Spiritual direction is a ministry of listening, discernment and prayer in a confidential setting of encouragement and compassion.
For more information on Spiritual Direction in the East Coast Conference,
click HERE for our brochure or
contact our Spiritual Direction Network Coordinator, Theresa Marks. EMAIL THERESA
Tom Anderson
Glastonbury, CT
Training: The Spiritual Life Center
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
A minister of the Evangelical Covenant Church, Tom sought out a spiritual director during a time of vocational transition. It was this positive experience with a spiritual director that led him to seek training in the practice and to incorporate spiritual direction into his ministry. “Jesus said, ‘I come from the Father and I am going to the Father,’ Tom explains, “and a central question in the ministry of spiritual direction is ‘Where are you coming from and where are you going?’” For him, walking with people as they live into the answer to that question lies at the heart of his work as a director. EMAIL TOM
Cristina Ferri
Cranston, RI
Training: North Park Theological Seminary
Accepting New Directees?: Case by case
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
Cristina is currently pursuing her Masters in Divinity and working as a Chaplain at the Women’s Department of Corrections in Rhode Island. Cristina sees spiritual direction as “a safe environment for one to speak and be heard without judgment. It is a conversation founded on compassion while acknowledging the misery and the mystery of life.” Cristina has a particular passion for working with people in recovery and applying her experience in trauma-informed crisis intervention, recovery coaching and mindfulness meditation to her ministry. A native New Englander, Cristina experiences God’s presence and grace in the natural beauty of the region. EMAIL CRISTINA
Dave Guertin
Middletown, CT
Training: North Park Theological Seminary
Accepting New Directees?: Case by case
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
Dave is a chaplain, and spiritual director residing in central Connecticut. Throughout his life David has been drawn to the contemplative aspects of Christian faith and has found his calling to attend to people’s spirits and be a conduit of God’s grace to lead naturally to this ministry. He writes, “Spiritual Direction is a partnership on life’s journey helping another person, in that present moment, notice the presence of God in their life. As a spiritual director I listen, bear witness, and create a safe space for another to notice the movements of God in their life.” EMAIL DAVE
Elizabeth LeLievre
Greater Boston, MA
Training: PAX Center for Spiritual Formation
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
As a spiritual director, Elizabeth creates space for people to notice how God has been at work and how God may be leading. She finds that when people are given the opportunity to slow down, pay attention, and spend time in silence and Scripture, they are able to move toward greater wholeness, and experience the abundance that God has for them. Having gone through a period of intense burnout herself, she has a heart for all those in ministry to serve from a place of thriving. Currently serving the spiritual formation needs of Intervarsity staff in the New England region, Elizabeth has extensive cross-cultural and campus ministry experience. She is also available to lead retreats and workshops on contemplative practices. EMAIL ELIZABETH
Grace Long
Brookline, MA
Training: Selah by Leadership Transformations. (Here is the link to their website)
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
A native of Taiwan, Grace emigrated to the U.S. at age twenty and spent ten years serving in Central Asia, mentoring young local ministers and providing care and leadership training to ministry teams. In ministry, Grace discovered spiritual direction as a key part of her own emotional and spiritual health. As a spiritual director today, she has a heart for pastors, missionaries and others working in Christian ministry. “We’re all fellow sheep,” Grace says, “which walk together in groups, nudging each other along, learning to hear the shepherd’s voice.” Grace seeks to help others hear and follow God’s voice. EMAIL GRACE
Theresa Marks
Branchville, NJ
Training: North Park Theological Seminary
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
Theresa is a pastor with training in clinical psychology and pastoral counseling as well as spiritual direction. She serves as the coordinator for the East Coast Conference Spiritual Director’s Network. She has spent most of her career facilitating the healing process for those who have experienced crisis, trauma and abuse. An encourager and deep listener, Theresa uses a conversational approach to spiritual direction, aimed at helping people to open their true selves to God, to know themselves as loved by God, and to discern God’s voice in their lives from other voices. “Spiritual direction,” Theresa says, “is walking with another as they discover how God is working in their life. Jesus loves you. Let’s remember.” EMAIL THERESA
Robert Messore
East Greenwich, RI
Training: Our Lady of Peace (RI); Mercy Center of Burlingame, CA
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
Robert has been a spiritual director for over 20 years. He says, “I believe that spiritual direction is the gift of listening, discerning, and praying in a confidential setting of encouragement and compassion. Though we believe God is always calling us and leading us, sometimes we need a “soul friend” to help us recognize God’s voice and respond to God’s presence. The underlying assumption of Spiritual Direction is that God acts in every area of our lives. The Spirit is with us in our doubts as well as our certainties, in our weakness as well as our wholeness. My intention as a spiritual director is to journey with another assisting them discern the deepest desires of their heart as they move through different seasons of life. EMAIL ROBERT
Deb O’NeilLewis
Washington, D.C.
Training: Dominican Sisters of Maryland; Spiritual Direction International
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
Deb has been practicing spiritual direction for over 15 years in a variety of settings, meeting with people of diverse spiritual backgrounds. She has learned to follow the lead of the Spirit in each person. “I really am interested in the person in front of me;” she says, “it’s more about them and how God is moving in them.” For Deb spiritual direction is a way of tapping into the inner core of who you are, at the center of which is Love, and asking the hard questions that help us lead our most vibrant life. Deb has worked with people in times of crisis, including those seeking healing from trauma or seeking discernment in their vocational identity and direction. EMAIL DEB
Andrea Marshall
Natick, MA
Training: PAX Center for Spiritual Formation
Taking new clients: Yes
Available for virtual sessions: Yes
Andrea is a pastor’s spouse and mother of three with a love of books and the sound and smell of the ocean. She has been involved in spiritual direction for many years and knows personally how it can help sustain your hope and joy and profoundly deepen your relationship with the Lord. She resonates with Henri Nouwen’s definition of a spiritual director as “…a mature fellow Christian to whom we choose to be accountable for living our spiritual life…” Andrea’s focus in spiritual direction is to offer the directee a space to be intentional & expectant with God. Knowing that God is with us, she offers a reflective atmosphere to share, connect, & hear from God. She shares that she thoroughly enjoys listening & reminding others of God’s goodness for them. EMAIL ANDREA
Sheli Sloterbeek
Honesdale, PA
Training: C. John Weborg Center for Spiritual Direction
Taking new clients: Yes
Available for virtual sessions: Yes
Sheli holds space with others in spiritual direction in a contemplative way that considers god is at work in every area of our lives — our relationships, our work, our play and quiet. She enjoys incorporating the arts, movement and breathwork into spiritual practices and soul care. Resonating with Thomas Merton’s though on spiritual direction that “the whole purpose of spiritual direction is to penetrate beneath the surface of a person’s life…to bring out their inner spiritual freedom…” Sheli offers a quiet space for reflection, and a listening heart to explore how God is moving int he lives of others. You can learn more about her at: aslowjourney.com EMAIL SHELI
Diane Stevenson
Middletown, CT
Training: Journey Center of Chicago
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
As a pastor, Diane has been engaged with the practice of spiritual direction for more than 30 years. Her love for the practice grew out of her own experience meeting with a director; she said, “This is such a positive experience, I want to do this for others!” For her, spiritual direction is primarily about the journey, and we all need companions on life’s journey. She seeks to be such a companion, asking, “Where is God in this experience or event?” and pointing things out along the way. With pastoral and hospice caregiving training and experience, Diane is a seasoned companion along the spiritual journey. Email Diane
Karen Tullson
Vernon, CT
Training: The Spiritual Life Center
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Contact to discuss
Spiritual conversation is the essence of spiritual direction for Karen. In this sense, she has provided spiritual direction for most of her life, in her personal relationship, her professional work as a physical therapist and in her volunteer work. Today, aside from seeing directees, she cares for the 91 volunteers of Building Healthy Families, a non-profit organization led by her husband, Peter. Here, she walks with people from a wide range of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds. She describes the direction relationship: “It’s being with someone as you are being present to God and you join the Spirit in growing fully into who you are.” Karen is often backpacking or canoeing with her husband. EMAIL KAREN
Lisa Xia
Cambridge, MA
Training: PAX Center for Spiritual Formation
Accepting New Directees?: Yes
Available for Virtual Sessions: Yes
Lisa is a storyteller, mobilizer, and lover of humanity with a deep heart to empower others to become fellow wounded healers in the journey of life with God. As your spiritual director, Lisa promises to be a sensitive fellow sojourner who faithfully accomnies you by listening and reflecting the God-given songs of your heart back to you. Her mission is to empower you to discover what God is calling out of you and how God is guiding you in this season, without judgment. As a licensed spiritual director, professional coach, and mental health/wellness coach, Lisa currently serves as a ministry leader, preacher and teacher at Central Square Church and in the Greater Boston community. You can learn more about her at: LisaXiaremba.com EMAIL LISA