Walking with Spiritual Directors: An Act of Supporting, Discerning, and Sustaining

The purpose of this project was to explore the value and feasibility of sustaining a group of spiritual directors. The hypothesis was that by establishing spiritual friendship and providing spiritual nourishment by leading a group of spiritual director through a spiritual guidebook, the spiritual directors could be sustained and supported. As a result, the spiritual directors will be able to identify and endure the challenging demands in ministries. In addition, their spiritual well being would be enhanced. They will also be empowered to express their compassion and hospitality to the directees, and enable them to become genuine shepherds to congregation or dedicated missionaries to the city.

Spiritual directors are not immune to external challenges. In fact, their needs in self-supporting and self-care may be even more intense. Their sense of loneliness is due more to the lack of mental and spiritual supports, and perhaps, to the lack of attention to their own spiritual well-being. Therefore, practicing of presence of God and self-care is of paramount importance to the spiritual directors.

The components of the project include first, Biblical and theological foundation, second, literature review, third, the ministry problem and data analysis. A literature review that explores theory, traditions and practices of spiritual direction will be carried out. Readings on how spiritual directors can be empowered, especially the topics on self-care, community and intimacy with God may prove helpful. Based on the readings of spiritual direction and the well being of spiritual directors, Biblical and theological reflection, especially on the characteristics of a healthy spiritual director, will be done.

The act of ministry will include the development of interviews with six participants, focus group and questionnaire to identify the real needs and effect of any changes, as well as the preparation of a spiritual guidebook for the participants. The participants will be given six weeks to practice the spiritual guidebook. Evaluation will be done to find out the outcomes and changes in terms of affirmation of calling, self care, shared practices, better self esteem and spiritual well being, followed by recommendation of how spiritual directors can be sustained.