“When I look at Josh’s life and what he does, the kind of human being he is, his sense of passion and inspiration, I’m a bit envious because he gets to practice spiritual direction in a prison. Josh chooses to go toward the pain.”
Chuck DeGroat, Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality Western Theological Seminary
“The Invitation greatly serves the mission of transformation. Creating a space to hear the voice of the voiceless is a direct response to Jesus’ message of ‘love thy neighbor.’ As Josh leans in to those who live their lives in prison cells, he also leans out to the world with messages and stories that transform our hearts.”
Margarita Solis Deal, Executive Director at Mother Boniface Spirituality Center
“I grew up like Josh as a hyper-churched, evangelical kid, worship leader. All the trappings of church and worship are stripped away when you are sitting in a jail with people who are facing their brokenness, and I was able to pray with a new kind of honesty. I’ve been trying to find connections between the monastery and the prison, and the prisoners with the community and the church. This is what Josh does as a vital bridge between the church and our brothers and sisters who are in hades, in the underground in the prison. This is how we together get to meet Christ.”
Chris Hoke, Author & Director of Underground Ministries
“Practice spiritual direction in a prison? Who does that? There is an incredible thoughtfulness in Josh’s work. You get the sense that he genuinely enjoys people, and his written meditations are born out of his own life of devotion. He comes to the prison with a sense of delight that can cause you to want to go into a prison as well.”
Nathan Foster, Renovaré Director of Community Life
“I immediately recognized within Josh a kindred spirit who is deeply passionate about Jesus, deeply passionate about providing space where people can come into the presence of God and listen deeply. It’s been a privilege to serve alongside Josh facilitating retreats. I always come away from conversations with him enriched. He is a person who has listened deeply to my life. I am thrilled Josh is able to bring out to the rest of us the riches he has received from listening and learning in the prison.”
Sharon Garlough Brown, Spiritual Director & Author
“I was able to go to the prison with Josh and watched him do spiritual direction in a place most of us wouldn’t expect God to show up. I’ve visited and taught in a prison before, but my experience of spiritual conversation in the prison—this was really a profound experience for me, to watch God show up in a way that was healing, that opened my heart in a way it hadn’t been opened before.”
Dr Jared Ortiz, Professor of Religion, Hope College
