Jeffrey Borden

Olympia, WA, United States

I am a pastor in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition serving both the Free Methodist Church and the Church of the Nazarene since...

About Me

I am a pastor in the Wesleyan-Holiness tradition serving both the Free Methodist Church and the Church of the Nazarene since 2003. I serve my local church on staff in the position of pastor of discipleship and spiritual formation. I began my journey in the disciplines of spiritual formation and spiritual direction in 2005 and completed the two-year certificate program in spiritual direction in 2012 from the Pecos Benedictine Monastery School of Spiritual Direction where I now serve as a Benedictine Oblate and teach at the Pecos Monastery School for Spiritual Direction.

I have a particularly strong fondness for Benedictine and Ignatian spirituality, incorporating the Ignatian exercises and a personal rule of life as foundational aspects of my devotional life. I love engaging in and forming missional-ecumenical partnerships that foster the advancement of God’s kingdom. I enjoy exploring ancient-future worship practices as well as introducing and leading others in them.

Meyers-Briggs testing shows that I favor an INTJ personality profile. My Enneagram number is 5 (4 wing). I love reading (particularly ancient church fathers and Christian mystics), acoustic guitar, and I love technology.

I enjoy most aspects of Christian ministry, but my greatest joy is walking alongside fellow sojourners who are just awakening to the incarnational life…the life of living always in the presence of the God who is always with us and within us (Bro. Lawrence, Frank Laubach, Jean Pierre de Caussade).

I have been married to my best friend and wife, Laurie, for thirty-two years and together we have raised three grown sons. We have lived in the deep south of Louisiana, raised a family in the hills of north central Pennsylvania, and we now call the Pacific Northwest our home.

Contact

Phone: 814-594-2518

Website: www.icrucified.com

Email:

Prefer Contact By: phone, text, email are all good

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

pastors

church leaders

pastor's family

professors or academics

married couples

general spiritual direction

Expertise in...

Benedictine

Ignatian

rule of life

fixed hour prayer

Melissa M. Bostrom

Newport, RI, United States

I hold graduate degrees in biblical studies/New Testament and Community Counseling. I completed the SELAH program in spiritual direction in June...

About Me

I hold graduate degrees in biblical studies/New Testament and Community Counseling. I completed the SELAH program in spiritual direction in June 2017. I have four adult children, do part-time work as a psychotherapist using a wellness-based, body-centered, holistic approach, offer Reiki body work and spiritual direction. I am an active layperson at the Church of Saint John the Evangelist, the local Anglo-Catholic parish of The Episcopal Church in Newport RI. It is a privilege for me to accompany sisters and brothers as they grow in their faith and seek to discern the Lord's leading in their lives.

Contact

Phone: 401-835-7522

Email:

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: NO

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Specialties

Works with...

My work has been mainly with adult women; however

as a veteran of 25 years as a clergy wife and 50+ years as a Christian active in a variety of parish settings across denominational lines

I welcome the chance to work with active clergy and clergy families as well as laywomen and men.

Expertise in...

As one who has been on a path of integration for many years

I find that there is a great deal of overlap between my work as a psychotherapist and as a spiritual director. Each individual who comes to me brings his or her own story and sense of need for companionship on the individual path God is laying out. My training as a spiritual director is contemplative

biblical and trinitarian. Centering prayer and daily devotional practice are key parts of my personal spirituality. Sacred music and reverent worship in the beauty of holiness are also important to me individually. However

I recognize that the Lord is the Lord of all and welcome the opportunity to grow alongside those who choose me as their companion.

Mike Bowden

Stevensville, MI, United States

After approximately 14 years serving in the Czech Republic as a missionary, I found myself restless and desiring a deeper life...

About Me

After approximately 14 years serving in the Czech Republic as a missionary, I found myself restless and desiring a deeper life with God. This led me to much searching which resulted in returning to seminary (North Park Seminary in Chicago) to be trained in Spiritual Direction. I received my certification in 2010.

My main focus is to come alongside missionaries and pastors to listen and help them discern what God is doing in their life. In our walk with God we often struggle with doubts, disappointments, difficulty in prayer, and receiving for ourself the love and grace of God. It is my desire to help men slow down and hear God’s voice above the noise and busyness that often even exists in ministry.

I serve as Spiritual Care Facilitator with TEAM to help create spiritual vitality among the TEAM mission force. I am available:

- to lead spiritual retreats for church staffs, ministry teams and small groups of men.
- to offer Spiritual Direction to pastors, missionaries and men with a longing to go deeper with God.
-I also offer individualized retreats for pastors or missionaries who sense a need to get away for more intensive Spiritual Direction and solitude.

Contact

Phone: 269-612-8162

Email:

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: NO

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Czech

Ryan Bradley

Merced, CA, United States

I am a graduate of the Institute for Spiritual Formation and have been offering spiritual direction since 2004. I consider it...

About Me

I am a graduate of the Institute for Spiritual Formation and have been offering spiritual direction since 2004. I consider it a great privilege to help my directees discern the work of the Holy Spirit and their responses.

I am the assisting priest at Anglican Church of the Epiphany, in La Mirada, CA, where I love serving the Body of Christ through pastoral care, liturgy, and preaching.

I completed coursework and exams for a doctorate in Christian Spirituality. I love learning from the classics of Christian spirituality, and I've surprised again and again at how God has used them to shape my own life and ministry.

I am currently an Assistant Professor at the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University; and I have taught in the areas of spiritual theology & formation, ethics, and religious studies at several other universities. I also serve as a Council member of Grafted Life Ministries (the parent organization for ESDA).

Contact

Phone: 562-458-0936

Email:

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: NO

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Sally Breedlove

Chapel Hill, NC, United States

Sometime in 1990 I noticed that God was up to something new in my life. Until then, my sense of following...

About Me

Sometime in 1990 I noticed that God was up to something new in my life. Until then, my sense of following Christ meant seeking to know a lot about him and trying to trust and obey him as best I could. But a longing for “more” kept surfacing. I longed for a deep wholeness, for an awareness of God’s presence, for joy, for a beauty that permeated life, for compassion for others and myself. But I had no idea how to get there. The saying ""when the pupil is ready the teacher arrives"" proved true in my own life. These deep longings in my own soul for spaciousness and rest in God's presence and the fierce gift of pain forced me to ask on a very personal level did I really trust the goodness and presence of the Triune God?

Mercifully, through the spiritual practices of lectio divina, listening prayer, silence, and being companioned by others, I learned, and am still learning a new way of living my life in God. My desire is to be an attentive and prayerful companion to others as they make their own journey towards God.

During that same time I began taking classes at Regent College (Vancouver, British Columbia). Courses on the wisdom of the early church fathers, the history of Christian Spirituality, contemplative listening and the writings of Christian mystics continued to shape That deep desire to know God with my whole being.

The gift of friends along the way led to the formation of a ministry called JourneyMates, a spiritual companioning small group ministry that now has groups in five different cities. Through JourneyMates and through the speaking and writing I do, others began to ask me to companion them in their spiritual journey.

The ongoing training we do for JourneyMates leaders, the spiritual director I meet with, and my training through Selah (Leadership Transformations's Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction) have also contributed to my growth as I seek to befriend those who ask me to accompany them on their spiritual journey.

Contact

Phone: 919-604-3060

Website: http://www.sallybreedlove.com

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Reina Brekke

Saint Paul, MN, United States

My childhood was spent in a loving but atheist/agnostic home. When I came to faith in Christ in my early college...

About Me

My childhood was spent in a loving but atheist/agnostic home. When I came to faith in Christ in my early college years, I discovered a loving God who provided a moral compass for my life. During those busy years of school, early marriage, parenting, and career, I soaked up knowledge and found multiple satisfying ways to serve God.

My journey into spiritual direction began in my early 50’s and was generated from a sense of missing something in my spiritual walk, accompanied by a longing to experience a deeper connection with God. This path has opened my perspective concerning who God is to me, and who I am to Him. It has been a journey of discovering how to be with God, and not just what to do for Him. I have lingered, with intention, within the Ignatian exercises, experiencing transformation through imaginative prayer. I have embraced new spiritual practices and forms of prayer that were not part of my Evangelical upbringing. The contemplative life with the Trinity has been a re-awakening and a deepening of the faith that God invited me to in my young adulthood.

Feeling called to minister in this sacred space of soul care, I completed my training in spiritual direction through Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA. I am currently enrolled and pursuing a Master’s degree in Spiritual Formation through Richmont. I have also recently completed the Renovaré Institute of Spiritual Formation.

I would be delighted to walk alongside anyone who is willing to journey deeper into their understanding of God. I have been enriched by companioning young adults as they explore who God is and how the Divine reveals Himself/Herself to them. Regardless of age, I am open to pondering life’s tough questions and transitions, and to listen for God’s whisper amid the competing voices of our culture and time. My heart leans towards those in leadership roles, particularly pastors, spouses of pastors, spiritual directors in training, and individuals who minister tirelessly. With God’s help, I seek to offer each of these companionship as they consider their identity and calling.

Ignatian Exercises, Lectio Divina, the Enneagram, contemplative prayer.

Contact

Phone: 651.398.1805

Email:

Prefer Contact By: brekkereina@gmail.com

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Young adults

Anyone who desires to know God on a deeper level

Those with questions about whether God exists

Expertise in...

Ignatian Exercises

Lectio Divina

the Enneagram

contemplative prayer

creative writing and journaling

Owen Brock

Cincinnati, OH, United States

Trained through Sustainable Faith's School of Spiritual Direction in Cincinnati, Ohio, I have been offering direction since 2008. I am also...

About Me

Trained through Sustainable Faith's School of Spiritual Direction in Cincinnati, Ohio, I have been offering direction since 2008. I am also an instructor for the school, training others for the important work of caring for souls.

I became acquainted with spiritual direction many years ago out of a deep need to make sense of my own spiritual life. After years of attending to my inner life I began to notice that my spiritual life would go in cycles with a diminishing experience of intimacy with God. Even while continuing with familiar rhythms and practices, this pattern repeated itself for a number of years until eventually there was no sense of God at all. Nothing. As you can imagine, this was not a great topic to bring up at church.

I eventually found myself sitting across from a spiritual director. I told him about my “faith crisis”. He asked me to describe my spiritual life and practices, and after listening, he suggested that rather than looking at my current spiritual experience as a problem that needed to be solved, what if it was an invitation? That was when I first noticed the tears streaming down my face. He encouraged me that I was seeking authenticity and integrity—I was searching for the truth.

For years now, I have been offering for others what that kind soul offered to me that day. I have come to believe that our understanding of the spiritual life must evolve as we discover what faithfulness looks like for each new season of life.

I am a grateful husband, father and grandfather. Together with my wife Sandie, we been a part of the urban, community-oriented Vineyard Central church in Cincinnati for over two decades, serving as house church leaders, pastoral council members, and mentoring elders. For over forty-five years we have been a part of transformative community-oriented expressions of God’s kingdom, both domestically and internationally.

We love a great adventure spending time in the Pacific Northwest hiking and kayaking or traveling and serving internationally in such places such as Africa, Nepal, Ireland and Haiti.

Contact

Phone: 513.253.5683

Website: antiphio.com

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

all

Expertise in...

spiritual companionship

group direction

spiritual practices

seasons of faith

Sandra Brock

Cincinnati, OH USA , OH, United States

Trained as a spiritual director, through Sustainable Faith’s School of Spiritual Direction, I enjoy helping others notice God's presence in their...

About Me

Trained as a spiritual director, through Sustainable Faith’s School of Spiritual Direction, I enjoy helping others notice God's presence in their everyday life. Caring for the “whole” person; body, soul and spirit has been a part of my work for many decades.

It is a privilege to companion others on the journey of knowing God and knowing themselves. Seeing people overcome the barriers to becoming their best and true selves is pure joy. Yet, often, our journey also exposes unresolved areas that need deep healing. I am not afraid to go with you to dark places trusting in God's love, healing and redemption. Personal transformation results in people experiencing freedom and being equipped to carry out their heart's longings!

My sessions may integrate healing prayer and body awareness as it is needed, addressing the full circle of Body, Soul & Spirit.

I am a grateful wife, mother and grandmother. Together with my husband Owen, we have been a part of the urban, community-oriented Vineyard Central church in Cincinnati, OH for over two decades, serving as house church leaders, pastoral council members, and mentoring elders. For over forty-five years we have been a part of transformative community-oriented expressions of God’s kingdom, both domestically and internationally.

We love a great adventure spending time in the Pacific Northwest hiking and kayaking or traveling and serving internationally. We love a good conversation, the outdoors, watching the birds, as well as music, beauty and all of the arts.

Contact

Phone: 513.253.5681

Website: http://antiphio.com

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Women

Men

Church & Ministry leaders

Young Adults

Second half of Life

Expertise in...

Spiritual companionship

Listening/healing prayer

Body awareness

Emotional Trauma

Abusive Trauma

Church Trauma

Victoria Brown

Peoria, IL, United States

Hello! My name is Victoria Brown and I am a spiritual director in Central Illinois. I graduated from the Spiritual Director...

About Me

Hello! My name is Victoria Brown and I am a spiritual director in Central Illinois. I graduated from the Spiritual Director Development Program coordinated by the Chiara Center of Springfield, IL in May of 2016. My training in this program helped me develop into an empathetic listener who is able to help others as they discern who God is to them, where they see Him currently working in their lives, and how they see the path unfolding before them as they move forward. As believers, I consider our image of God to be the most important aspect of our faith, and I feel privileged to walk alongside others as they seek to interact with the Holy Spirit. As a spiritual director I see my role as one of encouraging individuals to take the time to notice where God is present in their worlds, sincerely believing He is everywhere, by learning to truly pay attention. Engaging in spiritual direction, both as a director and a directee, has revitalized my faith; I am committed to assisting others as they deepen their understanding of how God longs to interact with them as well. In my personal life I was part of a launch team to plant Imago Dei Church in Peoria, IL in 2008 where I still attend with my husband and three school-age children. As a family we love to play games, hike and camp.

Contact

Phone: (309) 231-1830 (cell)

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email or phone

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

people wounded by the church

Sarah Jenson

La Mirada, CA, United States

One of my deepest joys is being able to sit with others as they unfold their story and discover how the...

About Me

One of my deepest joys is being able to sit with others as they unfold their story and discover how the Holy Spirit is working, especially in the places where that feels like the furthest truth. This is what I love about direction, to be able to witness how the Spirit moves in an individuals’ life to slowly reveal the deep truth that they are known, seen and loved.

I'm a tender heart desiring to cultivate holistic transformation for the Kingdom. I received an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Seminary in 2016 and have been giving direction since 2015. I am a Staff Director and Supervisor at the Center for Spiritual Renewal and have experience doing individual and group direction. My background is in social work, foster care and I currently work in student development.

Contact

Phone: 509-554-9911

Email:

Prefer Contact By: Email or phone call

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Women

Men

Leaders

College Age

Youth

Expertise in...

Trauma

adoption/foster care issues

integration with inner healing prayer and spiritual warfare

Kevin Buhler

Huntington Beach, CA, United States

I have been practicing spiritual direction since 2016 and completed my MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at Talbot School...

About Me

I have been practicing spiritual direction since 2016 and completed my MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at Talbot School of Theology.

I currently practice Spiritual Direction in the Orange County area. My background has been a Staff Director at Talbot Seminary, practicing individual and group spiritual direction with those in the ISF program. I am available to offer direction on a vary limited basis during this season.

I have a heart for those desiring to know God at a deeper level, no matter what season they find themselves in. Being raised by a pastor and and having worked with nonprofit organizations and orphanages for 6+ years, I have a particular understanding of the challenges of ministry life and cross-cultural ministry. I also have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy working with business leaders in a formative way. I currently work in the technology field running an IT consulting company.

My practice includes individual and group direction, working with male or female directees, teaching on Spiritual Formation, training Spiritual Directors and Pastoral counselors, teaching classes on Spiritual Formation, and I am able to design personalized retreats for individuals, groups, or leadership.

I have experience with Celebrate Recovery and 12-step programs, which can enrich the growth of those struggling in particular areas. I seek to support those in ministry, leadership, business, those wrestling with deep questions in their faith, the grieving, and those simply wanting to grow spiritually with Jesus in the mundane. I also am trained in Ignatian Spirituality and can accompany people through the exercises.

I spend my time connecting with family and deep-hearted friends, and marinating in books on spiritual growth and psychology. My current research topics include: anger, shame, grief, the Enneagram, sexuality, boundary work, meditation, and Centering Prayer.

Contact

Email:

Prefer Contact By: Email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Pastors

Church Leaders

Students

Business Professionals

Missionaries

Minorities

Expertise in...

Ignation

Men's Spirituality

Grief

Sexuality

Enneagram

Myers-Briggs

Recovery

12 Steps

Ellen Burany

Tustin, CA, United States

I've been a practicing spiritual director since 2006 after being trained at Talbot School of Theology's Institute for Spiritual Formation, and...

About Me

I've been a practicing spiritual director since 2006 after being trained at Talbot School of Theology's Institute for Spiritual Formation, and I am passionate about helping leaders walk with a kind of intimacy with God that impacts and transforms every aspect and season of their lives and ministries.

I founded and currently direct Renew, a ministry that provides opportunities for care and spiritual formation for Christian leaders through Novo (www.renewleaders.org).

Contact

Phone: 714-743-2282

Website: www.renewleaders.org

Email:

Prefer Contact By: Email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Christian Leaders -Pastors

ministry leaders

missionary leaders

missionaries

their spouses and young adult and adult children

Expertise in...

Lectio Divina

Women's Spirituality

Men's Spirituality

Grief

Transition

Rhythms of Life & Ministry

Dark Night

Cross Cultural

Carol Burge

Grand Rapids, MI, United States

I became interested in spiritual direction for myself as I worked as a psychotherapist. I needed to increase my own level...

About Me

I became interested in spiritual direction for myself as I worked as a psychotherapist. I needed to increase my own level of self-care and I found the experience to be significant in reshaping my life in a positive way. I trusted my spiritual director and she helped me discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in me. My relationship with Jesus Christ became much more alive; my daily living more saturated with His presence. I began to notice and respond to the inner voice of God in new ways as I engaged in several spiritual practices. I have experienced the Ignation Exercises several times and am available to lead an individual or small group if they are interested in this.

The process of spiritual direction is a journey into clarity about God, yourself, your relationships and your work in the world. Spiritual gifts and God given passions are explored, a healing rhythm of life is built, your heart is touched with the deep, unconditional love of God. This naturally leads to transformation, healing and new ways of being in the world. As a spiritual director, I listen to you while also listening to God who is the true spiritual director. I often provide times of silence in sessions so we can pause and listen to God together.

When I retired from my work as a psychotherapist, I wanted to offer the experience of spiritual direction to others. I completed the two year program of Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction in May of 2019. At the beginning of spiritual direction, I want the first session to be a time of exploration, a chance for you to see if we are a good fit as you respond to God's holy invitation to go deeper in your faith. Therefore, I do not charge for the first session.

Contact

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

church leaders

psychotherapists

female seminary students

women of all ages who desire to deepen their faith walk

Expertise in...

Myers Briggs

Enneagram

Temperament and Spirituality

Centering Prayer

Ignatian

Lectio Divina

grief/trauma

Ben Burkholder

Wexford, PA, United States

At present, I am a doctoral student, studying systematic theology, but in my free time I love spending time outdoors. For...

About Me

At present, I am a doctoral student, studying systematic theology, but in my free time I love spending time outdoors. For as theoretical as systematic theology can become, my ultimate longing is to see individuals living the fullness of the Christian life and realize the depth of God’s love for them. I am happily married and my wife and I have a delightful daughter who is a constant source of enjoyment for us. As a spiritual director, I was trained at the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Biola University and served as a Staff Director at Biola University for a year after my training before moving to Pittsburgh.

Contact

Phone: 724-759-7794 (home)

Email:

Prefer Contact By: Email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: NO

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Roberta Bush Chiang

Arlington - Ft. Worth, TX, United States

I am a Canadian expat currently living in Texas, after living and raising a family in Hong Kong for 25 years...

About Me

I am a Canadian expat currently living in Texas, after living and raising a family in Hong Kong for 25 years. The experience of living cross-culturally and then re-entering another culture as a third time immigrant, brings a different perspective to my direction practice. Transitions-of all kinds-is an area I am most personally knowledgeable in, particularly in the area of changing countries and roles.
I most frequently sit with people in leadership and Christian ministry, as well as third culture adults.
I am a mother to 3 millenials, and nana to a beautiful grand-daughter who currently resides in Hong Kong and S. Korea.
Very experienced at accompanying someone in the direction process via skype or facetime, but am willing to meet in person at your place of preferred spiritual direction. Willing to conduct a first time consultation by phone, but will require a visual in the direction process, initially.
Trained in Ignatian spirituality and discernment, over a 4 year course with a Jesuit University-Fairfield U., Connecticut,- and am currently journeying through the 19th annotation of the Ignatian Exercises.
My background is a Protestant one, very comfortable with all faith backgrounds, including those in a faith-exploration process, and very comfortable working in a cross-cultural setting.
I most frequently 'sum up' the spiritual direction process by describing it as 'mid-wifery for the soul.'

Contact

Phone: 682-313-7700

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email or phone.

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

-church leaders

missionaries

business professionals

third culture kid-adults

but not limited to those.-

Expertise in...

Ignatian/discernment

lectio divina

grief

creativity

cross-cultural/third culture

immigrant/refugee

anyone in a recovery process.

Kenna Bynum

Los Angeles, CA, United States

Most importantly, I understand the life-transforming effect of having a space to be vulnerable and share my deepest doubts, fears, angers...

About Me

Most importantly, I understand the life-transforming effect of having a space to be vulnerable and share my deepest doubts, fears, angers, and questions without judgment, guilt, or condemnation. I am a wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. I have been blessed with the gift of a loving family but have also experienced so many worldly consequences and challenging circumstances. My personal history of suffering, abuse, self-sabotaging, trauma, loss, abandonment, rejection, grief, feeling alone, out of place, and stuck, as well as my experience of blessings, of overcoming, faith, divine nudging, forgiveness, and grace, gives me compassionate and non-judgment perspective when sitting in companionship with you. It is eye-opening and confirming where God has provided, protected, and consistently been my rock when I have chosen to turn to Him (and even in times when I haven’t or have been stubborn or prideful).
As a graduate of Christian Formation and Development Ministries, with a specialization in Spiritual Direction, I have been in ministry for almost 30 years. I have served leading in youth ministry during my 20’s, trained in women’s ministry, went on to lead a New Mother’s ministry for several years as well as a Parent's ministry. After becoming an ordained Deacon, the Lord guided me, not only to my own Spiritual Director relationship but into the precious calling of this ministry called Spiritual Direction. I was raised Catholic, trained in ministry in a non-denominational Christian church, currently serve as a Deacon and leader at Bel Air Presbyterian Church and provide Spiritual Direction to those called into this deepening journey..
I am a seeker of God’s righteousness and am amazed at the evidence of His fingerprints in the world, in particular, in the lives of those I love, lead, and guide. It is my heart’s desire for each person to which I come into contact, that they would know and experience their belovedness in God, and that He would grant me the grace of being a useful vessel in your spiritual journey.

Contact

Website: www.BelovedJourney.net

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Specialties

Works with...

church leaders

married

singles

business professionals

parents

mothers

women

ministry leaders

entertainment

ill

Expertise in...

women's spirituality

Ignatian

Lectio Divina

Contemplative Prayer

creativity

art

grief

music

retreat

Grace Cabalka

Bakersfield, and Central Coast of California, CA, United States

I have been involved in church ministry for almost 30 years. I've written and taught Bible Studies, led retreats, spoken at...

About Me

I have been involved in church ministry for almost 30 years. I've written and taught Bible Studies, led retreats, spoken at conferences, and served overseas. I have seen ministry leaders and friends struggle as a result of not understanding how to care for their own souls, and I, myself, nearly walked away from the church due to burnout. Gratefully, the Lord gave me exactly what I needed through caring ‘holy listeners’ who helped guide me.

After receiving such life-giving ministry, I knew I wanted to do the same for others. I have received certification through The Leadership Institute in spiritual formation and soul care, along with training and supervision from their spiritual direction staff. There are meaningful ways to grow in intimacy with God as His beloved child through deep listening and responding, leading to healing and wholeness. Spiritual direction helps bring light to those pathways. I am honored to be a part of this process.

I’ve been married for 40 years and have 4 adult children and nine delightful grandkids. Along with ministry experience, I have walked through dark seasons in marriage and challenges of adult children and adoption. I have seen how Spiritual direction and formation have been life-giving, especially during challenging chapters. I am willing to meet through Skype, phone calls, or face to face in Kern County and San Luis Obispo County.
I've also become a certified enneagram coach under the teaching of Beth McCord (yourenneagramcoach) and if desired, use this tool in direction.

Contact

Phone: (661) 619-4583

Email:

Prefer Contact By: grace.cabalka@gmail.com

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Specialties

Works with...

pastors

church leaders

missionaries

college students

women in ministry

adoption

grief

transition

Expertise in...

Lectio Divina (and other disciplines)

women's spirituality

rule of life

dark night

enneagram

Shaleen Camery-Hoggatt

Lynden, WA, United States

Through my own experience of meeting with a Spiritual Director, God brought about a healing transformation that radically changed my life...

About Me

Through my own experience of meeting with a Spiritual Director, God brought about a healing transformation that radically changed my life and relationships, ending a decades-long battle with depression; so I know firsthand how the power of God can be experienced through a spiritual direction relationship. Despite being a lifelong Christian and church leader, the truth of being God’s Beloved only became a felt-experience in that context. I am grateful the Spirit continues to guide my journey of growth in becoming the person I was created to be, and gives me the privilege of witnessing and participating in this process in the lives of others as well.

I am also a grateful cancer survivor, having experienced a successful bone marrow transplant that resulted in remission from Multiple Myeloma, a blood cancer. This has given me an ongoing and personal understanding of the spiritual journey in the midst of pain, limitations, illness, loss, medical treatments and side effects. Whether or not these or depression are challenges for you, I would love to "listen together" to hear what the Spirit is speaking into your life and through your life and to see the ways God is at work around and through you to bring about redemption, healing, wholeness, and vitality. Since moving to Whidbey Island in the Puget Sound, most of my spiritual direction ministry is via video chat, so even if you are not in the Pacific Northwest, feel free to contact me to explore the possibilities.

My preparation includes completion of a three-year certification program in Spiritual Direction through Stillpoint Center for Christian Spirituality, participating in the 10-month Ignatian Spiritual Exercises (19th Annotation) through Sisters of St. Joseph in Orange, CA, and earning my BA and MA at Christian universities. My graduate studies included faith development transition and spiritual formation as major components.

I was raised in a pastor's home and have been married to the love of my life--a New Testament scholar/professor and ordained minister--for 43 joyous years. Together we have raised and delight in three adult children, as well as welcoming their fabulous spouses and two grandloves. I have worked in university residential life on both coasts, as well as serving as an elementary school teacher for 17 years; parenting, grand-parenting, and developmental transitions are areas of experience, study, and interest.

It is a blessing, calling, and privilege for me to serve as a Spiritual Director…
*meeting with individual students, academicians, seminarians, members of pastors' families, psychologists, ministers, artists and others seeking to be intentional about personal and spiritual growth.
*guiding small groups of directees, sacred companions, and spiritual directors,
*supervising interns in Spiritual Direction training programs,
*planning, facilitating, and speaking at retreats,
*teaching spiritual formation classes, workshops, and seminars
*facilitating experiences of reflective, contemplative prayer practices.

Contact

Phone: 949-858-0613

Email:

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Students

academicians

seminarians

pastors' families

persons in ordination process

pastors

persons who are terminally and/or chronically ill or dealing with chronic pain

faith transitions

anyone seeking to grow

Expertise in...

Living with chronic or terminal illness and/or pain

Ignatian exercises

spiritual disciplines and reflective prayer practices

faith development

depression

John Carlini

Highwood, IL, United States

I have a heart to walk with Christians as they are formed by God and a heart for multi-ethnic and multi-cultural...

About Me

I have a heart to walk with Christians as they are formed by God and a heart for multi-ethnic and multi-cultural ministry. I have served as a Military Chaplain, Youth Pastor, and am now retired after serving as the Senior Pastor of Devon Church, Chicago, IL for 25 years.

I hold an MA in Continental Philosophy (emphasis in Existentialism and Phenomenology) from DePaul University, an M.Div emphasis in Old Testament studies) and a D.Min (emphasis in Pastoral Counseling) from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. I am ordained with the Evangelical Covenant Church and completed my Spiritual Direction training at the Institute for Spiritual Direction at North Park University Seminary.

I am also certified in Enneagram Training and am accredited with the International Enneagram Association.

I have authored the book "Maximizing Your Enneagram Type."

Contact

Phone: 773-381-0074

Website: centerofgrowth.com

Email:

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: YES

Retreat Leading: YES

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

Pastors

lay people

church leaders

military

students

and group spiritual direction

Expertise in...

Enneagram

Iganatian Exercises

Spiritual Formation

Julie Carlsen

Chicago, IL, United States

God's deep desire is to be with us, right where we are, before we fix or change the things we don't...

About Me

God's deep desire is to be with us, right where we are, before we fix or change the things we don't like or think we should have already done. So in Spiritual Direction, we listen. Your task is noticing with loving attention what you're thinking, feeling, hoping, worrying about, focusing on as you move through your days. And noticing with that same gentleness and loving attention how it is with you and God. Don't worry about expectations for yourself or judging your "performance". That noticing is at the heart of Spiritual Direction.

What we are seeking together in Spiritual Direction is a direct experience between you and God. Although my presence, questions, silence, and input are important, the most vital part of direction is you hearing from and experiencing God directly.

My style as a director is focused on grace and gentleness. I've had one of my directees describe her time with me as "guided meditation," and another as a place to process - but my style adjusts to each person I sit with. Jesus’s words from Matthew 11 fit what I’ve experienced in Spiritual Direction:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (msg)

I attend a Mennonite Church in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood, where a majority of our members are foreign-born. I have been a part of an eclectic array of denominations and I value the strength and charism each brings to the body of Christ. I worked with refugees in the US for more than 13 years and I love cross cultural relationships. I studied Spiritual Direction at North Park Seminary’s Center for Spiritual Direction and have been offering Spiritual Direction since 2011. I am open to new direectees.

My husband and I have been married since 2008 and we have a 3 year old son and a baby daughter.

Contact

Phone: 847-868-5792

Email:

Prefer Contact By: email

Available For

In-person Direction: YES

Tele-Direction: YES

Group Direction: NO

Retreat Leading: NO

Languages Spoken

English

Specialties

Works with...

male

female

pastors

cross-cultural relationships

young adults

university students

seminary students

missionaries

singles

divorced

married

Spiritual Directors

Expertise in...

Enneagram

body-spirit connection

focusing prayer

cross-cultural

Myers-Briggs

dark night

grief work

infertility

loss

creativity

Lectio Divina

Ignatian Prayer

music

art

spiritual disciplines

doubt

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