Cheryl Nembhard

Cheryl Nembhard is a renowned Soul-Care Coach and leader in the area of emotional healing. With a passion for guiding individuals towards emotional and spiritual wholeness, Cheryl has dedicated her career to empowering others to navigate life's challenges with resilience and grace. Drawing from her own journey of personal growth and spiritual awakening, Cheryl developed 'The Lighthouse Project', a transformative 10-week online course designed to illuminate the path to trauma recovery and spiritual wellness. Through her compassionate guidance and innovative approach, Cheryl has inspired countless individuals to embark on a journey of inner transformation and reclaim their power and identity in God.

Tammy Melchien

Tammy Melchien is a Teaching Pastor and Writer who is passionate about helping people take next steps with Jesus. With over 30 years of ministry experience, she currently leads the collaborative Teaching Team at Community Christian Church, a large multi-site church in the Chicago area. She is passionate about the study of Scripture and has earned an M.A. from Lincoln Christian Seminary. She will be publishing her first book, Choosing the Opposite, with NavPress in October 2025.

Kristi Bramlett

Kristi is a Certified Movement Analyst who has worked in academia for the better part of 30 years. Her clients are encouraged through her work to embody their content, stepping into the person God created them to be.

At the STORY STRONG Retreat, Kristi looks forward to encouraging the women to investigate movement patterns without judgement, connected in Mind, Body, and Spirit. Through the use of breath as an impulse for movement in the moment, Kristi’s profound sessions lead to the removal of facades, whole-self presence, and tangible discoveries of connection to the world around us.

Kelly Olson

Kelly is the founder and executive director of The Baton Pass, a nonprofit organization that exists to empower women to overcome through the sharing of stories within safe and sacred spaces. Kelly and her team have empowered over 100 women to share their strories at Baton Pass events. In addition to her work at The Baton Pass, Kelly coaches individuals who have a dream to start a nonprofit or business, and desire guidance to establish and grow their God-given vision.​ Kelly, her husband Nate, and their two daughters reside in the Chicago suburbs.

Aubrey Sampson

Aubrey (M.A. Evangelism and Leadership) co-planted and serves as executive teaching pastor at Renewal Church in Chicagoland, and speaks across the country at churches and other ministry events. She is an award-winning author, a coach with Propel Women, and host of the What We Find in the Dark Podcast.

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Aubrey is passionate about helping hurting people find God’s presence in their pain. She and her husband Kevin, and their three hilarious sons, live, minister, and play in the Chicagoland area. Aubrey is the author of several books, including What We Find in the Dark: Loss, Hope, and God’s Presence in Grief (NavPress, 2025)

Karrie Scott Garcia

Karrie Garcia is a pastor, author, CEO, and ICF-certified life coach who empowers others by sharing her honest journey to freedom. In 2014, she founded Freedom Movement, a nonprofit dedicated to creating safe spaces for healing and transformation. With nearly 25 years of experience in coaching and counselling, Karrie is known for her ability to hold space for people to process pain and pursue growth. As a certified health and wellness coach, Karrie takes a holistic approach to healing, helping people connect mind and body for lasting change.