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"Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain."

Is. 35:6-7, The Message

KEY PEOPLE

Rev. Cindy Garis, M. Div., Executive Director for Oasis Ministries, serves Oasis as her primary call to ministry, encouraging all to a deepening spiritual life. She is a graduate of Oasis' two-year program, Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, and has served on the Board of Directors for over 3 years. She received her M.Div. from Lancaster Theological Seminary (Lancaster, Pa.), and is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. Before her present position with Oasis, Cindy served as a co-pastor for six years to a congregation in Lebanon, Pa. She resides with her family in Dillsburg, Pa.
Email Cindy: cindygaris@oasismin.org

Rev. Glenn Mitchell, M. Div., Director of Training and Program for Oasis Ministries, is the lead presenter/facilitator for Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, Deepening Year for Direction Ministries, and Returning to the Well." Glenn served as a Church of the Brethren pastor for 23 years in Maryland, Minnesota and Pennsylvania, before transitioning his ministry to the area of spiritual formation and direction in 2001, and is a graduate of Shalem Institute. Glenn has led a variety of retreats around the country on themes of prayer, spirituality, spiritual direction, nature and spirituality and the interplay of art and spirituality.  He has a practice of spiritual direction and retreat leadership based in State College, Pa.
Email Glenn: glenn@likeafeather.com

 TEACHING STAFF

Nancy L. Bieber, M.A., M.S., has been on staff at Oasis Ministries for thirteen years, and serves as a lead teacher for the Spiritual Direction program and the Contemplative Living program.  Nancy is a clinical psychologist but focuses now on retreat leadership and spiritual direction.  She is the author of Decision-Making and Spiritual Discernment: The Sacred Art of Finding Your Way (September 2010). A Quaker and a graduate of Shalem Institute, Nancy leads retreats around the country and has taught at Lancaster Theological Seminary (Lancaster, PA).  Besides her ministry, Nancy finds joy in her garden,  traveling with her husband Larry, and spending time with their four small granddaughters. 

Bonita Rose Collins-Hobbs, M.Div., is pastor of  Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, Sharon Hill, Pa. She is a graduate of Lancaster Theological Seminary, a spiritual director, an ordained elder with the CME Church since 1988, and founder of "Uniqueness with Faith Ministries.”

Jo Ann Kunz, M.A., serves as a Senior Pastor at a non-denominational Christian church located in Lititz, PA. She teaches spiritual formation/spiritual direction at both Eastern University and Evangelical Theological Seminary, as well as being a certified Enneagram trainer. Jo Ann has been part of the faculty of Oasis Ministries since 2001. She serves as a retreat and workshop facilitator, maintains a private spiritual direction practice, and holds a special interest in dream work.

Marc Oehler, M.Div., LCSW, has been on staff at Oasis Ministries for six years serving as a leader in the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program and has served over ten years as Associate Pastor for Congregational Life at the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township.  Marc leads retreats, does individual and group spiritual direction and is a licensed social worker.  He graduated from Princeton Theological Seminary, from the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work, and trained with Oasis Ministries' Spiritual Direction program.  Marc and his wife Nicole have two young children, and his joys include playing with his children, reading at the beach, singing with a folk band, and watching the Yankees play.

Melissa Stock has three grown children and three grandchildren. She received her training at Oasis through Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, Years I and II. She also completed three years of Spiritual Formation and two of Ignatian Spiritual Direction Training at the Kairos School of Spiritual Formation. Melissa and her husband attend St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Mechanicsburg, Pa. where she is active in retreat leadership, spiritual direction, and Taize worship. Melissa enjoys the arts, reading, camping, and especially being out of doors for any reason.

Ruth Workman, Ed.M., M.A., is a Certified Spiritual Director, Retreat Leader, and Certified Supervisor of Spiritual Directors. She earned a Master of Education at Rutgers University and a Master of Arts in Holistic Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from Chestnut Hill College. She has been offering Spiritual Direction since 1995. In addition to her ministry of individual spiritual direction she offers contemplative retreats at The Sanctuary, her home in Stone Harbor, NJ, and facilitates spiritual direction groups at Princeton Theological Seminary. Ruth retired from the Langhorne Presbyterian Church in 2009 after 20 years of service as Pastoral Care Associate. She is ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA.

Ruth Zeiders, left a career in finance to follow her calling as a certified spiritual director and reiki master. Married to a Lutheran pastor, she has a ministry in Bloomsburg, PA, serving as spiritual director, offering reiki treatments and training, and teaching TriYoga®. Ruth completed the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries programs of Oasis Ministries and serves as staff for SDSG.
 

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Additional Leadership and Support

2010-2011 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Members Share Reflections

Mike Mumma, (Chair) is former President of Cell-Con, manufacturers of high technology battery chargers and battery assemblies, and continues to mentor the company in his retirement.  Mike resides in Lancaster, Pa, and is a graduate of the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio with a degree in Psychology and Business.  He completed the training in spiritual direction through Oasis Ministries, hoping to one day teach contemplative prayer and lead retreats.

Sandy Gordon (Vice Chair) is a licensed clinical social worker who worked in a large group practice for eight years before beginning private practice at Capital Area Counseling Services (1013 Mumma Rd., Suite 302, Wormleysburg 17043) in 2007. Her previous experience includes hospital social work, home health and hospice social work, and nursing home consulting and social work. Sandy is a 2009 graduate of the SDSG program and enjoys contemplative walking, knitting prayer shawls and spending time with her husband, Richard, who is also a graduate of the 2009 SDSG program.

Loraine Johnson (Secretary) is a retired teacher of art in the public schools and reading/writing in the Middle School. She is a fellow of the National Writing Project through Penn State and a strong advocate of poetry and poets. She completed SDSG in 2007 and DYDM in 2008. A member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, she volunteers in the Soup Kitchen and serves on the Vestry as a liaison to Contemplative Life.

Margaret Hardy, (Treasurer) is a graduate of Oasis' Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program.  She is a spiritual director and retreat leader.  Margaret also is a Servant Leader on the board of The Anchorage, a contemplative ministry based in Greenville SC.  She has been a kitchen volunteer in the Iona Community and a pilgrim to Taize.  Clergy renewal is a special area of concern and interest for Margaret.

Mike Allwein currently serves as senior pastor at St. James Lutheran (ELCA) Church in Gettysburg. Mike was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1980 and transitioned to be rostered as a Lutheran pastor in 1994. In addition to his Education and Divinity degrees, Mike is a Board Certified Counselor. Mike completed the SDSG program in 2003. In the congregation, Mike provides pastoral support in the various administrative areas, as well as their childcare program. He coordinates and supervises their Stephen Ministry program. He is married to Lois, an English teacher at Gettysburg High School, has two sons and one grandson. He enjoys skiing and tennis, as well as trying to get his garden grow more than weeds.

Sue Barley - details coming

Fern Gaffey is ordained in the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC). Fern has a passion for the mission of Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development. She has completed the Leading Contemplative Gatherings, Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries courses through Oasis. She serves as a Ministry Consultant for Oasis Ministries.

Dave Harris, M.Div, D.Min., is a pastor, writer, teacher, spiritual director and musician who loves to explore, play and collaborate. Dave & his wife Penny have a grown son and a grandson. Both Dave & Penny have been trained through Oasis Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides I & II and enjoy working together on training, counseling, consulting, retreats and working with couples. Home is in Palmyra, Pennsylvania. Dave is an ordained Elder and Certified Minister of Christian Education in the United Methodist Church.

Jane Hoover is a member of St. Stephens Episcopal Cathedral in Harrisburg. PA.  Jane graduated from the Oasis Spiritual Direction program and from the Group Leaders program at Shalem Institute. Jane writes, "My experiences at Oasis and Shalem have helped me to grow in faith and prayer and in recognizing the movement of God within the soul. I don't practice as a spiritual director, but I do try, with God's help, to be a contemplative presence in my communities.  I love gardening and working with animals -- things that keep me close to the earth."

Sara Jane Munshower is a native of PA, a 2010 graduate of SDSG, and an ordained minister in the UCC. She graduated from Kutztown State College and has resided in CT with her husband, Bruce, since 1973. They have lived in Glastonbury since 1979 and have two adult children. Since 1990, she has served on church staffs in CT and PA , graduating from Andover Newton Theological School (ANTS) in 1999. Sara Jane also serves on a CTUCC committee for interim ministry and the Board of Directors for the Spiritual Life Center currently located in Bloomfield, CT (www.spiritlifectr.org). She is practicing direction with three individuals and hoping to receive more in the months ahead. Sara Jane enjoys a little golf and gardening, lots of reading and prayer shawl knitting, and visiting friends and family in PA . She is available for women's retreats and church leadership workshops while not in a parish setting.

Kathy Spitzer is a United Methodist minister serving Arden UMC in Martinsburg, WV. She graduated from the two-year program of spiritual direction and offers spiritual direction in her area and church. She graduated from Wesley Theological Seminary with a doctorate in Spirituality and Story. In the past year, she published Lenten Reflections: When Narratives Collapse. She lives in Berkeley Springs, WV with her dog, Ebony; her two cats, Peek-a-Boo and Spirit; and her two frogs, Kari and Kristian. She loves tennis and golf and an evening of cards with her local friends.

Cindy Thompson is a graduate of Dickinson College, the mother of five, and lives with her husband in Mechanicsburg, PA. She  is a member of and participates fully in the life of the Camp Hill Presbyterian Church. She is part of the Red Cross Spiritual Care Team and a volunteer for the Hospice of Central Pennsylvania. Cindy is a 2004 graduate of the SDSG program and a 2008 graduate of the DYDM class. She enthusiastically  attends the Souls on the Journey monthly retreat days and numerous other Oasis offerings because she has found them to be 'life-giving.'

Wayne R. Walker, Esq. is an attorney licensed by the State Bar of Georgia and is the Principal of Walker Nell Consultants, Inc. (“WNC”), a business consulting firm. For three years, Mr. Walker served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity International, a then $400 million plus global non-profit housing organization spanning sixty countries. Mr. Walker led the twenty-seven - member Board, governed 650 employees and turned the organization’s losses into a reserve. Mr. Walker also held positions of corporate secretary and chairman of the Executive and Human Resource Committees of the Board during his eight year tenure.  Mr. Walker has a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Catholic University (Washington, DC) and a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University (New Orleans).  Mr. Walker studied Finance for Non-Financial Manager at the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.