Spiritual direction helps Christians pursue a closer relationship with God.  In the midst of a chaotic life it can be hard to carve out time to invest in our own spiritual growth.  Many of us find it difficult to notice what God is doing in the world or even in our own daily activities.  Yet, according to Augustine of Hippo, our souls do not find rest until they rest in God.  Most of us long for a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God.

Spiritual directors help us reflect on the presence of God throughout our daily experiences.  As our contemplation deepens, we begin to more easily identify His presence in even the smallest moments or the most mundane experiences of life.  We begin to gain clarity about how we are to live in the world as people of faith.  Spiritual directors help us surrender to the transformative power of God working in us, shaping us into the imago Christos (christlikkeness).  They help us discern the voice of the Spirit giving our lives direction and develop rhythms of life that create space for God's transformative power to work.

Spiritual Direction in Mission Alive

Church planters, church leaders, ministers, evangelists, pastor, and the like invest their lives in the spiritual formation of others.  Yet frequently no one invests in their spiritual life.  Mission Alive believes that for a church planter to plant a spiritually healthy church or for church leaders to lead spiritually healthy churches, they must be living a life of spiritual vitality and transformation.  Therefore, church planters working with Mission Alive have spiritual directors who walk with them and attentively focus on the spiritual health of the church planter, spouse and family.

Similarly, church leaders participating in Mission Alive's ReVision ministry are encouraged to find and work with a spiritual director to help them develop a deeper and more meaningful relationship with God.  Whether one is an "apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher" (Eph 4:11), one cannot "prepare God's people for works of service" (Eph 4:12) if one's own relationship with God is shallow illusory.

As part of Mission Alive's ministry to the church at large, ministers, preachers, pastors, elders, deacons, shepherds and Christians of all kinds are invited to participate in Equipping for Ministry, Mission Alive's coaching and spiritual direction training process.  It is our hope that by introducing Christians and church leaders to healthy and effective ways of equipping the saints, a new generation of church leaders will be raised up to lead the church into the next generation.