The Journey Companions Ministries Team

John Cepin is one of the founders of Journey Companions Ministries.

John received training at Grace Theological Seminary under Dr. Larry Crabb and Dr. Dan Allender.  

John has spend hundreds of hours both  caring for others and offering insight and perspective into how the Spirit of God nurtures, transforms, and renews our hearts.  John continues to faithful train and supervise others on the JCM Team.

You can find John working on Community Relations for JCM as well as supervising the JCM interns!  He also pops up at the Prayer Retreat, Men's LLM retreat and the occasional Potter's Wheel meeting.

(Bio coming soon!  Sorry, we are still under construction...)

You can find Shari faithfully providing individual soul care shepherding, serving at the Women's LLM retreats and at the JCM Prayer retreat.

God has gifted Gary to do soul care and he loves helping others experience all that God has to offer them.

 Gary pastored a small church, Desert Bible Chapel, for 11 years. As a pastor, he completed extensive seminary level training in Pastoral Soul Care under the direct supervision of John J. Cepin, M.A.  He was later employed by Biblical Counseling Associates providing Pastoral Soul Care to those with limited means.

Following  his time as a pastor, he was an elder and eventually became chairman of  the Elder Board at First Evangelical Free Church. During this time, he founded He Is Able Ministries which provided Pastoral Soul Care for those with limited resources. Later in life he owned a package delivery service providing employment for many people while showing them the love of Jesus. 
He is currently on the board of Journey Companions Ministries which previously was He Is Able Ministries.

You can find Gary faithfully providing individual soul care shepherding to individuals in the Tucson area.

Pastor David, D.Min.,  planted Oasis Church at Rita Ranch in 1997 and continues to serve as the lead pastor.  David received training and discipleship in Soul Care from John and Patti Cepin through JCM. 

 Pastor David Gainey married his wife, Hope, in 1997.  Together, they’ve raised four adult children.

You can find David Gainey serving at Oasis Church here in Tucson, as well as leading Potter's Wheel 1 and 2, providing individual Soul care shepherding, and leading other Potter's Wheel based retreats and parenting retreats.  David also works to train other soul care shepherding providers.

John, along with his wife, Susie, was introduced to Journey Companions Ministries 30 years ago and was greatly impacted by John and Patti. 

John served as a missionary for many years in Africa and he and his wife still work in Africa with the Navigators ministry providing wisdom and training to staff members.

 John has been active with JCM for 20 years teaching at retreats and leading small groups.  He has lead Story work in communities around the World for the past 15 years.

You can find John helping to lead Story Work for Communities around the world.

Susie, with her husband John, was introduced to Journey Companions Ministries 30 years ago and was greatly impacted by John and Patti. 

Susie served as a missionary for many years in Africa and she and her husband still work in Africa with the Navigators ministry providing wisdom and training to staff members.

Over the past 20 years Susie has been active with JCM  teaching at retreats and leading small groups. Additionally, Susie has been helping to lead Story work in communities around the World for the past 15 years.

You can find Susie serving at the Women's LLM retreats or helping to lead Story Work for Communities around the world.

Pastor Eric Cepin has served as a pastor for 25 years and is one of the elder-pastors at The Village Church in Tucson, Arizona. Much of his ministry has focused on helping people follow Jesus in the middle of ordinary life through spiritual formation, pastoral care, shared practices, and community-based discipleship.

Eric’s work is shaped by a vision for a neo-monastic mega house church: a church formed around prayer, scripture, hospitality, shared meals, confession, repentance, healing, and life together. He is especially interested in how ancient Christian practices can be lived out in ordinary neighborhoods, homes, conversations, and relationships. His pastoral work helps people slow down, tell the truth about their stories, and bring their emotions, beliefs, and decisions into the presence of Jesus.

Eric and his wife, Susan, live in Tucson with their two children and serve together in ministry.

You can find Eric at Village Church, hosting of Healing the City and the Journey Companions Ministries Podcast, co-hosting Faith Over Breakfast, and helping to lead the Men's LLM retreat.

 Susan Cepin was discipled by Patti Cepin in a high school Bible study group and was later welcomed into the family when she married John and Patti’s oldest son, Eric. 

Susan has been involved with JCM over the years in a variety of ways, from helping cook for the first Learning to Love the Master Retreat, to participating in a pilot 15-month-long version of Potter’s Wheel, to taking part in various LLM and prayer retreats over the years. Susan worked as collaborative editor and writer in finalizing the Learning to Love the Master book for publication.

 She loves to pray, study, sing, play guitar and piano, paint, sew, and bake. She can often be found playing board games or sipping a latte with her husband, Eric Cepin, and happily chatting with her adult children Ashton and Elliott Cepin. 

You can find Susan at Village Church, helping out at the Women's LLM retreat and listen to her on the JCM Podcast.

(Bio coming soon!  Sorry, we are still under construction...)

You can find Steve and Hannah Yeakley serving at the LLM retreats as well as helping to lead the  JCM Prayer retreats.

Danny is an intern with Journey Companions Ministries.  He is currently teaching Potter's Wheel 1 and completing supervised individual soul care discipleship hours with John Cepin.

During the week, Danny works to serve Tucson as a Geologist, and is also attending Phoenix seminary working towards a degree in ministry and counseling.  Danny also has 2 children with Rebekah, Samuel and Amelia.

After completing Potter's Wheel 1 and 2, Danny has shadowed countless other Potter's Wheel sessions and helps to organize and facilitate the ongoing meetings of groups after completion of the program.

You can find Danny helping  out at the men's LLM retreat and teaching PW1.

Rebekah is currently serving in an administrative capacity with JCM as well as completing supervised hours of individual soul care discipleship work as an intern with John Cepin.

Rebekah worked as an engineer in Tucson before becoming a mother of Samuel and Amelia.  Her background in research has served her well as she has been diving into the theological study of women and sexuality since 2020.

After completing Potter's Wheel 1 and 2, Rebekah was discipled by Patti Cepin for 5 years and completed certification to teach Potter's Wheel 1 in 2024. 

You can find Rebekah helping out with the JCM prayer retreat, the LLM retreats, as well as working behind the scenes to keep JCM running.

Board Members (left to right)

Gary Smith

Eric Cepin

John Cepin

John O'Hair

David Gainey

Danny Russin

Rebekah Russin

Not pictured, but much appreciated, is

Cheryl Humble.

The JCM Board members give of their time, wisdom, experience, and personal knowledge to Journey Companions Ministries.  They also provide guidance, supervision, as well as vision-casting for the members of the JCM team.

If you would like to contact a member of the board, please use the "contact us" link on the home page.