Meet the Team
Vaughan Pursell Spanjer
Vaughan Pursell Spanjer grew up on her family’s 3,200-acre farmland in the Central Alabama foothills, and credits the beauty of the woodlands, meadows, and mountaintops for her interest in mixing textures, materials, color, and light. After college she moved to New York City to pursue a career in fashion design, and integrated these elements into her collections. She met her husband-to-be in New York, and the couple returned to her family’s farmland, now the destination resort, Pursell Farms. Inspired by the wildlife and landscapes of the farm and completely self-taught, she began painting and drawing the natural world around her. ...
Chrissy Pursell Adolf
Hearts of Rest Worship Leader
Chrissy Pursell Adolf is a worshipper, musician, athlete and diabetes advocate. She is a wife and mother to also diabetic 3.5 year old son. Having multiple degrees in music, she serves in local church music ministry and operates a full piano studio from her home. She is an avid runner and crossfitter. Having been diagnosed as a Type 1 diabetic herself at 8 months old, her passions are currently learning to hone in ultimate diabetes control through nutrition, prep and recovery for endurance workouts, and advocacy and support for other diabetic mothers and their families.
Carol Bevil
Hearts of Rest Historian and Faithful Intercessor
Carol Bevil is a Christian author, speaker, and Bible study teacher. She is the founder of @FuelBodyFeedSoul dedicated to the truth found in Matthew 6:33. She has authored 4 books: You Are His; Break Through; Caught Up in Hope; and her new release: Caught Up in the Word.
Carol is passionate about knowing Jesus better so that her life makes Him known. She surrendered her life to Christ at the age of forty having been raised in a Jewish home. Her writing has been featured in several publications. She lives in Birmingham with her husband Chris of 28 years. Their four kids are always somewhere, but hopefully her cooking always calls them home.
Carlin Everts
Hearts of Rest Event Director
Carlin is a recovering perfectionist and over-committer. It is not uncommon for her to find herself deeply invested in a project or role where she can employ her leadership and organizational skills to the fullest. After attending a Hearts of Rest retreat in 2023, she experienced a divine encounter with the Lord where He vividly spoke to her and called her to use her God-given talents, as a daughter of the Most High to focus solely on kingdom-minded opportunities. Through prayer and surrender, The Lord graciously orchestrated a friendship with Vaughan and, from there, an avenue to use her skills to come alongside the founder in her Hearts of Rest ministry. Most of the time, though, when she’s not organizing something, you can find her shuttling her three children to dance practices, sports practices and music lessons, managing their household and enjoying life with her sweet husband, Josh.
Kelly Wetherholt
Hearts of Rest Emcee and Gatherer of Women
Kelly, a Georgia native, lives in Hoover, AL with her husband Brian and their 2 high school boys. Her passion for leading students and women to a deeper faith in Jesus began when she was in full-time student ministry after college. Kelly served for 20 plus years leading alongside her husband in student ministry, where the Lord graciously weaved a love for women's ministry in her life. She loves collaborating with other women to execute women's events, lead Bible studies, and create spaces for women of all ages to know that their identity is defined only by Jesus. It was through God's loving kindness during a season of transition that she was introduced to Vaughan and the ministry of Hearts of Rest! She works for Birmingham South Young Life as an area administrator and a College Life leader. She never says no to a good cup of coffee and a tight hug!
Past Attendee's Stories:
I attended the Hearts of Rest Retreat this year for the first time. Having recently retired, I was looking forward to a girls getaway with my 2 sisters, but quietly I was praying my heart would be open to what God would reveal to me over these two days.
The planned creative activities offered something for everyone; even for those of us who are not very creative. In learning how to make jewelry and build beautiful grazing boards, the real joy for me came from creating friendships around the table with women from all walks of life, both young and old, who I did not know before the retreat. We laughed together, shared together, and had fun creating together around our tables. God created us for community. Women thrive in community and this was a sweet picture of one of God’s gifts to us.
Since my retirement, people are quick to ask me “what are you going to do next?” We live in a world where we are trained to think we always have to be doing something, right? But as Carol Bevil spoke very candidly to us during the weekend, the message was clear and simple: WE ARE CALLED TO KNOW JESUS AND MAKE HIM KNOWN”. With that message as our guide, everything else will fall into place, at the right time; God’s time. And His timing in my life has always been perfect. Therefore, “being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ”. Philippians 1:6.
This weekend was just what my heart needed, and my heart will be right back at this retreat next year. Come join me! - Laurie Slay