Linda Flynn is the Executive Director of the Charlotte Spirituality Center which provides spiritual direction training and serves the wider North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia community with spiritual formation, spiritual direction and retreats. She has 15 years experience as a retreat leader and spiritual director, specializing in a contemplative style of spiritual direction, Ignatian spirituality , the Enneagram and Twelve Step. Linda received spiritual direction supervision training from “Together in the Mystery,” a program of San Franscisco Theological Seminary. In 2015, she published her first book “Praying Twelve Steps with Jesus” which blends the work of the twelve steps with Ignatian contemplative prayer. A progressive Catholic, she is passionate about the ministry of spiritual direction and her hero is Dorothy Day. Linda is the curator and organizer of the Wild Goose Festival Spiritual Direction Program.

Randy Bell is the Director of Spring Creek Spirituality, a non-denominational spiritual setting independent of a specific religious dogma, welcoming all faiths and backgrounds as we explore each person’s individual spirituality using our everyday language. His spiritual path has taken him to many diverse sources, though he is principally a follower of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, Buddha, Lao-Tsu, and has been a Zen practitioner for 40 years. He has written extensively on various spiritual topics; offers a spiritual sanctuary for individual retreatants in the mountains of western NC; provides instruction in various meditation practices; serves as a guest speaker/session leader; and leads spiritual and personal growth workshops and retreat sessions. He is a member of Spiritual Directors International and the North Carolina Writer’s Network.

Sarah DeShields was born in England and raised in Scotland. Sarah studied piano, percussion and voice throughout school, receiving her BAHons in Communication Arts: Studies in Media and Performance from York St.John University in 2003. After that she moved to Charlotte, NC USA where she married her husband of now 11 years, with whom she records music with the band Broadcast Safe, and has two little wildling boys. Sarah’s love for the arts and her spirituality have deeply interwoven threads. As a mystic by nature, her music and photography take on a transient quality, with contemplation at the core of each piece. Her endeavors as an artist are always being drawn to the center of what it means to be human, to be spiritual, to love and be loved. You’ll find Sarah often creating spaces for the contemplative arts in communities, forming creative liturgies and sacred spaces where the invitation for all is felt. Sarah is currently in training at Charlotte Spirituality Center to become certified as a Spiritual Director. www.sarahdeshields.com

Mims Driscoll is a third year student with the Charlotte Spirituality Center and a certified trauma informed yoga specialist. Her passion for people led her to start Living Mangaliso, (Mangaliso is Zulu for You are an Amazement), an in person and online community that focuses on restoring people to their bodies, breath, souls and spirit. Mims’ training includes Restorative Yoga, Yoga for Children with ADD, ADHD, and those on the Autism spectrum, as well as Yoga for Veterans and those suffering with PTSD. She is a community affiliate to the Virginia Tech Autism Clinic, a member of Yoga Alliance as well as International Association of Yoga Therapists. Mims is of the contemplative Christian faith, with a passion for interfaith and ecumenical work.

Will Humes is the father of a lovely 23 year-old daughter, a pastor in the United Methodist Church for 30 years, and someone who tries, though often fails, to follow Jesus. Will works for inclusion of all people in Christ’s church, and strives to help people discern the presence of God in their lives.  He received his training in spiritual direction at Sustainable Faith in Cincinnati and is looking forward to being of service at Wild Goose.  His favorite quote is from Frederick Buechner: “Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is. In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments, and life itself is grace.”

Dr. Marshall Jenkins is a spiritual director, psychotherapist, and writer from Rome, Georgia. He received certificates in spiritual formation at Columbia Theological Seminary and in spiritual guidance at Shalem Institute. His most recent book, Blessed at the Broken Places: Reclaiming Faith and Purpose with the Beatitudes will be published by Skylight Paths this summer (perhaps by the time you read this!). In his blog at www.jmarshalljenkins.com, he posts brief, biweekly reflections on the Beatitudes to validate faith and empower discipleship of people in emotional pain.

Karen Keen is founder and primary provider at The Redwood Center for Spiritual Care in Durham, North Carolina. More than anything, she loves seeing people come alive as they experience meaningful connection with God and others. Karen first honed her listening and helping skills while earning degrees in psychology and counseling (B.S., Corban University; M.S., Western Oregon University). Working as a mental health therapist she became convinced that spiritual wellness forms the foundation for all other well-being. Karen earned her certificate in spiritual direction from the Training Program for the Ministry of Spiritual Direction under the auspices of the Faithful Companions of Jesus, a congregation of Catholic Sisters in the Ignatian tradition. She has also enjoyed pondering questions of faith through advanced biblical and theological studies (M.A., Western Seminary; Th.M., Duke Divinity School). Karen loves listening to people from all walks of life.

Dr. Barbara L. Peacock resides in Charlotte, NC. She is an author and founder of Bar-bara L. Peacock Ministries. The focus of her ministry is Spiritual Direction (Soul Care) for individuals and groups. The mission of the ministry is to provide safe spaces for en-counters with God. In addition to practicing the discipline of Spiritual Direction; the ministry plans retreats, conferences, studies and prayer gatherings. Dr. Peacock received her Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC; her Master of Arts Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey; and her Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon Conwell The-ological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA. The concentration for her doctorate was Spiritual Formation for Ministry Leaders. Dr. Peacock has ministered in numerous settings across the country. Such include teaching at Queen City Bible College, Charlotte, NC; presenting at Chun University, Charlotte, NC; Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton, MA; and Spiritual Directors International 2015, Louisville, KY. Dr. Peacock has also ministered in Nairobi, Kenya, Kisumu, Kenya and at the women’s session at the Hampton Ministers Conference, Hampton, VA. barbaralpeacock.com

Therese Taylor-Stinson is a retired Federal Senior Program Analyst, whom also served as a lead mediator for Equal Employment Opportunity disputes across Government. She is an ordained deacon and ruling elder in the PC(USA), currently serving as Moderator of National Capital Presbytery. A graduate of the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation, Therese is a spiritual director in private practice. She is a member of the Shalem Society for Contemplative Leadership and was commissioned associate faculty for Shalem’s Personal Spiritual Deepening Program. Therese is a founder, incorporator, and the Managing Member of the Spiritual Directors of Color Network, Ltd., and a long-time member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI), serving on their Editorial Review Panel for Presence: An International Journal of Spiritual Direction. An author and editor, she co-edited and contributed authorship to the groundbreaking anthology Embodied Spirits: Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color. Look for her new volume coming in 2017.