Your journey of faith is not meant to be walked alone. There are vulnerable seasons in life where God calls us to walk in community more closely, inviting us into a richer and deeper life with God.

We welcome Christian leaders in New York City who are new to spiritual direction to this one-day gathering made possible through the generosity of the Ministry in the City HUB. Whether you are in campus ministry, pastoral care, social work, or mental health, we know that you each carry immense responsibility for your communities - and may lack sustained spaces for your own renewal.

This gathering introduces leaders to the gift of spiritual direction through an immersive experience. You will meet individually with a trained spiritual director for a one-on-one session: an experience of holy listening, prayerful reflection, and discernment to deepen your connection with God in the morning. Then in the afternoon, you will participate in group spiritual direction, listening to and for God in a collective spiritual journey together.

By engaging both individually and collectively, you will experience a model of spiritual care that can be carried into your own ministries, strengthening both leaders and the communities you serve. Together, we’ll explore how spiritual direction complements pastoral care and counseling to create a more holistic approach to discipleship, care, and formation.

Our desire is for you to leave encouraged, resourced, and equipped to cultivate long-term spiritual health for yourself, your team, and your community.

10:00am Meet & Greet

10:15am Welcome & Introduction

10:30am Worship & Contemplation

11:00am - 1:40pm Individual spiritual direction sessions / time of solitude / Lunch

When you are not in a spiritual direction session (40 minutes each), you are invited to be in quietness and personal contemplation in the Main Room with the retreat guide provided for you. When you are ready (and hungry!) you are welcome to connect and join others for lunch in the dining area between 12-1:45pm.

12:00 - 1:45pm Lunch (included and overlapping with individual spiritual direction)

2:00 Group Spiritual Direction

Focus area A - Lectio Divina
Focus area B - Imaginative Prayer
Focus area C - The Examen
Focus area D - Centering Prayer
Focus area E - Body Scan

3:45 Group Closing and Blessing

"I definitely learned a lot about what is required to experience formation in a group setting and experiencing Christ as a body of attentive believers. It was a humbling experience in that it exposed habits that I would need to let go " - Group spiritual direction participant, full time missionary

Visit www.wonderaloud.org to learn more or email hello@wonderaloud.org with any additional questions

*** Registration will close on January 15, 2026 ***

FROM HEAD TO HEART

By Wonder Aloud

FROM HEAD TO HEART

Spiritual Direction in Your Life and Ministry