So, dear pastor, where do you go to share your dreams? To bear your burdens? To blow off some steam? To care for your soul?
Sadly, pastors rarely have a place where they can go to simply be themselves.
Our goal at TSCTW is to offer you a space for spiritual companionship. The ancient term for it is spiritual direction.
Watch this short video that offers a marvelous description of the work of spiritual companionship: holding space for others.
Once you’ve decided to look for a spiritual director, we suggest you begin your search here with our Spiritual Directors Network. It’s our vision, as a network of trained spiritual companions, to offer high quality, Christ-centered spiritual direction to pastors who are looking to benefit from the absolute joys of receiving on-going spiritual direction. We personally know each of these directors listed here. Each of them have pastoral ministry experience and we highly recommend any of these wonderful men or women listed below.
Click on the spiritual director’s picture or name to contact them inquiring of your interest in spiritual direction. And be sure to tell them The Contemplative Activist sent you their way!
COLORADO
Kim Nielsen – Kim offers individual spiritual direction by FaceTime, Skype, phone or in person. Kim has a Master’s Specialization in Spiritual Transformation from Northern Seminary and the Transforming Center. She received her two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction. She is also a trained companion for the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises, through Sustainable Faith. Kim is a Certified ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Practitioner.
IDAHO
Kathy Bence – (Nampa) – Kathy is a retired Methodist minister and missionary. She discovered a passion for spiritual direction while doing a 2-year certificate in Australia. She also found a two-year internship in the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises transformational. Finding her ‘home’ in spiritual formation, she completed a D.Min in spiritual formation at Azusa Pacific Univ. in LA. Kathy offers spiritual direction, group direction, and retreat leadership.
Jeffery L. Edmiston – (Nampa) – Jeff has 15 years of experience in pastoral service and ten years of experience in private practice counseling. He now works full time in Christian higher education as a Counselor Educator. He is passionate about journeying with people as they explore the life of prayer and learn to listen and respond to God, who desires a relationship with them. Jeff is available to provide one-on-one and group spiritual direction, and received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School ofSpiritual Direction, and is available for direction via in-person and Zoom.
Richard (Dick) Green, D.Min. – (Eagle) Richard is a retired PCUSA Presbyterian minister, who has moved out of pastoral ministry so he could devote more time and energy to the current passions in his life: spiritual formation, spiritual direction, and supervision of spiritual directors. To prepare for this phase in his life and ministry Richard completed a two-year certificate program in Spiritual Formation and Direction from CFDM, and in 2016, a certificate in the Supervision of Spiritual Directors. Richard is a member of ESDA and SDI. Richard’s mission is to support others in finding the next step on their spiritual path by being a generous listening companion. Richard also accompanies people through The Spiritual Exercises using Larry Warner’s book, Journey with Jesus. You can find out more about Dick and his ministry by going to his web site at www.highdesertdirection.com.
Eric Potter – (Peoria) Eric is lead pastor at Metamora Mennonite Church. He has been in vocational ministry for 18 years and has been blessed with a very eclectic experience of the Christian faith finding himself in a variety of denominational and non-denominational contexts. In direction, Eric seeks to implement both the Ignatian approach to the life of faith as well as the Enneagram. He received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction, and is available for direction via in-person, Skype, and FaceTime.
Tim Reist – (Peoria) Tim is passionate about helping others follow Christ with all their mind, heart, body, and soul. He has been in vocational ministry for the past 26 years serving on staffs of 3 churches in Indiana and Illinois. Tim leads retreats for people in their contemplative journey with God, and Enneagram retreats as well. He received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction.
IOWA
Marty Boller – (Cedar Rapids) Marty received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction and is a member of both Spiritual Directors International (SDI) and the Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association (ESDA). He loves coming alongside pastors and senior church leaders, companioning them in the care of their souls as they juggle the heavy demands of ministry. A trained director in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, Marty is also available for Supervision for directors (in groups or individually) being trained in supervision through Sustainable Faith. Via in-person, Zoom, Face-Time, or phone.
Sandy Boller – (Cedar Rapids) Sandy received her two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction and is a member of both Spiritual Directors International (SDI) and the Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association (ESDA). She loves to encourage women (particularly wives of pastors) to discover creative ways in being present to the One who is always present to us, finding their unique voice along the way. A trained director in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, Sandy is available for direction via in-person, Zoom, Face-Time, or phone.
Sheri Daylong – (Marion) Sheri has accompanied people on the journey of life in the capacity of professional ministry for over forty years. Her purpose in life today is to provide space for all persons who are seeking to find deep peace and an authentic sense of being and life with purpose! Sheri has completed the 2-year Academy for Spiritual Formation, the 3-year Spiritual Direction Program at the Franciscan Spirituality Center in LaCrosse, WI. A trained director in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius, Sheri is available via in-person, phone, Facebook, Skype and Zoom.
William (Bill) Daylong – (Marion) Bill, a veteran of 42 years of pastoral ministry, has embraced his passion for ministry working alongside persons who seek through spiritual practices to open up to the God who has always been present in their lives. Bill integrates practices from his Native American and Celtic spiritual heritages to help seekers to slow down and attend to the slow work of God within them. Bill received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction and is a trained director in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius.
Ann Donat – (Sumner) For 27 years Ann taught special education focusing mainly on students with severe to profound disabilities. Upon turning 50, Ann responded to a call to pastoral ministry within the United Methodist Church, attended Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa and currently serves a three-point charge in NE Iowa. Ann is available for direction by appointment and looks forward to walking alongside those who wish to deepen their relationship with God. She received her two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction, and is available for direction via in-person, or other on-line communications.
Dr. Lisa Van Allen– (Cedar Falls) Lisa has a certificate in spiritual direction from Mercy Center/Burlingame, CA (1996). The program helped heal the wounds of a broken marriage and a toxic church environment, while nurturing a contemplative faith and practice that supports Lisa through all of life’s challenges, including chronic pain. As a clinical psychologist and a certified executive business coach, Lisa supports people and organizations through painful transitions and in developing what she calls a Sabbatical Lifestyle. Lisa received an additional two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction (2018), and is a trained director in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius.
KANSAS
Chandelle Claassen– (North Newton) Chandelle offers spiritual direction as a listening ministry where she protects and holds open space for people to explore interior movements or feelings as they interact with God in a conversational relationship. She is also a certified life coach, working with individuals in the areas of leadership and soul care. Chandelle is available for retreats and speaking on spiritual formation and soul care rhythms. She received her two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction and is a trained director in The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius.
MINNESOTA
Justin Law – (Inver Grove Heights) Justin has a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Writing, has completed Vineyard Leadership Institute’s two-year program, and received his Masters of Ministry in 2011. Justin serves on the pastoral staff at River Heights Vineyard Church in Inver Grove Heights, currently overseeing worship arts, prayer, and youth. Whether in the role of artist, worship leader, minister, or spiritual director, his passion is to create space for connection with God. Justin received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction.
Judith Ritchie – (Minneapolis) After nearly 30 years as a congregational pastor, Judith’s calling now is to come alongside pastors and ministry leaders to help them thrive in ministry. Too often in ministry we care for everyone else’s soul and neglect our own. Judith has been a spiritual director with certification for 20 years. As a member of ESDA, she also has training in Ignatian spirituality, Enneagram, MBTI, and prayer. She loves helping ministry folks hear again Jesus’ words, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.” Judith meets with people in person, by phone or by Skype.
VIRGINIA
Dan Davis – (Raleigh) Dan is a former pastor and retired military officer and believes the depth of one’s inner life and relationship with God determines the quality of their life and ministry with others. He counts it a privilege to work with pastors, leaders, and other followers of Jesus who desire to “go deeper.” Dan received his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction, and is available for spiritual direction in-person or through video conferencing.
WISCONSIN
Adam Arn – (Grafton) Adam is honored to be able to create safe and sacred spaces for others to grow in their awareness of God’s presence in their everyday lives and to encourage them in responding positively to whatever it is God may be inviting them into. He currently serves on the pastoral staff at the Vineyard Church in Grafton, WI. He received his M.A. in Theology from Marquette University, his two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction, and is available for direction via in-person, Skype, Zoom, or Google Hangouts.
Nancy Booth – (Madison) Nancy offers spiritual direction as a safe space to explore soul care as people listen to their hearts, minds, and bodies to hear what God may be saying to them. She loves serving small teams of people and provided pastoral care for InterVarsity’s Urbana18 operations team. She has served on her small church plant’s leadership team for 8 years. In addition, she is a certified Enneagram coach from Scott and Clare Loughrige’s ©iEnneagram Motions of the Soul Certification Training. She received her two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School Spiritual Direction.
Suzanne Larson– (Port Washington) Suzanne received her received her two-year certificate in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction. Her desire is to provide space for women to sit with Christ, interact with Him, experience Him and walk away with a deeper sense of who they are in Christ and what He desires for them. She is available for one-on-one spiritual direction in person, via Skype or phone.
ONTARIO – CANADA
Wayne & Sabrina MacQueen – (London) Wayne and Sabrina offer one-on-one spiritual direction as well as group spiritual direction. It is their passion to help ministry leaders remain and come into health…to come alongside men and women who are ministering in today’s hurried, frenetic church cultures. Wayne & Sabrina received their training in spiritual direction from Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction.
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