Retreat Guides

Emily P. Freeman is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away. As a spiritual director, podcast host of The Next Right Thing, and creator of The Soul Minimalist on Substack, hers has become a trustworthy voice of wisdom and direction for people as they make decisions in faith, work, and life. 

Emily holds a master’s degree in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Friends University where she serves as a residency lecturer. She and her husband, John, live in North Carolina where they are enjoying a newly empty nest with their three young adult children away at college.

Josh Hilburn is the founding and Lead Pastor of Gather Houston - an ecumenical & inclusive Christian Church near downtown Houston. Josh has been teaching & leading in churches for the past 10 years, primarily focusing on inclusion and care for those who have been hurt or excluded by traditional religious spaces.

Josh also serves as the resident optimist, fundraiser, and idea-haver as the Director of Partnerships for Pastors, Priests, and Guides. The best parts of his day are always with his wife Katie and their two young boys Ellis & Henry.

Aaron Niequist is a liturgist, writer, and pastor who lives in Brooklyn, NY. Aaron graduated from General Theological Seminary in 2021. After leading worship at Mars Hill Church (Grand Rapids, MI) and Willow Creek Church (Barrington, IL), he created A New Liturgy - a collection of modern liturgical worship recordings. He then curated a discipleship-focused, formational, ecumenical, practice-based community called “The Practice”. Aaron released a book called The Eternal Current: How a Practice-Based Faith Can Keep Us From Drowning and continues to create resources to help others flesh it out.  But that’s just job stuff.  The best part of his life is his wife Shauna, and their sons Henry and Will.