Selah: Certificate in Spiritual Direction

Become a spiritual director

The Selah Certificate in Spiritual Direction is a two-year training program for those seeking to become a spiritual director.  It is a program, a ministry, and a way of being that invites us, in community with one another, to pause and attend to the presence and communion of God.

Our curriculum is designed to nurture each participant in two main areas: a foundational understanding of the theology of spiritual formation (through faculty teaching during retreat residencies, and reading and reflection assignments in between residencies), and the central practice of spiritual direction (through small group experiences in retreat residencies, and individual experiences of offering spiritual direction and reflecting on it with a Selah faculty supervisor in between residencies).

 

Greetings, friend in Christ!

Welcome to Selah ~ a program, a ministry, and a way of being with God that we offer in spiritual direction. Spiritual direction is a gift that’s nurtured more than a skill that’s taught. Thus Selah (the program) and selah (the Hebrew word occurring in the psalms) craft a space for nurturing the holy mystery of what happens when we pause reflectively, in listening attentiveness to God. While everyone can grow in this awareness, we believe that God calls some among us to a deeper ministry of spiritual attentiveness and companionship, and we’d like to nurture that gift within you!

If, after reading through the details below (see also the links to “Details” on the right-hand side of the page below), you have further questions, please email admin@leadershiptransformations.org.

In Christ’s Grace,

Susan Currie
Director of Selah

Selah Spiritual Direction Introduction

In this threefold context, Selah trains and equips you to become a spiritual director. We grow from the wisdom and experience of the Church, through readings in the classics of spiritual formation, and through the learned practice of spiritual direction together. Selah is:

TRINITARIAN IN THEOLOGY

paying attention to how God the Father is actively shaping a person's life through the Holy Spirit in ways that form them ever more deeply into the image of Christ.

CONTEMPLATIVE IN NATURE

characterized by an attentive resting in Christ's presence in the direction time, noticing the movement and activity of the Holy Spirit.

BIBLICAL IN GROUNDING

drawing our understanding of God and his ways from the Scriptures.

What is Spiritual Direction?

For more information about spiritual direction, listen to Steve Macchia and Susan Currie, Director of Selah – LTI’s Certificate in Spiritual Direction training program, discuss spiritual direction in  Episode 5 – “Spiritual Direction” of Season 13: Discerning God in Friendship and Direction of The Discerning Leader Podcast:

Click here to Listen

SELAH DETAILS

Please check out the Selah Details below, which will give you a fuller idea of who we are and what it’s like to be part of our Selah community.

Selah Application Process & Tuition

For information about the application process, please click on the Selah cohort you are interested in applying for below.

Selah-East, Selah-West, and Selah-Anglican have begun Waiting Lists for their 2025-2027 cohorts. If you would like to check in about this year’s Waiting List status or Deferred Application process, please contact James Hauptman at: admin@leadershiptransformations.org.

Between now and September 2025, any new application forms that arrive will be placed in a “Deferred Application” folder, and we will contact you if additional places open. (At this stage, if you are interested in being considered a Deferred Application, simply fill out the Application Form but do not submit your Application Essay or your Recommendations; we’ll ask for those only if / when we have spaces open to continue the exploration process with you.) Anyone who remains in our Deferred Applications pool will be contacted in the fall of 2025 when we open the next application season, and if you wish to continue your application process then, you may do so.

If you would like to check in about this year’s Waiting List or Deferred Application process, please contact James Hauptman at: admin@leadershiptransformations.org.
 

Tuition & Fees:

  • $50 application fee (due with online application)
  • $690 deposit, due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
  • $7,740 tuition* (covers all program costs, Residency retreat center room & board, 2-year Supervision oversight; does not cover travel or books)

* Tuition cost does not include deposit.

Tuition Payment Options

  • Pay $7,740 tuition in full 
  • Optional Payment Plan: $7,740 tuition is payable in 20 monthly installments of $391.50 each month or 5 installments of $1,552.50 each, automatically charged to a major credit card 

All payment dates will be communicated upon acceptance. Students are responsible for their own book purchases and travel arrangements.

Selah-East, Selah-West, and Selah-Anglican have begun Waiting Lists for their 2025-2027 cohorts. If you would like to check in about this year’s Waiting List status or Deferred Application process, please contact James Hauptman at: admin@leadershiptransformations.org.

Between now and September 2025, any new application forms that arrive will be placed in a “Deferred Application” folder, and we will contact you if additional places open. (At this stage, if you are interested in being considered a Deferred Application, simply fill out the Application Form but do not submit your Application Essay or your Recommendations; we’ll ask for those only if / when we have spaces open to continue the exploration process with you.) Anyone who remains in our Deferred Applications pool will be contacted in the fall of 2025 when we open the next application season, and if you wish to continue your application process then, you may do so.

If you would like to check in about this year’s Waiting List or Deferred Application process, please contact James Hauptman at: admin@leadershiptransformations.org.

Note that the curriculum is identical between cohorts, with a faculty team that plans together across cohort communities; the primary differences between Selah communities is the dates of the Residencies, followed by the landscape of the retreat centers (all are beautiful!)!

The 2025-2027 cohort details are available on the “Selah-East & Selah-West — Details” link to the right, along with the 2025-2027 Application Form.

Tuition & Fees:

  • $50 application fee (due with online application)
  • $690 deposit, due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
  • $7,740 tuition* (covers all program costs, Residency retreat center room & board, 2-year Supervision oversight; does not cover travel or books)

Tuition Payment Options

  • Pay $7,740 tuition in full 
  • Optional Payment Plan: $7,740 tuition is payable in 20 monthly installments of $391.50 each month or 5 installments of $1,552.50 each, automatically charged to a major credit card 

All payment dates will be communicated upon acceptance. Students are responsible for their own book purchases and travel arrangements.

Selah-Europe is still receiving applications, and we welcome your interest there. Note that first consideration will be given to those who live and serve outside of North America, or who have international ministry and missions experience; other applicants from within North America will be considered if there’s room in the cohort. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and interviews offered to qualified applicants by the end of the calendar year.
 
The 2025-2027 cohort details are available on the “Selah-Europe — Details” link to the right, along with the 2025-2027 Application Form.
 

Tuition & Fees:

  • $50 application fee (due with online application)
  • $690 deposit, due upon acceptance (non-refundable)
  • $6,190 tuition* (covers all program costs, Residency retreat center room & board, 2-year Supervision oversight; does not cover travel or books)

* Tuition cost does not include deposit.

Tuition Payment Options

  • Pay $6,190 tuition in full 
  • Optional Payment Plan: $6,190 tuition is payable in 20 monthly installments of $314 each month or 5 installments of $1,242.50 each, automatically charged to a major credit card 

All payment dates will be communicated upon acceptance. Students are responsible for their own book purchases and travel arrangements.

The application season for all 2025-2027 cohorts (Selah-West, Selah-East,  Selah-Anglican, and Selah-Europe) will open on September 3, 2024. At that time we will post tuition package details, and links to the 2025-2027 Application Form.

We will accept applications through October, and offer interviews to qualified applicants in November and December.

In the meantime, you’ll find general details from last year’s process (as to program intent, curriculum, Residency model, and desired applicant qualifications) by reading the links to the right of this page (see “Selah-East & Selah-West Details,” “Selah-Anglican Details,” “Selah-Europe Details”).

The Orientation Residencies for Selah-West, Selah-Anglican, and Selah-East are scheduled for spring 2025, and for Selah-Europe in September 2025. See below for the full 2-year sets of Residency dates for each cohort.

If you wish to be notified directly when our application seasons open, please click here.

If you have further questions about any of our cohorts or if after reading the “Details” links, you have any questions, please email us at admin@leadershiptransformations.org

General Selah Resources:
Selah-East & Selah-West:
Selah-Anglican:
Selah-Europe:
APPLY FOR SELAH

Selah Residency Model: Locations & Dates

Selah Faculty

Selah Senior Faculty

Dr. Susan Currie
Dr. Kim Alexander
Dr. Nathan Baxter
Fyfe Blair
Dr. Fyfe Blair
Sally Breedlove
Sally Breedlove
Dr. Douglas Mitts
David Wu
Dr. Ted Wueste

Selah-East Supervisors

Jovin Adjeitey
Jovin Adjeitey
Dr. Kim Alexander
Justin Allison
John French
Gayle Heaslip
Grace Long
Laura Strunk
Christine Warner
David Wu

Selah-West Supervisors

Cheri Hudspith
Marcos Leon
Mitzi Mak
John March
LuAnn Roberson
David Wu
Dr. Ted Wueste

Selah-Europe Supervisors

Fyfe Blair
Dr. Fyfe Blair
Laura Hash
Dr. Douglas Mitts
Dorcas McPhee

Selah-Anglican Supervisors

Dr. Nathan Baxter
Sally Breedlove
Sally Breedlove
Caryn Dixon
John Hall
Tamara Murphy

Guest Faculty

Adele A. Calhoun
Dr. Steve Macchia
Dr. R. Neal Siler
David Vryhof
Br. David Vryhof

Selah Ministry Team

Linda Rankin
Kristyn Wirt

What Others Are Saying About Selah Spiritual Direction

"I firmly believe that my two years in Selah have not only been life-giving but life-saving! Everything that I have been exposed to has not only helped me re-tool for the second half of my career as a pastor but has also moved me into a completely new and deeper relationship with my Heavenly Father. I really do feel reborn! The 2 year format and integration of teaching, reading, practice of spiritual direction, and peer supervision really was effective in preparing me to provide spiritual direction and to pastor out of a more contemplative model."
David Shaw
"I have received more personal and ministry support and encouragement in the past year in Selah than in the previous 20 years. I really am grateful for you all!"
Andrea Chan
"Selah has changed my life. Thank you for all you have done."
Daryl Driscoll
"Thanks again … Selah has been life changing for me… and life giving. I long to see this imparted to others in the local church, it is so freeing."
Deb Bellevue

Selah's Spiritual Direction Cohorts

Selah 1: 2007-2009
Selah 2: 2009-2011
Selah 3: 2010-2012
Selah 4: 2011-2013
Selah 5: 2012-2014
Selah 6: 2013-2015
Selah 7: 2014-2016
Selah 8: 2015-2017
Selah 9 West: 2015-2017
Selah 10 East: 2016-2018
Selah 11 West: 2016-2018
Selah 12 East: 2017-2019
Selah 13 West: 2017-2019
Selah 14 East: 2018-2020
Selah 15 West: 2018-2020
Selah 16 West: 2019-2021
Selah 17 East: 2019-2021
Selah 18 Europe: 2019-2021
Selah 19 West: 2020-2022
Selah 20 East: 2020-2022
Selah 21 West 2021-2023
Selah 21 West 2021-2023 (no faculty)
Selah 22 East 2021-2023
Selah 23 Europe 2021-2023
Selah 24 Anglican: 2022-2024
Selah 25 West: 2022-2024
Selah 26 East: 2022-2024
Selah 27 Anglican: 2023-2025
Selah 28 West: 2023-2025
Selah 29 East: 2023-2025
Selah 30 Europe: 2023-2025
Selah 31 West: 2024-2026
Selah 32 Anglican: 2024-2026
Selah 33 East: 2024-2026
Selah 34: Anglican 2025-2027

Can't find what you're looking for?

Susan Porterfield Currie

Director of Selah, Abide Faculty, & Minister of Spiritual Formation

Susan is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (DMin in Spiritual Formation; MATS), CFDM Pacific Northwest Certificate Program in Spiritual Guidance, and Bryn Mawr College (MA, English Lit). She has served in church and parachurch settings for the past several decades, focusing on spiritual formation ministries, retreat leadership, and spiritual direction, and along with her husband Dave serves as affiliated clergy in the Anglican Diocese of Christ Our Hope, offering support to area clergy and to the Anglican Formation Track at Gordon-Conwell. Susan and Dave are the parents of three adult children – all grace! – and enjoy home hospitality to extended family as well as guests that come their way. In Sabbath moments Susan will be found outdoors – sitting, hiking, kayaking, immersing herself in the beauty of creation – or indoors, tea and scones at her side, immersing herself in the beauty of good words. “LTI has been my ministry home for nearly 20 years, where with amazing colleagues I delight in creating and nurturing spacious, reflective presence to God. Glory!“

Articles by Susan Currie

Dr. Kimberly Alexander

Selah Senior Faculty, Abide Faculty

Dr. Kimberly Nash Alexander is a native of Charlotte, NC. She attended UNC-Greensboro and The George Washington University in Washington, DC where she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Speech Language Pathology respectively. She earned a Doctor of Philosophy in the integration of religion and society from Omega Graduate School in Dayton, TN. Kim is certified as a spiritual director through Leadership Transformations and offers a 12 month contemplative mentoring journey, soul care retreats and soul care for businesses/teams and spiritual direction through DKA Services. She is the founder of the special needs ministry and leads the Women’s Ministry of The Park Church in Charlotte, NC. Kim shares life and love with her husband, Bishop Claude Alexander, Jr. and their two daughters Camryn and Carsyn. While she has a passion for empowering women to live in the fullness of their relationship with Christ. She can be found reading, jogging, or cooking great southern food. Good chocolate and popcorn are her weakness. “Having a broken toe during my Selah experience prompted a spiritual awakening.“

Dr. Nathan Baxter

Selah-Anglican

Nathan’s long-term sense of calling has been to help Christians go deeper into their faith and to respond in culture influencing ways. While studying ways faith and culture interact, Nathan led home groups and formation classes in his local church contexts (MA Exegetical Theology, Western Seminary; PhD in Communication and Culture, Indiana University; MA Speech Communication, Texas A&M University; BA Speech Communication, Willamette University). After 14 years as a college professor, he embraced pastoral ministry as the context of his calling. Nathan was trained in spiritual direction through the Holy Conversations program of the Anglican Diocese in New England. He lives with his wife and two children in Modesto, CA, where he pastors Wellspring Anglican Church. He enjoys espresso, books, conversations, and guitars. “I’ve been blessed by the lives and ministry of the Selah team for years. What a privilege to be serving alongside wise and thoughtful people!”

Fyfe Blair

Dr. Fyfe Blair

Selah-Europe

Fyfe has 30 years of experience in ministry – serving within a range of diverse contexts of parishes in Scotland and New Zealand; the vocational formation of students training for ministry; facilitation and training provision in conflict transformation (a ministry of reconciliation) and Spiritual Direction.  His educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts (Religious Studies) from the University of Edinburgh, a Bachelor of Divinity from the University of Aberdeen, a D.Min. in Church Planting from the Columbia Seminary, a Certificate in Mediation Skills for Churches, and a Certificate in Horticulture. Fyfe is married to Gillian and lives in N.E Scotland. He is blessed with two married daughters and their husbands. He enjoys cycling, gardening and painting. He is exploring new opportunities in which to establish a context for soul care, contemplative rhythms and seasons using horticulture to engage around Gospel, soul, land and community, helping others recognise the presence and voice of God and to respond appropriately. “I so appreciate being part of a wonderful team and engaging with interns from a host of countries. It is so enriching.”


Sally Breedlove

Sally Breedlove

Selah Senior Faculty & Associate Director, Selah-Anglican

 Sally Breedlove (BA in English, studies in Spiritual Theology at Regent College, Certificate in Spiritual Direction, Selah) is the co-founder of JourneyMates (www.JourneyMates.org), a contemplative ministry that invites people to connect intimately with the Triune God in communities and small groups. She now serves JourneyMates as a trainer and supervisor. She also co-founded 8@8 (www.8at8pm.org), a ministry that calls Christians around the world to biblically-informed prayer for eight minutes nightly. As an author, spiritual director, teacher, and retreat leader, she delights in helping people notice, trust, and follow Jesus. Sally and her husband Steve, a bishop in the Anglican Church in North America, live life in the rich context of five married children and fifteen grandchildren. Any given day unfolds rhythms of long walks, good books, hospitality, and real conversations. If anyone asks Sally about LTI’s ministry, her answer is the same: “LTI leadership lives humbly and joyfully into all it teaches, as it invites people into a broader and robust with-God life.”

Dr. Douglas Mitts

Selah Senior Faculty & Associate Director, Selah-Europe

Doug’s interest in spiritual formation started in the early 90’s and only deepened as he served to facilitate church planters, first in Poland, and later across Europe. His education includes a D.Min. in Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction from Selah, with LTI. He and his wife, Lisa, currently reside in the Dallas area, as Doug continues to assist people in their spiritual formation in GEM and accross Europe. Doug served as a senior leader with Greater Europe Mission for many years. In his leadership capacities, he established the spiritual life ministry within GEM and now serves on that team, providing retreats, workshops, and other resources to their missionaries. Doug also enjoys an active ministry of providing spiritual direction for ministry leaders across the globe. He and Lisa are the proud parents of two wonderful adult children. “LTI’s Selah program made beautifully concrete and phenomenally real the leadership and initiative of God the Holy Spirit today.“

David Wu

Selah Senior Faculty, Emmaus Faculty

David serves as Senior Faculty of Selah, LTI’s Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction, and Emmaus, LTI’s Certificate Program in Formational Leadership. He is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.,’11) and Selah. Prior to his ministry with LTI, David was involved with overseas missions in East Asia, church planting, and pastoral ministry in the local church. David is passionate about creating prayerful and hospitable space for others to listen to God, whether through leading worship corporately, facilitating soul care retreats, or one-on-one spiritual direction. For fun, David enjoys long hikes, playing the guitar, gluten-free cooking, and pulling weeds. David and his wife and three kids make their home in Sugar Land, Texas. “I first encountered LTI at a soul care retreat during a very low point in my life and ministry. LTI was my spiritual paramedic at just the right time. Today I am so grateful to serve with this incredible team of loving and compassionate soul care-givers.“

Ted Wueste

Selah Senior Faculty & Associate Director, Selah-West

Ted has served in ministry for almost 30 years with 22 of those years in pastoral ministry as both an associate pastor and a senior pastor at a church he planted and pastored for 10 years. With Master degrees of Divinity and Sacred Theology as well as a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership, he has also received training in Spiritual Direction from New Way Ministries and Selah. Ted has been married to Jenifer since 1992 and has two college aged children. He serves as the Director of the Spiritual Formation Society of Arizona where he loves to hike, tend is cactus garden, and spend time outdoors. Ted shares: “It’s a joy to be a part of this team! From the moment I got involved with LTI, I felt like I’d met my ‘tribe.’ The loving, nurturing LTI ‘way’ creates space for those in leadership and those who are a part of various offerings to follow the leading of our Triune God. I love it!“

Jovin Adjeitey

Jovin Adjeitey

Emmaus Faculty & Selah-East Faculty

Jovin delights to lead others to experience God’s life-changing love and power through the ministries of prayer, the Word, and attentive listening. She does this through offering prayerful, hospitable spaces and experiences to leaders across cultures who have become weary and need to be re-directed to hear the voice of God.

She lives in Ghana, West Africa. Though her educational background and degrees are in Hospitality, things took a turn when the Lord led her in a different kind of hospitality than expected. She spent the last two decades in full time vocational ministry with InterVarsity USA (an Interdenominational campus ministry) serving international students and scholars, and later InterVarsity Staff. She understands what it’s like to live in a different culture and serve many cultures. Her ministry experience includes speaking, training, and working with different cultures, spiritual formation, intercession and prayer ministry.

She trained as a Spiritual Director through Leadership Transformations’ Selah Certificate Program. For fun, she enjoys a good cup of tea and loves to express hospitality through cooking for others. “The ministry of LTI was meaningful to me during a Kairos moment in my life. I am blessed to serve with this remarkable team.”

Justin Allison

Selah-East Faculty

Justin is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MDiv, ThM), Durham University (PhD, New Testament) and Selah. Justin, his wife Andrea, and their three young daughters live in Arkadelphia, Arkansas where he teaches New Testament at Ouachita Baptist University. Before teaching at Ouachita, Justin was a hospital chaplain at Baptist Health in Little Rock, and taught at Prairie College in Alberta, Canada. In their free-time, Justin and Andrea enjoy adventures with their girls and time in nature. “LTI’s Pierce Center for Disciple-Building and Selah programs have taught me to pray, to dwell in God’s presence, and to long for God. It is an honor to be part of this team.“

John French

Selah-East Faculty

A sabbatical with Eugene Peterson 31 years ago began John’s journey with spiritual direction, and for the last 16 years he has been offering individual and group spiritual direction to others. John began his professional life as an elementary teacher, went on to Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary with a MDiv. John trained as a spiritual director with Shalem Institute. Recently retired after 36 years as pastor of a Baptist Church, John continues to offer ministries of retreats, preaching, spiritual formation companionship, including spiritual direction supervision and facilitation of spiritual formation groups. John and his wife Janet live on the North Shore of Massachusetts involved in congregational life and using their home as a gathering place for people to experience God’s grace. They enjoy life with three grown children, their spouses, and five active grand-boys. John enjoys gardening, biking, skiing, body surfing and walking the beaches with his wife. John says, “My greatest joy is to watch people discover their true selves when they respond to God’s grace and love.”

Gayle Heaslip

Spiritual Formation Associate, Abide Faculty, & Selah-East Faculty

Gayle Heaslip has a degree in counseling from Gordon-Conwell Seminary and having completed Selah’s spiritual direction training program, she is drawn to walk alongside others as they grow into the fullness of life the Lord supplies through both trials and triumphs. In addition to working with LTI and offering spiritual direction to individuals and groups, she is a priest in the Anglican Church of North America, serving a missional fellowship in Falmouth. Gayle delights in the ever-changing beauty of Cape Cod where she lives with her husband and close to their three grown children and eight grandchildren. Good books and conversation, hiking, writing and photography, and time alone to ponder are God’s gracious gifts to her. “I have been deeply formed over many years through LTI within its listening, companioning community, and I’m honored to walk with others in the Emmaus and Selah programs as we become more attentive and responsive to God’s presence.”

Grace Long

Selah-East Faculty

Grace is a native of Taiwan but emigrated to the U.S. to pursue her American dream. It turned out that God had a different dream for her and eventually called her away from America to serve in Central Asia as a missionary for a decade. She has had the immense privilege of witnessing the Triune God’s loving pursuit among the nations. Having served in ministry in various parts of the world for over 20 years, Grace has found spiritual direction to allow her the space to notice and embrace the loving invitation to keep walking with the Lord. Her longing is for her fellow travelers to also experience this beautiful – sometimes treacherous – and unhurried journey that the Good Shepherd leads us on. Grace is a graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (MA Intercultural Studies) and Selah with LTI. As a side mission, Grace looks for affordable quality dark chocolates (70%+) to enjoy with a cup of coffee or tea – sometimes sharing with a friend. Grace and her husband Damian and three kids make their home in the Boston area. “What a gift it is to be part of this transformative community! I feel like I’ve found my people. The hospitable nurturing space Selah (LTI) offers has allowed me and many others to become more present to God’s loving way.”

Laura Strunk

Selah-East Faculty

Laura is a spiritual director in Maryville, TN, where she lives with her husband, David, and their three spirited kids Lucy, Maisie, and Davey. The seeds of spiritual direction were planted at a precocious age in Laura’s life as she began engaging deeply in contemplative spiritual disciplines during high school and college thanks to the nurture of wise mentors. After receiving a BA in Psychology from the University of Tennessee in 2006, she accepted a call to ministry with Young Life near Denver. Laura has enjoyed various ministry roles over the years, and spiritual direction has been an unmistakable and natural part of them all. She says, “God led me to Selah through the Internet of all places! In His kindness, He was drawing me to a home I didn’t know existed with a tribe of others who speak my native tongue.”

Christine Warner

Selah-East Faculty

Christine serves as Supervising Faculty of Selah, LTI’s Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction. She is a graduate of Regent College (MA Spiritual Theology), UT Austin (MA Rhetoric/Applied Linguistics), and Selah. She is the Director for the Matthew 25 Initiative, the Anglican efforts to companion the vulnerable, marginalized, and under-resourced communities in the US, Canada, and Mexico. Christine is also founder/director of Lumen, a non-profit ministry for spiritual direction. Having grown up in Central America during civil war and natural disasters, Christine’s TCK-ness laces everything she does, seeing the world through the lens of God’s global people who will worship before the throne as every tribe and tongue and nation. Living in Canada and serving on the border with Mexico among the urban poor helps that lens. Christine and her family of six serve in parish ministry in Austin, Texas. Boba tea, Isaiah 25 & 58, and dappled-sunlit trees are good things. “My great joy lies in the spaces where contemplative activists are nurtured and inspired in soul care and their life in Christ while also engaged in acts of justice and mercy.”

Cheri Hudspith

Selah-West Faculty

Cheri serves as a Supervisor to our Selah Interns. She is a graduate of LeTourneau University, (BS Accounting, 1989), Fuller Theological Seminary (Master of Arts in Theology, 2008), Selah Program, 2013. She and her husband Dave live in Flower Mound, Texas (Near Dallas), and have been faithful lay servants of the church since the early days of their marriage. They are blessed with a grown son, his beloved bride, and a grandchild. Cheri is still full of wonder that the invitation to leave her first vocation as a CPA led to life as a Spiritual Director. It is a privilege and a joy to help others, especially leaders, make space for their relationship with God. “Leadership Transformation has become a sacred home for me. A place to meet God, receive from God, and watch the Lord transform my heart and the hearts of those around me. If you are looking to be with people that really listen to God and respond out of that listening, this is the place to be.“

Marcos Leon

Emmaus Faculty, Abide Faculty, & Selah-West Faculty

Marcos has served as a Team Leader for Faithwalking since 2007. He facilitates and coaches the Faithwalking curriculum in English and Spanish, leads the communications team, and oversees the training for coaches. Marcos is also part of the Emmaus Online faculty team at LTI. Additionally he serves as a counselor and has a passion for spiritual direction. Marcos was born and grew up in Ecuador, but now lives north of Houston in Porter, TX with his wife Julie and four children. He loves nature, good stories, and road trips with family. His education includes a Masters in Hotel Administration in Spain and a Masters in Counseling from Houston Graduate School of Theology. He also received his training on the Enneagram from Crosspoint Ministry and is a graduate of LTI’s Selah program. “Selah facilitates an encounter with God. The integration of a solid biblical foundation in the teaching, the humble spaciousness of the discipline of silence, and the faith-filled loving attitude of the leaders invites the soul to listen to the Spirit of the Living God.”

Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty & Emmaus Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

“Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.“

John March

Selah-West Faculty

John serves as a Supervisor with Selah. He grew up in Minnesota, studied engineering in Boston, and then worked at a tech company in Chicago. Feeling an internal longing to do something radical for Jesus, he quit his job and spent a year as a missionary in Malawi. From there he was off to seminary at Gordon-Conwell where he earned an MDiv and met his wife with whom he has four children. He returned to the Minneapolis area and started a church in 2009. It was this endeavor that awakened in him an awareness of his deep need to find God’s companioning presence amid great disappointment and difficulty. Spiritual direction was the place he began to do this, and it catalyzed a call to offer spiritual direction to others. He graduated from Selah’s Spiritual Direction training program in 2020, and in 2021, transitioned into a role with Restoration Ministries, a spiritual formation and spiritual direction ministry. “Selah was a life-changing, soul-forming experience for me, and it is my privilege to companion others on their sacred journey through this program.”

LuAnn Roberson

Selah-West Faculty

LuAnn is a Selah grad and serves as a Supervisor to our Selah-West interns. She is a tender of bodies and souls. A Spiritual Director after many years as a trauma and breast cancer nurse, she is familiar with life-altering circumstances and provides safe, compassionate accompaniment and healing space for individuals and groups. As Minister of Formation with MSW Ministries, she is creator and curator of the app, A Simple Pause, a collection of 5-7 minute contemplative spiritual practices that invite us to keep ourselves in the love of God, as we do life with God. She also serves in leadership with the Spiritual Formation Society of Arizona,  facilitating events that support leaders and learners in their journey toward Christ-likeness. LuAnn also offers Enneagram coaching, using the Christ Virtues approach from David Wu. LuAnn and her husband Mike, both Arizona natives, have been married 38 years, have two daughters, one son, and 3 delightful grandchildren. They enjoy rock-hounding, exploring epitaphs in cemeteries, and adventures with grandkids. (LuAnn loves chocolate and books, too)

“What a privilege to be a part of the Selah (LTI) community, as alum and faculty. Seeking and experiencing God and his good grace and presence alongside willing, thoughtful companions is a gift to my soul.”

Laura Hash

Selah-Europe

Laura, who never desired to be a missionary, along with her husband Dan, are founding members of Josiah Venture, a mission organization which exists to see a movement of God amongst the youth of Central and Eastern Europe which finds its home in the local church and changes society. She has an MA in Biblical Counseling from  CCU and a Certificate in Spiritual Direction through Selah with LTI. God has graciously called her towards walking with and discipling young leaders in many capacities over the 28 years they’ve lived in Poland which she loves. From teaching, spiritual directing, organizing silent retreats and caring for teammates, God is at work by his grace in her and through her. Laura and Dan are thrilled that their son and his wife also serve with Josiah Venture in Poland.

Dorcas McPhee

Selah-Europe

Dorcas is an artist, spiritual director, retreat leader, mother and widow. She lives in the Scottish Highlands with two of her children, another lives away. Her love of nature inspires her walk with God. Dorcas has a deep connection with the sea where she swims all year round. She is learning what it means to live an embodied life. She has a BSc in Zoology, has studied Montessori education and taken many online art courses. Her most shaping experiences have been motherhood, marriage and grief. She is a graduate of Selah Europe and has been part of a Renovare group for 18 years. She enjoys spaces where questions are held open and there is space for mystery and holding tension. Dorcas looks forward to holding nurturing space for others, and is excited to encourage creativity and wonder.

“I loved the four rhythms of Selah echoing the seasons of the year. I found this incredibly helpful along with the monthly examen to pay close attention to my life with God. I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed the practice of silence together.”

 

Caryn Dixon

Selah-Anglican

Caryn serves as a supervisor for the Selah-Anglican interns. Companioning others on their journey has looked different in changing seasons of her life. Originally working in human resource management in the city of London, she retrained as a counselor and began her own counseling practice serving her local church. Shortly after moving to the United States with her husband she was invited to explore the Selah program of spiritual direction. It was a life-changing gift to discover others who have a deep desire to listen and attend to God’s healing presence. Caryn has been married to Simon for 18 years and they are blessed beyond measure with a 7 year old son who keeps them embracing joy, adventuring and exploring. They love family life and “doing life” with friends, nurturing community. Caryn has a degree in Theology and Psychology (Stellenbosch University, South Africa), a qualification in Counseling and Theology (London School of Theology, London) and offers spiritual direction, leading retreats, small groups and teaching within the local church. “Through Selah – the community, the practices and learning – God has continued to bring real life; like a river always flowing, quenching a deep and often unacknowledged thirst.“

John Hall

Selah-Anglican

John and his wife, Kathy, have 4 adult children and 6 grandchildren. Together they have served in pastoral ministry for over 40 years. It has been a path traveled with many twists and turns, but at every point God has met them with his love and grace. They both have a love for nurturing a younger generation of church planters, missionaries and pastors in their life with God. Over the past 15 years this has been a specific focus of their ministry while they have been directly involved in church planting and pastoral ministry. Recently, John stepped down as Rector of Christ the Redeemer to give more energy to developing a ministry, with Kathy, to those desiring to deepen their relationship with God. John enjoys being outside walking in the woods, college sports, trying to learn banjo and pottery, and reading. Recently, he has really enjoyed diving into Celtic Christian spirituality as he became a Novice in the Company of Jesus. John has a Master of Divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry from Westminster Theological Seminary in California and currently serves as an Assisting Priest at Christ the Redeemer in Clemson, SC. “In many ways I feel like I have just begun the journey with Jesus as he constantly surprises me. A significant part of my journey has been Selah, so it is a joy to give back a portion of what I have been given through Selah.“

Tamara Murphy

Selah-Anglican

Tamara is a spiritual director, writer, and author of The Spacious Path: Practicing the Restful Way of Jesus in a Fragmented World (Herald Press, June 2023). Her writing also appears in Plough Quarterly and two anthologies–Ordinary Saints (Square Halo Press), and On the Eighth Day (WestBow Press). She has worked in ministry roles for 25 years and is a lay leader within the Anglican Church of North America. Tamara lives with her husband Brian, an Anglican priest, in Bridgeport, CT. They are the grateful parents of four children and in the past few years have joyfully welcomed a daughter-in-law, son-in-law, and–in November 2022–their first grandchild. When she’s not walking along the Long Island Sound or playing with her grandson Julian, you’ll likely find Tamara taking a great nap. You can also find her at TamaraHillMurphy.com. “One of my greatest honors is to hold a safe and quiet space for directees to listen to the Holy Spirit, each other, and their own hearts.”

Adele Ahlberg Calhoun

Selah Guest Faculty

Adele is the co-pastor of Spiritual Formation with her husband Doug at Highrock Covenant Church in Atlington, MA. She has pastoral and missionary experience stateside and overseas. Adele taught as adjunct faculty at Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has served on a variety of boards and currently serves on the board of New Wine and Pax Center for Christian Spiritual Formation. Adele has authored seven books including The Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (IVP), Invitations from God (IVP), and Spiritual Rhythms for the Enneagram (IVP). She is an accomplished retreat leader and a spiritual director.

Steve Macchia

Founder & President

The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. (LTI), a ministry serving the spiritual formation, discernment, and renewal of leaders and learners since 2003. For more than 20 years he has been the Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Ministry Program. From 1989-2003 he was the president of Vision New England, the largest regional church renewal association in the country. Earlier in his ministry life, Steve was a member of the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts for 11 years. He is the author or co-author of 17 books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective), and Crafting a Rule of Life, Becoming A Healthy Church (LTI), and Broken and Whole (IVP).  He and his wife Ruth live in the Boston (MA) area and are the proud parents of two married children and grandparents to three adorable grandchildren. Steve’s personal website is www.SteveMacchia.com.

“My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.”

Detailed Biography
Articles by Stephen Macchia
Author Website
Schedule a one-on-one with Steve

Dr. R. Neal Siler

Selah Guest Faculty

Dr. R. Neal Siler, Senior Pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church and President/founder of The Healing Place Center for Counseling and Spiritual Formation in Mechanicsville, Virginia where he practices clinical counseling and spiritual direction. He holds a PhD in Counseling Psychology, and a DMin in Formational Counseling. Neal is an adjunct professor in the Doctoral program’s Spiritual Formation track at Tyndale University Seminary and College in Toronto, Ontario, and Director of HCM International’s Spiritual Formation and the Art of Spiritual Direction Program in Ashland, Ohio. His wife Sharon is also a spiritual director. The Siler’s enjoy sharing life with two grown children, their spouses, and three grandchildren. Neal’s special interest is the efficacy of spiritual direction’s focus on spiritual and psychological wellbeing as it relates to systemic issues that create pain and brokenness for African Americans and marginalized people. “It has been a wonderful and welcoming experience to share my thoughts and insights, reflective of the experiences that I bring as an African American, with The Selah/LTI community.”

David Vryhof

Br. David Vryhof

Selah Guest Faculty

Br. David Vryhof, SSJE, is an Episcopal priest and a monk of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He earned a Master’s degree from Gallaudet University and taught Deaf children at the Rhode Island School for the Deaf for several years. He also spent three years training teachers for the Deaf at the MICO Teachers’ College in Kingston, Jamaica. He entered the monastery in 1985. Following his initial monastic formation, he was sent to Duke Divinity School and then to the General Seminary in New York to complete a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1994. He has held a number of positions in the monastery, but most especially the role of Novice Guardian, responsible for the formation on new men who join the community. He is a widely-experienced teacher, preacher, retreat leader and spiritual director. He loves sports and actively follows the Red Sox and Patriots. “I consider it a great privilege to be working with the staff and students of the Selah program.”

Linda Rankin

Selah Associate for Alumni Nurture

Linda is an ordained minister serving within a church planting movement and network of churches on the West Coast. She currently serves as Care Pastor at EastLake Church in San Diego, CA. Home is twelve miles north of the Mexican border and nestled next to the beautiful shores of the Pacific Ocean where she often spends time with her family including two adult children and one teenage son. In addition to offering Selah trained contemplative spiritual direction, Linda is also a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP), a therapeutic modality designed to help individuals process stuck trauma in the body. Her work is contemplative in nature, helping others spot the active work of God in their lives. She specializes in contemplative practice, presence to God and to self, ministry burnout, trauma, chronic pain, fatigue, and stress. “Nurturing others in resilience and grace is an expression of the gift I’ve received from God’s steady presence and care throughout my life. It is a joy to help others spot the presence of God in and through their stories. Selah fosters an environment of nurturing in God’s presence and it is an honor to continue providing care to our graduates.“

Kristyn Wirt

Selah Admin Assistant

Kristyn is passionate about spiritual formation and worship, and loves to see people experience God’s love in all of life. She received her Master’s in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She was introduced to LTI through the Pierce Center for Disciple Building. She feels at home with the people and ministry of LTI, and is currently a part of Selah. Before seminary she worked with Youth With a Mission for five years which cultivated her love for traveling and meeting people from other countries. She now lives in Charlottesville, VA where she enjoys seeing the beauty of the mountains every day, exploring new places with her husband, Weston, resting in the quiet moments, reading books, laughing with friends, and spontaneous dance parties. Kristyn writes, “The Lord has healed and shaped me in His love as I have enjoyed His presence with the people of LTI. I am so thankful for the fruit of this ministry in my life and in the lives of many others. I am excited to be serving alongside this team!“