2025 Conference

Julie and Matt Canlis

Julie and Matt Canlis live in Wenatchee, WA where Matt is a pastor and Julie is an author. They went to seminary together, and then continued their adventure in Scotland where Matt became a village pastor and Julie became a theologian and their four children taught them everything they didn’t know. When they left Scotland to return to America, Matt released a film “Godspeed” on how the people of their tiny community in Scotland taught them about Jesus and being known. Julie wrote a microbook called “A Theology of the Ordinary”  and Matt wrote a 40 day pilgrimage “Backyard Pilgrim.”   Together, they teach and lead new forms of creatively engaging the Bible.

Receive a free copy of Julie’s book “Theology of the Ordinary” and Matt’s book “Backyard Pilgrimage” when you arrive at the conference!

Micah Bentley – Worship

Micah has a passion for curating and leading in spaces to experience God’s goodness and love through all expressions of worship and art. As a practicing singer/songwriter he has spent years experiencing God’s presence in the sacred and the secular through my relationship and work with the music and arts. As a spiritual director he loves to journey alongside others in their growing relationships with Jesus. My greatest passion is my family which includes my wife Ashley and my 2 kids Brighten and Elliotte.

Embodied Prayer with Sheli Sloterbeek

Embodiment by definition is to give “something” a body, to make concrete or perceptible, to represent in human form. Through our breath, body and mind  and soul – our whole self – we embody prayer. We will learn and practice this way of being as we’re on the way with Christ. 

Sheli is honored to be a companion of others as they discover God in their everyday life through the ministry of spiritual direction, either one-on-one, in a group, or making space through workshops and retreats.  She enjoys art and poetry as a spiritual practice and inviting others into that space.  Living slowly, practicing presence with the Beloved and noticing the movement of God in all of life is her desire to live and holds open up the invitation to you. You can find more about her at www.aslowjourney.com.

The Jesus Prayer with John DelHousaye

Description of Workshop

Bio coming soon

Art Space with Michael Denson

Come explore and process the conference sessions through paint, paper and pencil in community with others on the journey with you. There will be basic supplies available or feel free to bring your own into this shared space. There will be prompts if you’re not sure where to begin. No experience necessary, just joy to explore where you find yourself in that moment on the journey.

Bio Coming Soon

Reclaiming the Sacredness of Friendship with Emma Tautolo

Reframing singleness and Redefining friendship through reexamining how the Kingdom of God comes.

Emma Tautolo is a southern California native who has lived in Arizona for 12 years. She was a Division 1 college athlete that spent 17 years on staff with a parachurch ministry leading and equipping students and staff in college sports ministry and cultural competency. She works for the Surge network: a movement of local churches putting Jesus on display by equipping, reconciling and activating God’s people in Arizona. She is a shepherd, teacher and team leader with a deep love for the local church. Emma has her master’s degree in Missional Theology and loves the ocean, Pit bulls and 90’s-00’s r&b.

Psalms of Ascent with Ted Wueste

The Psalms of Ascent are songs that the people of God would sing/pray as they journeyed to Jerusalem for various feasts and celebrations. Comprised of 15 psalms (Psalm 120-134), each offer a way to pray and engage with God on the journey … giving permission to grieve, celebrate, yearn, and hope with God.

Often, as we journey through this life, we are just waiting for the destination or wishing our journey looked different. The Psalms of Ascent model and invite a way to be present along the way.

In this workshop, we will provide an overview of these prayers, give space for praying, and create our own prayers of ascent. And more …

Ted serves as the Founder/Director of the Spiritual Formation Society of Arizona. For the last 30 years, he has served in various ministry capacities with 20 of those years serving in pastoral ministry.  Ted designed and taught in a Spiritual Formation program at Phoenix Seminary for seven years, and now enjoys a ministry of spiritual direction, retreat leading, and teaching.  He has written several books on the spiritual journey as well as devotionals and study guides that many have found helpful. You can reach Ted at [email protected] and learn more about his spiritual formation ministry at www.desertdirection.com.