General Information

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“Our soul is like an inner stream of water, which gives strength, direction and harmony to every other element of our life. When that stream is as it should be, we are constantly refreshed and exuberant in all we do, because our soul itself is then profoundly rooted in the vastness of God and His Kingdom…” — Dallas Willard, “Renovation of the Heart”

Christian Spiritual Formation

The Transformational Listening Center (TLC) integrates Christian spiritual formation alongside preparation for spiritual direction. Our underlying foundation focuses on exploring what it means to be a citizen of God’s Kingdom. Specifically, as we are continually being formed into the image of Christ, how can we become people who reflect this identity in our everyday lives, especially as it relates to listening to others?

What is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is a way of listening deeply where one person helps another to take notice, attend to and ultimately respond to God’s presence in their daily life. Our lives are transformed as we experience being listened to this way.

TLC seeks to heighten the awareness of the inner workings of the Holy Spirit and the many ways God is present and active in the lives of those we listen to. Spiritual Directors listen to another to support and encourage them in the discernment process of life’s questions: Namely, where is God in the midst of life events and daily circumstances?

The TLC Experience

Classes meet online in Zoom on alternating Thursdays. Our classroom sessions consist of lectures, book discussions, demonstrations of skills taught, and listening exercises within small groups. In the following week, small formation groups connect online to explore their own spiritual growth to deepen their relationship with God and His Kingdom as well as with one another.

The TLC class schedule corresponds to the traditional school calendar year with a generous break between Thanksgiving and Christmas and spring and summer breaks. Please refer to the Registration page in the menu bar at the top of your screen for upcoming class dates. Program tuition and additional fees are listed on the Registration page, as well.

Curriculum

The TLC curriculum is formed around three consecutive modules that build upon and complete one another. Each module provides knowledge and skills toward proficiency in spiritual direction and personal spiritual formation. The three modules in the TLC program are: Listening to God, Listening to Self, and Listening to Others. Each contains ten classroom teaching sessions alternating with ten small group sessions. Within each module is a one-day retreat on a unique topic related to that module’s theme.

Certificate in Spiritual Direction

TLC offers a Certificate in Spiritual Direction upon completion of the two-year training program to participants who fulfill the course requirements.