Meet Our Team
Mentors
Gem Fadling
Soul Care Coach & Lead Mentor
Gem Fadling, CLC, is a founding partner of Unhurried Living, Inc., a non-profit that trains people to rest deeper, live fuller and lead better. She is a Certified Life Coach and a trained Spiritual Director who coaches people at the intersection of spiritual leadership and soul care.
Gem is the co-host of the Unhurried Living Podcast as well as the co-author of What Does Your Soul Love? Eight Questions That Reveal God's Work in You, and author of Hold That Thought: Sorting Through the Voices in Our Heads. Connect with Gem on Instagram and LinkedIn.
Brenda Renderos
Transformation Life Coach
Brenda Renderos has completed her Core Coaching Skills Training (ACSTH - ICF Approved) and hold a B.A. in Christian Studies. She has served and been employed in various areas of ministry in leadership, soul care, speaking and teaching as well as guiding interns exploring vocational ministry. She’s had the privilege of leading outreach trips to Cambodia and Thailand where she helped prepare the teams spiritually and created spiritual formation spaces on their journey. She’s led spiritual retreats, provided soul care workshops for vocational ministry interns, trained small group leaders and global outreach leaders in a variety of areas. Her life mission is to partner with people finding greater life balance and holistic health. Brenda is married and has three children. Find Brenda online and follow her on Instagram.
Larissa Marks
Spiritual Director and Formation Coach
Larissa Marks is a Spiritual Director and Formation Coach who creates space for people to listen to and experience God. She offers one-on-one spiritual direction and coaching, and facilitates group learning experiences. She is part of a vibrant collective of people who are co-creating transformative expressions of faith and community. This includes work with non-profit organizations, businesses, land stewardship, learning communities working toward shalom and justice, and faith gatherings in homes and neighborhoods. You can find out more about Larissa's work here and follow her on Instagram.
Contributors
Susan Carson
Susan Carson founded Roots&Branches Network in Cincinnati, Ohio, with a passion to create safe spaces for transformational encounters with Jesus through listening prayer and spiritual practices. She’s a spiritual director, speaker, blogger, pray-er, author of rooted (IN): Thriving in Connection with God, Yourself, and Others, and host of the rooted (IN).ten.tionally podcast. Susan is a certified Spiritual Director and a student in the Masters of Ministry program with St. Stephen’s University. Connect with Susan through her website, susancarson.net, and on Facebook and Instagram.
Jodie Niznik
Jodie Niznik, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, helps people create space for God in their lives through her Scripture meditation podcast and equips them to take another step with Jesus through her Real People, Real Faith Bible studies and teaching. She served in pastoral ministry for over twelve years. Her calling and passion is to equip people to create space for God in their lives and take another step in their journey with Jesus. Jodie is married to Tim. They have two adult daughters and a very poorly trained Yorkie-poo. You can connect with her at jodieniznik.com and on Instagram.
Valerie Bauer
Valerie Bauer is on a journey of well-being and rediscovering herself by creating a lifestyle that honors spirit, mind, and body. She has worked in the fitness industry for over 30 years and is the founder of Rise Holistic Fitness. Valerie is a single mother of four incredible young adults, and she is inspired by great music, style, all things vintage, and her love for nature. Follow Valerie on Instagram @rise.holistic.fitness
Amy Pierson
Amy Pierson is an author, freelance writer, the founder of Burning Heart Workshops, and former executive director of the Spiritual Formation Alliance. A graduate of the Renovaré Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation, she is particularly interested in the intersection of spiritual formation, neuroscience, and creative soul care. She lives in the Denver area with her husband, Bill, and a ridiculous but sincere golden retriever. They have two adult daughters, a son-in-law and grandson. Amy enjoys writing, speaking, gathering, and “purposeful making” with other creative souls.
