With her preference and giftedness for listening, Janet often teaches through asking thought-provoking questions.  She invites listeners to experience the wisdom God has already planted within their own lives. Though unusually challenging to consider, for those who will, the fruit of their labor often yields unprecedented growth and freedom. 

As she works with women in particular, Janet operates from the premise that, for far too long, women have not been challenged deeply by many Christian teachers and educational materials because their feminine souls have been poorly understood.  Making a new assumption, namely that women sin and grow in very different ways than men, Janet raises unique, difficult, and growth inducing questions for women. 

As women, we sometimes become lazy in our spiritual development, preferring to allow voices of authorities, however wise and helpful, to become substitutes for our own.  Though each retreat includes teaching, abundant time and opportunity for focused self-reflection is also included.  From her years of experience, Janet has seen that the wisdom God writes in a heart is much truer and more lasting than wisdom acquired from without.  Women are invited to listen not only for the voice of God, but also for their uniquely feminine God-given voice within.

All work and no play makes a dull boy…or girl.  Believing that all humans created in the image of God are inherently creative, Janet invites retreat participants to explore their creative souls in a variety of mediums.  Careful to create a safe and affirming environment far from the horrors of junior high art class, Janet has discovered that even the most resistant and fearful individuals are more often than not astonished by the spiritual fruitfulness of such reflective playtime. 

Janet describes herself as “one who gathers stories.”  Believing that stories often express complexities of truth far more accurately than precepts and principles, Janet uses them often.  From a lifetime of listening to others in a wide variety of contexts, Janet has gathered many inspirational and entertaining stories and also freely shares from her own life and spiritual journey.  These engaging narratives teach more through “osmosis” than prescription, often circumventing our well-engrained resistance to deeply challenging truths.

Throughout Scripture we see God revealed as a non-consuming fire.  With that seemingly contradictory image as a guide, Janet seeks to move participants toward both a deeper sense of passion and calling as well as greater depths of serenity and peace.  Retreats are designed for challenge and freedom, for disruption and for comfort, for hard work and for deep rest.