L
Leadership

Structured authority. Our people.

The Den operates under layered spiritual oversight and defined leadership roles. Authority is exercised through accountability, shared discernment, and submission to Scripture.

On structure

Each role carries responsibility within a clear and structured framework. Leadership is not assumed here — it is shepherded, layered, and accountable at every level.The Den Leadership

Oversight
Layered and accountable
Presence
Leadership within the rhythm
Scripture
The anchor of all authority

Layered, intentional,
and accountable.

Each role operates within alignment, not independence. Leadership within The Den is structured so that no one stands alone — and every level answers to another.

Tier I Pastoral Oversight

Ensures alignment with Scripture and historic Christian discipleship. Provides counsel, correction, and covering for the Den Leader and Elder.

  • Church planting & governance
  • Worship leadership
  • Long-term discipleship
  • Decades of combined experience
Tier II Elder

Provides spiritual oversight and accountability to the Den Leader. Guards doctrinal integrity and strengthens long-term stability from a position of experience and discernment.

  • Doctrinal integrity
  • Spiritual counsel
  • Leadership review
  • Long-term stability
Tier III Den Leader

Lives within the daily rhythm. Provides direct spiritual and operational leadership — present inside the structure, not observing it from a distance.

  • Disciplined modeling
  • Daily structure
  • Personal advisement
  • House standards
Tier IV Denizens

Men serving within the life of the house. They sustain the environment through consistency, discipline, and service — active participants who lead by example.

  • Consistency in discipline
  • House responsibility
  • Service toward others
  • Full rhythm participation

Board-Level Review

Operational and financial practices are reviewed through structured board accountability. This layer safeguards financial stewardship, policy integrity, and organizational continuity — ensuring that what happens inside The Den is conducted with transparency and responsibility.

Financial Stewardship Policy Integrity Organizational Continuity

Present in the rhythm.
Present in the room.

The Den Leader lives within the daily rhythm of the house and provides direct spiritual and operational leadership. Guidance does not come from outside the experience — it comes from within it.

Daniel Harmon
Den Leader · Indiana

Daniel
Harmon

Den Leader

Daniel serves as Den Leader with disciplined obedience and a clear sense of calling. At eighteen, he discerned his call to ministry. By twenty, he stepped away from familiarity to pursue that calling fully — a path marked by decisive obedience and intentional preparation.

Originally from Indiana, Daniel brings both warmth and resolve into the house. He is known for strengthening individuals through structure, not just encouragement. His leadership reflects a commitment to building foundations that last.

  • Disciplined obedience as the foundation of leadership
  • Certified personal trainer — body and spirit integrated
  • Dedicated season of formation prior to stepping into leadership
  • Serves under pastoral and elder oversight
  • Approaches strength holistically — body, mind, and spirit
  • Known for consistency, humility, and seriousness of purpose
Present Leadership Physical Discipline Spiritual Formation Pastoral Accountability

Theological depth.
Grounded presence.

The Elder provides spiritual oversight and accountability to leadership — guarding doctrinal integrity, offering counsel, and ensuring that The Den remains anchored in Scripture and accountable in practice.

Elder · Christ Family Church

Pastor Tim
Oakley

Elder

Tim Oakley serves as Elder with a steady and grounded presence. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Houston and a Master of Divinity from the Houston Graduate School of Theology — a formation that combines theological depth with practical understanding of people.

Tim serves as Assistant Pastor at Christ Family Church while also working professionally as a Director of Sales in the food distribution industry. This balance reflects both shepherding and stewardship in practice — a life marked by generosity, discernment, and quiet strength.

  • B.A. Psychology, University of Houston
  • M.Div., Houston Graduate School of Theology
  • Assistant Pastor at Christ Family Church
  • Director of Sales — food distribution industry
  • Over twenty years investing in family and marriage
  • Ensures doctrinal alignment and leadership accountability
Theological Depth Pastoral Counsel Doctrinal Integrity Quiet Strength
Pastor Tim Oakley

Anchored in Scripture.
Accountable in practice.

Pastoral oversight ensures alignment with Scripture and historic Christian discipleship. This layer provides counsel, correction, and covering for the Den Leader and Elder — it is not distant governance, but active, engaged accountability.

The Den serves men across traditions while remaining anchored in Scripture. Spiritual authority is exercised with clarity, accountability, and responsibility. Discipleship is not assumed. It is shepherded.

"Discipleship is not
assumed. It is shepherded."
Areas of experience
  • Church planting
  • Board governance
  • Worship leadership
  • Long-term discipleship development

This team carries decades of combined experience across ministry and leadership environments.

i.

Alignment with Scripture and historic Christian discipleship

ii.

Counsel, correction, and covering for leadership

iii.

Welcoming men across traditions, anchored in the Word

Serving from within.
Leading by example.

Denizens are men serving within the life of the house. They commit to extended time inside the rhythm — sustaining the environment through discipline, responsibility, and full participation.

Noah Gniffke
Denizen · California

Noah
Gniffke

Denizen

Originally from California, Noah carries an appreciation for the outdoors and the discipline that comes with physical stewardship. His commitment to health and fitness reflects a broader pursuit of strength expressed through consistency and daily habits.

An app developer, Noah integrates his commitment to health with Scripture in the apps he has built. He approaches life with curiosity — exploring creative projects while remaining grounded in his desire to grow in faith. He plans to pursue missions with YWAM following his time at The Den.

"You are the light of the world." — Matthew 5:14–16
  • App developer, building with purpose
  • Physical stewardship rooted in consistency
  • Pursuing YWAM missions this fall
  • Living as a light with clarity and intention
Zach Pickard
Denizen · Texas

Zach
Pickard

Denizen

Zachary Pickard enters this season as a Denizen with a developing sense of calling and a growing commitment to consistency. Based in Texas and completing his senior year of high school, Zachary has spent the past several years building his faith with increasing intentionality.

He carries a strong sense of justice, shaping his pursuit of law and his involvement in Mock Trial, SkillsUSA, and related programs. His decision to step forward reflects a deeper commitment to alignment and accountability — a desire to think clearly, act with conviction, and lead responsibly.

  • Completing senior year of high school
  • Mock Trial, SkillsUSA — leading with conviction
  • Strong sense of justice, pursuing law
  • Growing in alignment, structure, and shared accountability

Denizens are active participants who help sustain the environment — not guests, not observers. Their role is marked by consistency in discipline, responsibility within the house, and service toward others.

Authority · Accountability · Formation

Ready to step under
something that holds?

The Den is led by men committed to shepherding with integrity. Begin with an application — the rest follows from there.