Meet The Staff
Andrew Comiskey Executive Director and Founder
Andrew Comiskey (M.Div.) has worked extensively with the healing of the sexually and relationally broken. Having come to the church broken, he loves nothing more than serving broken ones who cry out for mercy in the church.
He founded Desert Stream Ministries in 1980 while serving on staff at the Vineyard West Los Angeles.
Desert Stream relocated from Southern California to Kansas City, Missouri in 2005. Andrew’s ministry remains fresh as a result of his own commitment to overcome homosexuality and his experience as a husband to Annette and father of four (now) adult children.
He is author of Pursuing Sexual Wholeness (Creation House), Strength in Weakness (IVP), Naked Surrender: Coming Home to Our True Sexuality (IVP) and the Living Waters healing program.
Andrew seeks to equip the global church to become whole and holy, a bride ready to receive Jesus. He loves worshiping Jesus at St. Thomas More Parish.
He marvels at the power of Christ Crucified to blaze a trail on which broken lives can become whole. He is at times troubled by Jesus’ call to pick up our own crosses and walk His way in order to be healed.
Annette Comiskey Director of Communications and Development
I have been working with Andrew since the beginning of Desert Stream Ministries in 1980. We were married in 1981 in Hermosa Beach, CA. We are the parents of four adult children: Gregory, Nick, Katie and Sam.
I have worked extensively with wives who have been affected by sexual and relational brokenness in their marriages. We live in Kansas City, Missouri.
I am most in my “element” spending time with my kids (including two amazing daughter-in-laws, Christina and Meghan) being with our dog Joni, and watching sports! I also love worshipping at nearby Christ Church Anglican where my son Nick is a pastor.
After 30 years of ministry I still marvel at the amazing people who labor alongside of Andrew and me--many for more than 2 decades. Whether giving their time or financial support (many do both!), these wonderful folks give much grace to us in the challenge of ministry.
I am increasingly troubled by the decay of the moral culture in our churches. Issues and behaviors (pre-marital co-habitation, divorce, children out of wedlock, 'gay marriage') that were troubling 20 years ago are now embraced thoughtlessly. But I also believe in the power of the Lord to bring repentance unto renewal to those who call upon His name!
Dean Greer National Coordinator – Living Waters, US
Dean Greer is the National Coordinator for Living Waters USA. Having been involved in healing ministry for the past 20 years, Dean has trained leaders around the world to incorporate the healing programs of Desert Stream Ministries within the local church community.
His ministry to the sexually and relationally broken has come as a result of his own journey out of homosexuality. Diagnosed with the HIV virus in 1989, Dean has truly seen Christ come and give him life to the full.
Dean marvels at seeing God take the most shameful aspects of his life - and the lives of the many leaders he works with throughout the USA - and bring glory to His Name. He is troubled by the fact that so few churches maintain a safe, truthful community in which people can work out their salvation.
A native of San Francisco, Dean now lives in Kansas City, MO with his wife Chrystal and 4-year-old son Jeremiah. They are active members of the Vineyard Church of Overland Park, KS.
Ann Armstrong Director of Intercession
I loved growing up in Santa Monica, California. My younger sister and I spent lots of time at the beach; and joined my mother at numerous social and cultural activities, including church. After I came to the Lord in my late twenties, He led me back to my birthplace.
My connection with Desert Stream initiated a focused time of healing for me: attending Living Waters, seeing a counselor and receiving through DSM and the Vineyard church. Longstanding shame, rejection, issues from my parents’ divorce, and an eating disorder began to be healed.
Intercessory and healing prayer continue to be a defining part of my work at Desert Stream. I oversee intercession for the ministry, co-direct the internship program and provide leadership for the US Living Waters trainings.
Whether on my own or during staff prayer times, I marvel at the specific and powerful ways the Lord moves to reveal His heart and mind, and care for all the needs we pray for. What a gift and honor to be part of His work during times of listening prayer too: in the lives of the staff, our interns and also the women in my LW small groups.
To my joy, I am able to travel to nations hosting LW trainings.
Not too long ago, I returned to the Anglican Church. I again worship in the church of my youth and later conversion. There I find the Lord In the beauty and richness of the liturgy, weekly communion, and during my own times of silence and solitude.
In a time when the mores and practices of the culture increasingly pervade the church, I am thankful for the clear stand for Biblical truth I find in this denomination. I need these reminders of the Lord's will for me and all who bear His image as we "hold out the word of life" to an increasingly "crooked and depraved generation." Phil 2:15, 16
Lori Butler Ministry Administrator
I grew up in a Christian home in the Kansas City area. However, I didn’t start walking closely with Jesus until my college years. After graduating college I married my high school sweetheart, Mark. We have been blessed with three wonderful children; Andrew, Rachel and Jacob. As a family we prefer vacations that involve adventures and new activities.
I worked in the business world writing computer programs. Then I was able to spend several years at home focusing on my family. Mark and I have led home groups in the church for about seventeen years.
We started pursuing deeper emotional healing about ten years ago. This has involved a process of seeking healing for ourselves and others.
In 2007 we were able to attend a Living Waters Pilot Program in Kansas City. At that time we had the pleasure of getting to know Annette and Andy. I came on staff with Desert Stream in 2009 as administrator. I really like that fact that at DSM I am able to combine my business gifting and my love for healing.
I am always amazed at the creative way Jesus comes with healing to those involved in DSM groups. I am troubled by broken marriages so I appreciate the opportunity to be involved in Beauty and the Breach groups with DSM.
Maité Rodríguez-Mora Aguas Vivas Administrator Resource Fulfillment
I was born in the warmth of the Caribbean in Puerto Rico. My mother was single and mother made the brave choice to both have and keep me. I was raised by her and my grandmother.
For as long as I remember I have been a Christian, but not in the sense of a follower of Christ. While a committed leader working with youth, I was addicted to masturbation and pornography, and hid my same-sex attraction.
I had a lot of shame and fear of being discovered. The Lord convicted my heart; I knew I needed to free myself from the entanglement of sin. Living Waters was fundamental in my discovering hope and freedom for my broken heart.
Today I have the privilege of working in something I am passionate about: helping the sexually and relationally broken to find freedom and joy in Christ! At the office I take care of the resources and serve as the liaison with the Spanish-speaking world.
I continue to find God in the Catholic Church. I am able to experience God in the beauty of the liturgy and sacraments, as well as in the more demonstrative worship and Holy Spirit ‘action’ of the Vineyard Church where I also attend. I am richly blessed by the richness He has given me in all aspects of my life.
I am amazed at the stories of people that have found hope and healing through the programs offered by DSM. This fuels my desire to continue the mission of the ministry of Proclaiming, Equipping and Healing in the Latin World.
Mike and Diane Nobrega Living Waters Kansas City Coordinator Desert Stream Board Member
Mike and Diane grew up in Kansas City and are presently attend New Day, a non-denominational church. They have 3 adult children and have been married for 37 years.
Mike struggled for many of those initial years with sexual addiction which led him and Diane to Living Waters in the early 1990’. There they found healing and restoration both individually and for their marriage. They’ve been involved ever since, deepening their involvement when the Desert Stream office moved to Kansas City in 2005.
Mike works full time with his brothers and son in a manufacturing company. Diane has invested her life in homemaking, and has recently completed her training as a Spiritual Director.
Mike serves on the Board of Directors for Desert Stream and helps with the Kansas City Living Waters Region. Both he and Diane travel with Andy and other leaders for trainings and conferences. They also help lead local healing groups.
They marvel at the restoration work in our marriage by Jesus in face of so much destruction. As the recent worship song says “You make beautiful things out of the dust.”
They are troubled by the enemy’s continued attack on marriage and the ground he has taken, leaving so many couples without hope and resigned to less.
Eric Spady IT Support
I was born in Oakland California, and lived in Okinawa, Japan and Littleton, Colorado as a kid. When I was a freshman at Columbine High School, I was introduced to Jesus by my bus driver and became a Christian when I was 15. I also met my wife there and after attending Bible College and seminary, we went to Sweden as missionaries with YWAM for 11 years. All three of our kids were born there.
We have always loved discipleship. I love seeing people change and God getting a hold of them as He did in my areas of brokenness. I am Desert Stream’s ‘IT Guy’ and love serving this ministry and keeping the computers, server and website areas going! I currently run the SALT (Falling Forward) groups in Kansas City and teach at the Living Waters trainings.
I marvel at the way people respond to the message of the cross that is given and demonstrated in the men’s groups I run. There is always such forgiveness and release there and to see the weight of the guilt and shame roll off. It still amazes me each time I see it.
What troubles me is the lack of understanding and care for the broken-hearted that I see in churches. The body is often not equipped to handle those that have suffered abuse by another, or who have been traumatized. The need for ministers of GRACE is greatly needed.
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