Our team members are classically trained spiritual directors who want people to experience the fullness of God.
FOUNDER & DIRECTOR
Brenda Golden, MS, CAS
Brenda enjoys creating space for the soul to breathe and to connect to the triune God. She experiences God through walks in the woods with her husband, Jonathan, and their four dogs, as well as through sea glass hunting, stand-up paddleboarding, worship, and the Ignation Exercises.
Brenda Golden earned a master’s degree in Community Counseling from Georgia State University and a Diploma in Christian Counseling from Richmont. She is a certified addictions specialist and a trained spiritual director. Brenda is both a member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI) and Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association (ESDA).
Brenda and Jonathan, along with their two sons, founded St. Peter’s Place Anglican Church in Roswell, Georgia, where she leads worship and women’s groups. She is also the founding partner of Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee Company through which she and Jonathan work with coffee farmers and orphans in Rwanda.
Brenda is available for spiritual direction at The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation in Historic Roswell. As a trained spiritual director she creates a safe and confidential environment for your soul to breathe and connect with God.
Brenda offers "single-session" Spiritual Direction appointments, understanding the importance of flexibility in today's busy world. A single session in which you are listened to with attentiveness, hospitality and wisdom may be just the support you need. Recognizing that not everyone seeks ongoing monthly sessions Brenda presents a distinct option for individuals to choose a one-time spiritual direction meeting.
To set up an appointment please contact Brenda at Brenda@theagapecenter.org.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
Amy Consoli
Amy Consoli has a heart for offering a quiet, safe space where others can reflect on their life and experiences with God in the midst of joys, challenges, and questions. She believes God is revealing his heart to us in spiritual friendship. Since 2005, Amy has enjoyed being a transformational discipleship leader for several non-profits, encouraging and strengthening the staff and body in the local church. It’s been in this “slow work of God” that Amy was led to pursue Spiritual Direction. She completed her training in Spiritual Direction at The School of Sustainable Faith, and earned a Master of Arts in Spiritual Formation and Direction from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta, GA.
Amy offers individual Spiritual Direction through the Agape Center for Spiritual Formation in Roswell, GA both in-person and virtually. She has a heart for contemplative community, and also serves as a speaker, group facilitator, and Silent Retreat Spiritual Director for Deepwater Women and Wellspring Group ministries. Amy lives in Roswell, GA with her husband, Rob, where they attend Fellowship Bible Church.
ASSOCIATES
Juli Able
juliable44@gmail.com
(678) 361-6238
Hello, I’m Juli. My journey in spiritual direction began during a challenging season when I couldn’t find God in my typical ways of Bible study, prayer, and serving. Spiritual direction allowed space for my understanding and experience of God to expand and deepen. This slowly brought freedom and healing. And while that personal journey (always) continues, my desire is to offer safe spaces for others to share their hopes, desires, questions, and life experiences. Seeking through conversation to discover a more intimate and expansive knowing of God . . . something that looks more and more like friendship.
I am a trained spiritual director and life-long learner in spiritual formation and contemplative practices. The Renovare Institute, JourneyMates, Richmont Graduate University, The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation, and the Jesuit Institute South Africa are some of the learning spaces from which I share with others.
I am married with four young adult sons. My favorite things include: hiking in the woods, walks with friends and dogs, exercising, camp fires, good books, jigsaw puzzles, feeding birds, and attending sporting events with my boys. You can find more here: juliable.com
Skip McDonald
Skip McDonald, R.N. BSN, ThB, has been on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship staff for 29 years. She serves in the southeast as a Regional Resource Specialist focusing on mental health, spiritual formation, Bible study and Nurses Christian Fellowship.
Skip has been a Registered Nurse for 46 years. She has a strong desire to help others obtain and maintain mental and emotional health, and has worked extensively as a mental health nurse. Skip has conducted classes to help train others as first responders in mental health crises. Grace Filled Mental Health: The Great Exchange is her faith based mental health course.
Skip’s writing includes: The Garden of My Heart, And She Lived Happily Ever After, Christ Our Life: The Great Exchange, God’s Word and Mental Health Bible study, Daddy’s Girl: Abba and Me, Blessings in the Shadows, Women of New Life: A Collaboration, Depression: Emerging from the Darkness, and Anxiety: Finding Comfort and Reassurance from God (LifeGuide Bible study by InterVarsity Press).
Skip is the Founder of Freedomsize Worship Fitness, LLC. This form of worship incorporates worship music and movement to the glory of God. Freedomsize flows out of a deep desire embedded in her heart for many years. She also seeks to lead a healthy lifestyle, encouraging others to do the same.
Skip has joined The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation as a Spiritual Director. While serving here, she will offer personal and group spiritual direction, seminars, and retreats. Skip enjoys reading, worship fitness, walking, and writing. She resides in Smyrna, GA. Visit her website at SkipMcDonald.com
Pam finds joy in walking alongside people wherever they are on their spiritual journey. She's worked with people in a wide range of settings, from college students, to leaders of anti-trafficking ministries in Nepal to terminally ill patients in the hospital. Her passion for pouring out to others is refueled by her deep love of contemplative space with God.
She's a trained Spiritual Director and has her Master's in Counseling. While working in nonprofit world fighting human trafficking she found soul nourishment in a contemplative community called JourneyMates. She now co-leads Atlanta JourneyMates offering contemplative monthly retreats in her home. She completed a CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) unit at Emory St. Joseph's Hospital.
After losing her first husband to cancer Pam remarried John and they are blessed with a large blended family including ten adorable grandchildren. Pam enjoys biking and hiking, reading, gardening, and pretty much anything outdoors. She offers Spiritual Direction out of her home in Grant Park, Atlanta and at The Agape Center in Roswell, GA.
Marlayne Whitlock
mwhitlock.acsf@gmail.com
(678) 463-4009
Marlayne enjoys coming alongside others on their spiritual journey and desires to listen people to life through the spiritual direction relationship. Often our life stories are filled with pain or sorrow or questions. Spiritual direction is a companioning relationship of holy listening where two (or more) are led by the true Director. Marlayne believes the formation of one’s soul takes place in cooperation with the Holy One. As Christ followers, each moment holds an invitation to move toward Kingdom life.
Marlayne is a trained spiritual director through Richmont. She is presently pursuing coursework in spiritual formation with the Boston cohort of Renovaré Institute. Marlayne loves the image of soul formation through relationship in community. She has experienced this rich Kingdom life through these programs. She is a life long learner and sometimes leader in spiritual formation.
Marlayne is also a licensed professional counselor. She has also worked with individuals and families in both public and private education settings. She has volunteered in a variety of settings including hospice support for families experiencing loss as well as at women’s shelters and teaching English to refugees. She has lived in Atlanta for seventeen years and has three grown children.
INTERNS
Hannah An
Hannah An is a second generation Korean American from the Atlanta area. She is a local worship leader, singer- songwriter, and currently serves at 4pointes Church in Dunwoody, Georgia.
Hannah is in her first year of Spiritual Direction training with Sustainable Faith. Her passion is to see people connect to the heart of God through story and song.
Hannah and her husband Young, are proud parents to their three precious children, Noah, Eli, and Abby.
The Agape Center provides a space for students, currently enrolled in spiritual direction training programs, to offer spiritual direction during their internship.