{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Sabbath Life Podcast","title":"Growing a Spiritual Direction Ministry in a Large Church, with Deidre Franklin","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1828,"description":"In this episode of the Sabbath Life Podcast, Peter White talks with Deidre Franklin, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City and a recent graduate of the Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction. Deidre shares the story of how her church launched a new ministry of spiritual direction, what it took to build a team, and how the practice is shaping people’s lives.\nIn this episode, you’ll hear:\n–How Deidre was invited to start a ministry of spiritual direction at a large church\n–Why spiritual direction can be challenging to introduce in big-church settings\n–How she gathered a team and found training for new spiritual directors\n–What her cohort experience at Sabbath Life was like\n–How spiritual direction deepened her understanding of listening, discernment, and attention\n–The surprising ways the ministry has grown over four years\n–Advice for pastors and leaders who want to begin something similar\nKey themes\n–Spiritual direction as deep listening\n–The tension between slow, reflective formation and fast-paced church culture\n–The importance of community in starting a new ministry\n–Learning to recognize God’s voice in everyday life\n–Training our attention toward God\nNotable moments\n–Deidre explains how her church leadership first approached her about spiritual direction\n–She describes the challenge of introducing a largely unfamiliar practice\n–She shares how her team grew from a small group into 11 spiritual directors serving 85 congregants\n–She reflects on the impact of spiritual direction on church members who are receiving it\n–She offers advice to leaders: start with prayer, conversation, and a team\nGuest bio\nDr. Deidre Franklin is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. She recently completed the Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction and now helps lead a growing ministry of spiritual direction in her congregation.\nAbout The Sabbath Life\nThe Sabbath Life Podcast shares stories about...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/v1497I8S5v6Ca1HeF68V7JBS4JGjPD2_56EDZoc5urM/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9kZDRj/NzZkZTkzZTZhMjI5/MjI4OGI4NmZkMzI0/OTEzYy5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}