Life transition for Steve Arnold has been a way of life. Learning to cope with change in a positive way has been a result of the various changes that took place in the journey:
- Steve’s family moved quite often when he was growing up and as a result he attended 14 different schools before graduating from high school.
- Steve was widowed at age 32, becoming the single parent of two pre-schoolers.
- Steve re-married and began the transition into blending two families.
- Steve served congregations (medium to large) in urban settings that were continually confronted with the reality of change.
- Steve’s doctoral dissertation explored helping adults become equipped for change.
- Steve went through a formation process to become a spiritual director, focusing upon the spiritual journey of adults.
A more detailed look:
Dr. Steven F. Arnold (Steve) is a diaconal minister with sixteen years of parish ministry, providing leadership and support for the spiritual formation and development of people of all ages. In addition, Steve has served for over 20 years in higher education, developing and leading programs to equip leaders in the field of faith formation across the lifespan.
Steve’s doctoral work and research are in the areas of adult education, with emphases in self-directed learning and educational gerontology. Specific application of these studies have been made to faith formation throughout the life span. Special focus in the research has been to equip adults for developing increased responsibility for personal life and development.
Steve is a Spiritual Director, in the Christian tradition, and is a member of Spiritual Directors International. Steve continues in ongoing personal formation as a spiritual director.
Steve is noted as lecturer, speaker, author and “bridge-builder.†His work has included a number of cross-cultural and international experiences of bringing Christians together from around the world to learn and grow together.
