Going Deeper

1-year Spiritual Formation Program at Mission Hills Church

Going Deeper is  for anyone who finds themself longing for a deeper awareness of God’s presence, more honesty in prayer, and greater experiences of His love. It's for anyone who has ever felt stuck, lost or lonely in their relationship with God. It is for Christians who have ever wondered, is this all there is? It's for those who long to grow in intimacy with Jesus, to better understand their own heart and story but aren't quite sure how.

Program Overview

Way of the Heart 

The Way of the Heart is a 12 week course meant for Christians who are ready to move beyond the basics of their faith and enter more deeply into their own hearts, the heart of others, and above all God’s heart.

This includes: 
  • Prayer -  what is really happening in my heart when I pray
  • Story - the effects my life story has had on my heart 
  • Relational Patterns  - do they deepen my sense of connectedness to others and God

Spiritual Direction

Once an individual has gone through The Way of the Heart, the next step in the program will be 4 months of one-on-one Spiritual Direction at Mission Hills Church.

Spiritual Direction is:
  • a practice within the Christian Tradition that offers you a companion in your spiritual life.
  • a relationship designed to meet you in the stuck, confused, lost, or lonely places on your faith journey through listening, discernment and prayer
  • an ongoing conversation-attending to God’s movement in your life and nurturing a deeper intimacy with Him.

Retreats

There will be 2 Retreats – a story retreat and a solitude retreat. Retreats are a space for prayer, reflection, silence, solitude, and a deeper awareness of God’s presence in our story.

Retreats:
  • Invite us into the presence of God by following the example of Jesus, who “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed” (Luke 5:16),
  • Invite us to slow down, step away from the noise, and gently lay down productivity, performance, and the need to have answers so we can encounter God honestly amid our longing, weariness, grief, and desire for Him
  • Invite us to abide with Jesus, discovering that his love is already waiting for us

Prayer Projects

There will be 3 monthly prayer projects - a prayer project is an intentional spiritual practice designed to help us become more aware of God’s presence and more honest before Him in prayer.

Prayer Projects:
  • invite us to slow down
  • pay attention to our inner world
  • open our hearts to God’s transforming work through reflection, silence, Scripture, and prayer

Program Rhythm

Wednesdays, September 2 - November 18, 2026  
Way of the Heart Course

December 2026
We take a break for the to give ourselves the ability to celebrate Advent and Christmas.

January - April, 2027 
Each person will do Individual Spiritual Direction -1 session per month. Spiritual Directors will be provided by the church.

Saturday, February 6, 2027
Story Retreat

May 2027
Solitude Retreat - each person will go on a Solitude Retreat at some point during this month

June, July and August, 2027 
Participants will do 1 Prayer Project each month, There will be a personal check-in with Ashley as well as one required book reading.

Last weekend of August 2027 (date to be provided)
The program will culminate with a Celebration Dinner.

Program Costs

The cost of the one-year program is:

$110* - Mission Hills Church attendees (must have attended for at least 6 months)

$260 - Outside attendees (those who attend other churches or have attended MHC for less than 6 months)

Cost includes:
  • Way of the Heart Course
  • Spiritual direction
  • Books
  • End of Program Celebration Dinner


*payment plan available

MHC registrations
Outside registrations