MEET THE AGAPE CENTER TEAM
Our team members are classically trained spiritual directors
who want people to experience the fullness of God.
FOUNDER & STRATEGIC ADVISOR
Brenda Golden, MS, CAS
Brenda Golden has a passion for creating sacred spaces where the soul can pause, breathe, and connect with God. She experiences God’s presence in the beauty of everyday life - through long walks with her husband, Jonathan, the quiet joy of seaglass hunting, the fun of pickleball and the gift of silence and solitude. She is the happy mother of two adult sons, grateful mother-in-law to a daughter-in-law, and a proud grandmother to a granddaughter.
Brenda is the founder of The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation in Roswell, GA, where she leads a team of spiritual directors in offering spiritual formation activities in the community. She is a classically trained Spiritual Director and retreat leader with a deep calling to walk alongside others on their spiritual journey. She has served as adjunct faculty member in the Spiritual Direction training program at Richmont Graduate University and continues to mentor and supervise spiritual directors. Brenda holds a Master’s degree in Community Counseling from Georgia State University and a Diploma in Christian Counseling from Richmont Graduate University. She is a member of Spiritual Directors International (SDI) and the Evangelical Spiritual Directors Association (ESDA).
Brenda also serves as a Lead Spiritual Director for WinShape Marriage Pastor and Ministry Leader Retreats. She and her husband planted and pastored a church in the Roswell Community for many years and together they co-founded Land of the Thousand Hills Coffee Company, a social enterprise supporting reconciliation and economic development in Rwanda.
Brenda crafts and leads retreats (both silent and experiential) as well as offers one-time spiritual direction sessions through The Agape Center.
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.
Amy is the Director of The Agape Center for Spiritual Formation. 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. She is also a member of the Christ-Centered Spiritual Directors Association (formerly ESDA).
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 fulfills roles as a speaker, group facilitator, and silent retreat leader for churches and ministries. She is the Lead Spiritual Director for Ministry Leader Rest and Renewal retreats at WinShape Marriage. Amy lives in Roswell, Georgia with her husband 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
Hannah An
Social Media Director
Hannah An is an Atlanta-based worship leader, singer-songwriter, and has completed her training as a Spiritual Director through the Sustainable Faith School of Spiritual Direction. Hannah’s passion is to connect others to the heart of God through song and Spiritual Direction.
From her early involvement in leading worship to the release of two albums – Songs from the Father’s Heart (September 2019), reflecting her personal journey of healing, and Fathered by You (2021), a collection of songs that mirror her journey of being fathered by God – music has been a significant expression of Hannah’s faith.
Drawing from over 20 years of ministry experience, Hannah, a second-generation Korean American, currently serves at 4pointes Church in Dunwoody, Georgia, and brings a unique perspective through music and spiritual formation training.
Alongside her husband Young, she is the mother of three incredible children: Noah, Eli, and Abby. Beyond her ministry, Hannah fuels her soul by exploring new corners of the world, diving into a great read, and enthusiastically following the latest K-dramas!
Anne Greski
anne@theagapecenter.org
(847) 909-0834
My journey to know God more deeply—and to better understand myself—led me to the life-giving experiences of spiritual direction and retreats. Today, it’s a joy and an honor to walk alongside others in these sacred spaces. These set-apart times with God create room to reflect, to rest, and to explore our relationship with God, ourselves, and others… to receive God’s love and to grow in our ability to love as God loves.
I’ve been trained in Spiritual Formation through the Renovaré Institute and in Spiritual
Direction through Sustainable Faith. For nearly 30 years, I’ve served in the local church, most recently as a Women’s Ministry Director.
My husband, Len, and I have two awesome young adult kids and a Goldendoodle who makes us laugh daily. I love good books, long walks, meaningful conversations, delicious food, and sitting quietly by just about any body of water.
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
Carrie Wheeler
I’m Carrie Wheeler and I’m so glad you’re here! It is one of my great joys in life to offer space for others to explore relationship with God. I believe that God is present in all the pieces of our lives and when we slow and quiet ourselves, God speaks. Spiritual direction has been an integral part of my learning to journey more closely with Jesus.
I loved serving on a church staff for 18 years as worship and women’s ministry director and currently am teaching piano in my home. My husband, Shayne, and I successfully launched three amazing young adults and recently welcomed our first grandchild – who is an utter delight! My hobbies include pottery, crochet, watercolor, yoga and walking and have enjoyed living in Decatur for 23 years.
Along with offering spiritual direction, I love leading retreats. There is something extra special that happens when we intention to get away from our routines to be with God. I received my direction training through North Park University in 2023 and graduated from Richmont Graduate University in 2024, where I earned a Masters in Spiritual Formation and Direction. My husband and I love being a part of Immanuel Anglican Church in Decatur.
INTERNS
The Agape Center provides a space for students, currently enrolled in spiritual direction training programs, to offer spiritual direction during their internship.