Spiritual direction is a time for growing deeper in your relationship with God. It’s a time to pay attention to the voice and movement of God in your life. Through joys, sorrows and times of uncertainty, a spiritual director helps you listen to the Holy Spirit, notice the invitation of God, and discern how He is actively at work in the midst of your life’s everyday moments.
Spiritual direction is an unhurried, contemplative space to share your story and the journey of your heart. During a session you and your spiritual director may pray, sit in silence, and read Scripture, all the while listening for how God is present. Spiritual directors look to the leading of the Holy Spirit as the true Spiritual Director.
The rhythm of spiritual direction is to meet once per month for an hour session. Below are spiritual directors who are offering spiritual direction to the Velvet Ashes community (and to any woman who is or has recently been serving cross-culturally) for a reduced rate of $50 with an introductory session at no cost. Scheduling, communication and payment are done with each director individually through their contact info below.
One of my greatest joys is witnessing the transforming work of the Holy Spirit as we learn to notice God’s presence in the ordinary moments of life. Throughout 25 years of ministry, I have led prayer groups and Bible studies and walked alongside women from many backgrounds and seasons of life. Over time, God placed a desire in my heart to serve in a new way through spiritual direction. I have seen how this ministry can bring clarity, hope, peace, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence.
Spiritual direction has also been an important part of my own faith journey. Learning to listen for God and recognize where He is at work has transformed my relationship with Him. I am honored to offer others a prayerful, welcoming space to listen, reflect, and discern.
Because three of my children have lived overseas for extended periods, I also understand some of the isolation and challenges that can come with living abroad and finding spiritual community. It is especially meaningful to support and pray with those navigating life far from home.
I have also worked with children and received specialized training in spiritual accompaniment for children, whose wonder and openness often help them recognize God in beautiful and simple ways. In addition, my training in the effects of trauma has deepened my commitment to creating a safe, compassionate space where each person can feel heard, seen, and gently supported.
I completed my spiritual direction certification through Christos. Outside of this ministry, I own a used bookstore and enjoy traveling, reading, spending time with my grandchildren, and welcoming people to sit on my back deck. These simple, relational moments are some of the places where I most clearly experience the goodness and presence of God.
Contact: Kathy.spiritualdirection@gmail.com
As a spiritual director, I count it a privilege to support you in your deepening relationship with God. As a cross-cultural worker myself (born and raised in Zambia, Africa, and then having spent over 20 years serving around the world as an adult), I am particularly drawn to and have much to offer cross-cultural workers and women in ministry. I am particularly passionate about coming alongside others in their desire to stay spiritually healthy (thriving in their relationship with God).
Through the gift of spiritual direction in my own life, God continues to do a deeper work of heart transformation in me. I am learning to “do” life and ministry from a heart at rest in His love, while listening for and responding to His invitations. I look forward to offering you companionship in your own journey with God: listening for how He is coming in the daily and continuing to pursue you with His love.
After years of being single in ministry, I am enjoying married life and being a grandmother of ten! As a life-long learner, I enjoy relating with others through ethnic foods, books, and cozy coffee shops. I have an MA in spiritual formation and a certification in spiritual direction through Soul Stream. I most deeply connect with God through Scripture, being out in nature (often with my camera), in silence, and through corporate worship.
Contact: nadinegascho.ca/
Danielle is currently at full capacity. Please see her website for updates.
As Velvet Ashes’ founder, this community has long nestled close to my heart. I’ve followed God’s invitation into my current role as Velvet Ashes’ director of spiritual formation, and it’s my joy to create retreats and weekly spiritual formation content for you. I’m thrilled to also sit down face-to-face and one-on-one with you and the invitation to embrace God’s transforming love.
I served for a number of years in China and also a year in Ecuador. I’m married to my professor husband, and we have four children. That’s the surface version of a twenty year journey. The deeper short story is this: for many years my relationship with God centered around what I could do for God. Spiritual direction and sacred rhythms transformed my relationship with God into one of intimacy, where being with God and hearing from God became the center from which everything flows. My calling now is to journey with people in listening to the Holy Spirit. It would be an honor to do so with you.
I completed my spiritual direction certification through Selah. I currently train spiritual directors through The Companion. I thoroughly enjoy plants, tea, books, adventuring with my family, and sitting in sacred spaces.
Contact: olivedirection.com
My husband and I, along with our five children, have served as full-time missionaries since 2008. For 12 years we lived in Guatemala, and while we now reside in Michigan, we continue to travel back and forth, serving with World Orphans while our hearts remain in two places. Since returning to the U.S. in 2020, I received certification in Spiritual Direction through Selah, a personally transforming experience which continues to form me.
I am passionate about creating sacred space for women, particularly those in missions and ministry. Many of the women I companion are Spanish-speaking, and I am comfortable meeting in either Spanish or English. My desire is to walk alongside women in their spiritual journeys—helping them pause, notice God’s presence, and listen for the voice of their Good Shepherd. I believe that to be heard is to be loved, and I would be honored to offer you a safe place to be heard, also listening together for God’s guidance and encouragement to you, as His beloved.
I am most renewed through spiritual practices of silence, community, and time in nature. Family adventures outdoors, walking our dogs, and enjoying sunshine are my favorite pastimes. I also thoroughly enjoy a cup of Guatemalan coffee as my perfect comfort on both rainy Guatemala days and snowy months in Michigan.
Contact: smithsinguatemala@gmail.com
I currently live in Joplin, Missouri with my husband and four children. I am a homeschool mother-teacher, a staff member of an international missions organization and a spiritual director.
I have lived one third of my life as an expat in a variety of different countries in Europe, Asia and the Middle East. I know first hand the unique beauties and challenges of the expat life and I count it a true privilege and a joy to come alongside you by offering spiritual direction. My hope is that it can be a sacred place of growing awareness of just how God is present with you in the everyday moments of ordinary life; a safe place to explore and name his invitations to you; a place to be honest about the beauty, the good, the hard, the bad, and the ugly.
I completed my spiritual direction certification through Sustainable Faith in 2023. I love the mountains, good food, travel, read-alouds with my kids, cozy fireplaces and birdsong – and I love to experience different aspects of God through each of those!
Contact: karisa.grindle@gmail.com