Program Specifics

Since 1994, while affiliated with various institutions, World On Fire has offered a four-year formation program for those who sense a call to serve in the ministry of spiritual direction.  We believe spiritual directors are called and formed by God.

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The spiritual context of this formation program is the student’s ongoing relationship with God as nurtured by personal and communal prayer, monthly spiritual direction with a trained spiritual director, an annual silent, directed retreat (5 – 8 days), reflections, journaling and the pursuit of finding God in one’s life experiences. Within this context, the program seeks to assist students in cultivating a more contemplative and reflective lifestyle as they discern God’s call to the sacred ministry of spiritual direction. 

We understand the busyness and demands of life today.  As a result, this program is designed for those whose schedules do not permit attendance at daytime, evening or weekend classes or extended periods of residency. The program seeks to provide space, time and structure to allow the Spirit to reveal, deepen and fine-tune the gifts of the students.

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The program occurs in four [4] phases, one [1] for each year of the program, allowing candidates to enter at any phase.  Over the course of the four years, students are required to attend an annual intensive residency week that emphasizes and integrates theology, spirituality, formal practice in offering spiritual direction and the importance of supervision.  After residency, each year is spent in distance learning from home, including four meetings during the year with an assigned mentor [a member of our leadership team].

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Students may begin offering spiritual direction by the end of the first year of formation, under the supervision of a trained supervisor of spiritual directors.  The supervision required in this program is director-focused and is considered essential for the development and growth of the spiritual director. While in the program, serious, well-prepared students will generally experience two to three full years of offering spiritual direction and working with a trained supervisor. We believe that as long as a person serves as a director, s/he should continue to be in supervision. This is where growth in self-knowledge, self-revelation and relationship with God can best blossom.