Coffee with Spiritual Directors

09 Coffee with Nancy Ebner

In this episode of "Coffee with Nancy Ebner," Dan Lee sits down with retired pastor Nancy Edner to discuss her journey from lay leadership to seminary and pastoral ministry (0:01-5:03). The conversation explores her experience with spiritual direction for over 15 years, how it shaped her ability to pastor, and her transition into becoming a trained spiritual director after retiring in 2020 (5:35-9:25). Contact Nancy Ebner by visiting https://eccacsd.org/stylisticmodal/nancy-ebner

08 Coffee with Jenn Layte

In this episode of "Coffee with Jenn Layte," Jen Layte, a spiritual director, chaplain, and pastor, shares her unique journey and insights into spiritual direction. She discusses the differences between spiritual direction and traditional pastoral ministry (9:43), the challenges churches face in being trauma-informed and addressing forgiveness (26:47), and her vision for reimagining spiritual formation through contemplative practices and understanding the stages of faith (35:50). Tune in to discover how she helps individuals and churches foster deeper relationships with God and themselves. Contact Jenn Layte by visiting https://the-pilgrimage.org/ Published book: “Follower: How Getting Close to Jesus Brings You to Yourself” - https://a.co/d/072jmKch

07 Coffee with Neal Windham

In this episode of "Coffee with Neal Windham," Dan Lee sits down with spiritual director Neal Windham to explore his unique vocational journey. Neal shares his transition from teaching Greek and pastoring to his current ministry in spiritual direction. The conversation highlights the value and growing need for spiritual direction among pastors and church leaders (4:27), delving into its role in spiritual formation (16:37) and how it addresses the challenges of contemporary ministry. They also discuss the practicalities of implementing spiritual direction in church settings, emphasizing the importance of "holy listening" (31:51) and "practicing the presence of God" (39:56) in a busy world. Neal reflects on how becoming a spiritual director has profoundly changed him, fostering a more contemplative approach to life and a deeper appreciation for human connection and diverse spiritual paths (44:02). Contact Neal for spiritual direction: rnwindham@gmail.com, or 217-737-2400

06 Coffee with Nita Kotiuga

06 Coffee with Spiritual Directors features a conversation with Nita Kotiuga, the director of spiritual formation at Bakke Graduate University, discusses her journey into spiritual direction and her experiences as a former pastor (0:06). She shares how her personal quest for a deeper faith led her to seek spiritual direction and eventually become a spiritual director herself (0:35). Nita highlights the unique aspects of spiritual direction, emphasizing the importance of a director's attentive listening and the freedom for individuals to explore their spiritual walk without an agenda (5:21). The conversation also delves into the differences between pastoral ministry and spiritual direction, particularly regarding time commitment and training in attentive listening (12:28). Nita identifies the biggest challenge facing the church today as a lack of "depth" in people's experience with God, often exacerbated by the quick-fix nature of modern life (25:00). She advocates for spiritual direction as a foundational practice for Christians to withstand hardship and develop a profound, trusting relationship with God (36:05). Nita concludes by advising pastors to seek their own spiritual directors and encourages anyone experiencing a spiritual hunger to explore spiritual direction (38:09, 39:22).

05 Coffee with Bridget Black

Episode 05 of Coffee with Spiritual Directors features a conversation with Bridget Black, a spiritual director in Southern California who describes her practice as therapeutic spiritual direction (0:32). Drawing from years of ministry (1:29), seminary study (1:50), and work in the psychological and therapeutic world (0:36), Bridget weaves together soul care, trauma-informed presence (20:38), and spiritual discernment to create a spacious room where the personal and the spiritual meet (0:58). Dan and Bridget talk about prophetic listening (8:31), why questions and doubts belong in prayer (11:07), how practices like the Examen can ground us, and where spiritual direction fits in the future of the church (35:10). If you are longing for a companion who can hold both your story and your nervous system, this episode offers a hopeful and healing vision of what spiritual direction can be.