SCROLL DOWN TO APPLY 
For those that desire formal spiritual direction training that meets the requirements of the Evangelical Spiritual Direction Association based in Dallas, TX, we offer a two-year School of Spiritual Direction. Our School of Spiritual Direction training actually exceeds the ESDA requirements. You can review those requirements on the ESDA website.
Our School of Spiritual Direction training is unique. By teaching the lifestyle rhythms of Jesus alongside the tenets of spiritual direction, our training is unique and deeply transformative personally. Your formal spiritual direction work after graduation will be enhanced by your living a lifestyle deeply rooted in the rhythms we see modeled by Jesus. We don't just hope to train spiritual directors in a cognitive learning style only (though that is part of our process), our goal is to provide opportunities for lifestyle transformation that result in an abiding life with Jesus that flows into and empowers your work as a spiritual director. We believe this focus on lifestyle transformation personally will empower your spiritual direction ministry to bear significant and lasting fruit in the lives of your directees.
THE OPPORTUNITY
We will begin the next generation of our School of Spiritual Direction when we have enough signups to begin a cohort. Please contact us directly if you'd like to hear an estimated launch date. Upon completion of our training process, you be eligible to apply for acceptance to the Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association.
SOME KEY DETAILS
- Local cohort of 3-4 individuals
- Three retreats over two years (one local)
- Monthly Zoom sessions
- Monthly debriefs with your local cohort to discuss the training, reading, and/or labs
- EPC's (Extended Personal Communion) and other spiritual practices will be emphasized and practiced
- Praxis-based learning style
- Community-based learning
- Assigned reading with collaborative discussion
- Final research paper tied to personal calling
- Personally receive formal spiritual direction through the year (may be an additional cost)
- You will provide spiritual direction
- Supervised Spiritual Direction Mentoring
- $650 signup and $125 per month for 24 months
Note: Your application to be considered is free. You will only be invoiced if you are accepted.
Craig Babb has written a very helpful White Paper below describing ways in which spiritual direction can benefit your job or ministry, no matter what your title or role. Spiritual Direction has many applications!
The Many Applications of Formal Spiritual Direction
Desiring to lend support to another on the journey of faith flows from a heart that is itself being transformed. To come alongside a friend with the intent to encourage and support means a person has a view of understanding the Sacred is enmeshed in everyday ordinariness. Generally, there are three kinds of people who may desire to participate in certification training in order to best tend to another in this way.
Pastors are those who, by virtue of their vocational calling, have a responsibility to care for the souls of others. Pastors, who choose to follow their calling, know there is more to the task than casting vision, preparing sermons, and running organizational structures. These pastors, who know there is a need to add spiritual direction to their toolbox of pastoral care, will find the certification training to be one of the more valuable experiences in their continuing education.
Another type of person may be those in academic or other institutions that have responsibilities that include interpersonal relationships. Professors, teachers, chaplains, or even CEOs and managers may fit in this category. These individuals along with those who desire to singularly specialize in this field of spiritual direction as a response to a call from God will find certification training of immense benefit.
Then there are those individuals who find that expressing love and support by listening to another is what they do naturally. These individuals may have no title or special position in a church or Christian organization but others seem to consider them as a helpful and wise friend. The necessity of attending to another as a soul friend is a work that can be enhanced through training in the art of spiritual direction.
