What Is a Spiritual Practitioner?
Spiritual Practitioners are your spiritual coaches. We see and honor both the divinity and the humanity in every person.
We are trained to hold the truth of who you are—your perfection, potential, and possibility—even when you may not be able to see it for yourself. We stand with you in prayer, grounded in the knowing that there is more right with you than wrong.
Through affirmative prayer, we support you in navigating life’s challenges and in affirming the good that is already present in your life. While we cannot change another person, we can help you see your situation through new eyes—and that shift in awareness is often what creates real and lasting change.
We affirm the truth of who you are: whole, complete, and enough, with everything you need within you to be exactly who you are meant to be.
Each Spiritual Practitioner has completed approximately four years of study and is a licensed practitioner with the Centers for Spiritual Living. We are bound by a strict code of ethics that protects your privacy and confidentiality.
After Sunday services, we offer tune-up prayers in our prayer corner. If you would like more individualized support, one-on-one prayer sessions are also available by phone or in person. Sessions are offered on a sliding scale of $55–$85, and no one is turned away for lack of funds.
If you feel called to receive prayer support, we invite you to reach out at prayers@lightonthemountains.org
ANN CHRISTIANSON, PRACTITIONER EMERITUS
Ann Christensen's background is in elementary, natural science and social studies education. She brings her love of learning, her curiosity, her passion for the natural world and interest in the history and cultures of the planet to Light on the Mountains as a member of the Global Visioning Team and a teaching aide. Ann is excited about the Center for Spiritual Living's Global Heart Vision and sharing her spiritual adventure with this community.
MARCIA MODE-STAVROS, PRACTITIONER EMERITUS
Light on the Mountains has been my spiritual home and anchor for a few dozen years, and I have served as a Practitioner for most of that time. My life has been altered in the grandest of ways, having learned spiritual truths and how to turn them into action within my everyday life. Life lived in this way is easier, even in the darkest of times. I have shared joys and sorrows with this faith community and many of my richest friendships began over coffee at Light on the Mountains; what fun to share a spiritual journey with friends! I have appreciated learning about faith leaders and tenets that are similar to mine. I love blending my spiritual study with my professional experience as an event planner and writer and have shared many original writings over the years. I have also taken coursework to work with those experiencing grief, building on my personal experience after my husband’s death. Light on the Mountains is a haven, a refuge, a place of happiness, and a place of faith. I need it, I love it, I am grateful for it. It is our special little place with a great big heart and wide open arms.
CYNTHIA LUCK CARR, R.Sc.P.
Cynthia has enjoyed inspiring adults and children for over thirty years in the Wood River Valley and beyond. As a certified holistic health coach and professional educator, her commitment to building. resilient communities and facilitating personal growth has manifested in many forms.
Over the 20 plus years as a member of the LOTM community, she has facilitated youth programing, planned stewardship events, and served on the Leadership Council as Secretary and Chair. Now, as a member of the practitioner team, she is available to serve you in revealing your magnificence! With deep gratitude she shares her love of the affirmative prayer process and looks forward to meeting you!
MANON GAUDREAU, R.Sc.P.
My journey was inspired by various spiritual cultures around the world, in my quest to find a common thread to the essence of Life. My path led me to Light on the Mountains and the Science of Mind, where the Power of Prayer brought me peace of mind, and accompanies me in my desire to age gracefully, with wisdom and joy, and surrounded by a loving and caring community. My scientific career gave way to self-discovery as I became a mother, and then to connection to Spirit as I became a grand-mother.
As a Master Gardener, herbalist, and Spiritual Practitioner, I am delighted to serve the community, and make a contribution to co-creating a world that works for everyone.
SARA GORMAN, R.Sc.P.
Sara Gorham has been a grateful member of Light on the Mountains since 1995 and a Prayer Practitioner since 2011. She is passionate about expanding our individual and collective realization of our fundamental Unity, both with one another and with Divine Source. Sara has been seeking to articulate that understanding for many years through her writings that she shares at Light on the Mountains and in all aspects of her life.
PAMELA SUE MARTIN, R.Sc.P.
Pamela Sue Martin came to the Wood River Valley with a Hollywood resume and has since raised her son here and spent twenty years within the Religious Science community. She incorporates the philosophy into an upcoming book on living with life’s exigencies from a spiritual perspective. She hosts an open weekly meditation in her home Wed. mornings.
“Prayer bridges the illusion of separation, and I welcome sharing this practice with you as it helps us all to connect with the truth of who we are. Our mission as practitioners is to deliver the message that no matter how dark the news, there is something that lifts us forward, a fire of creativity. God’s transcendence within our soul.”
TOM POOLE, R.Sc.P.
I started my spiritual journey 23 years ago when I joined a local recovery community, and have remained clean and sober ever since. Over the years I have been guided to and have trained as a dedicated spiritual guide and end-of-life doula with a deep commitment to helping individuals and families navigate through life’s many challenges. Holding a National End-of-Life Doula badge and being licensed through the Centers for Spiritual Living, I am trained to foster spiritual well-being by nurturing a connection with oneself, others and what each person perceives as the ultimate source. Central to this spiritual well-being is a sense of meaning and purpose, driving the silent revolution of self-realization.
My path to becoming an end-of-life-doula began with a profound personal experience that ignited my passion for supporting other through their most vulnerable moments. My background in spiritual guidance and compassionate nature allow me to provide holistic care that honors each person’s unique journey.
208-720-9502
tompoolesv@gmail.com
HEIDI SCHERNTHANNER, R.Sc.P.
Heidi began her study in consciousness and personal growth in the 80’s. Between then and now, her journey with Light on the Mountains and Science of Mind accelerated in 2012 when her parents were dying. During this time, she experienced a support system for all aspects of life, living, death and dying. Life and what is possible was a bright light for her and knowing the years of study could live under one roof.
The SOM Philosophy allows for the individual expression of God, Spirit, The Thing Itself and thrives of the idea that changing our thinking will change our life. This simple, yet complex philosophy has led to Heidi became a CSL Licensed Practitioner in 2025 in order to share the sacredness of unity, faith, and trust. She continues to be a student of consciousness and treasures studying the work of a mystic. She has found the years of study have brought a grounded, loving aspect to all areas of her life.
ALEX TAYLOR, R.Sc.P.
I became involved with the CSL teachings as a teenager when my mother began studying to be a practitioner. Upon moving to Sun Valley in 1990 I discovered there was a Center here and started attending services. Flash forward and I became a practitioner in 2011. Why? Because the beliefs and teachings have been my guiding lights since the 1970’s. The LOTM community is where my mind and spirit is nourished and Irelishes in the joy and love shared by all.
KELLEY WATSON, R.Sc.P.
Introduced to Buddhism in his home town of Boulder Colorado in his late teens Kelley
has had a lifelong interest in religious and spiritual traditions and practices. He studied religious studies and Chinese language in university and studied with the Zen Buddhist Roshi Joan Halifax since 2005.
Kelley has been a member of Light on the Mountains Spiritual Center for 22 years, a member of the Leadership Council since 2022 and was certified as a Spiritual Practitioner in 2025.
Kelley moved Hailey Idaho with his wife and children in 1985 and retired from a 35 year career as a landscape designer specializing in drought tolerant native landscapes in 2023.
In addition to Light on the Mountains Kelley has been active as a founding member and serve on the Board of Directors for a number of local and national non-profit organizations.
Kelley is married with two children and 3 grandchildren.
CANDACE WITT, R.Sc.P.
I have always known, even as a small child, that I was spiritual. Over the years, I triedI have always known, even as a small child, that I was spiritual. Over the years, I triedto touch that spirituality through organized religion… teaching classes, studying, andtrying to fit myself into that mold…but it never felt right. Finally, through the words ofour then 14 year old son, I had my Aha moment, and walked out the door. Many yearslater, through a serendipitous meeting of a group in Portland Oregon, I met a womanwho was a CSL minister… and her center was only 8 blocks from my house! Even withthis, it took another 6 months before I was willing to walk in the door… but that daywas a seminal day for me… and I knew I was home! I had found a philosophy withoutdogma, and where I was accepted for who I was. It was easy then to follow that pathto become a Practitioner, and every moment since, I’ve known without a doubt that I’min exactly the right place, doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing, and filled with gratitude.