The Sabbath Life Podcast

In this episode of the Sabbath Life Podcast, Peter White talks with J.R. Rozko, an Anglican priest in Canton, OH, who works closely with the Order of the Common Life. J.R. shares his story of discovering the legacy of monastic communities, the deep internal work that a rule of life involves, and what belonging to the Order of the Common Life is like.  In this episode, you’ll hear:  –How J.R. came...

In this episode of the Sabbath Life Podcast, Peter White talks with Deidre Franklin, Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City and a recent graduate of the Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction. Deidre shares the story of how her church launched a new ministry of spiritual direction, what it took to build a team, and how the practice is shaping people’s live...

In this episode, we talk with Bethany and John Arndt about their respective journeys into spiritual direction, why they think spiritual direction matters in this cultural moment, and the transforming power of open questions. The Arndts are both trained spiritual directors and have been advocates of the Abbey of the Heights since it first opened. Their work also involves The Shepherds Collective, a...

In this episode, we talk with the Rev. Dr. Tiffany Nagel Monroe about seeking out spiritual health when you serve in ministry, the importance of a rhythm of retreat for leaders, and how game-changing it is to rediscover your belovedness in God. Tiffany has been an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church for 17 years and currently serves as the senior pastor at First United Methodist Church i...

In this episode, we talk with Tim & Katrina Matthews. We cover the work they put into designing and installing the prayer stations you find in the gardens at the Abbey of the Heights, what they have experienced as retreat guests at the Abbey, and how they came to be involved in the prayer ministry that they do.  Together, they curate a prayer ministry called One River in partnership with 24-7...

In this episode, we talk with Min Soo Choi. In 2024, Min produced a short documentary, sharing the story of the Abbey of the Heights and The Sabbath Life's contemplative community. We talk about the inspirations behind that documentary, the ways that stories shape our lives and our lives with God, and how storytelling can be a healing contemplative practice. Min is a digital storyteller and filmma...

In this episode, we talk with Justin Jones all about his story of the Abbey of the Heights, finding renewal in a season of transition, and how generosity and gifts are such a big part of our experience of connection within community. For his day job, Justin serves as the senior philanthropy advisor for Wycliffe Bible Translators. And in his spare time, he serves on the Board of Directors for The S...

In this episode, we talk with Katie Tramonte about the need for sacred spaces for spiritual growth, the design and purpose of the prayer stations at the Abbey of the Heights, and how the Abbey fosters safety and community. Katie used to be a neighbor here in Tulsa, but in the last couple of years, she moved to Las Vegas, NV, where she now lives with her husband and 3 boys. She is the founder of Or...

In this episode, we talk with Scott and Alicia Young. Together, they lead Intertwined Hearts Ministry in the Oklahoma City metro area, where they mentor couples. Alicia is a graduate of The Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction while Scott is currently a student in the Year 1 cohort. We talk about how they've learned how to complement spiritual direction skills in an established biblical coun...

In this episode, we talk with Melissa Hendrickson and Chris Westhoff. Together, we facilitate the Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction. We talk about our own personal journeys discovering spiritual direction, the ancient work of sacred presence, and why we do our training program the way that we do. Melissa Hendrickson is certified as a leadership coach through the International Network of ...

Welcome to the first episode of The Sabbath Life podcast. For our first episode, we talked with Jackie White to share the story of how the Abbey of the Heights came to be. We share the inspiration that led to opening the Abbey as an urban Christian retreat space in April 2021. Jackie serves as the hospitality coordinator of The Sabbath Life, so when you submit a booking request, she's the one you...