{"id":11117,"date":"2026-10-20T12:24:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-20T12:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/souldig.org\/wordpress\/about-3\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T17:50:05","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T17:50:05","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/souldig.org\/wordpress\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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About Dr. Lori Tate<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Spiritual Director, Enneagram Coach, and Companion\/Guide for your spiritual journey.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJoin Email List and Get 2 Free Prayer Cards<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Who I Am<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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I have a bachelor\u2019s degree in Art & Design from Grand Valley State University, as well as a Masters of Art in Christian Education from Asbury Theological Seminary. I earned a Doctorate of Ministry in Spiritual Direction & Formation through the Graduate Theological Foundation via Dominican Center of Marywood, Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over the last 20 years I have served in various kids\u2019 ministries at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, Ohio; Westwinds Church in Jackson, Michigan and The Gathering Place \u2013a faith-based early childhood education center \u2013 in Toledo, Ohio.<\/p>

I am a member of Spiritual Directors International, as well as the Jackson Area Spiritual Directors Association.<\/p>

As a tool of personal transformation I have studied\u00a0Enneagram: The Discernment of Spirits<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>by\u00a0<\/span>Richard Rohr, as well as attended lectures given by Enneagram gurus, Dr. Jerry Wagner, Dr. Beatrice Chestnut, Russ Hudson, Tom Condon and Mario Sikora. I earned my certification with IEA Professional Accredited practitioner, Rev. Clare Loughrige, in Motions of the Soul<\/span><\/span>, which integrates the Enneagram with St. Ignatius\u2019 discernment process (2017).\u00a0 I also received my certification with Dr. Jerry Wagner for The Enneagram Spectrum of Personality Styles in July 2018.<\/p>

For community, personal growth and accountability, I meet monthly with my personal spiritual director and a group of spiritual directors for peer supervision. I expanded my spiritual direction experience with a 2-week practicum in retreat direction training with Dominican Sister Nancy Brousseau (2013).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Why I Do What I Do<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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For years I tried to get closer to God. I read my Bible, prayed, gave to others, served at church. Despite all my efforts to show God my love for him, I often felt angry and\/or empty. Whatever I did was not enough. When I struggled with an eating disorder, I \u201cjust knew\u201d that if I could love God more, everything would be OK and I would no longer feel the way I did. I feared that this was all the Christian life offered, a cycle of striving, failure, guilt, anger and then trying again, but harder.<\/p>

By the grace of God I connected with a\u00a0group of people who began to teach me\u00a0about the Holy Spirit and the \u201cunforced\u00a0rhythms of grace\u201d (Matt. 11.28 MSG).\u00a0I learned that I could not transform\u00a0myself, or anyone else for that matter. What\u00a0I could do is create the conditions in which\u00a0spiritual transformation takes place, by\u00a0developing and maintaining a rhythm of\u00a0spiritual practices that keep me open and\u00a0available to God. (Ruth Haley\u00a0Barton)<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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How I Can Help<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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No matter where you may be in this season of spiritual growth if you a desire to deepen your relationship with the Holy, to move beyond where you are and fully seek Him with all your heart, mind and soul, spiritual direction may be beneficial to you. The fact that you have felt a longing for Jesus is an indication that He is calling out to you. Your desire for God is His desire for you.<\/p>

Jesus said in Matthew 11.28 (The Message) \u201cCome to me. Get away with me and you\u2019ll recover your life. I\u2019ll show you how to take a real rest . . . work, walk and watch how I do it. . . .\u00a0\u00a0learn the unforced rhythms of grace.\u201d<\/p>

Perhaps at this season in your life you are ready to explore meeting with a spiritual life coach or spiritual director.\u00a0This is your invitation. Ask the Spirit how you should respond.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Get 2 Free Prayer Cards
When You Join the Mailing List<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Your Next Step Can Start With an Email.<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Whether you\u2019re curious about spiritual direction or ready to explore an offering, I welcome the opportunity to connect.\n<\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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