theological reflection and discussion, with a focus on practical life application. With each session, I learned new perspectives that have helped me grow in my spiritual journey. The Fully Alive course is filled with themes of growth, encouragement, discernment, and love; all grounded in ancient and modern wisdom. My experiences working with John through this course are something I will always cherish!” – Austen S.