In this episode of The Unpolished Church, Jon Sherwood sits down with James & Daniella Hatfield from the Asheville Church Network to explore something many Christians have heard of but few have truly experienced: spiritual formation.
Coming from a low-church evangelical background, James & Daniella Hatfield had almost no exposure to ancient Christian practices. But what began as curiosity soon grew into a deep, life-altering journey. Together with their network, they discovered practices like breath prayers, silence, examen, and listening prayer ancient rhythms rooted in the Desert Fathers and Mothers, the early church, and historic Christian traditions.
What followed was transformational: renewed intimacy with Jesus, emotional and spiritual healing, and even the birth of a new microchurch formed through listening prayer a ministry that now brings worship, compassion, and presence into local hospice rooms where people spend their final days.
James & Daniella Hatfield share how formation reshaped their marriages, leadership, parenting, and their entire network’s culture. From tears during early breath-prayer sessions to their children joyfully singing “Amazing Grace” over patients on their deathbeds, their story is a raw, unpolished testimony of how spiritual formation brings life where faith has grown dry.
You’ll hear:
Why spiritual formation felt “new” despite being deeply ancient
How breath prayers, silence, and examen opened emotional healing
The story of a listening-prayer moment that birthed a hospice microchurch
Real encounters with families and patients in their final hours
How their kids are learning faith through embodied experiences
Why formation shapes leaders, communities, and mission
How practices—not programs—change the heart of a church
Timestamps:
[00:00] - Welcome to The Unpolished Church Podcast
[00:23] - Introducing James & Daniella Hatfield
[02:23] - Why Spiritual Formation Felt “New”
[03:46] - The Ancient Roots: Desert Fathers & Mothers
[05:18] - Practices That Changed Everything
[07:15] - Their First Spiritual Formation Retreat
[09:30] - Early Emotions, Tears & Healing
[11:20] - Why Formation Is Not the Goal but the Path
[12:58] - Moving from Ideas to Experiences
[14:33] - How Formation Is Shaping Their Network
[15:25] - Listening Prayer: A Practice That Shifted Everything
[17:11] - The Calling to Start a Hospice Microchurch
[18:47] - Beginning Ministry in the Hospice
[21:23] - Stories of Joy, Tears & Final Moments
[23:59] - Amazing Grace and Sacred Encounters
[25:24] - Worship at the Edge of Life
[27:02] - Meeting Jesus in Vulnerable Spaces
[29:03] - How Their Kids Experience Microchurch Life
[31:09] - Challenges & Beauty of Serving as a Family
[34:08] - Why Children Need Real Experiences of Faith
[38:00] - The Heart of Microchurch: Imago Dei
[39:58] - How to Discern God’s Calling
[42:05] - Gifts, Needs & Purpose
[43:41] - Taking Small, Honest First Steps
[44:45] - Closing Encouragements & Reflections
UNpolished Church podcast exists to help equip and resource Christians toward experiencing greater intimacy with one another, transformation into Christ, and impact for Jesus' redemptive mission in the world. If you have enjoyed or benefited from this podcast, please share with a friend and be sure to turn notifications on so you will be alerted to future episodes!
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