Where the Interior Life Comes First
The Compass Institute exists for people who sense that the interior life matters and want to go somewhere with it. Rooted in the contemplative practices of the historic Christian church, we help individuals, leaders, and congregations grow toward a deeper life with Jesus. We train spiritual directors and offer spiritual direction ourselves. We provide renewal retreats for pastors, missionaries, and ministry leaders who are running on empty. We walk alongside churches that want to become places where people are actually formed, not just informed. Whether you’re just beginning to pay attention to your soul or have walked this road for decades, there’s a next step here for you.
A six-month cohort for anyone who wants to read the Bible with confidence and find something new every time they open it. Together we’ll read through the heart of the Christian year, from the waiting of Advent to the coming of the Spirit.
November 15, 2026 – May 15, 2027 · Enrollment closes November 12
Nine months of formation in the ancient Christian art of spiritual direction, not just learning to companion others, but going deep in your own life with God. Cohort 4 begins February 1, 2027.
What We Believe
Walking the Camino de Santiago across northern Spain, Lorri and I stopped one evening beside a lake. A storm had blown through that afternoon, and the water had gone still. Near the shore, an old wooden boat rested on the surface, tied fast to a single point. It moved with the water, but it didn’t drift.
That image has stayed with me, because it describes the life we invite people into. The contemplative practices we teach, from spiritual direction to lectio divina to conversational prayer are an inheritance pass on from the ancient church, rooted in Scripture and anchored in Christ. Four convictions hold us fast.
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