Trinity Annual ConferenceThe Journey 2024
(A 5-month Discipleship and Spiritual Formation Training Program)
Have you wondered,
… if you should be farther along in your spiritual life than where you are now?
… if your faith has stagnated and you have hit a wall in your spiritual growth because what used to work for you isn’t working anymore?
… if you are going through a season of spiritual dryness because God feels distant and silent?
If you are, then this program is for you!
This Program is designed for all who are:
- Seeking to learn about Spiritual Formation, the process of spiritual growth, and the dynamics of the Holy Spirit’s work in our transformation.
- Desiring for an intentional and deeper journey in their walk with God.
- Interested in contemplative practices, including prayer and reflection.
- Sensing a readiness for a journey into their own hearts through the work of the Holy Spirit.
- Yearning for a safe spiritual community to interact with and process Soul-work. (Soul-work includes guided interaction with the Holy Spirit through disciplines of watching teaching videos, reading assignments, prayer projects, group and individual spiritual direction)
- In a season of life where they are able to set aside time and space to engage with the materials and commit to all the components of the program (not during a time of overburdened schedules or overwhelming personal crises).
Topics covered include:
- Why Spiritual Formation?
- How We Are Tempted to Deal with Our Spiritual Failure
- Moralism, Spiritual Burnout & the Way to Freedom
- Learning to Live in Jesus’ Yoke of Freedom
- The Problem of Sin and the Weakness of the Will
- How is Your Heart Transformed?
- Transformation by the Spirit through Praying from the Heart
- Developing Rhythms of the Heart for the Sake of Love
- Drawing Near to God when God Seems Far Away
- Categorizing the Psalms
- The Church’s Reflections About Spiritual Dryness
- Mirroring the Hidden Heart
- Cooperating with God
- Practicing the Presence of God
Your Teacher (through teaching videos):
Dr. John H. Coe is a specialist in the philosophical and theological foundation of the integration of faith and learning. His research focuses on understanding the nature of spiritual and psychological health, the history of spirituality, the work of the Holy Spirit in personal change and the interface between psychology, spirituality, and philosophy. A particular interest is in exploring approaches to spiritual direction as a compliment to Christian psychotherapy. Dr. Coe is also the Director of the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Biola University.
Participants are required to (between April 18 – August 29, 2024):
- Spend about 2 hours of personal time weekly to:
- Work through a topic by watching one or more videos of Dr. Coe presenting material concerning that week’s lesson. Handouts will be provided.
- Work on Prayer Projects to help you experience the lessons taught. These projects will help you engage with the Spirit and your heart more deeply.
- Attend Communal Online sessions via Zoom bi-weekly on ALL 10 Thursdays (April 18, May 2, 16, 30, June 13, July 4, 18, August 1, 15, 29) to experience contemplative practices, debrief lessons, and journey with each other through group Spiritual Direction.
- Meet with an assigned Spiritual Director monthly for one-on-one Spiritual Direction sessions to process your prayer experiences and engagement with the materials.
- Attend a 4-Day In-Person Silent Retreat (June 20 – 23, 2024) at Rumah Methodist, Fraser’s Hill. (The cost for this retreat will be collected separately)
Contribution: RM550 per person (including materials, online course, and spiritual direction sessions).
Deadlines: Applications will be accepted until 17 March 2024.
If you desire a deeper journey with God and are willing to commit to all the components and processes required to the best of your ability, we warmly welcome you to join us. If you sense God’s invitation to you to embark on this journey, please download and fill out the application form to help us in the selection and placement process. Then email your completed form to sweekit.tang@trac.org.my by 10 March 2024.
Selection of Participants
Due to the nature of the group processes, which require a high commitment and readiness for a deeper journey, as well as the limited number of spiritual companions, we can only take in a limited number of participants. Therefore, we will require all those interested to fill in an application form so that you can prayerfully discern your readiness for this deeper journey together with your mentors, leaders, pastors or spiritual directors.
Some take 'The Journey' to enhance their spiritual growth and development. Others might use it as a discernment tool to consider if they are being called into further training in Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Companionship. While completion of 'The Journey 2024' fulfills the prerequisite for the 'Spiritual Companion Formation Program' (SCFP), it does not guarantee entry into SCFP, which requires a separate application process.
Your Program Facilitators & Spiritual Directors
Facilitators in this program are a team of spiritual companions, consisting of men and women who are sojourners on the journey themselves and seek to support you in your inward journey.
Wai Ling is deeply convicted that much of her vocational steps and life have been ordered by the Lord and shaped by her community. Hence, she cherishes opportunities to accompany groups in listening conversations and discerning God in community. She has a MA in Counselling and a Certificate in Training & Development (CITD) before embarking on the spiritual direction track. She received her MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care in 2007 with a training in spiritual direction from Talbot School of Theology, California. She is currently completing her Doctor of Ministry in Leadership (with a research focus on communal discernment) under the Asia Graduate School of Theology (AGST Alliance). Wai-Ling serves as the Director of TRAC Institute for Christian Ministry (ICM) and worships in Taman Ujong Methodist Church, Seremban.
Siew Lan is grateful to God and to mentors who have helped her attend to her inner life. She desires to encourage others to know God beyond intellectual awareness and to become more integrated and discerning as they journey in Christ. She received her training in Spiritual Companionship with Maranatha Retreat House (2009-2011) and graduated with a Masters in Christian Studies from Seminari Theoloji Malaysia. She currently serves in the Equipping Department in a Methodist church. She seeks to provide a safe space for others to savor their journey and grow in their relationship with God. She is interested in spirituality, discernment , and sports.
Swee Kit is passionate about her calling to help people grow and deepen their relationship with God. Her involvement in student ministry and the desire to understand the process of spiritual transformation led her to Talbot School of Theology, where she completed her MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care and received her training as a spiritual director in 2017. She enjoys creating safe and hospitable spaces for others to encounter God, whether at retreats or in spiritual direction. Swee Kit completed her Advance Certificate in Supervision at Fordham University and offers supervision to spiritual directors.
Lee Ang is a firm believer of the contemplative life and the many treasures that can be discovered if we stop, look around, choose to engage and not rush through life. Trained as a spiritual director with Spiritual Growth Ministries (SGM) New Zealand, she finds listening to others and giving them the space of being listened to, something life-giving and meaningful for her. She loves working on home improvement projects during her free time and has a special place in her heart for cute animals.