Editor’s Note: Matthew Chicoine interviewed Father Nick Fleming via phone call on May 7th, 2025. Some of the questions have been rearranged and edited to provide the best reader experience without losing any integrity of the answers given.
The name “Ephesians 6” clearly references the Armor of God passage. What specific aspects of this Scripture inspired you to found this ministry, and how does it shape your approach to spiritual growth?
This ministry began out of a desire to do spiritual warfare. The spiritual battle over the soul can only be won if we focus on God. There are two ways to contend with an opponent: to fight them head on or to live your best life.
For example, if you are running a race, your opponent will try to distract you. Our attention is taken away from the finish line. That’s how the Devil works. Not coming into full view, he begins with little distractions. Peter was walking on the water when he was focused on Jesus, he only started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus.
Faith is our shield, the sword of the spirit…what better way to describe our faith than the armor.
Your mission statement mentions helping people “engage in Spiritual Warfare.” How do you explain this concept to those who might be unfamiliar with it, and what practical tools does your ministry provide?
First of all, to help people recognize their disorder in the world and to help them see the disorder and find the root cause. I start to ask them mundane questions: do you make your bed, do you have a regular morning routine? I help people first find the disorder. They can start to find virtue by establishing order in their life. It’s a life grounded in purpose.
Through my experience in pastoral ministry, I find people come to me when their life is falling apart. So helping them to see the disorder first is how we can lead them to the path of salvation.
For example, the first experience Peter had with Jesus was him as a sinful man.
So rather than fixing a broken world we focus on fixing the broken heart. By redeeming each and every individual, the Kingdom of God is made present.
The Lord wants us to take the first steps. Our God is a Good Father who wants us to have independence, to freely choose Him and not as a drone. He wants us to surrender our humility to Him but at the same time he will allow us to participate in the redemptive act of the Cross of Jesus. I am surrendering my ego and my own self-gratification of ambition to act out of humility to follow Jesus.
That’s the crux of the Church’s ministry to find people in the wounds of Jesus and to help them desire God’s will.
In your experience working with people through Ephesians 6 Ministry, what do you find are the most common spiritual challenges people face today, and how does your approach help address them?
There is no particular virtue lacking in the world. I think the most prevalent issue is mediocrity and that people believe there is no such thing as being great. Greatness begins with purpose. People allow themselves to be moved by the circumstances in their lives or whatever seems to be going on in the world around them.
I help people find that they are more than the circumstances that they are in to make them to be. Once we learn where the disorder is, we can establish order and find purpose. This is where the armor of God comes in.
“Strangers in a Strange Land” by Cardinal Chaput mentions the problem with our age is not that we are not strangers in a strange land, it is that our children and grandchildren are comfortable being in this world. That we have grown too comfortable. That’s our chief struggle. And we see that there’s a longing. We see a growth in more orthodox and traditional churches. It makes it worthwhile when it’s hard to live. The young people are drawn to this more ascetical life because they long for meaning, heroism.
The world should open us up to wonder and awe. Life is not meant to be a vat of entertainment. Leisure is not sitting idly and doing nothing. It is sitting with purpose and reflecting on the good. Play is what satisfies our reason. It is contemplating the greatest things.
Real rest is when you stop putting on a performance for the other and when we can rest in their presence.
Where can my audience find more about your ministry?
About Fr. Fleming:
Fr. Nicholas Fleming, entered the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence and attended Providence College, where he earned a degree in Philosophy in 2011. He earned a degree in Theology from Angelicum University and was ordained a priest on June 27th, 2015. Following ordination, Fr. Fleming completed a license in Marriage and the Family at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and the Family. After completing his studies in 2016, he was assigned as an assistant pastor at SS John and Paul in Coventry. Fr. Fleming currently serves as the pastor of SS John and James and St. Mary Church West Warwick, in RI. While pastor, I have perceived the need for more specified virtue training to encourage the faithful to be fit for the Kingdom, and with the help of his partner has begun the work of Ephesians 6 ministry.
