Sacred Listening
What is Spiritual Direction?
Sacred, Nonjudgmental Presence
A spiritual director creates a safe, compassionate space where the directee can show up as their full self—doubts, longings, wounds, hopes and all. This presence reminds the directee that they are not alone, and that God is already at work within them.
Deep, Attuned Listening
Rather than offering advice, a spiritual director practices holy listening—not just to the words being spoken, but also to what’s stirring beneath the surface. They listen for the movement of the Spirit, often reflecting back what the directee might not yet see clearly in themselves.
Discernment and Awareness of God’s Presence
A spiritual director accompanies the directee in noticing God’s presence and activity in everyday life. This often involves helping them discern next steps, clarify desires, or sit with uncertainty—all while grounding them in prayer, scripture, or other spiritual practices that deepen awareness.
About Me
I am a pastor, certified spiritual director, and ministry coach with a Master of Divinity and a graduate certificate in Spiritual Direction. For more than six years, I have had the privilege of walking alongside people as they navigate life's deepest questions, transitions, and sacred moments. I also serve as a spiritual director for chaplains and chaplain residents through the WVU Medicine Center for Learning and Development and have a passion for helping people recognize God's presence in the ordinary rhythms of life.
In addition to my ministry, life has been my greatest teacher. I have journeyed through a diagnosis and treatment for triple-negative breast cancer, discovering firsthand the uncertainty, grief, courage, and unexpected grace that accompany serious illness. Cancer changed my perspective on what matters most. It taught me that healing is often different from being cured, that hope can coexist with fear, and that sometimes the greatest gift we can offer another person is simply our faithful presence.
I am also the parent of a son on the autism spectrum. Parenting has deepened my understanding of advocacy, patience, resilience, and unconditional love. It has taught me that every person's journey is unique and that growth rarely follows a straight line. Through both the joys and challenges of raising a neurodivergent child, I have learned to celebrate different ways of experiencing the world and to make space for each person's authentic story.
These experiences have shaped not only who I am but how I accompany others. Whether someone is facing illness, caregiving, parenting, grief, vocational discernment, faith questions, life transitions, or simply longing for a deeper connection with God, I understand what it means to walk through seasons where there are no easy answers. I don't believe my role is to fix or solve another person's struggles. Instead, I offer a compassionate, prayerful presence—a companion who listens deeply, asks thoughtful questions, and trusts that God is already at work within each person's story.
As a spiritual director, I create a welcoming, nonjudgmental space where people can slow down, listen for God's voice, and discover grace in the midst of whatever they are carrying. Together, we make room for silence, reflection, and honest conversation, believing that even in life's most difficult seasons, God continues to invite us toward hope, healing, and wholeness.
No one should have to walk life's hardest journeys alone. It is an honor to walk alongside others as they discover that God's presence is often found not beyond the struggle, but faithfully within it.
Dinner Church Ministry Coaching
What if church looked more like a shared meal than a sanctuary? What if belonging came before believing? What if the table became the place where strangers became neighbors and faith grew through conversation rather than performance?
These questions led me to begin a Dinner Church ministry several years ago, and they continue to shape my passion for helping others discover new ways of reaching their communities.
I founded Sacred Tableswith a simple vision: create welcoming spaces where people can gather around a meal, build authentic relationships, and encounter God's love without pressure or expectations. What began as one dinner church has grown into multiple communities, each uniquely reflecting the people and neighborhoods they serve. Along the way, I have learned that there is no one-size-fits-all model. Every community has different gifts, challenges, and opportunities.
As a coach, I don't offer a program in a box. I walk alongside pastors, church leaders, and lay people as they discern what Dinner Church can look like in their own context. Together, we explore your community, identify the people you hope to reach, develop a sustainable ministry model, recruit and equip volunteers, and create meaningful worship experiences centered around the table.
My coaching is practical, relational, and grounded in real-life ministry. I've experienced both the joys and the challenges of starting something new—building volunteer teams, navigating budgets, adapting to changing circumstances, and learning through trial and error. Because I've been in the work myself, I understand the questions, fears, and excitement that come with launching a fresh expression of church.
Whether you are beginning with a handful of curious volunteers or looking to reimagine an existing ministry, I can help you move from vision to action. Coaching includes guidance in planning, leadership development, hospitality, worship design, community engagement, volunteer training, sustainability, and creating a ministry that reflects your congregation's unique calling.
Dinner Church is about more than sharing food. It is about creating spaces where people experience belonging, discover community, and encounter Christ around an ordinary table. Some of the most meaningful conversations about faith happen over soup, bread, and coffee. Around the table, barriers come down, stories are shared, and lives are transformed.
If God is stirring a vision for Dinner Church in your heart or your congregation, I'd be honored to walk alongside you. Together, we can imagine what is possible, discern God's invitation for your community, and build a ministry where everyone has a place at the table.
You can find me at www.sdicompanions.com - an international spiritual direction resource. I offer spiritual direction sessions in person, via Zoom, or by phone, making it easy to connect wherever you are.