Spirit in the Desert’s exceptional retreat leaders are selected for their professional knowledge, communication skills, and ability to engage our retreat guests in insightful conversations. They are invited to return by popular demand to lead Desert Sojourn Retreats and private retreat of all kinds.
Lead Facilitator, Healing of Memories
Sheila Laughton
Sheila Laughton (USAF, Ret.) was a career Intelligence and Force Management officer who served from the Vietnam Era to 2000. She deployed to Saudi Arabia for the first Gulf War. After her military retirement, Sheila founded Welcome Home for veterans of all eras and their families, at the Loyola Spirituality Center in Minnesota. This unique program addressed challenging reintegration issues such as trauma, moral injury, life purpose, from a spiritual perspective. She has worked with men and women who have experienced or witnessed trauma…
Retreat Leader
Joyce Rupp
Joyce Rupp, OSM, is world renowned for her work as a writer, spiritual midwife, international retreat leader, and conference speaker. She is the author of numerous bestselling books, including Boundless Compassion, Praying Our Goodbyes, The Door, and Fragments of Your Ancient Name. Her book on aging, Fly While You Still Have Wings, is among her publications earning an award in spirituality from the Catholic Press Association. Joyce is a member of the Servite (Servants of Mary) community, and founder of the Boundless Compassion network of programs, retreats,…
Retreat Leader
Julia Lambert Fogg, PhD
Rev. Dr. Julia Lambert Fogg is Professor in the Religion Department. She specializes in the New Testament, first century Christianity, theologies from the margins, border crossing narratives, and cross-cultural reading practices. Named Professor of the Year by CLU class of 2008, she led the Religion department for 7 years as Chair (2009-2016). In her teaching she focuses on developing innovative, immersive and relational pedagogical methods, particularly for experiential and transformational learning with students. Dr. Fogg utilizes immersion and service learning…
Retreat Leader
Beth Sikora, PhD
Beth is a licensed professional counselor and a Veriditas trained labyrinth facilitator. By utilizing a combination of spiritual traditions and experiential spiritual and therapeutic techniques we will work together during retreats on what is stopping you from making your life what you want it to be now … and in the future. I will be with you in your process — whether it is working to improve an experience of depression or anxiety, walking with you as a spiritual companion,…
Retreat Leader – Artist
Paul Oman
Paul Oman, artist and pastor, shares his Drawn to the Word artistic ministry with audiences ecumenically across the country. He served as a science teacher, then Lutheran pastor when, in 2011, he took up work as an artistic pastor full-time. Paul seeks to give new vision to God’s Word by using the process of painting to captivate audiences in our visually oriented culture. Painting and drawing have been a part of Paul’s life since childhood. Receiving national & international recognition…
Retreat Leader
Cyndy Warnier
Cyndy Warnier has worn many hats in her life, paramedic, dental hygienist, music/worship leader, author, and National Parks chaplain. Recently retired from Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center, she and her husband Al are now full-time RV’ers and camp hosts, which provides Cyndy opportunities for outdoor ministry. In her spare time, she creates retreats of all kinds, including adult VBS programs and limited hospice chaplaincy. Cyndy loves teaching and reaching people with the love God and love for one another, including…
Retreat Leader
Dave Ellingson
Dave Ellingson, the Paddle Pilgrim, is leader for a Spirit in the Desert retreat adventure in Spring 2022 titled Go Outside at Play.
Retreat Leader
Jim LaDoux
With a breadth of experience coaching literally ALL kinds of congregations that flows out of his master’s degree in organizational development and strategic planning, Jim is masterful at helping leaders like you and organizations like yours. He’s also one of the most interested listeners you will ever meet. Jim cares deeply about helping your congregation move from the surface to Vibrant Faith. He is the author of “Surface to Soul,” a coaching workbook, and tends that movement on surfacetosoul.org, our coaching…
Retreat Leader
Dr. David Tiede
Dr. David Tiede earned the B.A. degree from St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn., in 1962, attended Princeton Theological Seminary in 1962-63 and received the B.D. degree from Luther Seminary in 1966. He earned the Ph.D. degree from Harvard University in 1971. His service as President of Luther Seminary has given him opportunities to sustain his New Testament scholarship, especially in Luke and Acts, and to draw upon these resources in his leadership in theological education. His books, articles, and lectures focus…
Retreat Leader
Margaret Fell
Margaret Fell has worked with Fr. Michael Lapsley and the Institute for Healing of Memories since 2007. She was one of the founding members of a working group of the Minnesota’s Warrior to Citizen Campaign which has offered the Healing of Memories workshops for veterans since 2009. She served as Chair of the Institute for Healing of Memories-North America from 2011- 2014 and has been a Healing of Memories workshop facilitator since 2011. Margaret is an Episcopal priest. She holds a…
Retreat Leader
Diane Jacobson
Dr. Diane Jacobson is professor emerita of Old Testament at Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, MN where she taught from 1982-2010. She also served as director of the Book of Faith Initiative for the ELCA from 2008-2015. She is a rostered deacon of the ELCA. Jacobson has been a frequent speaker throughout the Church, including the 2011 and 2013 Churchwide Assemblies, the LWF 50th Anniversary Assembly in Hong Kong, and numerous synodical assemblies, rostered leaders gatherings, and churchwide consultations. Dr. Jacobson…
Retreat Leader – Wellness
Tammy Devine
Fostering wellness and healing is a passion and call for Tammy Devine, Principal of Devine Coaching. From nursing, to parish nursing, to health and wellness ministry, she has helped foster health, healing, and wholeness in the lives of God’s people. Tammy has a Masters in Leadership from Luther Theological Seminary, and she is a Lutheran Deacon. She has served as the director of wellness for a long-term care facility, and until recently was the Wellness Manager for Portico Benefit Services,…