Tanya Godsey is an ordained minister, artist, spiritual director, and the founder of Redeeming The Story Retreats. In both her ministerial and creative work, she carries stories and truth—spoken or sung—with the heart of a shepherd.
Her passion for the Gospel was shaped in the immigrant church where she was raised. As a pastor’s daughter in this formative setting, she grew up immersed in lived expressions of the real Jesus and the real Gospel. It was a place where the hungry were fed, the lonely were welcomed into families, the homeless were given a home, and the love of Jesus was far more than a Sunday school lesson; it was a way of life.
Tanya feels deeply called to create environments, opportunities, and moments that invite others into a fuller awareness of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. She believes it is the transforming presence of God that ultimately brings true life change.
Christian spiritual direction is the practice of listening for the voice and movement of God in a person’s life. At its core is the belief that God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—is continually inviting us into intimate relationship and a more personal awareness of His presence. While God is the true Director, spiritual direction helps us notice divine activity throughout all of life. Richard Foster defines spiritual direction as “an interpersonal relationship in which we learn how to grow, live, and love in the spiritual life.”
Spiritual direction sessions are scheduled individually and last one hour per month between director and directee. During each session, they discern through conversation where and how God is moving. Both participants trust the leadership of the Holy Spirit to bring these things to the surface. Spiritual direction is not counseling, mentoring, or discipling; it is active listening for the activity of God in any area the directee wishes to discuss. It is relationally centered and intended to be experienced over a meaningful span of time. An ongoing monthly rhythm is recommended.