Spiritual Director

What you will be doing

The main role of the Spiritual Director is to:

• Provide Pastoral Support

  • Be available to act in a pastoral role for team members or first-time Brothers who need prayer or want to talk about something on their heart.

• Introduce the Cross Ceremony

  The cross ceremony is about the need to die to self and come in agreement with the Lord about His desire to live through us.

• Conduct the short (4-6 minute) talk about the purpose and meaning of the cross before the men nail their obstacles to the cross.
• The men will come and nail their "what's standing in the way of a deeper walk with God" cards to the cross.
• They need to know what the cross represents - death. The death of Christ of course, to fully pay for our sin burden...but also it represents a death to ourselves. We are to die to our flesh and our old, sinful ways.
• There are many verses that speak of dying and surrendering that can be shared at this time. Prayerfully share 2-3.
• Essentially, this time of setting-up the cross ceremony is to re-ground the men in what they are doing as they nail their cards to the cross:
  • They are ceremonially killing or dying to self.
  • They are demonstrating a desire to live for Christ and die to self.
  • They are dying to self interests, self purpose, self rationalization, self image, etc.
  • As long as we hold onto our goals, dreams, sinful ways, bad attitudes and unforgiveness, we cannot have the kind of intimate relationship that God wants for us.

• • When the last person has nailed his card to the cross, two brothers (volunteers) will reset the cross in the pedestal.
  • It is important to leave the cross there with all the cards nailed on it for some time - perhaps 1 minute - in silence. It is a powerful visual of our sin not the cross knowing that the Lord died for all of that ugly sin.
  • Once a minute or so has gone by, have the two volunteers take the cards off the cross and then throw them in a fire.
  • You may want to say, "It is finished."
  • The worship team will then lead the men in a few songs after the cards have been burned.
  • Once they are finished, you can close in prayer and allow the men to go back to the meeting room.

• Introduce the Men to the 2nd Quiet Time

  • Provide a 4-6 minute introduction set up to the second quiet time with brief comments about the importance of being alone with the Lord and the promise that He wants to be with us and share His heart with us.

• Lead prayer during Friday morning Team Meeting

  • Lead servant team in a time of reflection prayer as they "give up" anything concerning them at home or work that may keep them from being fully present. Then invite the Table teams to pray for the men at their tables before they arrive.

• Lead prayer during the team meeting Saturday afternoon.

  • Lead servant team in corporate prayer about the larger issues that the men may be dealing with and then invite the table teams to pray for their tables during break Saturday afternoon.

• Optionally, lead Voluntary Pre-Retreat Prayer time.

  • Arrange and facilitate a prayer time prior to the weekend getting underway.

• Prayer Vigil Updates

  • If you have time, it may be nice to connect to the prayer vigil team via email during the weekend to provide them any specifics to pray for during the weekend during their appointed time.

• Other Times of Prayer for the Weekend

  • Prayer for Table Listeners as they facilitate table discussion; Worship Team; Directors; and Meal Service Team.
  • If possible, set-up a prayer room with seating areas, candle, lamps, music. Prayerfully, as God guides names, bring in new guys to observe this role, so they can do it going forward.