Sessions & Speakers
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
12:05 p.m. Keynote
NAVIGATING THE SEASON OF CHANGE - GROWING THE HYBRID CHURCH
This session will touch on Rev. Dr. Daubert’s most recent book, Becoming a Hybrid Church, and on what he has learned about Hybrid churches since the book’s publication. The session will also cover the need to provide hope in a time when people seem to be unwilling or unable to commit to change and seek to provide insights into how the pandemic has affected our willingness or ability to show up for our neighbors.
Carlos Leyer
President
Divine Savior Ministries
Pastor Carlos Leyrer is a 2006 graduate of Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. He spent the first ten years of his ministry at Divine Savior Church and Academy, a new mission start in Doral, FL. During this time, he served in various roles before being called to be the President of Divine Savior Ministries. In 2017 he earned his M.B.A and currently oversees a multi-site church and academy ministry with six campuses in Florida and Texas. Pastor Leyrer currently lives in Doral with his wife Julia and their three kids.
Dave Daubert is a second career pastor (previously an engineer) who has served in congregational, synodical, and churchwide ministry positions. Today he leads Day 8 Strategies, which works with congregations, judicatories, and other organizations throughout the United States and Canada. He is recognized as a leader in the fields of church renewal, leadership, strategy, and stewardship. You can find more about Day 8 Strategies by visiting the website at www.Day8Strategies.com for more information and for access to books and resources from Dave.
He is a frequent keynote speaker, trainer, and workshop presenter. His books include Becoming a Hybrid Church, Discipleship Guides for Lutherans, The Invitational Christian, Lutheran Trump Cards, Living Lutheran, and several others. He has been interviewed on NPR.
In addition, he is pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Elgin, IL where he lives and shares work with his wife Marlene (a social worker and rostered deacon at Zion Lutheran Church). They have a dog (Elsa) and two grown children (Erin and Nathan).
Rev. David Daubert
Pastor
Day 8 Strategies
1:25 p.m. Concurrent Session #131
BEYOND THE NEWS: USING PUBLIC CRISIS TO BUILD TRUSTED COMMUNITY
This session reflects on the global crises of 2020: the COVID pandemic and revealed racial injustice and expressed pain by communities of color. Representatives of the Chicago-based River City Community Development Center (R CITY) will share lessons learned about using the opportunity of crisis to build community and share the Gospel.
Elizabeth Galik
Director
River City Community Development Center
A proud resident of Chicago's west side, Elizabeth Galik (B.S.Ed. Valparaiso University) first entered her neighborhood of West Humboldt Park in 2004 as a Lutheran school teacher. Following the closing of her school in 2006, Galik opened the school's computer lab to the community, offering youth and family programs to bridge the digital divide. These programs soon grew into a community center, directed by Galik for ten years. In 2014, she partnered with another local church to found a second community center, River City Community Development Center, where she currently serves as the Executive Director. Galik lives in the West Humboldt Park community with her husband and four children. The family regularly opens its home to local children, serving as temporary guardians for families in crisis.
Charnesha Collier
Assoc. Director of Apprenticeships
River City Community Development Center
Charnesha Collier is a resident of the West side of Chicago and a community worker. She is the Associate Director of Apprenticeships at River City Community Center. She is the Head Crew Leader and Overseer of Harambee Citybuilders. At Harambee we provide youth ages 12-18 years old mentoring and job training skills while doing a service of tuckpointing to our elderly homeowners in the community. She believes that connecting with youth through relationships and hard work is her passion. Charnesha enjoys working in the community to support the youth and their families.
1:25 p.m. Concurrent Session #150
GRANT WRITING BOOTCAMP
This session will provide you with a brief overview of the grant writing process, giving you the basic training you need to write grants that are clear, concise, and responsive to your prospective funders. Strategies for addressing each major section of a typical grant proposal will be discussed.
Sandra Christensen
Grant Writer & Adult Educator
Sandra Christensen, a graduate of Concordia University Wisconsin, is a grant writer and adult educator based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her extensive work in the nonprofit sector—primarily in health care and human services—includes experience as a direct care worker, a nursing home administrator, and the executive director of an agency serving adults with cognitive disabilities. As a consultant over the past 25 years, Sandra has worked with nonprofits in the areas of program development, staff training, organizational assessment, and grant research/writing. The majority of Sandra’s current clients are small-to-mid-sized nonprofit organizations in the Milwaukee area, where she also teaches business writing, grant research, and grant writing.
Sandra J. & Associates
1:25 p.m. Concurrent Session #133
CREATING A CULTURE OF GENEROSITY
Generosity happened on a grand scale during the pandemic. On the other side of the crisis, how do we keep generosity growing and lead our ministry supporters to a deeper connection for growth and sustainability.
Mike Ward
Pastor
Rev. Mike Ward, CFRE served for 12 years as VP of Advancement at NovusWay Ministries in the southeast U.S. where he led capital campaigns that raised over $13 million for the camps in addition to annual fund and planned giving work. Mike is a partner with GSB where he works with camps, schools, church institutions, and congregations in fundraising, strategic planning, and board development. He works across denominations. His past board service includes the ELCA Youth Ministry Network and ELCA National Church Council. He lives in western North Carolina with his wife, Hannah. His two grown children are in college and graduate school. Mike is a beekeeper in his free time.
GSB Consulting Services
2:35 p.m. Concurrent Session #135
THE DIGITAL PUB: TAKING THEOLOGY TO PUBLIC SPACES
How does a Bible study meeting in a bar with a dozen people turn into an online ministry reaching hundreds of people? All it takes is a pandemic that closes bars and a willingness to pivot. Hear how St. Mark Ministries in Green Bay, WI, turned Pub Theology into the Digital Pub and is reaching more people than you can fit in any bar, and even most worship spaces, and why they believe the Church needs to bring theology to public spaces. Then, get a game plan for finding your public space and bringing timeless truth to a world that needs it.
Brandon Steenbock
Family Minister
Brandon Steenbock serves as Family Minister at St. Mark Ministries in the Green Bay, WI area. Brandon is passionate for helping families be spiritually strong and relationally resilient. He loves studying and teaching theology, hearing and telling good stories, and crafting excellent coffee. A native of Seattle, he spent the first decade of his ministry in Southern Minnesota, and now lives in Green Bay with his wife, Nikki, and two teenage sons. Brandon holds a B.S. in Ministry from Martin Luther College, an M.A. in Family Life Education from Concordia University-St. Paul, an M.A. in Theological Studies from Martin Luther College, and is in the Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
St. Mark Ministries
2:35 p.m. Concurrent Session #136
MENTAL HEALTH IN MINISTRY
Through personal testimony, Andy and Ari, share what it means to live with mental health issues as pastors and strategies for dialogue within the congregational setting. During the session, they will identify generational gaps in understanding mental health, appropriate and inappropriate ways to discuss mental health, faithful witness to God's healing power, and helpful resources concerning mental health for congregations. There will be an opportunity for discussion following the presentation.
D. Andrew Fetters
Pastor
D. Andrew Fetters (Andy) has served as the pastor of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Waukesha, WI, since 2012. In 2014, Andy was diagnosed with moderate depression and anxiety. He is actively in therapy and openly sharing his diagnosis and vulnerability is a powerful ministry opportunity. He is a graduate of Cleveland State University with degrees in philosophy and religious studies and holds a Master's of Divinity from Trinity Lutheran Seminary. Born and raised in Columbus, OH, Andy enjoys Ohio State football, all Cleveland sports teams, and is an avid motorcycle enthusiast and homebrewer. He is married to Becky Fetters, and they have 3 children together.
St. Mark's Lutheran Church
Ari Mattson
Pastor
Ari Mattson is pastor of Martin Luther Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Milwaukee, where he has served for 10 years. Ari was diagnosed with depression in college and with generalized anxiety in his thirties. With therapy and medication, he is thriving and sees mental illness as a strength for ministry. He is a graduate of Pacific Lutheran University and Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia. A native of Eugene, OR, he has lived in Waukesha with his spouse and two awesome children since 2007. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, reading, and video games.
Martin Luther Lutheran Church
Thursday, October 14, 2021
8:35 a.m. Keynote
CELEBRATING THE DIVERSITY OF GOD'S PEOPLE
This panel discussion will bring messages of hope with tangible tools for loving our neighbor and growing racial and ethnic diversity in Lutheran churches and other ministries. Panelists will highlight approaches for increasing diversity in distinct Christ-centered contexts, including schools, institutions of higher education, and the church.
Dr. Joan Prince, Discussion Moderator
Vice Chair - Siebert Lutheran Foundation
Retired Vice Chancellor - UW-Milwaukee
Dr. Prince has been a member of St. Philip's Lutheran Church (WELS) in Milwaukee, Wis. since childhood. She currently serves on the Siebert Lutheran Foundation board where she holds the Vice-Chair and Secretary positions.
In her professional career, Dr. Prince served as Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, appointed in 2000. She was the chief administrator for the Division of Global Inclusion and Engagement with responsibilities as the Chief Inclusion Officer. Her discipline focus was as a Clinical Assoc. Professor in Medical Laboratory Sciences, with a specialty in Hematology and Flow Cytometry.
A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Prince was the first African American recipient of a bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology and master’s in clinical laboratory sciences, with a specialty in Hematology and Flow Cytometry from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. She also holds a doctorate degree in Urban Education, with a specialty in Medical Science Education from UWM.
On September 12, 2012, Dr. Joan M. Prince was nominated by President Barack Obama to the key administrative post of Alternate Representative to the 67th General Assembly of the United Nations, with the honorary rank of Ambassador. This diplomatic position also maintained an appointment as a Senior Advisor to the State Department and Public Delegate.
She is a former member of many civic boards, at the local, regional, and national levels, and has been recognized as one of the 10 Most Powerful Women in Milwaukee in Milwaukee Magazine, and a Power Broker by the Milwaukee Business Journal.
Matthew Gonzalez
Pastor & Co-founder of Lutherans for Racial Justice
The Rev. Matthew Ryan González is an LCMS pastor of Puerto Rican descent, raised in the Church in the NYC metro area. He has been serving in the Bronx, NY for over ten years, specifically serving the Black and Brown communities that make up the Bronx’s neighborhoods and locale. Alongside his passion for pastoral ministry, Matt is a ‘die-hard’ New York Yankees fan and avid sports zealot. More importantly, he is doing his best to be a loving husband and father while serving faithfully in his calling as an under-shepherd of the Good Shepherd.
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, The Bronx, NY
The Lutheran Church & School of Our Saviour, The Bronx, NY
James Hein
Pastor
Pastor James Hein is Lead Pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI. He began ministry in 2008 in Rochester, MN. After seven years of learning about ministry to Millennials, he and his wife Adrian moved to Milwaukee to focus on urban gospel work – embracing ethnic diversity, exploring modern technology in church, and navigating the post-Christian cultural climate.
St. Marcus Lutheran Church & School
Dr. Michele Hancock
Vice-President of College Culture for Inclusion
Dr. Michele Hancock has served successfully in a myriad of educational roles throughout her career in public education securing national and local recognition as an innovative change leader. From PreK-8 classroom teacher to formal teacher leadership (mentor teacher, co-facilitator of teacher run school, literacy and curriculum specialist) and administrative roles (secondary school vice-principal, elementary principal, chief of professional development & diversity, chief of human capital initiatives, school superintendent). She has led district leaders, school leaders, faculties and staff, parents, and students to collaborate to transform schools by mapping common grounds on effective engagement between all stakeholders. For the last seven years, Dr. Hancock has worked in higher education at Carthage College. Currently, she was recently promoted to Vice President of College Culture for Inclusion after serving in multiple roles as special assistant to the college provost, director of equity and inclusion, professor of practice in the education department at the college. She is the founder of the Urban Teacher Preparation Program and continues to envision possibilities of endless learning and improvement through appealing to shared aspirations. Her additional commitments are co-author of Black History 365 textbooks, executive director of K-12 curriculum for Black History 365, and member of the Education Advisory Board for the William and Sheila Konar Foundation.
Carthage College
9:55 a.m. Concurrent Session #141
BUILDING THE LEADERSHIP CAPACITY OF YOUR MINISTRY
“So goes the board…so goes the organization” is a powerful maxim reminding us that strong and healthy boards lead to greater sustainability and mission impact. This session explores how to develop board culture, attitudes and leadership capacity to increasingly strengthen the overall organization.
Brian Becker
Founder
Brian is founder of Leaders Edge, LLC, a boutique consulting firm focusing primarily on helping nonprofits develop high-performing teams, become more sustainable and deliver high impact. He also provides leadership coaching to executives and aspiring leaders.
Since 1991, Brian has consulted and provided training to organizations like the American Association of Physician Leadership, Amgen Pharmaceuticals, American Veterinary Medical Association, the Association of Lutheran Development Executives, Concordia University Chicago, Concordia University Texas, FiveTwo, Housing Forward, Maywood Fine Arts and Rotary International. His work primarily focusses on strategic planning and board development with nonprofits, as well as building and improving a culture of trust and high performance through leadership development.
Brian has developed training curriculum in various areas of leadership and is a doubly-certified executive coach through the Co-Active Training Institute and the International Coach Federation.
Brian is a frequent workshop leader and conference speaker, having delivered over 1,000 presentations in the last 25 years throughout the United States, as well as Canada, England, Singapore, the Middle East, and South America.
Brian is also co-author, along with is son Jeff, of Tender Lions: Building the Vital Relationship Between Father and Son. The book provides information and inspiration for dads (and moms) who want to develop strong emotional, relational and spiritual bonds with their sons (and daughters).
In addition, Brian has served on numerous nonprofit boards. He understands from the board member’s perspective the importance of: a) good governance, b) relentless recruitment of qualified board members, c) the vital relationship between the board chair and the executive director, d) how to plan and execute engaging meetings and e) generosity of time, expertise and money.
He is also a husband, dad, and grandfather, and a life-long Lutheran.
Leaders Edge, LLC
9:55 a.m. Concurrent Session #142
HEALTHY CHURCHES HAVE HEALTHY CONFLICT:
NO CONFLICT = NO REAL LOVE
What do conflict and love have to do with each other? How do we handle conflict as a form of healthy expression of love for each other? Join this informative and interactive session to understand the deep connection between these two seemingly opposing thoughts. You will learn why we avoid conflict, especially in the church, understand your approach to conflict and leave with an action plan on how to approach conflict in a healthy and loving way with those whom you serve whether inside or outside the walls of the church.
Lori Lorig
Passionate Leader & Member Ministry Coord.
Lori Lorig is the founder of Faith Unleashed Consulting. She is passionate about helping churches to engage, equip and empower people for meaningful ministry.
Lori has been coordinating volunteers for well over three decades. She served as the Coordinator of Member Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Crete, IL where she along with an amazing team built a sustainable system to consistently engage members in serving based on their unique gifts, passions and life experiences.
Lori has a heart for equipping leaders to be more impactful in their unique settings. She has spoken numerous conferences such as WELS Leadership, WELS Women’s Ministry Conference, the GROW conference, Siebert and Stimac Foundations conferences, and been a presenter for Crosstrain Pastor’s Coaching, Luther Prep High School and Illinois Lutheran Junior High and High School. She hosts a Member Ministry Coordinator Network event to support and encourage coordinators in their role. She hosts Wednesday Webinars to provide ongoing training for church leaders.
Faith Unleashed Consulting
Cindy Jansen
Executive Coach
Cindy Jansen is a leadership facilitator and executive coach with Living As A Leader, a Brookfield-based leadership firm. Cindy attended Lutheran schooling through 12th grade. She graduated from UW-Whitewater with a degree in Sociology and then continued to Cardinal Stritch University where she received her MBA. Cindy worked in the field of human resources for 18 years before she transitioned to solely working with leaders to help them build their skills and impact the lives of the people whom they serve. Cindy attends Christ Lutheran in Big Bend, WI where she is an active member of her church, school and Personal Member Ministry team. Cindy lives in Mukwonago with her husband, Travis and children: Colton (13), Evangeline (11) and Boyd (9).
Faith Unleashed Consulting
9:55 a.m. Concurrent Session #143
BETTER TOGETHER IN COMMUNITY:
AN INTRODUCTION TO THE HOPEFUL NEIGHBORHOOD PROJECT
What if every Christian saw their neighborhood as a place where God intentionally planted them? How would that change how we view, interact with and serve our neighbors? We’ve all been blessed by God with real, important gifts, and so have our neighbors. We can use our gifts to make a real difference where we are, among real people we know and see every day.
Jennifer Prophete
Director of Community Development
Jennifer Prophete serves as the Director of Community Development for Lutheran Hour Ministries and the Hopeful Neighborhood Project. Prior to her time with Lutheran Hour Ministries Jennifer served as the Regional Director for Compass Educational Program’s in St. Louis, Manager of Short-term Missions for the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, and a Kindergarten and Special Education teacher at Grace Christian Academy in Chicago, IL. Through all of these roles Jennifer has had the opportunity to help children and adults discover their gifts and how to use them to serve others. Jennifer lives in the St. Louis area with her husband and 3 children.
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Sara Johnson
Neighborhood Project Coach
Sara Johnson resides in St Louis, MO where she works as a Neighborhood Project Coach for The Hopeful Neighborhood Project. Raised in Metro Detroit, Sara’s heart is for Rust Belt cities and the unique challenges and opportunities they’re facing in this Urban Millennium. Sara is always looking for ways to partner in God’s reconciling work in her context and has dedicated her life to working at the intersection of faith and neighborhoods. You can find Sara connecting with neighbors at the Mud House, working in the community garden, or volunteering on the local campaign trail.
Lutheran Hour Ministries
11:05 a.m. Concurrent Session #145
STRENGTHS BASED LEADERSHIP AND TEAM DEVELOPMENT
Christian strengths-based leadership and team development are vital for every individual and group. The StrengthsFirst program focuses on individual strengths, the need to partner with others, and how it all fits together to optimize all people and situations.
Dr. Scott Gostchock
President of Talent Development
Dr. Scott Gostchock, president of talent development for Partner2Learn, has served Christian urban education as a teacher/administrator. He teaches for a number of colleges in training leaders for urban education, executive leadership, and much more. His specialties are executive leadership training/coaching, strategic planning, CliftonStrengths, team building, communications, and numerous other areas.
Partner2Learn
Tiffany Weigand
Co-founder and Talent Developer
In her 20 years of marketing, branding and consulting, Tiffany has served regional and global organizations in numerous industries, including churches, schools, manufacturing, small business, and non-profit. Tiffany’s Gallup Certification and experience presenting to senior leaders and company owners with a focus on real-life solutions has added tremendous value to her clients.
Partner2Learn
11:05 a.m. Concurrent Session #146
THE SPIRITUAL CONVERSATIONS IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
The pandemic served as the impetus for the increased use of technology for spiritual conversations. But even prior to last year, many were finding different ways to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This session will explore how these spiritual conversations are evolving in the post-pandemic world and offer practical tips for contextualizing the message.
Rev. Dr. Anthony Cook
Vice President, Global Ministries
Rev. Dr. Anthony (Tony) Cook is the vice president, Global Ministries for Lutheran Hour Ministries (LHM). He provides leadership and operational management of the direction, strategies, and initiatives for the global ministries division. Cook brings 22 years of ministry experience to LHM, including 17 years in curriculum design and development, distance curricula, educational technology, and leadership. His background includes serving as a parish pastor and consulting numerous Christian entities on curriculum design and development, distance learning, internet technologies, and sharing the Gospel through various forms of multimedia.
Cook served as Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, specializing in education, pastoral theology plus leadership, and postmodern studies, including courses on preaching to postmoderns, post-liberal theology, and emerging Christianity. He also served as Concordia Seminary's Director of Curriculum Design and Development. Cook received his Ph. D. in Curriculum and Instruction from St. Louis University and an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.
Lutheran Hour Ministries
11:05 a.m. Concurrent Session #147
IMPROVING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN A POST-PANDEMIC WORLD
Many children and teens are experiencing an unprecedented mental health crisis. The pandemic has exposed this crisis as one of our society’s most profound vulnerabilities. Mental health providers are struggling to meet the increased demand and parents and caregivers are overwhelmed. How can the Lutheran community respond to this crisis in Christ-centered contexts?
Dr. Ashley Schoof
SE Wisconsin Clinical Director
Christian Family Solutions
Dr. Schoof joined Christian Family Solutions in 2018. She earned her BS in psychology at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, WI. She completed her graduate training and earned her MS and PsyD in Clinical Psychology from the Wisconsin School of Professional Psychology in Milwaukee, WI. Dr. Schoof completed her internship at Lakeview Specialty Hospital and Rehab in Waterford, WI, which is a residential, neurobehavioral rehabilitation facility.
Dr. Schoof uses a cognitive-behavioral and family systems framework during treatment and is also trained in Applied Behavior Analysis and Play Therapy. Her areas of expertise are foster care and adoption, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, OCD, brain injury, learning disabilities, other childhood disorders, and group and individual therapy.
Dr. Schoof has also presented nationally on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and locally on topics regarding Autistic Disorder.
Lisa Hecht
Psychotherapist
Bio coming soon!
Lutheran Counseling & Family Services of SE Wisconsin
Upcoming Events
Tue, May 14Brookfield Conference CenterMay 14, 2024, 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM CDTBrookfield Conference Center, 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, USAMay 14, 2024, 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM CDTBrookfield Conference Center, 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, USAWe look forward to gathering with Lutheran pastors and lay leaders, ministry and youth leaders, volunteers, and people representing Lutheran-affiliated nonprofits and schools. Registration closes on April 30th, 2024!
Tue, Oct 24Brookfield Conference CenterOct 24, 2023, 8:15 AM – 4:00 PM CDTBrookfield Conference Center, 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, USA
Thu, Dec 01MilwaukeeDec 01, 2022, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PMMilwaukee, 3300 N Doctor M.L.K. Jr Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53212, USA
Thu, Oct 27Brookfield Conference CenterOct 27, 2022, 8:15 AM – 4:30 PM CDTBrookfield Conference Center, 325 S Moorland Rd, Brookfield, WI 53005, USA
Wed, Oct 13Online EventOct 13, 2021, 12:00 PM CDT – Oct 14, 2021, 12:30 PM CDTOnline Event
