About Us

Leadership for Worshipful-Work is made up of several groups who provide leadership in different capacities:

Valerie K. Isenhower, co-founder and Executive Director

Executive Director of Water in the Desert Ministries, and co-author of two books on spiritual discernment -- Living into the Answers: A Workbook for Personal Spiritual Discernment (Upper Room, 2008) and Listen for God's Leading: A Workbook for Corporate Spiritual Discernment (Upper Room, 2009).  Val was guest editor for the May/June 2010 issue of Alive Now Devotional Magazine (published by Upper Room) focused on discernment through stages of life. She has written an article on Photographs for Worshipfor Marcia McFee’s Worship Workshop.  She is the former Coordinator of Ministry for Worshipful Work and is one of the founders of Water in the Desert Ministries: A Christian Center for Spiritual Renewal in Albuquerque, NM. Water in the Desert Ministries is now steward of the ministry of Worshipful-Work (founded by Charles M. Olsen). Val has led workshops on worshipful-work and spiritual formation retreats across the country including: Spiritual Renewal for Parish Nurses, workshops on spirituality and photography at SOULfeast (Upper Room’s premier spirituality event) and the PW Churchwide Gathering, plenary leader at an APCE regional event and spiritual formation classes in a regional ordination program for the American Baptists.   She served as Spiritual Director for the National Spirituality Team of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship for 3 years.  She also teaches on-line courses in spirituality.  Val has experience in end-of-life issues and served as end-of-life Chaplain for a local clinic serving low income elderly. She specializes in leading others in the spiritual practices of photography through workshops on the topic.  As a photographer Val focuses on meditative and discernment photographs.  Her photographs have been published, won awards and displayed in galleries. Val earned a M.Div. from Central Baptist Theological Seminary, is an ordained American Baptist Minister and lives in Albuquerque.

Judith A. Todd, co-founder and President

Program Director of Water in the Desert Ministries, and co-author of two books on spiritual discernment with Valerie Isenhower.  Along with Val, she was a guest editor for the May/June 2010 issue of Alive Now.  Judith is one of the founders of Water in the Desert Ministries. Judith is a gifted teacher and has years of experience in adult education and spirituality.  She has led ecumenical spirituality retreats across the country including OASIS for the Mid-Central APCE retreat, workshops on discernment for the PW Churchwide Gathering, several years at SOULfeast and Spiritual Leadership for the CBF Pastors of MO.  Judith teaches on-line courses on spirituality through Be A Disciple based out of Southwestern College in Winfield, KS. She taught Old and New Testament at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Biblical Languages at the Graduate Theological Union and Creation Spirituality with Matthew Fox at Holy Names College. Judith now teaches courses at the Ecumenical Institute for Ministry in Albuquerque, in the CLP Program for the Presbytery of Santa Fe and is adjunct faculty in the Religious Studies Department at the University of New Mexico.  Judith has a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from the Graduate Theological Union, and a M.Div from McCormick Seminary.  She lives in Albuquerque and is an ordained Presbyterian minister.

Worshipful-Work Community

Gloria Flanery -- Church Musician and /composer.  Gloria has written music for worshipful-work including a song entitled "Prayer for Guidance" which was published in the May/June issue of Alive Now (Upper Room).  She leads music for Water in the Desert Ministries/Worshipful-Work workshops in Kansas City. Gloria has an M.Div from Central Baptist Theological Seminary.  She lives in Kansas City and is ordained American Baptist.