Spiritual Direction
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction provides a non-judgmental space to pay attention to God’s presence and activity in your life. In this practice of unhurried presence, your Spiritual Director acts as a companion who helps you discern and foster an attentiveness to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual Direction gives you a safe place to share, process, and navigate life’s challenges. This practice is grounded in Scripture. Ultimately, Spiritual Direction helps you experience God’s love more fully.
Christian Spiritual Directors are trained in spiritual formation, soul care, relational health, prayer, discernment and more. VCC Pastors provide Spiritual Direction as well. Below is a list of trained Spiritual Directors that attend VCC who would be happy to meet with you or help you find Spiritual Direction outside of VCC.
A confidential time to focus on your life with God
An opportunity to grow in prayer and discernment
A time to be seen and heard by a caring and empathetic believer
What It Is
A confidential time to focus on your life with God
An opportunity to grow in prayer and discernment
A time to be seen and heard by a caring and empathetic believer
What It Is Not
You are experiencing overwhelming stress or discouragement
You desire to grow closer to God
You feel stuck in your life with God
You desire to discern God’s movement in your life
Why Try It
During Sid’s two decades of pastoring at VCC, his overarching passion was to understand how people mature spiritually, both for his own growth and to help others grow in their walk with God. Eventually, that desire led him to a SoulCARE program for pastors that introduced him to spiritual direction. He has continued to receive spiritual direction ever since. Shortly before his retirement from VCC in 2019, Sid received his certification from CenterQuest which operates out of Pasadena.
Sid Niemeyer
In addition to having earned her Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Development, Valerie has served for over 30 years in women’s Bible studies, children’s ministries, as a mentor, and in other leadership roles. Drawing from her own experiences of deep relational growth with God through group spiritual direction, Valerie has pursued her own training in spiritual direction and coaching to lead others to experience similar growth in their intimacy with God. Valerie received her certification from the Soul Shepherding Institute in Southern California.
Valerie Laws
Getting Started
To determine if this is the next right step for you and to get started, email fiona@vc.church to set up a quick intake phone call. You’ll get to share what has brought you to seek spiritual direction and explore the different options available to you.
Once it’s been decided that spiritual direction is a good fit for you, you’ll be set up for an initial discussion with your potential spiritual director. Here, you’ll meet them, get a chance to ask questions, and start to imagine the spiritual direction process with this spiritual director.