The Hidden Manna Story

How it all started...

Dr. Paul's dad had a doctorate in psychology and he encouraged Paul to pursue psychiatry. After med school, when Paul was finishing his four-year residency, he was asked to develop a program for Christians needing psychiatric hospitalization. As he looked at the elements required for healing, God drew his attention to the beatitudes. It was a profound moment of clarity for Paul as he saw in them a progression of spiritual growth that was relevant for physical and psychological healing. As he looked more deeply, Paul saw that these foundational words of Jesus were also applicable to recovery, marriage, parenting, personality, and leadership.  When he shared these perspectives with Jerry Brooks, Hidden Manna was born. 

Expanding the vision...

Over the years, Hidden Manna's reach has extended to include missions and prison ministry. The world is in crisis and we want to be a voice of grace and truth, sending a message of hope, encouragement, and challenge into the world. We want to be peacemakers in a troubled world, engendering faith and love where it is most needed.

Where we are headed...

We believe God wants to bring hope to a world in despair. The pandemic, natural disasters, racial tensions, political polarization, and social upheaval have made it clear that we must shine the light into dark places.  With our website, social media platforms, and a mobile app, we hope to achieve more relevance and accessibility. We want every believer to be enthused about Jesus' message in the beatitudes and to find in them a framework for thinking about life in God's kingdom in a fresh way. inspiring wholesome relationships and disciplined action.

Paul's Credentials

Paul is a medical doctor and a board-certified psychiatrist. He serves as a pastor at Woodlands Church, where he oversees ministries of counseling and recovery. He has been a student of God's word since he was a child and has a fascination with all of creation. He and his wife, Teri, love serving together and spending time with family and friends. As a painter and gardener, he values beauty. He loves seeing the power of relationships to transform and he believes we should view all humans as family.   He has a deep hunger for understanding God's ways and he delights in sharing what he learns along the way.