Testimonials from Past Gatherings

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"The ESDA gathering is a wonderful time of fellowship and learning. I come away enriched and encouraged each year. It's good to have friends on the journey and see the work God is doing through these amazing spiritual directors."

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“I almost didn't come to The Gathering this year because I questioned my calling and equipping for the ministry of spiritual direction. The gentle support of other directors in the Visio Divina exercise and table fellowship were so encouraging. Communion together on our last evening included anointing with oil; the light trace of the cross on my forehead sparked in me a sense of being commissioned by God. The retreat was both restful and energizing.”

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“Again, it was a profound spiritual experience that grounded and rooted me ever more in Christ to be a person manifesting a lifestyle of discernment in more and more of my daily interactions with others.”

We are once again excited to return to the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center in Phoenix, Arizona for our 2024 ESDA Gathering. The Franciscan is located in the heart of Paradise Valley, has easy access to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, and is about 15 minutes from downtown Phoenix.

• Optional Pre-Event: The Art of Retreat : Monday, February 26th - 9am-3pm
• 2024 ESDA Gathering: Monday, February 26 - Thursday, February 29, 2024

ESDA Gathering Pre-Event
The Art of Retreat
Monday, February 26th
9am - 3pm

Mike Bowden will be facilitating this interactive time as we learn from one another and work together in small groups to create a retreat we can offer within our ministry contexts. Bring your questions and your resources so we can hone our skills in this very important place of ministry. Mike will also be sharing his own experiences from leading retreats around the world.

*While this event is free to all attending the Gathering, it will require an additional night stay (except those who are commuting) at the Franciscan.

ESDA Gathering
The Stories We Believe:
Uncovering Shame in Spiritual Direction
Monday, February 26th - Thursday, February 29th

Following the workshop, the 2024 ESDA Gathering will begin on Monday evening as we explore the topic of the stories we come to believe, how we can help our directees uncover them, and why this is vital to our relationship with God.

Mike Bowden will once again host our Gathering, along with session presentations by Debbie Swindoll, Dr. Dianna Kubacz, Dr. Genalin Niere Metcalf, and Dr. Nancy Nethercott. Debbie will open our mornings by grounding us in Scripture. Nancy Nethercott will share from personal experience and provide practical insights to help as we walk with others struggling with shame. Dianna and Genalin will help to deepen our understanding of the stories we tell ourselves, how we tell them, and the story shame is trying to tell about us.

As we become more aware of each of these in our own lives, we deepen our ability to draw out the stories of others. This personal work impacts our vocation.

“To effectively enter into the healing of shame requires us to know the place it holds in our story as a human race, and that requires us to know which story, exactly, we believe we are living in.” Curt Thompson, The Soul of Shame

Monday, February 26

Monday will be the pre-event, registration, settling in, and a time for connection.

• This year we are offering a day event called The Art of Retreat. This optional event is being offered from 9am-3pm.
• Registration for the Gathering will open at 4 p.m and run through dinner, which is at 5:30pm.
• We will kick off our ESDA Gathering with dinner together at 5:30 pm followed by an evening session and social event.

Tuesday, February 27

Details coming soon.

Wednesday, February 28

Details coming soon.

Thursday, February 29

We will close our Gathering by noon followed by lunch. We appreciate you booking your travel so as to be with us until our closing time.