Meet Meagan Gitchell
Foundress & Missionary
“Life with Christ is a wonderful adventure.”
My Story
I am a contemplative active missionary who loves Jesus with all my heart. I grew up in a Christian home in the suburbs of Chicago, and from an early age, I was always drawn to Truth, Beauty and Goodness. This search ultimately led me to surrender my life to Jesus, and through Him I encountered the heart of the Father. Through my studies at Belmont Abbey College (2010-2013), my time as a FOCUS missionary (2014-2020), and my own journey in spiritual direction (2014-present), I have come to love and long for the peace of Christ which surpasses all understanding and the freedom that only the gospel brings. I told Jesus a number of years ago that I would live and die for souls to experience His interior healing and freedom, and now He’s allowed my life’s work to be about just that!
I have served hundreds of women in my ten years as a missionary. I love evangelizing and sharing the heart of the Father with a world that is starving to encounter Him. I’ve had the blessing of leading over nine mission trips and pilgrimages to three different continents including Asia, Europe and Central America. I enjoy speaking on retreats whenever the opportunity arises, and most of all I love to offer spiritual direction and prayer ministry.
My desire is to be united to the love of Mary at the heart of the church and to allow my spiritual motherhood to be a gift that brings others into deeper love, joy, and freedom in Christ.
My Formation & Prayer Life
“Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
I have a deep love of prayer, contemplation, and formation. In Romans 12:2, St. Paul tells us to, “be transformed by the renewal of your mind,” and in 1 Thes. 5:17 he tells us to, “pray without ceasing.” Prayer is where our thirst meets God’s thirst for us. It’s this lovely space of communion with divine love. Our hearts are made to rest in Him and to be taught and formed by Him, and we can never stop receiving from that fount.
For that reason, each day I pray the Divine Office and make a Holy Hour to spend time with my King. I also receive Christ in the Eucharist at daily Mass, study the scriptures and lives of the saints, pray the rosary and intercede deeply for the Church. Each year I make it a priority to go on a 5-8 day silent retreat, and each week I try to take a desert day just to be with Jesus and rest on His heart. Then and only then is my ministry fruitful. My ministry is an overflow of the reservoir of Christ’s life within me.
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BA in Psychology and Minor in Justice and Peace Studies, 2013.
Belmont Abbey College, Belmont, NC
FOCUS Alumni Spiritual Direction Program, 2021.
Alleluia School of Spiritual Direction, Augusta, GA 2023.