During the last week of January, Bruce drove me to a retreat center outside Idyllwild (in the mountains above Palm Springs) to participate in the first session of my Spiritual Formation/Leadership Development program. I was meeting with about 20 other church leaders who – like me – were starting a new spiritual and educational journey.
I was excited, nervous, and hopeful. After researching a variety of such programs, I had decided on this one – simply called “The Journey” – sponsored by The Leadership Institute [http://www.tli.cc/]. The purpose of The Journey is to help Christian leaders more effectively connect their “inward journey” with their “outward journey.” In personal terms, this means deepening my own relationship with Jesus, in order to increase my effectiveness as a spiritual leader...because the best way for me to feed others is by allowing ministry to pour out of the overflow of my relationship with Christ.
Over the next two years, I will join these same people six different times at the retreat center. In between, I will have projects to work on, books to read, and extended quiet times with God. I also will meet regularly with a spiritual mentor who will help me process what I am learning.
It’s hard to describe my experience up on that mountain three weeks ago, because it was less about “learning” (like most seminars or retreats) and much more about “relationship” – my relationship with God and with others. My week was filled with communal and individual prayer, times of communion and laughter, moments of solitude, tears over sin and regret…and tears of joy. We were taught by wise brothers and sisters, we ministered to one another, we learned to listen more closely to God, and we experienced God’s peace and presence in a powerful way.
Our group will gather again in April, and I can hardly wait to reunite with my new friends. In the meantime, I will be listening…reading…and learning. Learning how to better care for my soul, so I can – in turn – better care for God’s people.
- Julie
About Me
- Bruce and Julie
- After seasons of working in both the for-profit and non-profit worlds, God called both of us into ministry. We have two over-riding passions: (1) to communicate - via speaking, teaching, and writing - God's truth as found in the Bible, and (2) to help men and women experience a faith in Jesus Christ that meets the deepest needs within their souls. + + + + Both of us are ordained ministers in the independent Christian Churches. Bruce is the Preaching Minister at Garden Way Church in Eugene, Oregon. Julie has earned a certificate in Spiritual Direction, has been a Women's Pastor and an adjunct college professor, and oversees a non-profit women's ministry called "the unfolding soul". Together we are developing a prayer garden at our home in Springfield called The Lavender Pavilion. + + + + We have been married for more than 30 years and have three adult children.
