Forming The Leader's Soul: An Invitation to Spiritual Direction
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| Size | 29 MB (29,088 KB) |
|---|---|
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| Status | Available |
| Last checked | 16 Hour ago! |
| Author | Morris Dirks |
“Book Descriptions: Forming the Leader’s Soul: An Invitation to Spiritual Direction encourages Christian leaders to recover the much-needed ancient discipline of spiritual direction as a pathway to nurture spiritual and emotional health amid the challenges of leading a ministry.
Ministry puts Christian leaders at risk, and spiritual direction is a practice that will help guard those who serve on the front lines. Many pastors and leaders are finding the nature of ministry to be unsustainable in today’s culture, and they are searching for help. They realize their initial enthusiasm and ministry training are simply not enough to reach the finish line. Business as usual is not working – deep down inside something is missing. This sacred thirst is the beginning of a deeper intimacy with God. Leaders are discovering spiritual direction as a proven pathway to recover spiritual life and the sustainable ministry that follows.
Several years ago spiritual direction was almost unheard of in the Protestant world. Today, this ministry is referred to in articles and books as well as highlighted at conferences. More and more leaders are intrigued and ready to investigate the value and practice of spiritual direction. This book seeks to give the reader a starting point from which to explore the ministry of spiritual direction. It offers an inside look at the history, theological foundation, and the praxis of this spiritual discipline creating a desire for further exploration and participation.
Forming the Leader’s Soul: An Invitation to Spiritual Direction begins by highlighting the increasing at-risk nature of ministry leadership with a focus on the systemic issues in Christian organizations that undermine spiritual and emotional health.
With this as the felt need, the book goes on to emphasize the value of spiritual direction, undergirding this practice biblically and historically. This is necessary since spiritual direction is still in the early stages of rediscovery in the Protestant tradition.
Having established the need and value of spiritual direction, Dr. Dirks helps the reader understand how this ministry is carried out. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), who authored Spiritual Exercises (a leader’s manual for conducting spiritual direction), stands at the forefront as someone to guide us. Dirks draws key insights from his philosophy of direction seeking to apply them in today’s context.
The author then turns to the wide range of contributions made in the contemporary field of spiritual direction, exploring the guiding principles and practices that flesh it out. The goal is to make spiritual direction appealing and accessible to today’s Christian leader.
The book seeks to strengthen the reader’s appreciation of spiritual direction by drawing upon the author’s own experience as a pastor for over three decades. He uses his personal journey into spiritual direction (both as a directee and director) as a window and an invitation to discover more. Each chapter ends with a short, real-life story from a leader who participates in spiritual direction.”
