Instructors, Guests, and Directors
JOVIN ADJEITY
Spiritual Director
Jovin Adjeitey is from Ghana, West Africa and serves in ministry with InterVarsity in the Red River Region
(TX, OK, AR, LA). Though her master’s degree (University of Houston) is in Hospitality, things took a turn when the Lord led her in a different kind of hospitality than expected. She cares deeply about serving international students here in America. It has been a thrilling journey as she lives in a different culture (USA) and serve many cultures. She spends her workdays now serving in the area of Spiritual Formation and Prayer and delights to lead others to experience God’s life-changing love and power through the ministries of prayer, theWord, and attentive listening. She is a trained Spiritual Director and serves as a Faculty Mentor for Leadership Transformations Inc’s (LTI) Emmaus Online Certificate Program in Formational Leadership as well as a Supervisor for their Selah Certificate Program in Spiritual Direction.
WILLETTA AR-RAHMAAN
Lecturer-Facilitator
Willetta Ar-Rahmaan, a co-vocational ordained Baptist Minister, is a Senior Product Manager at IBM and the Visionary of On the Move Ministries, LLC. She’s the former pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Newton, N. C., the former Minister of Assimilation and Women’s Ministry Advisor at First Baptist Church West in Charlotte, N. C., a board member of the Wesley Community Development Corporation, and a council member of the WesleyanContemplative Order. Rev. Lettie holds an Associate of Science in Data Processing from Gateway Community College (formerly South Central Community College), a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration from North CarolinaCentral University, a Master of Science in Information Systems from Strayer University, and a Master of Divinity from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia UnionUniversity.
SHONDA CARTER
Board Member
A spiritual director, teacher, minister, and innovative leader, Shonda was trained at Sustainable Faith, holds a Master’s degree in Christian Spirituality and Formation, and is currently working on her Doctorate in Spiritual Formation/Soul Care from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. When completed with her studies, she hopes to provide Supervision and Spiritual Direction Training to the African American community. However, she absolutely loves helping women on their journey to be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ for the glory of God and for the sake of others. She is married to her best friend, Kenneth, since 2003. Together they love and are loved by a blended family of five beautiful children and five amazing grandchildren. In her spare time, she uses her S.T.A.G.E (skills, talents, abilities, gifts, expertise) to create documentaries and perform her “Won” Woman Show.
DONNA COVINGTON
Guest Lecturer
Donna Covington serves as the Vice President of Formation at Asbury Theological Seminary. She is a highly accomplished senior leader with experience in both corporate and higher education with a heart for ministry. Corporately, she has extensive proficiency and expertise in organizational development, strategic planning and change management. She has a proven track record for problem-solving and bringing organizations and groups together. Rev. Covington has led global organizations and traveled extensively including over 30 countries in her various roles at IBM and Lexmark International, Inc. She brings a global perspective along with knowledge and understanding of diversity and cultural complexities to her work.
Donna Covington’s experience also extends into executive church leadership and higher education where she has been a change agent and innovator. She served as executive director for several churches, interim Dean of the College of Business and Computer Science at KentuckyState University and most recently, Dean of the College of Business at Delaware StateUniversity (DSU) where she was able to establish partnerships with business and economic leaders, community organizations and students to increase student retention, mentorship and career placement.
She has held a number of board positions and has been recognized both locally and nationally with several leadership awards, most recently a 2018 prestigious award from Girls, Inc. of Delaware. She has also conducted numerous workshops and conferences locally and internationally. Rev. Covington is ordained from First Pilgrim Baptist Church in Dover, Delaware. She possesses a BS degree in Chemistry from Centre College, MS in Analytical Chemistry from Miami University and MA in Christian Leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary.
She is the mother of three children and grandmother to four grandchildren.
BRENDA DARBY
Guest Lecturer
Brenda Darby holds a Master of Arts degree from Biola University’s Institute of Spiritual Formation where she is employed as a part-time staff Spiritual Director. Her desire as a spiritual director is to provide a safe place for others to discover God’s invitation as they learn of His amazing love and His transforming power in their life. “Together, we will sort through life’s situations and their stories as we notice glimpses of the footsteps of Jesus on our path and work of the Holy Spirit – a light that shines even in the darkness. My passion is to help the hurting to heal and grow.”
SYEEDA ECHOLS
Guest Lecturer
Syeeda Echols has served as the Associate Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Greater Bosqueville Baptist Church in Waco, Texas as well as a hospital chaplain during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is a graduate of Baylor University’s Truett Seminary where she earned a Master of Divinity in Ministry Leadership. Syeeda also holds a master’s in teaching and Special Education from Fordham University, and bachelor’s degrees in Religion & Philosophy with a concentration in Spiritual Formation and Business Administration. Syeeda has followed the call to ministry by providing spiritual formation training to leaders around the globe. Syeeda currently lives in Wichita, Kansas and enjoys spending time with family.”
GREGORY EVERETT
Lecturer Facilitator
Rev. Gregory Everett serves as pastor of First Baptist Church in Wadesboro, NC. Rev. Everett is married and from their union they have two adult children. Rev. Everett holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of NC at Charlotte and a Certificate of Theology from ITC in Atlanta. He also completed coursework in pastoral counseling through Liberty University. Pastor Everett has committed 29 years in the field of education. Pastor Everett serves on the Board of BLP Ministries in Charlotte, NC., and is passionate about leading others in spiritual direction through his training from the Charlotte Spirituality Center in Charlotte, NC.
ADAM FELDMAN
Guest Lecturer
Adam L. Feldman is Academic Dean at Metro Baltimore Seminary, a seasoned spiritual director, an adult ESL instructor, and a writer. Prior to his appointment as Academic Dean, Adam pastored for 21 years. He is the author of Journaling: Catalyzing Spiritual Growth Through Reflection.
ANGELIC GIBSON
Guest Lecturer
As the CIO for an innovative Fintech company, Angelic has deep technology and innovation experience and credentials, although, what makes her unique is how she approaches business and technology from a very “human” perspective, constantly collaborating to come up with solutions that help real people achieve real results. Her team appreciates her persistence, her spunk, and her all-out determination to make all communications—whether digital, written, or face-to-face—an exceptional experience. She likens it to “letting the light of Jesus shine in the Marketplace”. Known as an industry leader, Angelic has been featured in Forbes, CIO.com and other national leading publications. She has also had the opportunity of speaking at national conferences and her clients request her attendance at their national sales meetings.
Angelic believes relationships trump agenda. She believes in building trust, confidence and respect. She emphasizes the importance of establishing personal relationships with everyone she works with. Pioneering the way in the Marketplace, Angelic walks boldly in her Christian faith. She contributes all her success to her Lord and Savior and ensures all glory goes vertically back to Him.
Beyond the Marketplace, Angelic is the Founder of two ministries, Created 2 B Great, LLC and Disciples of the Nations, Inc., where her and her team are passionate about creating and providing discipleship resources and sustainability training to at-risk people groups around the globe. They’ve been successful with outreach initiatives to those who live in foster care, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and homelessness; domestically and globally. Through these efforts, the united prayer is for each individual to know that they are “Created 2 B Great” through Jesus Christ.
On the home front, Angelic’s communication skills are put to good use where she is a wife to John and a mom to six amazing children, and two sons-in-law. Often, she finds herself reading, journaling, and keeping track of her very busy family.
CHRISTOPHER HARRIS
Board Member
Rev. Christopher J. Harris serves as the Executive Pastor at Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida and has worked more than 20 years in ministry, more than 15 years in leadership, and 6 years in education. He previously served as the Chief of Staff and Director of Ministry Operations and as a member of the pastoral and teaching teams at Fellowship Church of Chicago. He is known as a skilled and proficient administrator, strategist, organizational innovator, and communicator who can move organizations efficiently.
Rev. Harris is an alumnus of Florida State University, University of South Carolina, and Princeton Theological Seminary and has served as a member of several national boards and community groups. He is in the dissertation phase of his doctoral coursework at Nova Southeastern University. He is the founder of Inspired Ideas Group, which is a partnership of trainers and consultants that seek to engage people in living inspired lives through training, consulting, and hands-on development.
Rev. Harris is married to Dr. Carmen J. Harris and God has blessed them with four amazingly gifted children.
ANITA HARVIN
Guest Lecturer
Elder Anita Harvin received a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University. She has received a Master of Divinity Degree with a concentration in Pastoral Care from Hood Theological Seminary. Elder Harvin’s experience is highlighted by many examples of her creativity to develop ministries, to teach and to minister to the hearts of people that are experiencing loss. Elder Harvin is married with two adult children and one grandson.
CAROL HASSELL
Lecturer-Facilitator
Carol Hassell is an active seasoned spiritual director, teacher of spiritual directors, and a certified teacher of the enneagram. Three pathways converged for Carol over the years: ministry, spiritual direction, enneagram. She is a retired minister gifted for pastoral ministry with an immense love for teaching theology, spirituality, and spiritual direction. While active in pastoral ministry she received training and education as a spiritual director at the Charlotte Spirituality Center, where she teaches, finding a more personally authentic and contemplative way to minister, pastor, and teach.
Introduced to the enneagram in a required Clinical Pastoral Education experience Carol has studied and taught the enneagram for 8 years. Carol created Be Enneaware to offer enneagram discoveries to individuals and to groups in book studies and workshops. She uses the wisdom of the enneagram in service to spiritual direction as she companions her clients into a deeper, more authentic awareness and experience of God and self.
STEPHEN A. MACCHIA
Lecturer-Facilitator
Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc., director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and the author of 16 books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan), Crafting a Rule of Life (IVP), and Becoming a Healthy Church (A Baker best-seller). He lives in eastern Massachusetts with his wife Ruth and is the proud father of Rebekah, Nathan, daughter in-love Ashley, and Papa to Brenna, Aiden, and Carson.
Deborah Mull
Guest Lecturer
Pastor Mull is a member of several boards: Barbara L. Peacock (BLP) Ministries, Woman in Pink, and the Gastonia Potter’s House. Barbara L. Peacock (BLP) Ministries is a ministry that is committed to developing disciples through prayer, spiritual direction, soul care, mentoring, and teaching. Woman in Pink’s mission is to give hope and encouragement to women living with a cancer diagnosis. Woman in Pink eases the personal burden that often comes with cancer by providing wigs in a supportive and caring environment. The Gastonia Potter’s House is a faith-based 18-month program for women struggling with substance abuse/alcoholism and other life-threatening issues.
Deborah Mull is a graduate of the Ministerial Program of Lee University Theological Seminary. For 30 years she has operated in the field of Human Resources. She is an Ordained Minister within the Church of God serving as a Teacher, Evangelist, and Pastor. In addition to this, she currently leads the Union Road Church Women’s Ministry.
She has traveled to national and international locations such as Trinidad & Tobago and Zimbabwe, Africa preaching the Word of God and declaring the “W.O.W” of the Lord. His Word, Worth, Wisdom, Warfare, and Worship.
BARBARA PEACOCK
Lecturer-Facilitator
Dr. Barbara L. Peacock is the author of the award-winning book Soul Care in African American Practice. Dr. Peacock also wrote Psalm 119 Scriptural Journal and Called to Teach. In 2013 God called her to start Barbara L. Peacock Ministries. This ministry is committed to providing safe spaces for encounters with God. In her endeavors, it is evident that she is passionate about individuals experiencing God in their everyday lives. Currently, she serves on the board of True Value of a Woman, and in an advisory capacity with Fashion and Compassion with the For Charlotte Prayer Network.
She has been married to her husband Gilbert for 43 years. They are the owners of Freedom Financial Advantage, LLC, which serves numerous organizations, churches, and individuals with Safe Money Strategies. The Peacocks are the blessed parents of Vernee, her husband Michael, and grandparents of Eden and Eliah. They all reside in Roslindale, MA.
You can find her at barbaralpeacock.com, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram
GLORIA POTTS
Guest Lecturer
Gloria A. Potts is a gifted teacher, speaker and advisor committed to empowering others socially, spiritually and financially. Her faith, passion and sound biblical college training have led her to become a featured speaker at numerous local, national, and international faith-based conferences. She has served in various capacities (Pastor, Elder, Minister) throughout the years and her number one goal continues to be the genuine empowerment of others. God continues to use Elder Potts – and her teachings – so that others can experience His love today – especially in the areas of healing, Christian identity, and Holy Spirit baptism.
In addition to serving the spiritual needs of the Body of Christ, Gloria owns Trueway Financial, LLC which provides insurance, investment and financial planning services to individuals and small businesses. While serving in a number of local community organizations, Gloria also serves on the Board of Directors of BLP Ministries. She currently resides in Charlotte, North Carolina.
LINDA RANKIN
Guest Lecturer
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 East Lake 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 postgraduate 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. In 2021 Linda joined the Selah faculty team in a part-time position of nurturing graduating directors. “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.”
ADDIE SANDERS
Lecturer-Facilitator
Addie Sanders serves as Associate Minister of Grace AME Zion Church in Charlotte, NC.where she leads worship services, teaches discipleship classes, and leads the media ministry. Addie is also a member in Barbara L. Peacock Ministries leadership team where she serves as a Spiritual Formation Ministry leader. Addie has authored the Living Your Faith Bible Study series and often leads divine visualization exercises as a form of prayer. Addie has an associate degree in information technology, a bachelor’s degree in business administration and is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree at Gardner Webb University School of Divinity with a concentration in Pastoral Care. Addie lives in Charlotte, NC with her beloved husband where the majority of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren also reside. Holidays are filled with love, fun, and laughter around meals that she lovingly prepares. Addie’s heart’s desire for herself and others is to experience an ever-increasing presence of God in their walk, relationships, and life.
LINDA SEREPCA
Lecturer-Facilitator
Executive Director of the Charlotte Spirituality Center, a spiritual and educational institute that offers a three-year training program for spiritual direction and companionship in spiritual formation. Spiritual director and retreat leader for eighteen years, she specializes in Ignatian Spirituality, discernment, internal family systems and the Enneagram. A member of Spiritual Directors International, Linda describes herself as a Catholic Christian mom of five who values community and ecumenical/interfaith relationships. Her perspective is that EVERYTHING belongs in the conversation of spiritual direction because everything affects our Spirit! She is author of the retreat workbook “Praying Twelve Steps with Jesus: A Journey Back to Wholeness” which blends Ignatian prayer of the imagination with the classic Twelve Steps.
MAISIE SPARKS
Guest Lecturer
Maisie Sparks is an author, workshop facilitator, and editorial director of The Sparks Group, a marketing communications firm she formed more than 25 years ago. Maisie earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Ill., and a master’s degree in religious leadership and spiritual formation from Dominican University in River Forest, Ill. She also holds a certificate in the art of spiritual direction from the Christos Center in Minneapolis, Minn. In her role as editorial director of The Sparks Group, Maisie has overseen the development of editorial content and visual design for annual reports, magazines, print and online newsletters, as well as provided communication plans and executive speeches for companies such as Allstate Insurance, McCormick Theological Seminary, Trinity Health, Kellogg, Northwestern Medicine, T. Rowe Price, Urban Ministries, and Walgreens.
She is a frequent contributor to the Christian Science Monitor. During the past five years, her works, Christmas Quiet, 151 Things God Can’t Do, and Holy Shakespeare! were published by FaithWords, a division of Hachette Book Group, the third largest publisher in the world. She’s also been a contributor to two groundbreaking anthologies, Embodied Spirits, Stories of Spiritual Directors of Color, and Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn MeAround, Stories of Contemplation and Justice. Most recently, her composition, “Feast of Losses,” was published in Kaleidoscope: Broadening the Palette in the Art of Spiritual Direction. Maisie has lectured at Duke University Divinity School, McCormick Theological Seminary, and facilitated spiritual formation workshops for Children’s Relief International in India, ministries in St. Petersburg, Russia, and churches and other organizations in the U.S. Maisie has two adult sons and lives in Central Illinois.
CARLA STANBACK
Guest Lecturer
Carla Chambers Stanback is currently completing the Emmaus program through the Leadership Transformation Institute. The Emmaus Certificate in Formational Leadership is a two-year program designed for ministry leaders to develop a deeper awareness of the presence and promptings of God. Carla holds a bachelor’s degree in French and a certificate in Community Health from Tufts University. She has also completed the certificate program in Diversity and Inclusion from Cornell University. Carla serves in Barbara L. Peacock Ministries as co-leader of soul care outreach. She has facilitated prayer calls and soul care sessions, coaching participants to be sensitive to the presence and movement of God in their lives. In addition to being a devoted caregiver to her 91-year-old parents, she is Mom to one son, and daughter in love, as well as ‘Gigi’ to three grandsons.
ANN STARRETTE
Guest Lecturer
Ann Starrette founded The Lydia Group, LLC retreat ministry & resource for Christian spiritual formation in 1998. She was the Director of Spiritual Formation at Davidson United Methodist Church in Davidson, NC, from 2004-2021. And since 2006, Ann (and husband Tom, 1938-2019)have offered sacred space apart for individuals and groups at Starrette Farm Retreat Center in Statesville, NC. Ann earned her business degree from UNC-Charlotte with four decades of entrepreneurial have focused experience in their landmark family business. Her post-graduate studies have focused on Spiritual Formation and Direction through Shalem Institute, Renovare Institute, and Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta. As a spiritual director, presenter, retreat facilitator, and founding director of the one-year Clergy/Leaders School of the Spirit experiential program, Ann views her role as quietly planting inner seeds of freedom, growth, and change toward divine wholeness.
SHERRY WATERS
Guest Lecturer-Spiritual Director
Sherry Waters is a Spiritual Companion Community Chaplain, who helps direct individuals in spiritual formation, vocational civic responsibility and personal stewardship. Sherry is also the Owner-Operator of The Pauline Tea-Bar Apothecary a subsidiary of IEnate, LLC. Sherry coaches individuals on being better stewards of everything they’ve been entrusted. Through IEnate, LLC, Sherry inspires others to use their talents, resources and skills to live their wellness support lives serving others and the community. A former chaplain for Atrium Health, Sherry infuses her spiritual care experiences as a chaplain and complement wellness support in the stewardship coaching she provides. She has her Master’s of Practical Theology, Pastoral Counseling & Care from Pfeiffer University, a B.A. degree in Communications from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill; and her certification in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.
VERNEE WILKINSON
Spiritual Director
Vernee Wilkinson received her Spiritual Direction training through Selah Center for Spiritual Formation. In Spiritual direction sessions, she prayerfully offers a companionship that is welcoming to all people. She has a creative and entrepreneurial heart that is applied to all her endeavors in life. Vernee is a community outreach and non-profit communications consultant. She resides in Boston with her loving family.
ADDITIONAL GUESTS
Kim Alexander
David Currie
Cynthia Davis