Spiritual Directors
The spiritual directors listed here have received professional degrees through the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Biola University and have been approved by our church leadership to offer direction at Redeemer in the Spiritual Direction Center.
(Listed Alphabetically)
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Debbie Barlotti |
It is a joy for me to sit with people in the presence of the Holy Spirit, as He helps them listen to their hearts and hear God’s heart, and as we respond together to His invitation to a deeper journey with the Father. Having served in cross-cultural ministry since 1979, I have a particular burden for broken people like myself, especially if they are current or aspiring Christian leaders, pastors,missionaries or those dealing with trauma. My husband and I and our children lived for 14 years on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where I worked as a nurse midwife with Afghan refugee women. My years in Asia, and 7 years working with patients, students and internationals in Oxford, UK, helped me learn how to walk softly with people who have deep wounds that only God can heal, often in the presence of another caring soul.
I received an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Seminary in 2011, and was trained by Larry Warner in leading others through the Ignatian exercises. I have served informally as a Spiritual Director for over 25 years, and formally since 2010. I am currently working at Biola University with seminary students and leading groups and retreats. I continue to supervise and provide pastoral care to workers serving overseas. I have been married 40 years, and have three adult married children, four grandsons, and a dog. I love gardening, reading, ethnic foods and cooking, traveling, and walking in nature.
I received an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Seminary in 2011, and was trained by Larry Warner in leading others through the Ignatian exercises. I have served informally as a Spiritual Director for over 25 years, and formally since 2010. I am currently working at Biola University with seminary students and leading groups and retreats. I continue to supervise and provide pastoral care to workers serving overseas. I have been married 40 years, and have three adult married children, four grandsons, and a dog. I love gardening, reading, ethnic foods and cooking, traveling, and walking in nature.
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Ariella BaughEmail: ariella.l.baugh@biola.edu
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I completed my training at the Institute for Spiritual FormationI Formation at Biola University this past May 2018. I have worked on a church staff where my main focus is spiritual mentorship and discipleship of individuals and I utilize spiritual direction skills to best help me in this endeavor. I am currently completing a second masters degree in Clinical Psychology through which I will soon be licensed as a Marriage and Family Therapist and I look forward having a practice that is both spiritually and psychological integrated. In spiritual direction, I desire is to communicate God's unconditional love and acceptance through simply being with others. My spiritual direction practice is characterized by asking those questions that help engage the directee with their own hearts and emotions so that they can better see themselves and therefore better see God and how he relates to them. My main focus is helping directees understand what is taking place in their relationship with God and discern the particular things that might be affecting this relationship. I long for directees to feel seen and known by God and to aid them in their journey with Jesus however the Spirit leads me to in accordance with the training I have received.
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Sarah BrownEmail: sarah.l.brown@biola.edu
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One of my deepest joys is being able to sit with others as they unfold their story and discover how the Holy Spirit is working, especially in the places where that feels like the furthest truth. This is what I love about direction, to be able to witness how the Spirit moves in an individuals’ life to slowly reveal the deep truth that they are known, seen and loved. I enjoy an integrative approach to direction that integrates trauma research, inner healing and spiritual warfare, Ignatian spirituality and attachment theory. I have a background in the foster care system and currently work in student affairs at Biola University as well as a staff director and supervisor at the Institute of Spiritual Formation.
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Karen Cartmell |
I graduated with an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from the Institute for Spiritual Formation, Talbot Seminary, in December 2013. I have learned and grown so much, and I love accompanying others learning to live into the fullness of the abundant life in Christ. I have three married children and a wonderful husband of 33 years. I enjoy giving spiritual direction in intercultural situations, to missionaries overseas, and in the church. My husband and I have been volunteer staff with Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ) for 28 years. I meet with others for spiritual direction in Bakersfield, California and at Biola University/Talbot Seminary in the LA area. I feel blessed to use my gifts and training as a spiritual director. The Lord be with you as you seek His presence.
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Blair FabryEmail: blair.fabry@biola.edu
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Paul Tillich writes, “The first duty of love is to listen”. This truth challenges me as a follower of Christ and as a Spiritual Director. Being a good listener is foundational to maturity. I am passionate about ministry leaders and their care. In particular, I especially enjoy working with seminarians as they develop and sort through their faith stories. As God has been at work restoring my own early childhood trauma, I have a deep faith and am comfortable walking with others in their messy and complicated stories. I serve in a prayer and retreat ministry for a church near San Diego. Over the last five years, I have worked with students and staff at Biola. I have a Master’s degree in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Seminary. Additionally, I offer Spiritual Direction from my home office. Additionally, I have been through and trained in leading others through the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. Hiking and backpacking are my favorite pastimes. I believe beauty heals and open our souls in powerful and generative ways. I am mom to three married daughters and one college aged son. I have broad church experience across multiple traditions – Evangelical, Vineyard, Four Square and Presbyterian.
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RObbie GoforthEmail: robbiegoforth@gmail.com
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Samantha GuzziEmail: samantha.k.guzzi@biola.edu
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I graduated with a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care from Talbot Seminary in May 2018. I’m currently working as a staff spiritual director at Biola University. It is my joy to companion alongside people on their spiritual journey, helping them become attuned to their life with God and the special love He has for them. Nothing means more to me than seeing people discover their identity in Christ and live out their primary vocation of communion with God as His beloved. I consider it a privilege to help others name and navigate their experience, together attending and responding to the presence, work and invitations of God in all areas of their life. It is important to me that direction is a safe resting place, a sacred space where people feel known, seen, heard, blessed and transformed by our Loving Lord in their deep. As an artist, one of my chief passions is helping people connect with God through beauty and creativity, engaging art
and play as prayer. May the face of our Lord Jesus shine upon you and bring you joy and peace.
and play as prayer. May the face of our Lord Jesus shine upon you and bring you joy and peace.
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Chris Hoppe |
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Megan JonesEmail: megan.jones@biola.edu
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I completed my MA in Spiritual Formation & Soul Care in May 2017. It was during my journey at ISF that my life opened up to myself, God, and others in profound ways. I have worked in pastoral ministry and church leadership for 8 years and have experienced powerful movements of the Holy Spirit in my charismatic church background - but it was my journey at ISF that allowed me to grow in deeper awareness of God and myself, to acknowledge my pain and reclaim my story, and to discern the deep workings of the Holy Spirit in a contemplative way of being. I consider myself a wounded healer who loves to journey alongside others in sacred, loving space. I have a heart for Christian leaders who need a place of refuge. I also love to be with others in self-discovery, issues of betrayal, as well as those who are involved in creative arts/entertainment.
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Jen Manglos |
I graduated from the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Talbot Theological Seminary in May 2010. During my time there I received training in spiritual direction and found it to be such a lovely way in which to journey with others. I currently offer individual and group direction for men and women, and also am available for chapel and retreat planning. My interests lie in helping others to freely approach the Lord, bringing this honesty into community, and creativity for the non-artist. I work for Biola University, offering spiritual direction as well as providing administrative support for the career development center. I live in La Habra, California and thoroughly enjoy engaging in beauty: the company of good friends, interesting films, flavorful meals, reading a book, listening to a podcast or music, and a rich cup of coffee.
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Lauren MendozaEmail: lauren.m.mendoza@biola.edu
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Receiving spiritual direction has been a gift in my life and it is an honor to offer spiritual direction. My prayer is that spiritual direction is a safe and welcoming place to pause and notice the truth of what you are feeling and experiencing in life, as well as a place to ponder and enjoy the Holy Spirit’s work and presence. It would be a privilege to journey with you and bear witness to the invitations and ways God is revealing His love and care for you. I graduated from the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Talbot Theological Seminary with a M.A. in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care in May 2017. Through the program, I was trained as a spiritual director.
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Kelsey Rowland |
I received my training as a spiritual director through The Institute of Spiritual Formation at Talbot School of Theology. My philosophy as a spiritual director has been to continue to grow in my own relationship with God and self-discovery so that I can help walk with and lead others in their own spiritual journey. I value the power of prayer, openness to the Holy Spirit’s movement, and the uniqueness of each individual as I continue to practice the art of spiritual direction. I am personally passionate about the ministry of prayer and healing. I enjoy leading one-on-one spiritual direction as well as group spiritual direction, and I have experience facilitating both within the church and university context. I am currently working with the high school ministry at Calvary Church of Santa Ana. I also have experience walking alongside college students, guest speaking for camp ministry, and I have served as a missionary to the urban poor within the Los Angeles area. Some of my hobbies I have pursued when I am not facilitating spiritual direction or working at the church are often spending time outdoors, watching a good movie with a friend, or dancing.
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Laura Rhodes |
Being driven to being drawn is how I described my own need for spiritual direction years ago. As part of my desire to share with others what I have learned, I also pursued an MA in Spiritual Formation and Soul Care through Talbot Seminary. Now, as a spiritual director, it is an honor to help others quiet down, listen and grow in awareness of the gentle, loving presence of God. I have journeyed with the broken-hearted and feel at home in grief and tears, knowing that God is near to those who hurt deeply. I also savor times of celebration -being with others as they catch glimpses of God’s goodness, amazing care and deep love. In addition to heart-level conversations, I personally enjoy savoring a good meal with love and laughter of family and friends around the table.
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Mark Vaughan |
I graduated from the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Biola University in 2013 with an MA in Spiritual Formation and received training as a Spiritual Director. My journey has taken many twists and turns over the years and now my desire is to journey with those who are also following God through life's seasons. In particular, I have experience with and a passion for walking alongside those who are recovering from addictions. I have three grown children and am daily blessed by my wife of over thirty years. I work full-time in another field, so I am taking directees on a limited basis.
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Anne WarnerEmail: anne.warner@biola.edu
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In 2014 I received training in individual and group spiritual direction from the Institute for Spiritual Formation at Talbot Seminary. I love sitting with others as they wonder about God in the big and small details of their lives. It is a gift to be a part of the stories, joys, pains, questions, fears, and hopes individuals experience with God. As a person who has been a part of Christian leadership groups, ministries, mentorships, and a church plant, I understand the temptation to hide from, embellish, misunderstand, completely ignore, and feel guilty about my relationship with God. I believe spiritual direction provides a safe and unhurried space to process these things. I am particularly interested in the experiences of those who have suffered loss, those who experience same-sex attraction, and those who are wrestling with doubt in their relationship with God. I also enjoy offering direction to groups of friends, ministry teams, or leadership groups. Let’s connect and see where God takes us.