Renee Farkas, The Director and founder of Ambernest; Renee Farkas, has received extensive training in spiritual direction. She has completed both NewWay Ministries School of Spiritual Direction located in Colorado Springs, and the residential program in spiritual direction offered through the Institute for Christian Spirituality located in Nashville. She also has completed the 19th Annotation (a nine month directed retreat in everyday life, written by St. Igantius) and is currently part of the masters program in Christian Spirituality at Creighton University. She has received training from the ScreamFree Institute and is a ScreamFree Certified Leader.

Her early training came from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she graduated with honors with degrees in early childhood education, and primary and secondary special education. Her initial career focused on vocational and community training with children and young adults with special needs. She worked to the end that each person, embracing individual gifts and limitations, can find their place in the community and contribute to their own well-being and to that of others.

Through her work over the past 25 years in church, para-church, and community settings, Renee has seen that we all have “special needs”. We all have gifts and limitations that make it challenging to find our place in God; that place of peace, rest, and connection. Experiencing the great benefits of receiving spiritual direction personally, she developed a strong desire to come along side people as they explore relationship with God.