Rest, renewal, and real community for ministers’ wives

Kaley Ihfe serves as the Director of Lavish HOPE ministries. She has a B.S. in Communications, an MEd in School Counseling, and an MA in Christian Ministry and is certified in the Enneagram Spectrum Training through Dr. Jerry Wagner. In the past, she worked at the Volunteer Center of Lubbock, Pflugerville ISD, and Abilene Christian University. She has served alongside her husband, Karl Ihfe, in ministry for 25 years first in Austin and currently in Lubbock. She loves traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and gardening; and she is passionate about teaching scripture and being an active part of her community. She teaches adult Bible classes, writes Bible study curriculum, and speaks at retreats. She and Karl have a son in graduate school at Wichita State University and a daughter at Lipscomb. Kaley is a caregiver for all cohorts.

To contact Kaley email: director@lavishHOPE.org

Dr. Chelsie Sargent is a licensed professional counselor and supervisor (LPC-S) specializing in self-care, depression, anxiety, grief, life-transitions, trauma, and the Enneagram. In addition to her therapy work, Chelsie meets regularly with corporate executives, nonprofit professionals, and church leaders. She teaches and consults on a variety of topics, including the Enneagram, healthy boundaries, and contemporary issues. She holds a B.A. from Abilene Christian University, an M.Ed. from Hardin-Simmons University, and Doctorate of Professional Counseling from Houston Graduate School of Theology. Chelsie is certified in the Enneagram Spectrum Training with Dr. Jerry Wagner. She lives in Houston, Texas, with her husband, Steve, and their 14 year old daughter. Chelsie has been in ministry alongside her husband for over 20+ years. When Chelsie is not in her office or out speaking she enjoys traveling, needlepoint, and all things Disney. Chelsie is a caregiver for cohorts with women married to preaching and executive ministers as well as the retreats being done in conjunction with The Kite Center for Ministry at York University.

Annette Sharp was born and raised in Carlsbad, New Mexico. She attended Abilene Christian University and earned her BS in Elementary Education. She has been married to her husband, Eddie, for 50 years and they have partnered together in ministry at churches in Nevada, New Mexico and Texas. They served the University congregation in Abilene, TX for 28 years and the University Avenue congregation in Austin, TX for 10 years before retiring from full-time congregational ministry and moving to Dallas in 2019. Annette chose to be a stay-at-home mom for their three children until 1990 when she began her career as an elementary school secretary, retiring in 2013. For 15 years, Eddie and Annette were members of the facilitating team of the Ministry Support Network at ACU that provided care and support for over 300 ministry couples. Since attending the Transforming Community in Chicago in 2011-13, Annette has had a special interest in teaching spiritual formation and transformation. She believes she is at her very best in her role as Mee-Maw to their six grandchildren, all of whom live in the Dallas area. Annette is a caregiver for cohorts with women married to preaching and executive ministers.

Jill Cox brings 33 years of experience in education, having served in a variety of roles, including classroom teacher, interventionist, curriculum specialist, instructional coach, and administrator. She is currently part of the Teaching & Learning Team and serves as an Instructional Specialist with Melissa ISD, where she supports teachers and student learning across the district.

Outside of education, Jill serves alongside her husband, Brad, who has worked in ministry for over three decades and currently leads at High Pointe Church as Senior Pastor and Shepherd in McKinney, Texas. At church, Jill volunteers in multiple capacities—teaching, singing on the praise team, and helping lead the safety team.

Jill enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time outdoors, and cherishing moments with her family. She and Brad have two children, Maggie and Colby, who are both currently pursuing graduate degrees. Jill is a caregiver for cohorts with women married to student ministers.

Lana Page is an educator, minister’s wife, and mother of 4 children. She grew up in Tyler, TX, then attended Abilene Christian University, where she met her husband Doug. They have been married since 2002 and have 4 children – twins who attend Abilene Christian University, a high schooler and a middle schooler. Their ministry began with youth ministry in Huntsville, TX, then preaching ministry in Kaufman, TX, and they most recently moved to Lubbock, TX, where her husband continues to preach.

Lana has alternated between being a stay-at-home-mom and working in a variety of roles in public schools for the past 24 years. She began as a Spanish and sociology teacher, then, after staying at home with her children, she returned to education as a school receptionist. This was followed by teaching English, then by being an ESL/testing coordinator. She currently works as a math interventionist at a Lubbock high school. She enjoys music, travel, movies, cooking, slow meals with friends, and some small attempts at gardening. Lana is a caregiver for cohorts with women married to student ministers.

Jackie L. Halstead, Ph.D., LMFT, MDiv serves on the faculty of Abilene Christian University as a professor and administrator in the Marriage and Family Therapy online program. She served in the residential MFT program in Abilene for twelve years as faculty and department chair. Dr. Halstead also is CEO of Selah Center for Spiritual Formation that offers a certificate program in Spiritual Direction in collaboration with the Siburt Institute. Jackie has been a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the past forty years—specializing in ministers and their families–and a Spiritual Director for twenty-five years. She speaks frequently on the topics of contemplative prayer, spiritual formation, and relationships at the national and international levels and is author of Leaning into God’s Embrace: A Guide for Contemplative Prayer. Jackie has been married to Randy for 44 years. They have two grown daughters, Erin–married to Stephen and with granddaughter, Jocelyn–and Ashley married to Branden. Jackie and Randy are proud graduates of York College (1981). Jackie is a caregiver for retreats being done in conjunction with The Kite Center for Ministry at York University.