People, Stories, Callings
by Giles Armstrong | President
Welcoming new staff into a Christian ministry is never just about new positions being filled; it is about people, stories, and callings coming together in God’s perfect timing. Each new team member arrives with a journey shaped by prayer, experience, and a deep desire to serve. 2026 is an exciting year for the ministry as we welcome four new staff members to the SonScape team.
Angel and I have had the joy of training Jason and Heather Ricks as our newest Retreat Leaders. We are thrilled to see them step into this role and begin leading retreats. Their hearts for the Lord and for couples are evident, and we are confident God will use them in powerful ways to guide guests into deeper intimacy with Christ and with one another.
We are also grateful to welcome two new support team members who will serve behind the scenes in vital ways.
Olivia Trimble is our new Retreat Coordinator and is often the very first voice our guests hear. She walks alongside them from the moment they sign up . . . answering questions, helping with details, and ensuring all forms are completed so they can fully engage in a meaningful retreat experience.
Amber Koehler joins us as our Hospitality Coordinator, caring for the many details that create a warm and welcoming environment. From food preparation to coordinating and supporting our host couples, Amber helps set the tone for rest, connection, and renewal.
We encourage you to check out their bio’s below and get to know the story God has written in their lives. We celebrate not only what each of these new team members will do, but who they are. Our prayer is that they feel truly welcomed, valued, and loved, and that their time in this ministry is marked by meaningful service and the quiet assurance that they are exactly where God has called them to be.
To our financial and prayer partners: thank you! You have made it possible for these gifted and committed individuals to step into roles that serve, support, teach, and shepherd. This blessing is as much a celebration of your partnership as it is of their calling. Through your generosity and faithful prayers, God continues to provide the people needed to carry this ministry forward.
Would you join us in praying for our staff that their leadership will be guided by Christ’s example, their decisions shaped by discernment, and their relationships marked by grace as they faithfully serve our guests? As we look to the future, we trust that the seeds you have sown will bear lasting fruit—transformed lives, strengthened families, deeper faith, and renewed communities.
Thank you for standing with us. Together, through God’s grace, we are building something that will echo far into the future.
Jason and Heather Ricks have been committed to serve the Lord since before they were married in 1994. Through a variety of ministries, God’s call on their lives has always been to make the Bride of Christ beautiful by supporting and equipping local churches and leaders.
Knowing firsthand the stresses and challenges of being in full-time ministry, they have a burden to help others discover and maintain healthy rhythms in their marriages, families, and ministries. During a particularly difficult season of life and pastoring, they attended a SonScape retreat and experienced the healing and refreshing they needed to continue serving the Lord with joy and energy.
The Ricks firmly believe SonScape provides the perfect setting to come alongside men and women who are in the pressures of ministry each and every day, so that they too can continue to serve out of intimacy with and rest in Christ.
Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
~ John 17:3
Both in the USA and overseas, Jason and Heather have served in youth ministry, training and curriculum development, writing, and pastoral ministry. When not doing ministry, you may find them running, mountain biking, and spending time with their dog. They have two married sons and one grandson.
Olivia Trimble was born and raised in Western Nebraska in a Christ-centered home, where her dad served as a pastor. Being actively involved in church has always been a meaningful part of her life. Growing up, she served on the praise team and in children’s ministry, developing a heart for worship and for helping children grow in their faith.
Olivia has a passion for serving wherever the Lord places her, and she continues to stay involved in the life of the church. She and her husband, Tyler, enjoy participating in young family gatherings and building community with other families. Together with their son, Matthew, they love spending quality time as a family and exploring new places when they have the opportunity.
Before becoming a mom, Olivia taught Kindergarten for three years. In 2025, she welcomed her son Matthew and transitioned to being a stay-at-home mom while also working from home. She is grateful for this season of life and the opportunity to invest in both her family and God’s Kingdom.
Amber Koehler was born and raised in Illinois in a faith-centered home. In 2018 she moved to Divide, Colorado with her husband Kris, and their two boys, Cooper and Anson, to be closer to her parents. She and her family love the beautiful view of the mountains, the outdoor activities, the small-town community, and living close to her parents.
Before moving to Colorado, Amber worked as a cosmetologist for 18 years but has “retired” from working behind the chair except for a few family and friends. She is thankful for this opportunity at SonScape; her position as hospitality coordinator combines her love of cooking and her sensibility for organization.
Amber feels God placed this position in her path to strengthen her walk with Him through the loving and encouraging staff at SonScape. She is looking forward to this second stage in her life to serve where she is needed.
SonScape’s Calling to the World
Rob and Shini Abraham | International Retreat Leaders
Over a decade ago, when we first began taking SonScape overseas, we had little idea of the global impact it would have. As we look back, we praise God for 400+ pastors and missionaries from over 30 nations who have attended over 50 retreats and who now continue to serve in healthier, more sustainable ways. Many retreatants from past years remain engaged in world-changing work—Bible translation, reaching the unreached, rescue and relief efforts, job creation, evangelism, discipleship, church planting, etc. It is truly a joy and a privilege to be part of SonScape’s calling to care for workers around the world.
Our Spanish-speaking team continues to serve pastors and missionaries across Central and South America, with retreats scheduled in Colombia and Guatemala this year.
Looking ahead, we sense God inviting us to ask a deeper question: How can we better serve those working in restricted or persecuted contexts? The focus is not so much on geography as it is on a unique need—supporting those who serve among the unreached and within the persecuted church.
A recent follow-up call with a missionary couple serving in a restricted area of Asia underscored this for us. “The Lord infused us with courage and strength to boldly stay the course, relying on Him to sustain us as we serve in the midst of significant opposition,” they shared. They described how vital the retreat had been—bringing timely course correction, much-needed encouragement, and renewed passion for God and His work in the world.
SonScape remains a lifeline—a place of rest, renewal, and hope for pastors, missionaries, and cross-cultural workers serving around the globe. Through your prayers and generosity, you help create safe and sacred space where they experience rest, restoration, and renewal—reminding them they are not alone.
Thank you for being part of this story.
The SonScape Experience
by SonScape Alumni
Victor Dela Cruz
I had long understood the importance of biblical rest, but this retreat moved it from a concept I knew to a practice I truly experienced. Through the Myers-Briggs and Taylor Johnson assessments, I gained clearer insight into how God uniquely formed me – my strengths, my weaknesses/limitations, and the patterns that shape my life. These tools also gave my wife and me a meaningful way to reflect on our relationship, helping us recognize areas where we are thriving and areas where we can grow. They showed us how God has designed us to support and strengthen one another more intentionally. The leaders graciously helped me see how personality influences the ways I sometimes drift from the life God intends for me. Even more than the tools or conversations, the retreat gently re-centered my heart on God himself and invited me to reflect honestly on where I am in my relationship with Him. One of the most lasting realizations I carried away was this: no matter what season I am walking through, God is present with me, and I am never alone.
Radha Dela Cruz
My friends describe me as “Martha with a Mary’s heart.” I am always the doer, always busy, putting my energy on others first leaving me exhausted and depleted. This retreat reminded me that God values rest. And since I was created in His image, I too deserve to rest without feeling guilty. I am worth it!
The SonScape Staff
Giles and Angel Armstrong
President, Program Director, Retreat Leaders
giles@sonscape.org | angel@sonscape.org
Larry Magnuson
President Emeritus
larry@sonscape.org
Rob and Shini Abraham
Retreat Leaders
rob.abraham@sonscape.org | shini.abraham@sonscape.org
Ken and Sandy Moore
Retreat Leaders
ken.moore@sonscape.org | sandy.moore@sonscape.org
Jason and Heather Ricks
Retreat Leaders
jason.ricks@sonscape.org | heather.ricks@sonscape.org
John and Becci Wood
Retreat Leaders
john.wood@sonscape.org | becci.wood@sonscape.org
Olivia Trimble
Retreat Coordinator
info@sonscape.org
Perry Meyer
Operations
perry@sonscape.org
Jeanien Meyer
Administrative Support
jeanien@sonscape.org
Amber Koehler
Hospitality Coordinator
hospitality@sonscape.org