Spiritual Direction

Velvet Ashes is thrilled to connect our community to recommended spiritual directors. We believe that spiritual direction is a transformational resource, so we’ve gathered a team of spiritual directors that have a heart especially for you.

What is spiritual direction?

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.

How does this work?

The rhythm of spiritual direction is to meet once per month for an hour session. Below are three 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 $45 per session with an introductory session at no cost. Scheduling, communication and payment are done with each director individually through their contact info below.

Kathy Carwell

I consider sharing in your journey of seeking a deeper relationship with God a privilege. It brings me immense joy to witness the transforming power of the Holy Spirit when God is invited into the daily moments of their lives.

Three of my children lived overseas for extended periods of time, which has allowed me to see first-hand the isolation and difficulties in finding a spiritual community that comes with living abroad. Being able to pray with you and for you in your journey as you notice God in big and small ways is a gift that I do not take for granted. 

In 25 years of ministry experience, leading prayer groups and bible studies, I have met with women from all types of backgrounds. God gave me a desire to serve in a new way through spiritual direction. God has used spiritual direction to bring clarity, hope, peace, and a deeper relationship with Him. Being able to notice where God is and what he is saying has been transforming in my life. 

I completed my spiritual direction certification through Christos. I own a used bookstore and I love to travel, play with my grandchildren, read and have people over to sit on my back deck.

Contact: [email protected]

Schedule a session

Nadine Gascho

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 now married (which involved a move across the
country) and a grandmother of nine! 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: [email protected]

Danielle Wheeler

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 development, and it’s my joy to create retreats and spiritual formation content for you. Now, 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 thoroughly enjoy plants, tea, books, adventuring with my family, and sitting in sacred spaces.

Contact: olivedirection.com