What has wounded you? You are invited to come, pull up a chair, and see yourself as wounded, in need of a gentle healing path.
Or maybe you are deeply exhausted? Life has not gone the way you wanted it to. You are invited to come, sit with the God of your understanding, and tell me about it.
How long have you wondered alone in lostness? Maybe you feel as if you have lost God, or your church, or your soul. You are invited to come, explore the spirituality of lostness and find God where you least expected to find God.
Or is it a spiritual restlessness that is beyond words? God is active, inviting you out of all that is comfortable and easy. You are invited to come dare to sit with another as you open your spiritual eyes and ears to what is calling you.
It can be difficult to find someone with whom you can talk about your spiritual experiences, share your longing for “more” of the Divine, or explore the everyday mysteries of sacredness. Spiritual direction offers this type of listening and guided conversation. Kim’s longing is to help you enjoy the freedom to encounter God as deeply as you wish too.
Kim believes the spiritual journey by its very nature longs to be explored in the company of one another. Jesus said that when two or three are gathered – God comes and joins them. The walking together in God is an ancient path laced with renewal, transformation, and healing. Another name for this spiritual exercise or practice is spiritual direction.
What is spiritual direction?
A Spiritual Director is trained to companion, to prayerfully journey alongside a seeker, and listen deeply for the work of God ongoing in that seeker’s life. Spiritual direction is a spiritual practice, where the seeker brings their spiritual longings, wounds, lostness, and even doubts into a holy conversation. In the book of James, we read that healing happens when we dare to speak our weaknesses to another person. Yes, spiritual direction creates a private, confidential space between God and the seeker to express what has not been dared to be spoken elsewhere.
Spiritual direction helps you connect with your true self, and invites you to live faithfully in your work, family, and community.
Here are two YouTube videos to give you a look at what spiritual direction is and may offer you:
Spiritual Direction: What is it? https://youtu.be/ZEIDRp9hCqQ
Spiritual Direction: What is it? Episode 2 https://youtu.be/8Z28T6Rnna8
Kim Denyes, MATS
After a strong career with Prudential Financial, Kim left the corporate ladder behind, believing God was inviting her to something more. When she left, she did not know what that “more” would be. Initially the more was giving her time to those who did not have time. Then one summer day, someone asked, “What is it you really want to do?” Kim’s answer centered around connecting people to deeper aspects of God. “Have you thought about becoming a Spiritual Director?”
This question and its answer served as the calling of God. Kim simultaneously entered Moravian Theological Seminary, found a spiritual director, and enrolled in the Oasis Spiritual Direction training program. She has been offering spiritual direction since 2011.
She now holds a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies, two certificates in Spiritual Direction, and was awarded the Faculty Prize upon graduation from the Seminary. Her master’s thesis brought together the Babylonian exile and the healing power of community around non-life-giving attachments. The thesis resulted in the creation of a 13-week leader’s guide. The guide is based on the Group Spiritual Direction model, lead by a seasoned spiritual director.
Kim believes deeply in the spiritual gifts that come into being as part of spiritual direction work. She works with individuals, couples, and groups as part of her spiritual direction calling.
Kim grew up in a minister’s home. When she was a child, her parents planted a church in Fridley, Minnesota. This church now has multiple campuses and several thousand people attending. She grew up reading the Scriptures, praying, listening, learning. All of this created a deep well of knowledge and love for the biblical text. She knows first-hand that ministers do not have enough time or space to meet all the needs of the congregation. She believes when a church and its pastor engage in spiritual direction, all are called into God’s plan for the church, its people, and the community. One of her callings is to bring spiritual direction into a church or parish.
Kim is married to Tom Johnson, and together they now make their home in Minnetrista, Minnesota. In addition to her Master’s degree, she holds a BA in English Literature from Augsburg College, Minneapolis, Minnesota.