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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., is a psychologist, spiritual director and retreat leader in Lancaster, PA.  A Shalem graduate and a Quaker, Nancy has also provided leadership for the Quaker training program, School of the Spirit, and is a regular retreat leader at Pendle Hill, as well as serving as adjunct professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary.

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, is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, University of Pennsylvania School of Social Work, and Oasis Ministries' Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program. Marc currently serves as Associate Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Chatham Township and as a spiritual director and retreat leader in New Jersey.

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, MBA, CRM, 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 and retreat leader, and offering reiki treatments and training.  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

2009-2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Mike Mumma, (President) is President of Cell-Con, manufacturers of high technology battery chargers and battery assemblies.  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.

Lorelei Oelschlager (Vice President) and her husband, Kurt, have three grown children, and live and work at Johnsonburg Presbyterian Center in Johnsonburg, NJ, where Lorelei acts as summer chaplain, spiritual sanctuary coordinator, and alumni coordinator.  Lorelei graduated from William Paterson University with a BS in nursing and has worked as a public health nurse, school nurse, camp nurse, and camp food service manager.  Through Oasis Ministries, she completed Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides in 2004, and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries in 2008.  Lorelei serves as a spiritual companion, has led quiet days and retreat days, and has a special interest in Celtic Spirituality and poetry.  She enjoys cooking fresh local food from their community garden, reading, and spending time in the out of doors.  Lorelei and Kurt have been a part of the Oasis pilgrimages to Scotland and the Southwest, as well as a number of day events, and feel deep gratitude for the welcoming spiritual community of Oasis.

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.

Sue Barley - details coming

Diane Brandt serves as a spiritual companion and has a love for spirituality and the arts.  She uses her gifts of creativity to honor sacred space and provide leadership and direction for environmental art in worship, and serves as assistant pastor for Liturgical Arts and Music with Disciples United Community Church in Lancaster, PA.  Diane completed the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program through Oasis Ministries in 2002, and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries in 2006.

Nathaniel Gadsden wears many hats. Life Skills Coach, Poet, Poet Therapist, Minister, and Motivational Speaker. While Nathaniel Gadsden is accomplished in many areas, his foundation remains spiritual and his door is always open. With a wealth of knowledge and experience to call his own, Nate is ever prepared to share his wealth while remaining a perpetual student of life. Nate's educational background includes degrees in Social Studies, Management, Human Relations, and Bible Studies. He also has an extensive background in Counseling and Clinical Pastoral Education. (learn more about Nate)

Fern Gaffey - details coming

Rev. Paul W. Gennett, Jr. graduated from Grove City College, B.A in Psychology & Communications, in 1971. For 20 years, Paul worked for major corporations and consulting firms, principally in the areas of human resources & training/development disciplines. In 1992, Paul graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. Paul has served as a priest in the Episcopal Church in parishes in the Pittsburgh, Johnstown, and Philadelphia, and he now serves at St. Thomas's Episcopal Church in Newark, Delaware. Paul completed the Oasis Ministries Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program in 2003, is active in local spiritual director support communities, and is a spiritual companion for a number of friends. He enjoys reading, writing poetry, growing interest in art, and silence. He is married for 38 years to wife Marilyn, with two adult children. Paul has served the as a board member since 2004, and seeks to serve and share the good news of the growing blessings in programs Oasis Ministries may offer to spiritual seekers now and in the future.

Sandy Gordon - details coming

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."

Karen Hugo - Never content to grow complacent, Karen’s life continuously evolves. As her two daughters left the nest, she began to enrich other youth’s lives as an English and writing teacher. Additionally, she became part of a leadership team that established a micro-church network in the Lancaster area. With a lifelong goal of both gleaning and sharing knowledge, she has led various retreats and workshops and is a graduate of Oasis Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program. Karen currently enjoys working as a spiritual director/companion, and is interested in learning about various faiths and spiritual traditions. With two young granddaughters now a part of the family she shares with her husband Marty, her current concentration is on feminine spirituality.

Loraine Johnson 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 as well as the Soup Kitchen. She dabbles in the arts by writing icons and creating prayer beads. She enjoys cooking, gardening and supporting local farm markets with time and treasure. During the school year, she tutors small groups of At Risk students in reading and writing. In addition to serving on the Board of Oasis, Loraine enjoys attending the Souls on the Journey and sharing the many excellent book discussions and fellowship there. Her rich experience in Oasis creates the center and focus for her many activities.

 

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.