We are thrilled to introduce our team to you. It is comprised of individuals who are passionate about their area of expertise and see it as an expression of their life as a disciple of Christ.

Jackie L. Halstead, Ph.D., LMFT, MDiv is the founder and CEO of Selah. She has been a therapist for thirty-five years, specializing in clergy and their families and a spiritual director for twenty years. Dr. Halstead has two certificates from Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Leading Contemplative Prayer Groups and Retreats and in Spiritual Guidance. She has been speaking, teaching, and leading retreats on spiritual formation, contemplative prayer, relational and mental health issues for the past twenty years at the national and international levels. She is the author of Leaning into God’s embrace: A Guidebook for contemplative prayer published by Leafwood Press.
Dr. Halstead’s CV – 2021»

Benjamin Berry, MA, is one of our course instructors. He spent nearly a decade as a missionary in Japan. While in the middle of his missionary career, he earned a Masters in Missions from Abilene Christian University and Ben’s interest in spiritual direction and the contemplative life began to deepen. He was ordained as a spiritual director through the Institute for Christian Spirituality’s 15 month program. Both in Japan, and in Nebraska where he, his wife, Erica, and their son, Beckett, currently live, Ben has offered spiritual direction, led contemplative retreats, hosted weekly guided meditations, and taught about contemplative practices in his local church.

Amy Brady is one of our course instructors. Amy is the founder of Evergreen Soul Wellness, a spiritual wellness company that combines her passions of over two decades of ministry into one place. One of her greatest joys over the past twenty years has been to walk with other women as a fellow Sojourner on the journey of life. Early in ministry she accomplished that as a graduate in psychology, a professional women’s speaker, and an author of seven Bible studies and one Advent devotional. Today she is a Master Yoga Instructor, Therapeutic Yoga Instructor with a specialty in Trauma, and recently received her Spiritual Director certification from Selah. Amy is a wife of thirty years, a Mom to two endearing adult sons, two precious young daughters, and an often naughty but beloved Vizsla named Beaux.

Susan Ernst is one of our course instructors. She is an artist, horticulturist, naturalist, wife, and mother. Believing that “beauty will save the world”, she studies the connection between art, nature and spiritual formation at Yale Divinity school. She has facilitated art, nature and SoulCollage® workshops and one-day retreats which connect participants to God through these experiences. She has an AAS Ornamental Horticulture, a BS Studio Art from Southern Connecticut State University, and is currently working on an MA in Religion from Yale Divinity School. She resides in Stratford, CT with her husband.

Renee Farkas, is one of the directors of the Certificate in Spiritual Direction. She is the Director and founder of Ambernest Spiritual Direction located in Nashville, TN. Through Ambernest, she offers group and individual spiritual direction, directed silent retreats, and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, Loyola. Renee holds an MA in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University as well as a certificate in Spiritual Direction. She offers ongoing education and supervision for spiritual directors and is the director of the Advanced Training in Ignatian Spirituality–Track Two.
View Extended Bio

Gary Holloway, Ph.D. is one of our course instructors and is the Executive Director of the World Convention.. Holding degrees from Freed-Hardeman, Harding, The University of Texas, and Emory University, he has written or edited twenty-nine books, including A Month with Jesus from Leafwood Press as well as several volumes in the Meditative Commentary Series, also from Leafwood. He is married to Deb Rogers Holloway.

April Moseley is one of our course instructors. She is a marriage and family therapist in Nashville, TN. Before beginning her work in therapy, her background included years in women’s ministry, freelance writing, and stay-at-home mothering. She is an avid reader, an occasional baker, a friend, and a student of words and people. She is married to a sweet man named Josh and has two kids at home, Haddie and Jude, who are probably both currently waiting for another snack. Interests include: whatever she’s doing, whatever she’s eating, whatever she’s writing with, Disney movies, action figures, and good books. Her day job looks like meeting with clients seeking to live more wholehearted lives, get through transitions, learn how to deal with painful emotions, and cultivate better relationships with themselves, their stories, and the world. Through the years, she has enjoyed continuously learning and sharing on good books, the Enneagram, personal growth and the intersection of emotional health, parenting, and spirituality. In her free time, you’ll find her curled up with a good novel, baking in her kitchen, riding her kids’ scooters in the cul-de-sac or drawing yet another picture of Rapunzel with sidewalk chalk.

Caitlin Phelps is our director of social media. She graduated from Lipscomb University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies and in 2017 with her Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy. Caitlin currently lives in her hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska and works with adolescents as a school-based therapist. She is also in the process of building her private practice working primarily with adults. Caitlin is an instructor for REFIT®, a community-centered, value-positive fitness experience designed to engage the heart as a muscle and a soul. Caitlin loves spending time with family and friends, her two nieces and nephews, and cheering on the Nebraska Huskers! Caitlin is passionate about helping others claim the truth of their God-given worthiness, and finds great honor in loving others through counseling, mentoring, and friendship. She comes alive when others awaken to their Belovedness.

Jason Wain is our videographer. A professional videographer, Jason is located in Nashville and works both nationally and internationally. He specializes in drone work as well as still and video shots. His experience includes work for churches, mission efforts, cities, and businesses. In addition, he is an accomplished singer/songwriter. View a sample of his video work and music here. Jason is from Oregon, but has lived in Nashville for the past ten years.
View Extended Bio.

Alyssa Walden is our director of communications. She graduated from the University of Arkansas (Go Hogs!) in 2011. She is passionate about seeing people awaken to the adventure and joy of following Christ as they begin to understand what it means to live abundantly (John 10:10). Prior to moving to Nashville, she served in Northwest Arkansas as the Associate Area Director of Young Life, an outreach organization that seeks to introduce adolescents to Jesus Christ and helps them grow in their faith. As she dove deeply into ministry, she began to realize how many things can truly be broken and restored in the context of relationships, serving as the catalyst to her decision to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. In the summer of 2015, she moved to Nashville to pursue an MFT graduate degree at Lipscomb University. She is interning at Lipscomb Family Therapy Center and Therapeutic Wellness Center, as well as leading psychoeducation groups on addiction at Elam Mental Health. She considers it a sacred honor to hold space for hurting people and see hearts, relationships, and lives restored.

Terri Wolfe is one of our course instructors. She lives in the Pacific Northwest in the state of hope, confusion, and grace. Her husband Jerry abides with her. They worship with the Church of Christ at Federal Way, WA., where she works part-time. A long time ago she got a B.A. in English and very recently became a certified Spiritual Director through Selah Center for Spiritual Formation. In the early 2000’s she discovered spiritual disciplines and practices. This led to a discovery of the rich monastic life all around her. In 2006 she took a course on exploring spiritual disciplines and this led to a deeper commitment to practicing a more monastic approach to everyday life, which included seeking a spiritual director who she sees monthly. She regularly enjoys classes at St. Placid Priory near her home. She offers spiritual direction in her local faith community and teaches classes involving exploring the spiritual disciplines.

David Wray, DRE, is one of our course instructors and is a congregational leader for a church in Abilene, Texas. He served for 20 years in congregational staff ministry before transitioning to teaching and administering in the College of Biblical Studies at Abilene Christian University. At the University David researched and taught graduate courses in Christian Spiritual Formation and practical theology. While teaching in higher education he led spiritual life retreats and presented seminars in Spiritual Formation and ministerial care in congregations in the States and internationally. After retiring from ACU, David continues to serve as an interim director of some university programs. David and his wife Jeanne celebrate 50 years of marriage next year, and they have two children and four grandchildren.