Welcome!
Throughout history, God has called people who are rooted in Christ and surrendered to the Spirit to walk alongside others with a discerning presence. The Companion apprenticeship is a 12-month program for those responding to this invitation. Through transformative experiences and learning environments, participants are nurtured toward a holistic, Kingdom-centered ministry of spiritual direction for the good of the local church. We’re glad you’re here!
*Applications for the 2026/2027 Cohort are open now until March 31st, 2026.*
5 Pillars of
The Companion
Covenant – The Tree
The Companion training is built upon a commitment to grow in the 5 Pillars listed here. These pillars represent the ongoing growth and development that students reflect upon as they learn to walk alongside others. However, such skills and postures are not limited to learners; they serve as guides for those who offer spiritual direction.
1.Being present to the With-God Life
We commit to live in ongoing communion with the Trinity, allowing our deepening relationship with God to shape how we listen, discern, and accompany others.
2. Following the Spirit’s Leading
By surrendering control and remaining open to the Spirit’s guidance, we learn to discern and follow God’s movement in our own lives and in those we serve.
3. Attending to Our Own Experience
We intentionally cultivate self-awareness and surrender, allowing God to form us so that we can be fully present and hold space for others with confidence and gentleness.
4. Evoking Awareness in Others
We hold space for others to encounter God by listening prayerfully, asking thoughtful questions, and inviting them into more profound awareness of the Spirit’s work in their lives.
5. Hosting and Holding Hospitable Spaces
We create environments of sacred hospitality where others can be fully seen, heard, and received, mirroring the welcome of the Trinity.
Program Outcomes
Mission
The Companion forms spiritual directors who live from their identity as God’s beloved, creating hospitable, Spirit-led spaces for others to encounter God’s presence through:
- deep listening
- discernment
- compassionate presence
Vision
The Companion exists to cultivate a growing network of spiritual companions who reflect the self-giving love of the Trinity and embody contemplative attentiveness.
Program Highlights
12-Month Experiential Model
Emphasis on Mentorship
Cohort Learning Community
Kingdom Centered Training
This 12-month certification offers training for those who desire to be companions to others through the ministry of spiritual direction. Building on the principles of competency-based theological education and with an eye towards contextualization, this program is anchored by intentional mentorship, both in groups and individually. Our team of mentors work with students to help them craft an individualized learning plan that honors their story, their ministry, and their context. Likewise, the emphasis on mentoring creates room for an efficient program – we focus on faithful praxis rooted in Kingdom principles, together.
Meet Our Lead Mentors
Danielle Wheeler
Biography
Danielle Wheeler is a spiritual director and retreat leader who delights in walking with others in an ever-deepening awareness of God’s love. She is the founder and the director of spiritual formation for Velvet Ashes, a ministry providing community and encouragement for women serving cross-culturally. She served as a missionary in Asia from 2006-2015. She has led a ministry of spiritual formation in the local church in the U.S. She enjoys co-teaching spiritual formation with her husband at Ozark Christian College. She and her husband Aaron live in Missouri with their two daughters, two sons, and one cat-sized dog.
Murphy Alvis
Biography
Murphy Alvis is a teacher, retreat leader, spiritual director, and consultant who helps people take an integrated approach to life in the Kingdom. He lives in Missouri with his wife Tasha and two children, Evelynn and Atticus. His day job is serving as the Director of Coaching and Spiritual Direction with TRAIN International, an organization that helps the American church engage in God’s global mission. He is a coach-trainer for Coaching Mission International, an Adjunct Professor of Spiritual Direction at Ozark Christian College, a Graduate Teaching Fellow and Vocational Coach at Friends University, and serves as an independent consultant for churches and organizations that want to prioritize a formation-first approach to organizational life.
Matthew Johnson
Biography
Matthew Johnson is a spiritual director, retreat leader, and evoker of stories; helping others listen for God’s guidance in their lives. He serves with the Apprentice Institute at Friends University, the School of Kingdom Living (Dallas Willard Ministries), and in his own spiritual direction practice. He is the author of “Worship” a book study in the Holy Living Series from Abingdon Press and has written small group and leader’s guides for The Good and Beautiful God, The Good and Beautiful Life, and The Good and Beautiful Community. He is a co-founder of the Neighboring Movement, and prior to that he served at the Andover United Methodist Church as the assistant minister for 15 years. In 2015, he and his wife, Catherine, hiked the Camino de Santiago, across Spain.
More Information & FAQ’S
What are the prerequisites?
To participate in The Companion, we ask that you have completed an intensive, 2-year spiritual formation program or a Master of Arts degree in spiritual formation. Examples would include the MACSFL from Friends University, The School of Kingdom Living from Dallas Willard Ministries, and The Renovare Institute from Renovare.
We recommend that applicants have met, or are meeting, regularly with a trained spiritual director for at least a year (4-12 times per year).
How much does it cost?
The total cost is $6,000 with monthly payments of $500 available.
What are the program start and end times?
We begin in September 2026 and go until August 2027.
What is the application process and the timeline for being accepted?
The online application process opens early May and includes:
1. Application questions and essays
2. Three reference letters
3. Applicant interview with a program mentor
4. Application fee of $50
After acceptance, you will have to do the following:
1. Deposit of $500.00
2. Signing of a payment contract
3. Signing of the covenant (which will be shared in the application process)
When will I know if I have been accepted into the program?
1. By July 14, 2025
Why is mentoring utilized rather than a Standard Classroom Setting?
While classroom models are effective for disseminating information and introducing new frameworks, they can fall short in allowing space for the kind of practice, reflection, and individualized feedback essential for forming spiritual directors. Mentoring allows learners to engage deeply with real-world experiences, receive tailored guidance based on their actual experience (both their strengths and growth points), and grow through direct interaction with seasoned practitioners and peer mentors. This model fosters quicker feedback loops and a learning environment shaped more by reflection and relationship, which inherently align with the ethos of spiritual direction.
What are the Rhythms?
| Annual | Monthly | Weekly |
| Orientation retreat in October (4 days, 5 nights) | One zoom class for (1.5 hrs) | Sabbath |
| Personal silent retreats (1 half day, 1 full day, 1 overnight) | One mentor meeting (1 hr) | Margin |
| Commissioning retreat in September (2 days, 3 nights) | One triad meeting (1.5 hrs) | Prayer |
| Reading (4-8 hrs) | ||
| Reflection and writing (5-7 hrs) | ||
| Giving spiritual direction (3-5+ hours) |
Total hours: 20-22 hours per month in section 1
24-27 hours per month in section 2
Why is the Cohort model used for training?
Spiritual direction is a practice rooted in formation, and formation happens best in community. A cohort provides the relational space for reflection, feedback, and growth, while also nurturing the kind of friendships that many people long for in this cultural moment. This shared journey not only enriches the learning experience but also creates a foundation for continued development beyond the program.
Where are the In-Person retreats located?
Calvin Crest is a private Christian campsite near Oakhurst, California, US. Calvin Crest was established by the San Joaquin Presbytery of California in 1954.
45800 Calvin Crest Road
Oakhurst, CA 93644
Questions? Email us!
Bronwyn Redus, Event Coordinator
Bronwyn_redus@friends.edu
(316) 295- 5130
Apprentice Institute Contact:
(316) 295-5380
info@apprenticeinstitute.org
2100 W University Ave. Wichita KS 67213
