What people are saying…
“In SOLO: Creating Space with God, Stephen Smith and Peter Ivey have put together such a practical tool for followers of Jesus to continue to say “yes” to God through the discipline of a day alone with God. Not just theory, they have brought practical help, tools, and guideposts that make a day with God simple and easy to plan. I believe Solo will be used by God to lead many of His people into deeper connection and will help His people move beyond survival to the flourishing life that God intended for us.”
—Doug Nuenke, The Navigators, US President
“If you feel you can’t spend an entire day with Jesus, Solo will change your mind about what is possible. Here is a practical short book for the activists, and the busy, overwhelmed, stuck, driving and exhausted. Thank you, Stephen and Peter, for this gem of resources for a day apart with Jesus.
Breathe deep, lean hard, God’s love holds”
— Adele Calhoun, Author and Co-Pastor of Spiritual Formation, Highrock Arlington
"Before I ever dropped my canoe into the Boundary Waters Wilderness Area of northern Minnesota and southwestern Ontario for the first time, I knew I needed the preparation and realistic plan that a seasoned guide could offer me in order to receive all that those days of solitude and silence (apart from the call of the loons!) on the still waters held for me. In "Solo: Creating Space With God," Stephen W. Smith and Peter M. Ivey have given us what that Boundary Waters guide gave me: a practical, realistic, hope-filled vision for how we can receive all that God has in store for us as we step away for a single solo retreat day - or several days - and tend to our relationship with our loving God. I will never approach my retreats in the future in the same way after reading and applying what I learned in this book."
— Jeff Crosby, Publishing Executive and Editor/Compiler of "Days of Grace Through the Year"
"As a practitioner of Soul Care, I really appreciate this beautifully organized and written instructional text for designing a personal Soul Care Day. In our fad-driven and rapidly-changing culture, "soul care" has become a popular buzz-word in Christian circles. The ancient paths and Biblical patterns of ministry "rhythm" are so critical for the serious retreatant feeling called to go deeper and farther in their transformation journey. Solo provides an important framework to readers to not only understand the "why" of a whole day of caring for their souls- but also the "how". For disciples of Jesus, the daily and monthly rhythms of Soul Care form the foundation for a rhythmed LIFE. I see this book becoming an often-recommended tool in my Soul Care ministry as I work with Christian Leaders who are serious about how to create a recurring "whole day" of space for God to work in their lives. Thank you, Steve and Peter!"
— K. Duane Hammack, Professional Counselor and Soul Care Provider
“SOLO will be an endearing, practical guide for anyone who longs to spend a day with God yet feels the task is too daunting. Experienced, gracious, and skilled guides, Steve and Peter, provide invaluable encouragement, structure, and resources for creating space with God.
I hope its readers allow its attainable, wise guidance to enjoy a continual echo in their hearts, and may its reverberation, little by little, transform their lives.”
— Fil Anderson, author of Running On Empty.
“Stephen has been one of the most profound influences on my journey of understanding what it means to grow in intimacy with Jesus through good soul care rhythms. If you trust what he shares in this book, you’ll find—as I did—that it will have a tremendous impact on your life, rest, and journey with Jesus. Solo will not only help you understand why it’s important to care well for your soul; it also lays out how to get started in a way that totally removes the fear of not knowing what to do when you set time aside to press in deeply. This book is an incredible starting point for a day spent in closeness with God and a life that makes room daily for friendship with Jesus.”
—Renaut van der Riet, Lead Pastor at Mosaic Church
“This is now my go-to resource whenever someone asks me how to do a personal spiritual retreat. I love both the depth and practicality (including the practice of napping!), as well as the helpful State of the Soul Wheel for discernment and self-awareness. I’m grateful to Steve and Peter!”
— Chuck DeGroat, PH.D., LPC, Author and Professor of Pastoral Care and Christian Spirituality, Western Theological Seminary
“Solo is a helpful, practical, step-by-step guide for taking that much-needed retreat day for the sake of your soul. Steve and Peter guide you back to spiritual health through many life-restorative practices, including their insightful state of soul exercise.”
— Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, director of the Pierce Center at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary
"For many years I have had the privilege of helping to guide people through personal and group retreats. My wish is that I’d had this book for each and all of them to read. I plan to make SOLO recommended and perhaps even required preparation to enrich personal retreat times from now on.
So I urge you: be a reader, and even more so, a practitioner, of the wise counsel you find here."
— Leighton Ford, Author of The Attentive Life and The Listening Life
“A Solo Retreat (a regular Day of Solitude) is absolutely essential for any spiritual growth. If you’re not convinced of that, please read this book. If you’re not sure how “to do” a Day Away with Jesus, this book sets you at ease, as it helps you structure your retreat. If you already take Solo Days, this book introduces new ways to open yourself to God that might be helpful to refresh your day. These 100 pages are worth your time.”
— Ty Saltzgiver, author and former Young Life Staff
“This book is so timely ‘for such a time as this’.’” Taking intentional responsibility for our own relationship with God is necessary for the well-being of our souls and for a deep satisfying intimacy with Christ. If Jesus, as the divine son of God, needed time along with his Father, then how much more is our need for solo retreats? I so appreciated that this is not a ‘how to’ book or ‘one size fits all’ but an invitational one of options and resources for creating your own solo retreats with God. Reading and practicing what the authors are inviting us to will definitely be life-giving to you!”
— Sherill Hostetter, Spiritual Director and former global worker with EMM.