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Cross And Sunlight

Discipleship Dynamics Assessment

Discipleship Dynamics Assessment
& Your Way (Rule) of Life

A Tool for Objective, Holistic Spiritual Formation

At the Institute for Ministerial Wholeness, we believe that authentic spiritual growth requires more than good intentions. It requires awareness, wisdom, and a concrete plan for becoming like Christ in every dimension of life. The Discipleship Dynamics Assessment (DDA) is one of the most effective tools we use in Spiritual Direction to help leaders and students develop an intentional Way (Rule) of Life that is rooted in Scripture, guided by the Holy Spirit, and grounded in objective insight.

Why the Discipleship Dynamics Assessment

The DDA is a research-based, biblically faithful assessment designed to measure growth across the five domains of holistic formation:

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  • Spiritual Formation – practices, intimacy with God, and dependence on the Spirit

  • Personal Wholeness – emotional maturity, mental health, and relational well-being

  • Healthy Relationships – family, friendships, and community life

  • Vocation & Work – calling, stewardship, and faithfulness in daily labor

  • Economics & Generosity – financial practices, generosity, and stewardship

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Unlike personality tests, the DDA measures discipleship progress — the areas where God is shaping you, and the areas inviting deeper attention.

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For ministers and ministry students, these insights are invaluable. Many leaders know how to care for others but struggle to see their own blind spots, strengths, and patterns. The DDA provides a gracious, objective mirror that supports growth, healing, and sustainable ministry.

How the DDA Informs Your Way (Rule) of Life

A Way or Rule of Life is a Spirit-guided structure for living: the practices, commitments, rhythms, and boundaries that help you remain rooted in Christ. The DDA becomes a starting point for discerning these rhythms during Spiritual Direction.

1. Objective Insight to Ground Spiritual Discernment

The Holy Spirit often confirms what the DDA reveals. Patterns that feel “normal” are clarified. Strengths that are overlooked become visible. Areas of fatigue, spiritual dryness, or relational neglect come into focus.

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In Spiritual Direction, we prayerfully explore:

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  • Where is God strengthening your life?

  • Where is Christ inviting deeper maturity?

  • What practices can sustain long-term ministry health?

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This discernment shapes a Way of Life that is both realistic and deeply transformative.

2. Integration Across All Areas of Life

A Way of Life shaped through the DDA reflects the wholeness of Christian discipleship:

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  • Body – rest, exercise, nutrition, embodied presence

  • Mind – learning, emotional awareness, thought life

  • Soul (Relationships) – friendships, marriage, forgiveness, community

  • Spirit – prayer, Scripture, worship, Sabbath

  • Vocation – calling, leadership, work rhythms, ministry boundaries

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Spiritual Direction connects these domains so that your Way of Life becomes integrated, not fragmented — a unified response to God’s love.

3. Personalized Spiritual Practices

Based on your DDA results, your Spiritual Director collaborates with you to develop practices that match your season of life:

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  • Daily, weekly, and monthly rhythms

  • Contemplative practices to quiet the heart

  • Relational commitments that nurture emotional and spiritual health

  • Vocational boundaries that prevent burnout

  • Scripture-shaped disciplines to form Christlike character

  • Prayer habits that fit your personality and spiritual wiring

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Your Rule of Life becomes a living, adaptable document — a companion for the journey.

4. Accountability and Grace-Filled Reflection

With quarterly or seasonal check-ins, the DDA becomes a marker of progress rather than pressure.
Spiritual Direction offers:

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  • Encouragement

  • Reflection

  • Course correction

  • Honest conversation

  • Prayerful support

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Over time, you see measurable growth — not just spiritually, but in relationships, emotional maturity, resilience, and vocational health.

What This Means for You

Whether you are a pastor, missionary, student, or Christian leader, the DDA helps you:

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  • Understand your current state of discipleship

  • Name the desires and longings God is stirring in you

  • Develop a sustainable Way of Life for long-term ministry

  • Integrate your whole self — body, mind, soul, spirit, and vocation

  • Live with greater joy, clarity, and spiritual attentiveness

  • Grow into the image of Christ with intention and purpose

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This is not a program.


It is a pathway to wholeness, shaped by the Spirit and supported by wise companionship.

Begin Your DDA-Guided
Spiritual Direction Journey

If you are ready to grow with intention and develop a personalized Way (Rule) of Life, we invite you to begin the Spiritual Direction process with the Discipleship Dynamics Assessment.

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Your life, ministry, and calling matter to God.
Let us help you flourish — wholly, deeply, and sustainably.

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