Our Staff

Eldon Fry

Spiritual Director

Eldon grew up in the rural Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University, Kansas State University and Graduate Theological Foundation and attended Penn State University. Eldon has held a wide variety of roles in ministry and leadership and currently provides coaching and mentoring for 14 denominations. Eldon and his wife Ginger have been married over 50 years and together they have two children and six grandchildren.

Jason Lehman

Staff Leader

Jason is originally from Upstate New York and received a master’s degree in Counseling from Messiah University, is a Certified Family Life Educator, and a Certified School Counselor for Kindergarten to Sixth Grade in the state of Pennsylvania (USA). Jason and his wife Sara have seven children and have over 15 years’ experience working with vulnerable families and kids. Jason worked with various social service agencies, national organizations, and had the privilege to teach and travel internationally into Eastern Europe. Prior to these endeavors Jason obtained a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and worked in various hospitality positions. As an Open Hands Staff Leader, Jason works to create a space where participants know and feel safe, can build trusting relationships, explore their faith story, and open themselves to more of God.

Deb Williams

Spiritual Advisor

Deb is originally from the Harrisburg area. She is a graduate of Williamsport Hospital School of Nursing, Toccoa Falls College and Wheaton Graduate School. Over the years she worked as a nurse in the Emergency Department, Pediatrics and Pediatric Critical Care. A former pastor’s wife and ministry partner, she is passionate about the local church, leadership development and care. In 2015 she received her certificate in Spiritual Direction from Sustainable Faith. She currently serves as the Coordinator of Spiritual Formation at Daybreak Church.

Deb is married to John, has 3 adult daughters, two son in laws and 3 soon to be 4 granddaughters. She loves to read, play games (especially if she wins), walks and enjoying nature.

Terry Brensinger

Spiritual Advisor

Terry L. Brensinger is a pastor, writer and spiritual director who thrives on helping people and churches align with what God is doing in the world. His engagements have taken him to thatched-roof churches, university gymnasiums and conference meeting halls in nearly forty countries, both within and outside of his own faith community.

Brensinger received his B.A. from Messiah College, M.Div. from Asbury Theological Seminary, M.A. in Near Eastern Archaeology from Drew University, and his M.Phil. and Ph.D. in Old Testament Studies, also from Drew. The author or editor of four books, Terry has pastored three churches, taught at both the university and graduate levels, and served as president of Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary. In his free time, he writes poetry and spends whatever moments he can find working —playing!!— with wood, stone and paint in his workshop.

Terry is the husband of Debra Brensinger, herself a nurse and spiritual director. They are the parents of three adult children: Timothy, Jordan and Julie.

Debra Brensinger

Spiritual Advisor

For as long as she can remember, Debra Brensinger has sensed a deep desire to follow God’s promptings in her own life and to help others do the same in theirs. Over the years, that desire has led her, among other things, to serve a diverse congregation in New York City, work for peace in Israel and the West Bank, care for AIDS babies at Mother Theresa’s orphanage in Nairobi, provide pastoral care to patients at Macha hospital in Zambia and teach Christian Spirituality at Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary in California. Debra holds degrees in both Behavioral Science and Nursing from Messiah College as well as an M.A in Christian Spirituality and Spiritual Direction from Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia. Today, she maintains a private spiritual direction practice, leads retreats on various topics related to spirituality and wellness and teaches spiritual formation in her own denomination’s Equipping for Ministry program.

Debra Brensinger is the wife of Terry, himself a professor and spiritual director, and the mother of three adult children: Tim, Jordan and Julie.

Dr. Joel A. Smith

Associate

As an Open Hands Associate, Joel enjoys coaching, assessing and equipping leaders by “drawing out of them what God has placed in them.” His thirty years of experience as a church planter, developer and transitional pastor has seasoned him to assist leaders with both their skills and their soul. Joel is also the founder of dalahcoaching.com. Click here to discuss coaching possibilities. Joel’s doctoral work focused on the effects of coaching on discipleship in the local church. The dissertation abstract can be viewed here. Joel is a graduate of Messiah College (Grantham, PA) and Alliance Theological Seminary (Manhattan, NY).