A Spiritual Director is a trained listener. Directors walk should to shoulder with those who long to experience God in a deeper, more embodied fullness. In this encounter, the Holy Spirit is the true director and we listen together for the invitations in daily life from God.
Spiritual direction is not advice or solutions but an on-going process of growing recognition of the holy experiences in life. These experiences are invitations from God that move us into deeper union with the Trinity. The goal of Spiritual Direction is a richer friendship with God!
Spiritual Direction is for leaders, for teenagers (and even children!), for men and for women and all people who are spiritually thoughtful about their lives. In Spiritual Direction, we seek increasing union with God by curiously reflecting on the lived relationship with God in your current context. The pace is slow and contemplative as we join together in the mystery.
Friendship with God can be wild and confusing (or even boring) to us as we live in our current contexts relationally, culturally, politically and emotionally. We need a safe space where we can say things we don't feel safe to say in other contexts. Spiritual Direction addresses these kinds of questions in a confidential and curious space. Questions like:
In the first centuries of the Church, those gifted in discernment and listening to the Holy Spirit and in guiding others were called "spiritual directors". Although it has been a part of the global Church since it's inception, it was often reserved for persons in specified ministries. Those who were spiritually hungry could also seek spiritual guides. The Catholic Church is most familiar with the practice as Ignatius of Loyola developed it deeply, but since the 1970's, the Protestant Church has grown in understanding, training and practice of Spiritual Direction as well.
Today, Spiritual Direction has formalized training programs all across the world, communities of accountability and growth as well as ongoing training opportunities. It is a contemplative and evocative practice that embraces collaboration and mutuality and provides space to explore spiritual movements in God's people that is safe and confidential.
Over time, the ministry of spiritual direction can help believers grow in the following ways:
Spiritual Direction fits easily into your life and enriches your daily relationship with God. Sessions are:
I first heard of Spiritual Direction in 2007 from my mentor who was in the process of pursuing a degree in counseling at Seattle School of Theology. Since that time, God has taken me on a scenic journey of discovery as I picked up little pieces and experiences of Spiritual Direction along the way. He has woven in me a deep sense of purpose, love for Him and for people.
I’ve served in a variety of leadership positions with Campus Crusade for Christ, as a staff member at a large church and as a volunteer staff at a church plant for the past 25 years. Our spiritual forming as the people of God is a passion woven in my soul from the beginning of my journey with Jesus.
Today, I see a deep need for a safe, listening space for followers of Christ regardless of their faith background. Our souls are deeply longing for spaces to process how God moves within our spirit. We are hungry and longing for people who are safe to share together our questions, our fears, our longings, our grief and sorrow over the state of the hard places in life. There is joy and gratefulness that overflows even out of those dark nights in our path and we need companions to accompany us, to witness and validate both the grief and the joy. It makes the sorrow bearable and the joy more complete!
I do not subscribe to a rigid and strict faith, but rather one that encompasses gentleness, peace, generosity and love. I was not raised in the church but came to Christ as a young adult. As I have walked with Jesus, I have found restoration, redemption and healing in the light of his love and it is my heart's desire for all people to notice God's love and voice in their own lives too. All people need a loving witness who can see the good parts of us and the bad, the ugly and the beautiful, the sad and the joy-filled and not walk away. I want to stay with you and Jesus does too.
I have been married for 20+ years and together we have three children, two dogs and a cat. My story has messiness and darkness, but I believe that each day I live is an opportunity to grow in love for the sake of the coming Kingdom of God.
I live in St. Charles, MO and I love to be in nature, to garden and create beauty with plants, to move my body, laugh loud, to learn and to read. I especially love to talk about deep things of God.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.