Hi, I’m Valerie, a Navigational Coach for individuals who feel lost, stuck, or dissatisfied with their life journey. I provide you with faith-based tools that enable you to forge new paths that lead to true fulfillment.
My Journey
I was blessed to grow up in a home where I learned early about the love of Jesus and the beauty of His forgiveness. When I was five years old, I had my first experience sharing that love with someone else. One Sunday morning, as my mom, siblings, and I were walking to church, I noticed a man sleeping on a bus bench with a brown paper bag by his head. When I asked my mom why he was there, she gently explained that he was probably too drunk to make it home. Shocked and deeply concerned (as only a five-year-old can be!), I ran across the street, woke him up, and told him Jesus wasn’t happy with his choices and that he needed to come to church with us to hear my daddy talk about Jesus. To everyone’s surprise, he did. By the end of that service, he went to the altar and accepted Jesus as his Savior. From that moment on, my heart has longed to share the grace, love, and forgiveness of Jesus with others.
From Pastoring to Coaching
As I grew in faith and maturity, God gave me countless opportunities to connect with people and help them grow — both practically and spiritually. My husband and I pastored together for 25 years, walking beside individuals and families through every season of life.
When my husband’s health issues required him to retire early, I too had to step away from ministry. After fifty years of serving in the church, that transition felt gut-wrenching and soul-crushing.
But God — my favorite phrase — didn’t leave me in that place of loss. In fact, He had already been preparing me for what was next.
I had recently earned my Master’s Degree in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis on Coaching and Mentoring, and I felt led to deepen my learning through a Christian coaching certification program called MetaFormation (now known as Encounter Coaching).
Through that process — and through the coaching I personally received — God helped me rediscover the desires of my heart and showed me that He alone could fulfill them completely.
A New Route — A New Calling
Since our retirement in February 2025, I’ve found peace, renewed joy, and a deeper love for who God created me to be. My husband and I enjoy a stronger marriage than ever before, and I’ve discovered a new way to share Jesus with others — through coaching.
Today, I walk alongside Christian individuals who feel stuck, uncertain, or unfulfilled, helping them navigate transitions and rediscover their God-given purpose. My mission is to help you find clarity, confidence, and a renewed sense of joy as you align your heart and your path with the One who made you.
A few months ago, I was working with Valerie from VAN's Coaching. I really appreciated the time that was taken to work through some tough issues in my life. The fact that she focused on asking Jesus where He was in these moments in my life has made a difference in how I think about things. Jesus has always been central to my life, but Valerie really showed me a different way to approach my problems.
I am thankful to have gone through this coaching experience and would recommend it to anyone.
Kim H., Traverse City, MI
Copyright Valerie Nance
