Beyond Words®

Reflections on the Soul of Leadership

Written by Ruth Haley Barton, each reflection provides spiritual guidance and encouragement for those seeking to be in God for the world.

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: Part 3 | A Spirituality that is Practice-Oriented and Practice-Based

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“We do not know God by thinking, but by encountering.” –John of the Cross As my director and I transitioned into a new kind of relationship I was still thinking…

Becoming More

The Future of Christian Spirituality: Part 2 | The Charism and Practice of Spiritual Direction

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“A spiritual director is one who helps another recognize and follow the inspirations of grace in his life, in order to arrive at the end to which God is leading…

Strengthening the Souls of Youth Pastors

By Jeffery James |

Ruth Haley Barton is a general session speaker at the Simply Youth Conference presented by Group and Doug Fields on…

Solitude, Community and Leadership

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“Let him who cannot be alone beware of community.  He will only do harm to himself and to the community…But…

Study highlights the fact that Christian leaders neglect self-care

By Ruth Haley Barton |

This article was linked in a recent eReflections, but we thought it was worth highlighting it here. Read the article…

A Blessing For One Who is Exhausted

By Ruth Haley Barton |

The Transforming Center exists to guide pastors and Christian leaders into life rhythms that will help them be healthy and…

paraglider and sunset over mountains

Praying with a Back-Up Plan

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“Cowardice keeps us ‘double minded’—hesitating between the world and God. In this hesitation, there is no true faith—faith remains an…

Let Me Live Grace-fully

By Ruth Haley Barton |

For many pastors and Christian leaders, the beginning of summer signals a change of pace (hopefully a slower one!) and…

Spiritual formation in the church must begin with the pastor.

How the Spiritual Formation of the Pastor Affects Spiritual Formation in the Congregation

By Ruth Haley Barton |

“It you attempt to act and do for others or for the world without deepening your own self-understanding, freedom, integrity…

Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation

By Ruth Haley Barton |

I remember the first time I noticed that some people arrange their lives to see sunsets.  It was summertime in…

FREE RESOURCE

Pay attention to the soul of your leadership with a FREE series written by Ruth Haley Barton

  • Reflections written for spiritual leaders delivered over 4 weeks each Saturday morning
  • Includes guidance to listen to what your soul wants to say to God and what God wants to say to your soul
  • Every reflection includes a recording by Ruth that goes deeper into topic.
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