The Sabbath Life Podcast

Becoming who are are with a rule of life in community, with J.R. Rozko

Peter White — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:49:22 -0500

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 to be interested in the work of monastic communities
–What the Order of the Common Life is and how it was started
–The process of belonging to the Order through postulancy, noviate, and discernment of vows
–The differences between creating one's own rule versus receiving one from a community
–Practical steps for engaging with the Order of the Common Life
–How the witness of the Church to the world thrives because of communities like these

Key themes
–The meaning of a rule of life and how it shapes spiritual growth
–The long history of discipleship in monastic communities
–The role of monastic orders in cultivating faithfulness and the love of God
–Learning to recognize God’s voice in everyday life
–Discipleship as commitment versus content consumption

Guest bio
Rev. Dr. J.R. Rozko is an Anglican priest and lives in Canton, OH, with his wife Amy and their three kiddos. Together, he and Amy curate Canton Abbey and pastor Common Life Church. He is also preparing to take his first temporary vows with the Order of the Common Life.

Resources and Links
Order of the Common Life: orderofthecommonlife.org
Canton Abbey: cantonabbey.org
Common Life Church: cantonabbey.org/clc
Luigi's in Akron: luigisrestaurant.com

About The Sabbath Life
The Sabbath Life Podcast shares stories about the Abbey of the Heights, Christian contemplative traditions, and rhythms that help us become more human and friends with time.

Connect with The Sabbath Life
Website: thesabbathlife.com
Retreats: thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats
Give: thesabbathlife.com/give

Closing thought: "I am thinking more and more these days about what is entailed in the difference between understanding discipleship as mainly about the consumption of content, the things that I'm trying to get in me, versus understanding discipleship through the lens of commitment."

Subscribe, review, and share the podcast to help others discover a life of rest.

Growing a Spiritual Direction Ministry in a Large Church, with Deidre Franklin

Peter White — Thu, 25 Jun 2026 10:14:25 -0500

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 lives.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
–How Deidre was invited to start a ministry of spiritual direction at a large church
–Why spiritual direction can be challenging to introduce in big-church settings
–How she gathered a team and found training for new spiritual directors
–What her cohort experience at Sabbath Life was like
–How spiritual direction deepened her understanding of listening, discernment, and attention
–The surprising ways the ministry has grown over four years
–Advice for pastors and leaders who want to begin something similar

Key themes
–Spiritual direction as deep listening
–The tension between slow, reflective formation and fast-paced church culture
–The importance of community in starting a new ministry
–Learning to recognize God’s voice in everyday life
–Training our attention toward God

Notable moments
–Deidre explains how her church leadership first approached her about spiritual direction
–She describes the challenge of introducing a largely unfamiliar practice
–She shares how her team grew from a small group into 11 spiritual directors serving 85 congregants
–She reflects on the impact of spiritual direction on church members who are receiving it
–She offers advice to leaders: start with prayer, conversation, and a team

Guest bio
Dr. Deidre Franklin is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Crossings Community Church in Oklahoma City. She recently completed the Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction and now helps lead a growing ministry of spiritual direction in her congregation.

About The Sabbath Life
The Sabbath Life Podcast shares stories about the Abbey of the Heights, Christian contemplative traditions, and rhythms that help us become more human and friends with time.

Connect with The Sabbath Life
Website: thesabbathlife.com
School of Spiritual Direction: thesabbathlife.com/school-of-spiritual-direction
Retreats: thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats
Give: thesabbathlife.com/give

Closing thought "Spiritual direction isn’t just about listening — it’s about training our attention toward God, learning to notice what we’re noticing, and participating in an ongoing conversation with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit."

Subscribe, review, and share the podcast to help others discover a life of rest.

Wonder, Community, and Companionship in Spiritual Direction, with Bethany and John Ardnt

Peter White — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 14:50:12 -0500

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 resource for the soul care of ministry leaders. Bethany co-leads a ministry called Olive Tree Mediation. John is the author of Leading by Listening: How to Deepen Connection with Open Questions.

Flourish Direction
https://www.flourishdirection.com/

Olive Tree Mediation
https://www.olivetreemediation.net/

The Shepherds Collective
https://www.theshepherdscollective.org/

Leading by Listening
https://bookshop.org/a/6923/9798992252118

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats

Join the community that financially makes the work of The Sabbath Life possible.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/give

Sacred Spaces for Ministry Burnout, with the Rev. Dr. Tiffany Nagel Monroe

Peter White — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 14:33:53 -0500

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 in Edmond, OK. She is adjunct faculty at St. Paul's Seminary. She was among the founding Board of Directors for the Sabbath Life and has served behind the scenes for the past three years. She also recently completed the School of Spiritual Direction with the Sabbath Life.

Turns out, the last book she read was Looking Up: A Birder's Guide to Hope Through Grief by Courtney Ellis.

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats

Learn more about the School of Spiritual Direction.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/school-of-spiritual-direction

Join the community that financially makes the work of The Sabbath Life possible.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/give

Praying With Our Whole Bodies, with Tim & Katrina Matthews

Peter White — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 16:51:34 -0500

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 Prayer. Along with their 3 young kids, they happen to live just down the street from the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.

Connect with One River on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/oneriver.community

See the prayer room they put together for She Brews Coffee in Tulsa:
https://oneriver.community/she-brews-prayer-room/

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats

Join the community that financially makes the work of The Sabbath Life possible.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/give

Storytelling as a contemplative spiritual practice, with Min Soo Choi

Peter White — Tue, 26 May 2026 18:48:35 -0500

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 filmmaker. He and his family live in Newberg, OR. He has a Doctor of Ministry in semiotics and is soon to be ordained in the Anglican Church.

See Min's filmmaking projects:
https://www.youtube.com/@storyministry

The Sabbath Life documentary produced by Min:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyKo9IhUMSQ

Contact Min:
min@c4so.org

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats

Join the community that financially makes the work of The Sabbath Life possible.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/give

The Slow Work that Starts with a Bowl of Soup, with Justin Jones

Peter White — Mon, 18 May 2026 14:39:54 -0500

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 Sabbath Life. After a season of life serving overseas as missionaries, Justin and his family now reside in Tulsa, OK.

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats

Join the community that financially makes the work of The Sabbath Life possible.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/give

Finding safe space for deep sharing and healing with Katie Tramonte

Peter White — Mon, 11 May 2026 06:55:59 -0500

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 Original Design Restored, and for a season, she utilized the Abbey of the Heights as a venue for her local small groups. ODR is a ministry for finding healing, wholeness, and freedom through story. You can follow along with Katie's story on Instagram.
https://www.instagram.com/seeing.inthedark
https://originaldesignrestored.org/

Schedule a time to visit the prayer stations at the Abbey.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/contact-us

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.
https://www.thesabbathlife.com/personal-retreats

How training in spiritual direction enhanced a marriage ministry, with Scott and Alicia Young

Peter White — Mon, 04 May 2026 12:56:29 -0500

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 counseling-based marriage ministry. We also cover their individual experiences in the School of Spiritual Direction as well as what it's like to be guests at the Abbey of the Heights.

Scott and Alicia bring their 46-year marriage story to their work with couples. They founded Intertwined Hearts 10 years ago. You can check out the Intertwined Hearts website to learn more or reach out directly to them via email or leave a voicemail at 405-314-7704.

Learn more about the Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction.

Plan your visit to the Abbey of the Heights in Tulsa, OK.

The art of spiritual direction with Melissa Hendrickson and Chris Westhoff

Peter White — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 06:00:00 -0500

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 Children’s Ministry and as a spiritual director through The Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction. Melissa is the creator of Holy Formed and desires to walk alongside people as they tell their stories, encounter Jesus, and live flourishing lives.

Christine Westhoff is the founder and president of The MESH Objective and the author and creator of Reframing the Prophetic book and course. She and her husband, Craig, work with churches throughout the world to build, equip, and strengthen pastors and leaders through spiritual direction, coaching, and teaching.

Learn more about The Sabbath Life School of Spiritual Direction.

Make a booking for a personal retreat at The Abbey of the Heights.

The story of the Abbey of the Heights with Jackie White

Peter White — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 11:53:11 -0500

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 connect with. She's also the one responsible for all the furnishings, decor, and the visio divina art on the walls from the very beginning. In addition to her work at the Abbey, Jackie is a mom to two emerging teenagers and one rambunctious golden doodle, an Etsy artist, and a trained therapist.

We talked about the conversations between us and the neighbors that moved the Abbey from a crazy idea to a reality, about the crafting of sacred spaces in a bustling downtown neighborhood, and what it is that makes Christian hospitality unique and so needed in this particular cultural moment.

Here's where you can submit a booking request to the Abbey of the Heights through Jackie. And here's where you can visit Jackie's Etsy shop.