About Sally

Each time I have met with Sally, I have come away sensing God’s direction in my life more clearly. Together we have had eyes to see His Word pointing in clear and practical ways. Oftentimes I would begin our time together in a state of dejection--feeling stuck--only to emerge an hour later feeling reinvigorated and filled with clear purpose and meaning.
I cannot explain how this was accomplished--only that it has made a measurable difference in the ability to trace God’s activity in my journey. —Laura P.

Sally sharpens me spiritually. Her ability to ask the right questions, listen fully, and get to the heart of issues is a precious gift. I appreciate the grace she brings to every conversation. She is a gifted coach that I have greatly benefited from over the last six years!  —Melissa Spoelstra, author and speaker

Sally's greatest gift is her ability to listen in love and respond with compassion. I've known Sally professionally and personally for many years. Even as she is a woman of great wisdom and knowledge, Sally is open-handed in letting God use her to guide others toward spiritual wellness and healing. She has created a safe space for me to talk about difficult family addiction issues, grief, and an unwanted divorce. I'm grateful for Sally's wisdom in my life as I've walked through those spiritual struggles.  —Barb Roose, author and speaker
 
When Sally and I first met, we sat down for a get-to-know-each-other lunch. It was immediately apparent that this was an individual to whom God had given the charism of spiritual direction. Her presence is inviting, warm, and safe and she cares deeply about spiritual matters. This first impression was affirmed time and time again as she participated in our certificate in spiritual direction. She is a person of intelligence and wisdom and she freely shares these gifts with those with whom she comes in contact. I had the privilege of watching her develop as a director; a role into which she stepped so easily. Sally is one of those humble spirits who is open to being stretched by God and I saw this openness as she blessed and was blessed by the directees with whom she worked. I am thrilled that she accepted the call to offer this gift to those God will place in her path.
—Jackie L. Halstead, Ph. D., LMFT
CEO, Selah Center for Spiritual Formation

Before Sally was a spiritual director, she chose to make Spiritual Direction a regular part of her spiritual life—this makes her a healthy spiritual director! I’ve watched how Sally has bloomed and her connection to God has deepened through contemplative practices and being spiritually companioned. I assure you that all who choose to meet with Sally will find a gentle, playful, compassionate, and creative companion for their soul.
—Kasey Hitt, Spiritual Director

Several years ago, Sally and I had the opportunity to become reacquainted through our work and then through a dreamwork group I facilitated. I immediately noticed her gift for discernment as she asked clarifying questions and responded to other members of this group. I also noticed that God was stirring something in her and wondered if she might be called to Spiritual Direction. I was grateful to see her do the work and discernment that ultimately led her to begin training and become a Spiritual Director. Sally is a trusted companion I know I can rely on for caring and wise counsel.  She is also a colleague I count on to assist in groups I work with. Participants in the Walking as a Spiritual Practice group look forward to walking with her as a facilitator.  —Scott Spradley, Spiritual Director
 
It has been my pleasure to know Sally for well over a decade. She has evidenced gifts in ministry relative to personal encouragement, insightfully relating to many and different types of persons, and is often observed “walking with people” through various circumstances and stages of their life experiences. I believe her to be a mature and constantly growing follower of Christ who has a dynamic faith.
—Dr. Bruce Grubbs, Former Senior Pastor, Minister at Large, The Glade Church

Sally is that unique combination of a nurturing, wise soul who also tells you the truth with heart. Wildly smart, deeply compassionate, Sally can help guide you, help you find direction, and will be an integrity-filled guide as you go deeper and further in your spiritual journey.
—Julie Lyles Carr, Author, Speaker, Podcaster, Consultant

When you are seeking clarity, insight, or space for healing, Sally is the one to call. She is an attentive listener and has the rare and unique skill of asking all the right questions. You might consider her as your soul's tour guide along your spiritual journey. Kind, compassionate, and steeped in prayer, Sally is an ideal partner for your spiritual direction needs.
—Heather M. Dixon, Author and Speaker

About Events & Retreats

The Beloved Retreat
 The Beloved retreat is a sweet time to pull away from the hustle of our busy lives to see and experience where God is in the midst. Sally provides a beautiful space, guided discussions, and carved out moments to practice how to make more space to experience God in a deeper, more personal way. I am so thankful I was able to go and add some sweet memories with Jesus deep in my heart. —MC

This weekend was life changing for me. God answered my prayers and used Sally to make this happen. I highly recommend this retreat to anyone. —Sharon G.

This retreat was exactly what I needed. The busyness and distractions of life can weigh you down but to come apart and focus on God through nature, rest, and others' testimonies rejuvenated me. I am so grateful for this experience. —Sandy W.

The Beloved retreat was an incredible time of soul care, holy listening, companionship, and rest. Sally created a safe space to be authentic, vulnerable, and deeply cared for. I left the retreat feeling seen and loved. —Amy T.

I felt so much love at this retreat! I feel it really deepens your relationship with the Lord. —CG

The Beloved retreat really made a difference in my walk with God. It helped me to see where I needed to make a change and prioritize spending time with God. I enjoyed bonding with the other women. Sally is an excellent facilitator. —Robin O.

The Beloved retreat was a respite from the busyness of life, family, and responsibilities. A time to come away with God and be refilled, refreshed, and reminded of our true identity in Christ. I was profoundly aware of the nearness of God and his loving kindness toward me, and how he is always beckoning us to come closer. —Meriah

This retreat was such a beautiful and needed experience! The loving community I felt almost immediately was nothing short of a miracle for me. Sally's teaching is deeply rooted in the Word and was such an encouragement to my soul. The imaginative prayer was water for my soul and I continue to reflect on what I learned. I cannot wait to start listening on a daily basis and journaling what I hear God say. Thank you so much for offering this beautiful experience. —Rose T.

"Sally beautifully balanced times of sharing and times of reflection. The opportunity to have quiet time made it so special, the opportunity to soak it all in and listen to God's voice quietly prompting me to embrace what He alone had brought to my heart and mind. I know Sally's heart is to be a conduit for the Lord and it radiates from her. You would be blessed, as I was, to be a part of upcoming retreat opportunities." —Patty

Through much preparation done by Sally, and because of the prayers of many people, the spiritual table was set and the Holy Spirit’s presence was evident. We were buoyed by prayer. That is the only explanation for the freedom and depth and vulnerability with which people shared. —Mary

Beautiful, peaceful and healing are the three words that I would use to describe this weekend. I have never felt the Grace and love of God more. —Karen W.

Thank you for this weekend! I appreciate you following God’s calling and leading us through a beautiful time of renewal, encouragement, and self discovery. There were so many times when my soul was ministered to. It would be impossible to choose just one to tell which had the most impact on me. God touched me this weekend and I know without doubt my life will never be the same. —Susan R.

The retreat was a time of rest, being wrapped in a soft blanket of love, nurture, and safety, which set the stage for the women attending to be conduits of that same energy. The gift of this retreat: a new relationship between a loving God and His beloved daughter. Thank you, Sally! You have a calm presence and lead a beautiful retreat! —Mary Dean

I am still basking in the warmth of it all. This is one of the few retreats of my life that I was not quite ready to go home! —Angela

I have been struggling for a while with my understanding of how God is a part of my life. I was at a place of confusion...and the retreat addressed all of my needs. I loved the bond with all of those in attendance. I was amazed at how Sally led us to ways to build on our relationship with God wherever we were on our journey. The openness and acceptance of the group quickly ensured me my choice to attend a Beloved Retreat was exactly what I needed right when I needed it. —Sherry

I was hesitant about what to expect on the retreat, but the exercises we did gradually led me into a closer listening to what God was saying. It really prompted me to be still and listen to the Holy Spirit. I would recommend this retreat if you feel a prompting in your spirit. You will know, and pray not to be complacent but to say yes. —Glenda

I was a bit insecure at first, but after sitting 15 minutes with Sally and these women, I felt completely comfortable.... You FEEL Sally's heart for YOU.... I left with a definite shift in my spirit and mindset of who I am to God. I'm keeping the lessons and exercises next to my Bible! —Tori D.

I felt a closeness to God I have never felt before, and I left with new habits to make the relationship even stronger. And the friendships formed—wow! Those were an added plus! —Annie

Such a beautiful and safe weekend to experience from my head to my heart what it means to be God's beloved child. I highly recommend this gift as a way to really experience HIS love. —Elizabeth

The timing of this retreat was significant to me. I just felt that I needed some Christian support and to have a deeper relationship with the Lord and others. I don't have the words to express how gloriously the Lord fulfilled my needs. —MM

"The retreat was a wonderfully intimate time, experiencing God's love through prayer and fellowship." —CJ

"The retreat offered me an experience of being in community while also experiencing God in my own way. It was a good mix of group and individual or partner time."

"Sally did an excellent job of making everyone feel welcome and a part of the group. She created a sense of safety where we could be vulnerable and authentic. Every woman received and experienced God in her own unique way."

"I experienced God's love through the quiet moments and reflection. My invitation from God is to spend more time in silence and listening to what He has to say."

"Sally's leadership and guidance helped bring us all forward."

"I appreciated the earlier bedtime and later mornings compared to other retreats that I have attended, which left me feeling sleep deprived."

"A nice balance of communion and personal reflection. A wonderful experience!"

"My goodness--8 women of varying ages and life experience were bound together by God!"

"I left so many worries, anger, and resentment at Jesus' feet."  

Silent Retreats
I appreciated the time & space to escape the noise and to listen for God's voice in a beautiful outdoor setting. There was plenty of free time to choose which of the experiences & creative activities I wanted to pursue. There was also opportunity to draw nearer to others. —Jo A.
 
Time away in silence is always good for me. It helps me to listen to God more freely, especially in His Creation. The spiritual direction with Sally was also helpful in this quiet, peaceful setting. —Sandy W
 
I had tried the discipline of silence by myself at home. It was not nearly as helpful as the time away with guidance from Sally, the opportunity of attending daily prayers with the sisters, and having meals prepared. The time to be still and listen for the voice of the Lord and to enjoy his loving presence gave me hope and joy in my relationship with God. —Jennie S.

Journaling Classes & Retreats
I participated in Java & Journaling and loved it all! As I am new to journaling, the exercises were great for me. I will take any journaling workshop Sally offers.
—Pat D.

"This [journaling] class helped me realize what a valuable gift journaling is. It's a place where I can clear my mind and God can minister to my soul. Sally does an excellent job of leading us. I highly recommend it!" —Joyce M.

"This journaling class was so much more than I expected! Sally's presentation and teaching come from her background of years of journaling. I had no idea all the different styles she would present. I found several that really fit me. This class is very impactful and journaling will become a very creative part of my prayer life. Thank you, Sally!" —Barbara W.

"It's a miraculous experience to hear God's voice. It changes my attitude to peace, gives me real hope, and guides and strengthens me with much joy. This retreat did all of those things so well, and I met some inspiring women. It was a real gift." —Pam

I've journaled for years and thought I knew a lot; turns out there is so much more to it! Not anything that makes it complicated or hard, just so much that confirmed my belief that journaling is beneficial for everyone. I learned many other ways to approach it, and I'm excited about what I learned.
—Elizabeth S.

Topical Retreats
"It's really hard to set apart time to listen for God in our fast-paced world. I appreciated having that opportunity and having someone to guide my thoughts in that direction." —JM

"The mood set by Sally's presentation style and her peaceful and reassuring voice makes it easy to let the Spirit in." --Steve

"The retreat was a breath of fresh air. I sensed God's presence with me as I made self-discoveries and gained awareness of how to take action in a specific area of my life." —NE

"I really needed this Renew You retreat. Connecting with God on a cognitive level comes more naturally to me, so these teachings and exercises were very helpful to stimulate heart connection with the Lord. I highly recommend this retreat for anyone pursuing deeper intimacy with Jesus!" —Melissa S.

About the Spiritual Exercises
"I went into the Exercises with very little idea of what to expect but feeling the need to reconnect and refocus. The time invested was well worth it, and the experience far exceeded what I had hoped. I feel that I've come away with a deeper, richer relationships with the Lord that I can continue to build on and increased awareness of His presence in my life. I found the imaginative prayer exercises particularly meaningful and was surprise how deeply my heart was able to engage through those practices. The weekly meetings with Sally were also very rich as I had the opportunity to process and see more clearly how the Lord had been moving in my life that week. I experienced much haling and enjoy greater freedom in my life and relationships after doing the Exercises. I would highly recommend the journey to anyone looking to grow in their spiritual walk. —L.S., Retreatant, The Spiritual Exercises, 19th Annotation

Sally was a capable and compassionate friend to my soul whose encouraged helped me through each week. —M.B., Retreatant, The Spiritual Exercises, 19th Annotation

About the Blog & Monthly Newsletter
"I always enjoy and think about your spiritual wisdom in your blogs."  —Sandy W.

"This [newsletter] was fabulous!" — Valerie Y.

"I absolutely love your writing style." —Laura C.

"This month's email came at a very timely moment. I can't even express to you how much I needed your words and the presence of God that came with them. Thank you for sharing your gifts. I am surrounded by peace this morning after  reading and meditating on them." —Tracy B.

"Thank you, Sally. This is lovely and so needed." —Elizabeth L.