PATHWAYS TO PRESENCE
The Journey of Drawing Closer
A six-week online spiritual formation journey.
Deepen your relationship with God through contemplative prayer and practices.
Spiritual Growth Ministries Presents:
PATHWAYS TO PRESENCE
An online spiritual formation journey.
June 3rd - July 8th 2026
Pathways to Presence offers a 6-week engagement in deepening prayer and relationship with God delivered in 2-hour online Zoom gatherings.
We hope to create a community of fellow travellers who can fearlessly listen and grow together over this time.
Each week will have a practice to engage in during the session and a reflective discussion time alongside the input from the facilitators.
There will be resources for the week between Zoom gatherings primarily focused on journal-keeping in a life-giving way to foster the development of contemplative awareness.
Pathways to Presence is grounded in practices and taonga drawn from the Church across time and place and culture such as The Desert Fathers and Mothers, The Mystics, The Celtic Church and includes voices from Aotearoa, New Zealand
Fran Francis | National Coordinator
Spiritual Directors Formation Programme
David Crawley | Assistant Coordinator
Spiritual Directors Formation Programme
Practical Details
What: SGM Pathways to Presence - An online spiritual formation journey
When: June 3 - July 8, 2026, Six, weekly two-hour gatherings on a Wednesday evening.
Where: Online via Zoom.
Facilitators: David Crawley and Fran Francis of Spiritual Growth Ministries
Cost: $180, payable at registration.
Payment can be made in two parts if desired. $90 at registration and $90 half way through the six weeks.
What makes Pathways to Presence distinctive?
Rooted in contemplative Christian spirituality
Pathways to Presence focuses on developing a contemplative awareness i.e. noticing the “holy in the ordinary” and fostering the inner life by developing awareness of the presence of the Spirit of God within the human person and all of creation.
Contemplative practices and postures are part of our heritage of Christian faith.
This refreshing stream has flowed down through the ages and is always waiting to be discovered anew.
It is formation, not discipleship.
Pathways to Presence transcends the traditional barriers between denominations or culture.
How? Through its grounding in simplicity while engaging with scripture, music, art, nature, making and rest as pathways leading us closer to God.
It is theologically grounded but is not a bible study course or academic lecture. The purpose is to allow formation of your soul and life.
As Richard Foster puts it:
“Formation is a practice, transformation is a grace.”
Grounded in Aotearoa, New Zealand
The SGM kaupapa is to support the spiritual growth and development along the Christian contemplative path and those exploring or journeying this way.
SGM is anchored in a Treaty-based biculturalism, acknowledging the need for decolonising spiritual formation and trusting in the loving presence and work of God in all cultures and privileging in Pathways to Presence the unique voice of people here.
Who is Pathways to Presence for?
If you have grown beyond Christian basics and are hungry, thirsty, longing, dry, bored, or curious in whether there is “more” then this may be for you.
If you did the Alpha Course years ago then consider this Beta or Gamma! Rather than the way in, this is the way on.
Pathways to Presence doesn’t offer answers but welcomes the questioner.
You may be fatigued and long for “the unforced rhythms of grace” offered by Jesus to those “burned out on religion”.
Pathways to Presence offere non-tiring ways to rest in God with fellow pilgrims who understand the journey.
How to Register
Please email the SGM administrator, Jenna Edgar (admin@sgm.org.nz) to register. Please provide your postal address for receipting purposes.
Pay the $180 course fee via online banking on the same day.
Spiritual Growth Ministries Trust: 03-0166-0198782-00.
Add your name in reference line, and PTP in particulars.Payment can be made in two parts if desired. $90 at registration and $90 half way through the six weeks.
If you have any questions please contact Fran Francis (fran.francis@sgm.org.nz) or our SGM administrator, Jenna Edgar (admin@sgm.org.nz)