Jan. 15 - Apr. 15, 2023

Class Sessions on Thursdays at 8-9am PT
12-Week Course Meets Virtually - $500

This Section is for International Students

Spiritual Direction with Children is designed to form adults into formal listening companions for children. Through readings and experiences, adults will learn about the unique aspects of a child’s life with God and how to come alongside and support. Adults will gain information and insights around children’s spiritual formation and how meeting the child where they are with acceptance and encouragement opens the child to resiliency and a lifelong relationship with the Divine. This is a practicum course therefore directors will be meeting with children in spiritual direction and bring those sessions to supervision.

Course fee includes virtual teaching times and supervision for required sessions with children. It does not include the required texts. Limited scholarships are available international students who can not afford to take part; please reach out to lacygooddirt@gmail.com for more details.

Those interested are required to complete an essay and an interview with the instructor before admittance. Capacity is limited to 12 students. Please note there is a $25 application fee.

Through this Course,
You will...

  • Learn the four elements of children’s spiritual formation.

  • Explore and understand the various dimensions of the person and how that impacts the spiritual lives of children.

  • Grow in skills and posture to be a listening presence for children.

  • Explore and reflect upon your own childhood experiences of God in the presence of a trained spiritual director.

  • Engage in intentional child-like spiritual practices that are natural to children.

  • Describe, practice and implement the distinctive elements in the practice of listening with children.

  • Develop and practice spiritual direction skills that meet children where they are.

  • Notice moments of transcendence and the Spirit’s invitation in the life of a child.

Watch Intro Video

Listen to Lacy share a bit about this course.

Requirements for
Spiritual Direction
with Children Certificate

  • Class Attendance and participation, one excused absence is allowed

  • 8 hours of spiritual direction sessions with children

  • Participate in 4 Group Supervision Sessions
    Available times are:
    March 11 at 8am PT
    March 26 at 2pm PT
    April 1 at 8am PT
    April 5 at 2pm PT
    April 8 at 8am PT
    April 12 at 8am PT

Lead Guide

Instructor

Lacy Finn Borgo

Lacy Finn Borgo, DMin, teaches and provides spiritual direction for the Renovaré Institute, for the DMin. in Spiritual Direction at Fuller Theological Seminary, for Portland Seminary and for the Companioning Center. Lacy has a spiritual direction and supervision of spiritual directors ministry, and provides spiritual direction for children at Haven House, a transitional housing facility for homeless families. Her most recent book is Spiritual Conversation with Children: Listening to God Together. See her website GoodDirtMinistries.org for a list of her other publications. She is a member of the Renovaré ministry team. She holds a DMin. from George Fox Evangelical Seminary and is a graduate of the Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation. She has a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Portland Seminary. Her supervision training is from the Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA. Lacy lives on the Western Slope of the Rocky Mountains.

Assistant Guides

Instructor

Terra McDaniel

Terra is a spiritual director, pastor, teacher, and writer who loves making space for people of all ages to tune into the holy and their own souls. She received an MDiv with a concentration in spiritual formation from Portland Seminary. Terra and her husband live in Austin, Texas with their tiny rescue dog Edie. She’s thankful that their daughter, son-in-law, and grand-dogs are only a ten minute drive away. You can find her online on Facebook, Instagram, and at terramcdaniel.com.

Ellie Beatty

Ellie Beatty, M.S. Ed., has spent most of her adult life teaching preschool children in private- and public-school settings. She has a passion for helping children to recognize their God-given gifts and abilities, and to know God’s great love for them.

In addition to teaching, Ellie has led many workshops for parents and enjoys consulting with families around parenting joys and challenges. She founded and directed a Christian preschool centered on hands-on learning and nurturing joyful discovery in young children.

When Ellie completed the Spiritual Direction with Children course in 2020, she felt like a fish in water – discovering a new calling that is tailored to her gifts and passions. She is currently pursuing certification as a Spiritual Director for adults through the Schools of Sustainable Faith and serves as a Spiritual Director to both children and adults in Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.

Instructor

Kaisa Stenberg-Lee

Kaisa is a certified Christian spiritual director and workshop leader. She holds B.A. in Childhood Studies from University of Wales, Bangor and a Spiritual Director Certificate from Sustainable Faith. Kaisa is a Finland native, and before moving to the USA she served families as a pioneering member of a missions organization and on pastoral staff of a multicultural church in Amsterdam for nearly a decade. Currently Kaisa lives in sunny Denver where she offers spiritual direction to both children and adults. She also hosts creative contemplative retreats, writes prayer guides, and crafts handheld prayer tools. You can find her writings and tactile prayer tools on her spiritual direction practice website  at www.kutsucompanions.com. 

Course curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome to the course!

    • A message from the instructor: Welcome to the Course!

    • How to use this course

    • Spiritual Direction with Children Course Syllabus

    • Book List
  • 2

    Week One: Our Picture of God is Shaped in Childhood

    • Week One: Preparation

    • Week One: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Mountain Time

  • 3

    Week Two: Spiritual Formation with Children: Four Elements

    • Week Two: Preparation

    • Week Two: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Mountain Time
  • 4

    Week Three: Posture, Power and Patterns

    • Week Three: Preparation

    • Week Three Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Mountain Time

  • 5

    Week Four: The Gift of Ears and Eyes

    • Week Four: Preparation

    • Week Four: Practice

    • Zoom Class Meetings Thursday 6:30pm-7:30pm Mountain Time

  • 6

    Week Five: The Language of Play and Projection

    • Week Five: Preparation

    • Week Five: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30pm-7:30pm Mountain Time
  • 7

    Week Six: Attending the Spirit

    • Week Six: Preparation

    • Week Six: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursday 6:30pm-7:30pm Mountain Time
  • 8

    Week Seven: Recognize and Respond

    • Week Seven: Preparation

    • Week Seven: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30 pm Mountain Time
  • 9

    Week Eight: Divinely Curious Questions

    • Week Eight: Preparation

    • Week Eight: Practice

    • Zoom Class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Mountain Time
  • 10

    Week Nine: Whole Person Prayer

    • Week Nine: Preparation

    • Week Nine: Practice

    • Zoom Class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Mountain Time

  • 11

    Week Ten: Loss, Suffering and Existential Questions

    • Week Ten: Preparation

    • Week Ten: Practice

    • Zoom Class meetings Thursdays 6:30pm-7:30pm Mountain Time

  • 12

    Week Eleven: Two Friends on an Expedition

    • Week Eleven: Preparation

    • Week Eleven: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30-7:30pm Mountain Time

  • 13

    Week Twelve: Mystery

    • Week Twelve: Preparation

    • Week Twelve: Practice

    • Zoom class meetings Thursdays 6:30pm-7:30pm Mountain time