STORY GROUP FACILITATOR

Bekki Buckley currently serves as the Women’s Director at Mars Hill Church, where she leads with compassion, insight, and a deep commitment to spiritual growth. She has been married for 36 years and is a proud mother of two and joyful grandmother of five.

A former middle school science teacher and client advocate at a Women’s Crisis Center, Bekki brings a unique blend of empathy, clarity, and teaching experience to her ministry. She is passionate about creating safe, authentic spaces where women can grow in faith, find healing, and step confidently into their God-given purpose.

Bekki thrives at the intersection of ministry leadership, relational care, and organizational strategy—always aiming to equip others to lead well and love deeply.

Her training includes The Allender Center’s Narrative Focused Trauma Certificate (levels 1 & 2)

HOSPITALITY COORDINATOR

Debby Long has been married to her husband, Mike, for 38 years. They have two young adult sons, Drew and Alex, who bring joy and adventure to their lives. Debby and Mike love traveling—whether it’s spending time with their sons, relaxing by the ocean, hiking in the mountains, or exploring the charm of small towns.

Debby also enjoys the creativity and beauty of gardening, the satisfaction of sewing, and the meaningful connection of walking with friends. Recently, she has discovered a new joy in ballroom dancing, which has brought fresh energy and fun into her life.

Beyond her hobbies and travels, Debby’s heart is most deeply invested in people. She is passionate about walking alongside women and young couples, encouraging them to grow in financial literacy. Her desire is to help others gain confidence as faithful stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them, equipping them to live with wisdom, peace, and purpose. For Debby, this calling is not only about finances, but about helping others flourish in their walk with God and in their relationships.

WORSHIP CREATIVE

Emily McCoy is a songwriter and worship pastor from Knoxville. She has been married to her husband, Andrew, for nearly 19 years, and together they delight in their two daughters, Lily (12) and Ruby (9). The McCoys love traveling and discovering new places, often with their standard poodle, Geordi, in tow.

Outside of her family, one of Emily’s greatest joys has been watching the Lord intertwine her songwriting with story work as she has engaged her own story. As a worship leader, she is deeply passionate about creating intentional, sacred spaces where believers can encounter the Father—because in His presence we experience safety, healing, and profound love.

Emily is a prolific poet, storyteller, and singer. Her voice captivates and beckons us to a deeper communion with God.

PRAYER COORDINATOR

Kristin Cazana has been married to her husband, Justin, for 28 years and is the proud mother of two adult children—Andrew (25) and Caroline (22)—and soon-to-be son-in-law, Cade (22). She finds great joy in traveling with her family, hiking, gardening, and spending time studying God’s Word.

Kristin began her professional journey as a Speech Language Pathologist before stepping into full-time ministry. She served as the National Executive Director of Becoming Like Christ (BLC), a discipleship-centered women’s ministry, where she mentored women and trained leaders across the country.

It was during her time at BLC that Kristin experienced the transforming power of prayer—both personally and in the lives of those she served. This led her to deepen her training through Christian Healing Ministries’ School of Healing Prayer and, in 2023, transition into prayer ministry.

Kristin is passionate about walking alongside others through prayer and discipleship, encouraging women to live deeply rooted lives of abiding in Jesus.

STORY GROUP FACILITATOR

Margaret Whisler is the Founder and Executive Director of Designed2Connect, a nonprofit based in the Washington, DC area. Designed2Connect provides grant funding to local counseling centers and facilitates Story Groups—spaces where individuals can engage their stories within the context of a healing community. Margaret is passionate about creating safe environments where people can ask honest questions, be deeply known, and experience the hope, healing, and redemption God offers through our stories.

Her training includes Larry Crabb’s School of Spiritual Direction, The Allender Center’s Narrative Focused Trauma Certificate (levels 1 & 2), the Lay Counseling Institute, Barnabas Training, and Dr. Curt Thompson’s Confessional Community Training with New Story Behavioral Health. She also participated in a three-year Confessional Community led by Dr. Thompson, which further shaped her commitment to walking alongside others in their struggles.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

Mary Dilworth and her husband, Ward, are both Knoxville natives and have been married for 39 years. Their greatest joy comes from time with their two adult daughters and their husbands—Kathryn and Dalton, who live in Knoxville, and Hallie and Daniel, who make their home in San Francisco. Mary and Ward cherish family gatherings, hiking with their hiking group, playing games, and spending time with friends.

Mary’s heart for spiritual formation led her to pursue training in spiritual direction. In June 2023, after completing a two-year course at Apostles Anglican Church, she became a certified spiritual director. This training has been a natural extension of her lifelong desire to listen well, create space for others, and nurture meaningful conversations about faith.

Her deepest passion is to walk alongside women in their journey with the Lord, offering a listening presence and discernment as she witnesses the transforming work of the Holy Spirit in their lives through the ministry of spiritual direction.

STORY GROUP FACILITATOR

Patricia Wade is a Licensed Professional Counselor, women’s ministry leader, and founder of Flourish. She is passionate about helping women find healing and freedom through the power of story. 

Patricia holds a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Liberty University and is trained in Narrative Focused Trauma Care (NFTC II), Internal Family Systems (IFS), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), and Experiential Therapy. Her approach is relational and story-centered, grounded in curiosity, kindness, and hope.

Patricia and her husband enjoy time with their family and friends, hiking, long dinners and travel. She is deeply grateful for the teachers, mentors, and loved ones who have shaped her journey, and she considers it a joy and calling to help women flourish and live freely.

EVENT COORDINATOR

Reagan Vicary has built much of her professional background in floral design, a passion she has cultivated since high school and continues to enjoy today. Alongside her creative work, she pursued her studies at the University of Tennessee, where she earned a degree in Supply Chain Management. Her education and natural gift for planning and efficiency have shaped her into an incredible organizer—skills she now uses in both her professional and ministry life.

Growing up around women’s ministry, Reagan developed a heart for walking with women through different seasons of life. Over the past six years, she has led Bible studies for young women—first journeying alongside a group throughout their college years, and now shepherding a small group of women in their mid-twenties. She counts it a privilege and delight to walk with them, creating intentional space for community rooted in God’s Word.

Reagan is energized by creativity and finds joy in using her hands, whether through floral design, baking, painting, or interior design. She deeply values time with her family and her husband, Clark. One of her simple weekly delights is enjoying an iced latte and a treat with Clark on quiet Saturday mornings.

TRAUMA INFORMED YOGA INSTRUCTOR

Sherry Broome has been married to her husband, Ben, for 40 years, and together they delight in their three daughters, their husbands, and five grandchildren.

Although her formal education is in elementary education and speech pathology, Sherry’s career focus has been in fitness training, complemented by experiences as a paralegal, preschool teacher, and small business owner.

Sherry enjoys yoga, hiking, Pilates, swimming, pickleball, skiing, gardening, playing with her grandchildren, and resting at Norris Lake with Ben. She believes that God created her to both minister and move.

In 2020, Sherry received her 200-Hour RYS Yoga Certification through Living Soul Institute. Her great hope and desire is to invite people into creating a union between body, breath, mind, and soul through the practice of Christ-focused yoga.

STORY GROUP FACILITATOR

Susan has been married to her husband, Charlie, for 26 years. They live in Franklin, TN, and have two adult children, Jacob (24) and Anna (22). Susan is an interior designer and is also preparing to launch her website, where she will offer Narrative-Focused Trauma Care. Before engaging in story work, she often dismissed or minimized her own experiences of harm, leaning on a spirit of optimism that kept her from taking her wounds seriously and from being deeply curious about the stories of others. In 2011, while walking through profound loss and pain, she encountered the book Bold Love by Dr. Dan Allender and Dr. Tremper Longman. Its counsel offered exactly what her heart needed, opening the door to a new season of healing and growth.

Many years later, Susan participated in story groups and completed Narrative-Focused Trauma Care I and II at The Allender Center. As her group and counselors bore witness to her trauma, she began to recognize the unique ways she reflects the glory of God. That journey deepened her calling to become a Narrative Trauma Story Coach and to serve others with the same courage and care she once received.

Susan is confident that as we share our stories with one another, we will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

SPIRITUAL DIRECTOR

Tiffany has been married for 33 years to her best friend and husband, Jeff, and together they have built a life rooted in love, faith, and family. They are the proud parents of two grown children, Abigail and Carter, and delighted to welcome their daughter-in-law, Addie, into the family.

As a classically trained Spiritual Director, Tiffany meets one-on-one with those who long for a more intimate relationship with Jesus. She walks alongside women as they learn to notice the unique movements of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—woven into the rhythm of their daily lives. Together, they listen for the Spirit’s gentle voice and explore what it means to live in a more holy, surrendered way. Tiffany treasures the gift of spiritual direction as a sacred, prayerful listening that makes space for God to speak.

A lifelong lover of books, Tiffany finds deep joy in reading, as well as practicing Pilates, taking long walks, belly-laughing, and sitting quietly by the river. These simple pleasures keep her grounded in the beauty and grace of everyday life.