Jules Badger

I’m a middle-aged ex-Salvation Army officer (pastor) with two beautiful adult children, and now a gorgeous son-in-law too. I’m married to a Salvation Army officer, and we try to share two wonderful grandchildren! I’m a writer working in communications, and a published author. My husband Mat and I co-authored a book (When the Light Goes Out) about our journey with my mental health battle in 2012.

I studied at Canterbury University in the early 90s and have a degree in English and history. I then studied at Laidlaw College in the late 90s, before training at Booth College of Mission. Mat and I were ordained and commissioned as Salvation Army officers in 2006, with most of our pastoral ministry taking place in Auckland. I resigned from officership in 2020 to train to become a spiritual director and revisit my passion for writing. I’m Ngāti Pākehā and consider myself Tangata Tiriti, and I celebrate LGBTQIA+ people of faith my practice. I welcome those in ministry from any denomination, with The Salvation Army ministry context being my specialty.

I love working with images and praying with the imagination, and breathe prayers are my favourite form of prayer. I’m a maturing extrovert who loves silent retreats.

Stepping into the regular practice of spiritual direction saved my faith by providing me with a safe space to take the lid off the box I had put the God of my limited understanding into. The God of my unknowing leaped out and embraced me! I’m so grateful that I had a spiritual companion accompanying me on that journey as I discovered that God is so much more expansive and gracious, loving and kind, than I had previously allowed. Having someone who listens with curiosity and compassion, and who continually provides a scaffolding of care and hope as I wonder, wrestle, rest, question, explore, discern, wander, re-orientate and wonder again, has been the missing piece to my faith. Finding a new language and way of being with God within the contemplative tradition reshaped and reinvigorated my spiritual life, deepening my relationship with God. Could God be inviting you into a similar journey? It would by my joy and privilege to accompany you.

My direction practice is called “Be”. With the tagline ‘Time for you, with God, accompanied by another.’