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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


As we sit in the palm of your hand, loving God,
May we continue to see your strength revealed
In the vulnerability…
The dying, the crying, the rising
Of your people.
May our seeing thus inspire our acting.
Amen.

Katherine Hawker, 1997

The people of the Oasis Ministries’ community
who seek God and are inspired to action are:

 

KEY PEOPLE

Rev. Cindy Garis, M. Div., 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.

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.

Betsy Keller, (Administrative Assistant) has served in the Camp Hill office for 2 years, providing day-to-day support for the programs of Oasis Ministries. She resides in Camp Hill with her husband, Dennis, a United Methodist minister, in Camp Hill, PA, and has two daughters, ages 19 and 24.

Rev. Dr. Kent Ira Groff, D.Rel. (Founding Mentor) is a spiritual companion for spiritual journeyers and leaders, a retreat director and writer now living in Denver, Colorado. He describes his work as “one beggar showing other beggars where to find bread.” You can travel with Kent in Active Spirituality: A Spiritual Guide for Seekers and Ministers, Journeymen: A Spiritual Guide for Men and The Soul of Tomorrow's Church: Weaving Spiritual Practices in Ministry Together. Share his passion to communicate within and beyond ourselves in What Would I Believe if I Didn't Believe Anything?: A Handbook for Spiritual Orphans, and in Writing Tides: Finding Grace and Growth through Writing. Kent invites those with friends in Colorado area to spread the word that he is available as a retreat leader and spiritual companion. To learn more about Dr. Groff, click here.

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 isa regular retreat leader at Pendle Hill.

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 (501c3) ”

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.

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.

Additional Leadership and Support

 
2007-2008 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Jane Bartholomew (President) 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.  Additionally, she is a member of the Lay Cistercians of Holy Cross Abbey.  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 my communities.  I love gardening and working with animals -- things that keep me close to the earth."

Mike Mumma, (Vice 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 is completing the training in spiritual direction through Oasis Ministries, hoping to one day teach contemplative prayer and lead retreats.

Margaret Hardy, (Treasurer) is a recent graduate of Oasis' Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program. She has been a member of the Baltimore Presbytery's "Quenching Your Thirst," a monthly gathering for contemplative prayer practice and small group spiritual direction. She has led "quiet days" and classes on Taize worship and music. Margaret also has had several years of study in spirituality at the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore.

Diane Pyles (Secretary) 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.  Diane completed the Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program through Oasis Ministries in 2002, and Deepening Year for Direction Ministries in 2006.

Rev. Richard C. Gordon (Past President and Executive Team Member) received his theological education at Andover Newton Theological School, Yale Divinity School, and San Francisco Theological Seminary, is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ (since 1969).

Rev. Dr. Robert S. Burns is ordained by the Presbyterian Church USA, and is Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Joy. Bob is a Spiritual Director, and a graduate of Oasis Ministries' Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program. Bob received a D.Min. from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA.

Rev. Paul W. Gennett, Jr. graduated from Grove City College, B.A in Psychology & Communications, in 1971. Paul has 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 area, and for the past 5 years at St. David's Episcopal Church in Wayne, PA, where his ministry supports Pastoral Care needs and a growing Spiritual Life. He completed the Oasis Ministries Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program in 2003, 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 34 years to wife Marilyn, with two adult children, son Colin and daughter Adrienne. Paul looks forward to serving the growing blessings in programs Oasis Ministries may offer to spiritual seekers now and in the future.

Vicki Kensinger, a 2003 graduate of Oasis' Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides, has a small spiritual direction practice in her home in Palmyra, Pa, as well as an online offering of Sacred Correspondence.  Vicki has a particular passion for exploring a deeply healing and whole-making spirituality for women and men, which includes reclaiming the sacred feminine and creation-honoring spiritualities. She has received training in domestic violence and sexual assault counseling, and offers her gifts as a spiritual companion to a local sexual assault center.

Lorelei Oelschlager is a graduate of William Paterson University (BS in nursing) and Oasis Ministries’ Spiritual Direction for Spiritual Guides program.  She lives with her family at the Johnsonburg Presbyterian Center in Johnsonburg, NJ where she works as a summer chaplain, spiritual director and alumni coordinator.

Randy Schaffer serves as Lay Minister of Spirituality and Nurture on the staff of Elam United Methodist Church, practices Spiritual Direction, serves as a member on the Board of Oasis Ministries as well as the Advisory Board of the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Ashton, PA. She facilitates retreats, workshops and seminars as well as small group Spiritual Formation sessions. Randy strives to encourage the use of contemplative prayer practices in the lives of those she encounters.

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.

 


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