Preston Perry
Author, Teacher
Elizabeth Woodson
Author, Theologian
Shelly Melia
Professor, Counselor
Stephen Bargatze
Magician
Isaac Pittman
Worship Leader
Chuck Peters and Jana Magruder
Hosts
Program Main Speakers
Preston Perry
Author, Teacher
Elizabeth Woodson
Author, Theologian
Shelly Melia
Professor, Counselor
Stephen Bargatze
Magician
Isaac Pittman
Worship Leader
Chuck Peters and Jana Magruder
Hosts
Kelley Pekarek is the Kids Director at North Jax Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where she lives with her husband and three children. She is passionate about equipping families to build faith at home and believes that the church and home work best when they work together. Kelley is committed to creating environments where kids can build lasting connections with each other and with trusted leaders as they learn to love God and serve others. She also has a deep love for her KidMin volunteers and works to foster a strong, encouraging community that helps them thrive in ministry.
Keiron Miles currently serves as the middle school minister at Forest Hills Baptist in Nashville, Tennessee. Keiron has written for Lifeway’s Hyfi curriculum and served as a contributor for Explore the Bible, VBS, and Hyfi. He has also been featured on both the Lifeway Student Ministry podcast and the Lifeway Kids podcast. He has also served as an editor for middle school resources by FEED and One Hope. In his free time, Keiron enjoys being an emcee for events for Tennessee Baptists, Heart of America, and Yamaha’s Bands of America Grand National Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium! Hailing from Georgia, Keiron earned his undergrad from Valdosta State University. He also holds both a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry and Master of Arts in Worship Leadership from Dallas Baptist University.
Kate Downing has served in Student Ministry for the last 15 years at churches in Virginia, Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. She currently serves as the Student Director at BattleCreek Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma and works alongside several ministries helping to teach and equip the next generation of ministers. Through teaching and writing, she loves to help others come to know Jesus and fall in love with God’s Word.
Dr. Karen Kennemur is the Professor of Children’s Ministry at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is also the Preschool, Children’s, and Family ministry associate for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.
With over 23 years of Student Ministry experience, Justin Holcomb truly loves journeying with students. He currently serves as the Student Pastor at Champion Forest in Houston, Texas. He is passionate about seeing students fall in love with King Jesus, UGA Football, and his family. Justin and his wife Lisa met while working Crosspoint camps and have 4 kids, Addyson (freshman in college), Riley (sophomore), Brady (freshman), and Gentry (5th grade).
Jeremy Echols currently serves as the Family Pastor at The Glade Church just outside of Nashville, TN. Jeremy’s ministry calling is to make the message of Christ clear in the lives of kids and to pour into leaders who are pouring into families. Before coming to The Glade Church, Jeremy’s ministry experience includes volunteering in his local church with kids ministry, young married couples, and men’s groups while he was a leader with Lifeway’s CentriKid Camps for almost two decades. Jeremy enjoys reading and going out on the lake with his family to kayak. Jeremy & Emily have been married almost 24 years and they have a daughter Madison who loves track and cheerleading.
Jeremy Carroll is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Hyfi, VBS, and Kids Discipleship. He has a Bachelor’s from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master’s in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Having the opportunity to create and provide ministry leaders with high quality resources is Jeremy’s passion. In his free time, Jeremy loves spending time with his family and learning new tech skills. A Middle Tennessee native, he and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Isaac Kierstead has worked in kids and preschool ministry for over 15 years in a number of roles including kid’s pastor, content writer, graphic designer, and local church volunteer. His passion is making the gospel loud and clear in a fun and engaging way through media, games, and fun. Isaac lives in Columbia, TN with his wife Rachel and their daughter Elora.
Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher, theologian, author, and the founder of The Woodson Institute, an organization that equips believers to understand and grow in their Christian faith. She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life. With over a decade of experience in church ministry, Elizabeth is passionate about creating pathways for discipleship and theological education in the local church. Elizabeth is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Education. She is a contributing author for World on Fire and the author of the book Embrace Your Life: How To Find Joy When The Life You Have Is Not The Life You Hoped For and From Beginning To Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture. She is also the host of the podcast “Starting Place,” where she talks about what Christians believe and how those beliefs connect to our everyday lives.
With nearly four decades of ministry and teaching experience, Dr. Donna Peavey is a distinguished leader in the fields of children’s ministry and spiritual formation. Her career reflects a deep and enduring commitment to nurturing the spiritual lives of children and equipping those who guide them. As a professor at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS), a ministry consultant, and a Bible study teacher, Dr. Peavey brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight to every role she undertakes. Her work as a consultant, writer, and frequent conference speaker has earned her widespread respect and recognition across ministry and educational communities. Dr. Peavey is especially passionate about empowering parents and teachers with the tools they need to support the holistic development of children. One of her greatest joys is helping others design or refine strategies for fostering spiritual growth in young lives. Her unwavering dedication to children and families, combined with her extensive expertise, has made her a trusted and influential voice in the realm of children’s ministry.
Delanee Williams serves as a Kids Specialist with Lifeway Christian Resources. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over 25 years in churches in Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Currently, she enjoys teaching preschoolers and children at her church in the Nashville area. Delanee is passionate about developing, equipping, and encouraging kids ministry leaders.
Danielle Bell has over 29 years of KidMin experience and possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families with the message of Jesus Christ. Danielle is a well-respected leader and trainer in the area of Children’s ministry, having spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences. She has written curriculum for Gospel Project Kids and Hyfi. She has also written the following resources: “God’s Brave Girl” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), and the Younger KidMin chapter for Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook (Outreach).
Daniel Kinkade is the Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life: Students. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biblical and Theological Studies with a concentration in Youth and Family Ministry from Boyce College. Over the past two decades of being involved in student ministry, Daniel has had a front-row seat to watching students grow and live out their faith. He loves working at Lifeway because it brings his three passions together: student ministry, content creation, and leadership. In his free time, Daniel enjoys sports, coaching, spending time with his family, and relaxing with a Mountain Dew. (Which may or may not be an obsession.) Daniel lives in Mount Juliet, Tennessee with his wife, two children, and dog.
Crystal Mazzuca is the Kids Content Editor and Resource Specialist for Hyfi. Crystal is a graduate of Regent University with a Master’s in Christian Education Administration and has been working in NextGen ministry for over 25 years. She loves witnessing the power of the gospel in kids who grow into adults that genuinely love Him. In her free time, she loves to read (between 80 and 100 books every year—WILD!), spend time with her sons, eat good food, and play board games. Crystal resides in Olympia, WA with one of her three sons at home and her two cats.
Chris Brown is the Brand Owner and Content Editor for Explore the Bible Students. He has his Bachelor’s in Pastoral Leadership and loves getting to be part of God’s work at Lifeway. Creating gospel-centered, engaging resources to help students is a huge passion, and he loves getting to be part of growing the next generation of the church. Some of his spare-time activities include exploring the city and trying new restaurants with his wife and friends, reading thriller novels, watching movies, or enjoying a donut (the best dessert of all). A native New Yorker, Chris now lives in Charlotte, North Carolina with his wife.
Chad Higgins resides in Stillwater, Oklahoma, with his wife of 16 years, Martha, and their daughter, Malia. With over two decades of ministry experience, Chad has served the Church in Oklahoma as a youth pastor, small group pastor, and campus pastor. He is the co-founder of Youth Ministry Booster and now leads as the Senior Manager of Church Equipping at Lifeway. Passionate about empowering healthy ministers to thrive in their calling, Chad is dedicated to strengthening the Church for generations to come. When he’s not equipping leaders, he enjoys savoring a good cup of coffee, hitting the golf course, or strategizing his next chess move.
Carley Ellis serves as Programming Director for the Embrace Special Needs Ministry at Brentwood Baptist Church. With a background in psychology and applied behavior analysis and more than a decade of working with non-profits that support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, Carly’s passion is to equip churches to intentionally include families impacted by disability in every aspect of church life. Whether helping a parent feel seen for the first time, training volunteers in inclusive practices, or designing programs that remove barriers to engagement, Carley’s approach is gospel-rooted, relational, and deeply practical. She regularly consults with churches and organizations looking to strengthen their disability ministry through curriculum support, care strategies, and adaptive policies. Carley believes no family should feel like the church isn’t for them—and she’s committed to helping churches take the first, faithful steps toward building spaces of true belonging.
Britton Bishop’s experience as a youth pastor has him in the everyday trenches of young people’s lives: the good, the bad, and the messy. That’s why, more than ever, Britton has a passion for youth and young adults to live up-close to God and be on mission for Him. He desires that young Christians everywhere would actively live out the James 1 call to be “not only hearers, but doers, of God’s Word.” He and his wife Hope reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma where he is the Youth Pastor at Church on the Move.
Brett Buckland is the Manager of Student Ongoing Publishing at Lifeway. He has his Bachelor’s in Religion and Master’s in Christian Education. As a former student pastor, Brett loves working alongside like-minded people to create resources and content to help teenagers engage in and embrace God’s Word. When he’s not working, Brett is spending time with his family playing board and card games (which can get a little competitive), or grilling, running, and listening to audiobooks. He lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee with his wife and their eight children.
Amanda Mejias serves as the Lifeway Girls Brand Specialist and is the author of This Is Girls Ministry and co-author of the upcoming teen girls Bible study This Is Friendship. She is passionate about building relationships and creating resources that equip the local church. Amanda is also co-host of the podcast “His Glory, Her Good,” which was created to encourage and equip women in youth ministry. Amanda is wife to her wonderful husband, Brandon, and lives out her dream of being a working mom by the beach in Pensacola, FL
Alecia Bryant is the Brand Owner and Content Editor for The Gospel Project for Students. She has a Bachelor’s in English Education from University of Louisiana and is currently pursuing a Master’s of Theological Studies at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Over the last 20 years, Alecia’s had the honor of working with students in both ministry and public education. Getting to support church leaders as they disciple students is a privilege she doesn’t take lightly. In her spare time, Alecia loves traveling, listening to podcasts (anything from theology to true crime), and serving in worship and women’s events at her local church. She lives in West Monroe, Louisiana with her husband, two children, and one goofy golden retriever.
Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway NextGen, overseeing Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Student publishing. He is the co-author of Flip The Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, and host of the ETCH NextGen Ministry Podcast. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck and his wife Cris have served in Preschool, Kids, Student, and Groups Ministry for many years in New Jersey, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Before joining Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer, and on-screen host. Chuck is driven by a passion to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway NextGen. She is a graduate of Baylor University with a background in education, publishing, and ministry. As host of the podcast, Kids Ministry Calling, Jana loves championing and equipping leaders and families in the local church. She is the author of Nothing Less and Kids Ministry that Nourishes as well as the co-author of Every Age, Every Stage and Flip the Script. Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three kids.
Mary Wiley is a Bible teacher, an author, and the associate publisher at B&H Publishing. She holds a master’s in theological studies and is currently pursuing a PhD. Mary is the author of Discovering the Bible: A Kid’s Guide to Reading and Understanding God’s Word, Our Highest Good: 100 Days of Knowing and Loving God, and Everyday Theology: Why You Believe Matters, with versions for women and for teens. She and her husband, John, have three children and live in the Nashville area.
Sarah Siegand has been helping equip families and churches to protect kids online for over 10 years through her organization, Parents Who Fight. As a mom of two young adults, she knows firsthand how challenging it is to disciple kids through the minefield of tech temptations—and she knows that church community makes all the difference in order to do it well. An author and online safety educator, Sarah is passionate about creating practical resources to equip Christian leaders on these issues. She and her husband Jesse were featured in the documentary Childhood 2.0 and have lived in Nashville for 23 years.
Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway NextGen, overseeing Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Student publishing. He is the co-author of Flip The Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, and host of the ETCH NextGen Ministry Podcast. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck and his wife Cris have served in Preschool, Kids, Student, and Groups Ministry for many years in New Jersey, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Before joining Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer, and on-screen host. Chuck is driven by a passion to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway NextGen. She is a graduate of Baylor University with a background in education, publishing, and ministry. As host of the podcast, Kids Ministry Calling, Jana loves championing and equipping leaders and families in the local church. She is the author of Nothing Less and Kids Ministry that Nourishes as well as the co-author of Every Age, Every Stage and Flip the Script. Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three kids.
Isaac Pittman has been writing music and singing songs since he was a little boy. Music has not only been an outlet for him to create and utilize his gifting, but it has created a space for him to heal, inspire, encourage, and find purpose within the pain. Isaac began leading worship when he was 18 and has toured and been doing music full time since moving to Nashville in 2012.
Stephen Bargatze has been a professional magician for over 40 years. He is an International Brotherhood of Magicians Champion; a 2-time Comedy Award winner; and International Brotherhood of Magicians-First Place Close Up Award Winner. He has worked in a variety of venues, theatres, comedy clubs, churches, and corporate functions of all types. But even with all the awards and accolades and success he is most recently known as “Nate’s Dad.” His son, comedian Nate Bargatze, has had unprecedented success on Network Television, Netflix, and sold-out shows. It’s an added bonus for Nate’s fans when Stephen appears, as he often does, as his opening act! Stephen’s genuine personality and keen comedic timing endears him to audiences everywhere. He masterfully creates a strong relationship with his audiences as they are no longer merely spectators but find themselves caught up in the comedy and uniqueness of Stephen’s very own brand of clean comedy and magic.
Dr. Shelly Melia is Professor of Childhood Education at Dallas Baptist University where she serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with a special research interest in grief and resilience. Prior to her time at DBU she served as a children’s minister and family minister for over 25 years in churches in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas. As a highly respected voice in children’s ministry, Dr. Melia is an author and frequent presenter at national conferences, state conventions, and churches. She is the editor of a new B&H Academic book entitled Children and Salvation: Biblical, Theological, and Practical Considerations (September 2025) and is currently co-authoring a book with Shane Pruitt to be released in 2026 called Reaching Generation Alpha: A Ministry Guide for Discipling the Church Beyond the Screen.
Elizabeth Woodson is a Bible teacher, theologian, author, and the founder of The Woodson Institute, an organization that equips believers to understand and grow in their Christian faith. She loves helping people internalize their faith and connect it practically to everyday life. With over a decade of experience in church ministry, Elizabeth is passionate about creating pathways for discipleship and theological education in the local church. Elizabeth is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Christian Education. She is a contributing author for World on Fire and the author of the book Embrace Your Life: How To Find Joy When The Life You Have Is Not The Life You Hoped For and From Beginning To Forever: A Study of the Grand Narrative of Scripture. She is also the host of the podcast Starting Place, where she talks about what Christians believe and how those beliefs connect to our everyday lives.
Preston Perry is an author, podcaster, poet, performance artist, teacher, and apologist from Chicago. By the grace of God, Preston has become a formidable communicator of the gospel. His love for people inspires him to pair transparency and vulnerability with his creativity in a way that promotes freedom. Preston’s writing and teaching has been featured on ministry platforms like The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, the Poets in Autumn Tour, and Legacy Disciple. In 2017, Preston founded Bold TV and Bold Apparel as avenues to engage the public in theological discourse. Currently, he co-hosts the With the Perrys podcast with his wife Jackie Hill Perry. Though Preston shares God’s desires for humanity publicly, he considers his family his primary ministry. Preston resides in Atlanta with his wife Jackie and their three beautiful daughters and son.
Zac currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7 & ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife Karen and two wild boys Isaiah & Gideon. For 19+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.
Delanee Williams serves as a Kids Ministry Specialist with Lifeway. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years in churches in Texas, Tennessee, and Wyoming. Currently, she enjoys teaching preschoolers and children at her church in the Nashville area. Delanee is passionate about developing, equipping, and encouraging kids ministry leaders.
Melita Thomas is the Team Leader for Kids Ministry Training and Events at Lifeway. She also serves as the Vacation Bible School Specialist. Melita holds a master’s degree in Christian education and is a passionate advocate for children’s ministry in the local church. Melita enjoys teaching children at her church, spending time with her two wonderful nephews, and cheering on the Nashville Predators hockey team.
Rhonda VanCleave is the Publishing Team Leader for Lifeway’s VBS. Rhonda served as a freelance writer for Lifeway Kids for 15 years prior to coming to Lifeway full-time in 2006 as VBS team leader. Rhonda has taught Bible study for all ages of kids, directed her church’s VBS, and filled a variety of roles as a pastor’s wife. She is a graduate of Clear Creek Baptist Bible College and Lincoln Memorial University. Rhonda’s greatest joy is watching kids connect with God’s Word and get excited about knowing more. Rhonda and her husband, Richard, are the happy grandparents of five amazing grandkids.
Klista Storts has served in kids ministry since 1994 and has trained thousands of kids leaders across the nation in best teaching methods. She has a passion for sharing the gospel with kids and their families. Klista serves as a Content Editor with Lifeway Kids with a focus on Vacation Bible School Resources.
Kayla Stevens is the Hyfi Team Leader for Lifeway Kids and a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has contributed to several books and Bible studies including What about Kids Ministry? Practical Answers to Questions about Kids Ministry (2018), What is a Christian? Answers for Kids (2018), and Behold Your King (2020). She has been serving in Kids Ministry for over 16 years and has a deep passion for empowering children to own their faith and grow deeper in the joy of Jesus.
Tim Pollard is the Publishing Team Leader for Explore the Bible resources at Lifeway. Tim has lived in Mount Juliet, TN, for 25 years with his family and two dogs. Tim teaches children girls in various ministries in his local church and loves helping boys and girls dig deep into God’s Word.
Amanda Mejias serves at Lifeway as the specialist for girls ministry and women who lead in student ministry. She is passionate about equipping church leaders as they minister to and disciple students. She is living the dream, especially with her husband and two small kids by her side. Amanda is always down to hear a cheesy joke, grab coffee, and talk about golden retrievers.
Crystal Mazzuca is the Hyfi Kids Content Editor and Resource Specialist at Lifeway. With more than 25 years of experience in NextGen ministry, she is passionate about equipping the Church to disciple kids, students, and families. Crystal resides in Olympia, WA, with her three sons, two cats, and way too many video games.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway NextGen. With a background in education, publishing, and ministry, she loves championing the local church to help families disciple kids of all ages. She is the author of “Nothing Less” and “Kids Ministry that Nourishes” as well as the co-author of “Every Age, Every Stage,” and “Flip the Script.” Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three kids.
Isaac Kierstead is the Digital Content Specialist for Hyfi Kids and Preschool. Isaac loves creating experiences for kids and preschoolers to engage in fun, build relationships, and encounter the gospel. After serving in camp, VBS, and the local church, Isaac finds his passion in resourcing leaders and families to disciple children. Isaac lives in Columbia, TN with his amazing wife, Rachel.
Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ongoing Bible Studies, Nashville, TN, and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church, co-author of Every Age, Every Stage: Teaching God’s Truth at Home and Church, and co-editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife, Janetta, is the Director of Preschool Ministries. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives and spoiling their six grandchildren.
Jeremy Carroll is the Lifeway Kids Ministry Publishing Manager for Hyfi, VBS, and Kids Discipleship resources. Before coming to Lifeway, he served in a variety of church staff positions. He currently serves each week as a volunteer in the kids ministry of his church. Jeremy earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Brett serves as the Manager for Student Ongoing Publishing at Lifeway. He is a former student pastor and with more than 10 years of local church ministry experience. He loves serving at his church by teaching middle and high school students. Brett lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and their seven children, and you can usually find them at a local park or a Chick-fil-A.
Alecia serves at Lifeway as the Brand Owner and Content Editor for The Gospel Project for Students. As a former high school English teacher, Alecia has almost 20 years of experience working with teenagers both in the classroom and in the local church. She loves teaching God’s Word and is passionate about discipleship. Alecia lives in West Monroe, Louisiana, with her husband and their two children, and you can usually catch them at a Mexican restaurant eating chips and salsa.
Chris Brown currently serves as the Brand Owner & Content Editor for Explore the Bible: Students. Prior to working for Lifeway, he served in various roles within local churches, and has also served as a multisite director for a nonprofit that works with churches in need of interim student ministry programming/resourcing. He and his amazing wife, Mackenzie, reside in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Maggie Bertram serves as content editor for The Gospel Project for Kids. Previously, she served in the local church as a children’s minister. She is a graduate of Mississippi College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She loves helping children understand who God is and who He has made them to be, and she is passionate about working with families as they equip their kids to live in light of these Biblical truths.
Melissa Whitworth has served as the Preteen Director at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN for almost eight years. She built the ministry from the ground up and has seen God bless preteens in mighty ways! Melissa has been married to her husband, John, for over 25 years. They have two adult children and a daughter-in-law, and the most recent addition is their new bulldog puppy, Spike.
Chris Trent serves as the Next Gen Catalyst at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. Chris and his wife, Wendy, recently wrapped up 17 years at Johnson Ferry Baptist in Marietta, Georgia where Chris served as the Middle School and Student Pastor. They have a passion for pointing teenagers to Jesus and investing in leaders and parents who are impacting the next generation for Christ. As an “old guy” in youth ministry (now 30+ years), Chris co-hosted “The Longer Haul Podcast” (2018-2022), and now hosts “The Youth Ministry Podcast for Volunteers.” He and Wendy also co-authored “The Longer Haul: A Field Guide for Longevity” (YM360).
Stephanie Shivers is a community trauma trainer and social worker in Franklin, Tennessee. She is passionate about moving conversations from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” and dismantling the stigma of mental health, specifically within faith-based communities. Stephanie earned a master’s in counseling from Colorado Christian University in 2011. She then went on to specialize in a trauma intervention model called “Trust Based Relational Intervention” (TBRI) through the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development at Texas Christian University in 2016. Stephanie has trained hundreds of individuals and families in TBRI and trauma recognition and has seen firsthand the changes that can result in forming true connections with individuals with trauma.
Stephanie Rogers has worked as a teacher, director, and Preschool and Kids Minister for 17 years. She is passionate about children learning God’s Word and developing strong leaders. Stephanie has been married for 28 year and has 3 daughters.
Sandra Peoples serves the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention as their disability ministry consultant. She’s the author of “Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special Needs Family” and the upcoming release, “Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families.” She and her family live outside of Houston, Texas.
Dr. Donna Peavey is a seasoned minister and professor with 40 years of experience serving in academic settings, faith-based educational settings, and as a consultant/speaker. One of her greatest joys is consulting with churches desiring to develop or improve their plan for facilitating the spiritual formation of children. She is a highly regarded children’s ministry consultant, professor, writer, and a frequent conference speaker. Donna obtained a Bachelor of Science from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a Master of Religious Education, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Philosophy from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where she serves as Professor of Christian Education.
Dr. Shelly Melia serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry and Professor of Childhood Education at Dallas Baptist University. She oversees the Master of Arts in Family Ministry and Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry. Prior to coming to DBU she served as a children’s minister for over 25 years in churches in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and sees a few clients each month at Promises Community Ministries in Burleson, Texas.
Dr. Tracy McElhattan is the Director of Early Childhood Ministries at Blue Valley Church in Overland Park, Kansas. Prior to serving on staff, she was an Early Childhood Special Educator for many years in several different capacities. Tracy also writes curriculum for Lifeway’s Bible Studies for Life: Special Buddies and teacher helps for inclusive classroom strategies. Tracy is married to Adam and mom to Noah, Luke, & Abigail. She earned her Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Kansas. She is passionate about teaching preschoolers and equipping teachers to do the same!
20+ years ago Kathy was an Occupational Therapist who became a stay-at-home mom. She began to volunteer in Children’s Ministry at her church and eventually was asked to come on staff. Kathy has been in full-time ministry for more than 13 years. She recently transitioned out of Children’s Ministry and into Disability Ministry. Kathy considers it a joy and privilege to serve as Special Needs Minister at Prestonwood Baptist Church, North Campus.
Mark Jones is the Children’s Pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where he loves and teaches preschoolers, children, and their parents. Mark enjoys speaking all around the nation to train children’s ministry leaders and parents. He is the founder of Mr. Mark’s Classroom, an online leadership development and teacher-resource company which aims to help overwhelmed children’s ministry leaders get clarity, confidence, and the resources they need to win at reaching kids for Jesus, equipping kids with Bible skills, and teaching kids to serve others.
Kevin serves as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, Brand Manager for Lifeway’s The Gospel Project, and Dean of the School of Education and Social Work at Cedarville University.
Taylor and his wife, Jenai, live with their three children in Spring Hill, TN where Taylor serves as the Next Generation + Children’s Minister at The Church at Station Hill. When not at church, Taylor enjoys spending time with his family, Tennessee football, and being outdoors.
Kenny Jahng is Editor-in-Chief at ChurchTechToday.com. He’s also the founder of AIforChurchLeaders.com and ChurchGrowthWorkshops.com. He’s served as Church Online Pastor at one of Outreach Magazine’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Churches in America. Kenny is also a Certified StoryBrand Guide and CEO of Big Click Syndicate, a strategic marketing advisory firm helping Christian leaders build marketing engines that work. Kenny earned his M.Div. at Princeton Theological Seminary, MBA at Columbia Business School, and BA at Duke University. You can connect with @KennyJahng on TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Phil Hoyt is a graduate of the University of Memphis and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has been serving in Kid’s Ministry for over 40 years and has served as the Minister of Preschool at First Baptist Hendersonville for 25 years. Phil and his wife, Cyndie, live in their country home in Sumner County Tennessee. They have 3 children: Andy, Sarah (Garrett), and Melanie (Alex) and 3 grandsons: Bentley, Spencer, and Brandt. Phil and his family love spending time together, especially at a Gulf Shores yearly vacation.
Faith Grosshans is the Girls’ Minister at Woodridge Baptist Church in Kingwood, Texas and a Lifeway Women’s You Lead Trainer. Faith is a teacher, writer, and permanent learner. Faith has her master’s in Theological Studies and a certificate in Biblical Counseling. When she isn’t hanging out with her students, you can find her doting on her five nieces and four nephews, catching up on Survivor, or convincing her co-workers to take her to the “promised land” (aka Chick-fil-A). Serving the church has been the greatest honor of her life.
Amy-Jo Girardier loves how God uniquely makes people and generations for His glory. She is the Women’s Minister and previous Girls Minister for 19 years at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN. She is an author of three Lifeway Bible studies and loves writing resources for teen girls, and women. Amy-Jo loves getting to serve with her husband, Darrel, on staff and being with their two boys, Scout and Skylar. You can find her on Instagram @amyjogirardier.
Bill Emeott has served in Kid’s Ministry for over 30 years. He is currently serving as Minister to Children at Houston’s First Baptist Church. Before joining the staff at HFBC, Bill served for over 16 years as the Lead Kids Ministry Specialist for Lifeway. Bill has published multiple printed and electronic articles, and served as compiling editor for “What about Kids Ministry? Practical Answers to Questions about Kids Ministry.”
Jeremy Echols currently serves as the Director of Family Ministry at The Glade Church just outside of Nashville, TN. Jeremy’s ministry calling is to make the message of Christ clear in the lives of kids and to pour into leaders who are pouring into families. Before coming to The Glade Church, Jeremy volunteered in his local church with kids ministry, young married couples, and men’s groups while he was a leader with Lifeway’s CentriKid Camps for almost two decades. Jeremy enjoys reading and going out on the lake with his family to kayak. Jeremy and Emily have been married almost 23 years and they have a daughter, Madison, who loves puppies, playing outside, and cheerleading.
Called into ministry while in college, Jacob Dunn has served in Student Ministry for nearly 20 years. He has served in churches of every size and in every type of role, from volunteer to intern to part-time to full-time ministry. Jacob’s current ministry role has recently expanded to cover all Next Generations ministries at Valley Creek Baptist Church.
Chad Daugherty serves as the Minister of Middle School at Olive Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. A 15-year-veteran of Middle School Ministry, Chad has served churches in Tennessee, Texas, and Florida. He has cultivated a deep passion, joy, and excitement for equipping young teens and the adults who minister to them. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (go Vols!) and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Chad and his wife, Shaela, have been married for seven years and have three amazing kiddos. He enjoys spending time with his family, hanging out in his home gym, and drinking coffee.
Stephanie Chase has worked in Education and Kids Ministry as a teacher, director, writer and trainer for over 25 years. She currently serves as the Global Kids Minister at Champion Forest Baptist Church and is a national speaker for family conferences, women’s events, and leadership training. Her enthusiasm and joy are contagious and will inspire you to live the life God has planned for you.
Stephanie has been married to Rick for over 30 years and together they have raised three children—Nicole, Tori, and Michael—and are enjoying being grandparents of three grandchildren —Brody, Kaden, and Tatum.
Kris Buckman has been serving in Children’s Ministry for over two decades and currently serves as the Youth and Kid’s Missionary for the Baptist Convention of MD/DE. She holds a Master’s Degree in children’s and family ministry and served on the Abuse Reform Implementation Task Force of the SBC. Her work involved the development of “Essentials: Abuse Prevention and Response,” a free curriculum for church leaders. Kris is committed to empowering church leaders to prevent, identify, and appropriately respond to abuse.
Jeff Borton is the Family Pastor at Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, TN. He has served in student/family ministry for 25 years and written two books on student ministry: “Simple Student Ministry” and “You’re First 100 Days in Student Ministry and the 40 Years that Follow.” Jeff and his wife, Jen, have been married for 20 years and have 3 sons. They enjoy football, soccer and growing their farm.
With over 28 years of KidMin experience, Danielle Bell possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families with the message of Jesus Christ. Danielle is a writer for both curriculum and ministry resources including: God’s Brave Girl (Lifeway), The Gospel God’s Plan for Me (Lifeway), and the Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook (Outreach). Danielle is the lead instructor for the Children’s Ministry Certificate at beadisciple.com.
Sheph Leonard currently serves as the Middle School Pastor at Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, TN. Originally from Miami FL, he and his wife are Nashville transplants raising their four children who are 10, 7, 4, and 1. They are excited to see what God will do in the coming years!
Corinne Allen is a follower of Jesus, wife to Grant, mom-to-be, sister, daughter, and friend who is wildly in love with Jesus and passionate about sharing the beautiful story of the whole gospel. Jesus has completely changed her life, and she’s now committed to spending her life making sure others know of the goodness, mercy, and love of God. Corinne is passionate about encouraging, empowering, and equipping all ages to know the love of the Father and to walk with confidence in the abundant life He has planned for them. She currently serves as Girls Minister at Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, TN.
Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway NextGen, overseeing Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Students. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck and his wife Cris have served in Preschool, Kids, Student, and Groups Ministry for many years in New Jersey, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Before joining Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer, and on-screen host. Chuck is driven by a passion to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway NextGen. With a background in education, publishing, and ministry, she loves championing the local church to help families disciple kids of all ages. She is the author of Nothing Less and Kids Ministry that Nourishes as well as the co-author of Every Age, Every Stage and Flip the Script. Jana and her husband, Michael, are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three kids.
Ben Mandrell was elected the 10th president of Lifeway Christian Resources on June 28, 2019. As president and CEO, Mandrell provides vision and strategic leadership to the nonprofit organization headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee.
Prior to joining Lifeway, he pastored churches in Colorado and Tennessee. Mandrell graduated from Anderson University in 1998. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.
Mandrell and his wife, Lynley, have been married since 2001. The couple has four children: Ava, Max, Miles, and Jack.
Josh takes most pride in his role as a husband and dad. On stage, Josh is a speaker, author, marriage and leadership coach, and podcast cohost. He and his wife, Christi, lead Famous at Home, a company equipping leaders, corporations, and families in emotional intelligence and relational connection. Josh is also a Fellow of the Townsend Institute for Leadership and Counseling. Josh most enjoys coaching leaders to be famous at home so they can thrive on their stage. He speaks regularly for Joint Special Operations Command and serves military families across the country.
Josh is author/coauthor of nine books including Famous at Home: 7 Decisions to Put Your Family Center Stage in a World Competing for Your Time, Attention, and Identity and Safe House: How Emotional Safety is the Key to Raising Kids Who Live, Love, and Lead Well. He and his wife, Christi, host the Famous at Home podcast, lead a yearlong coaching program called the Leader’s Heart Cohort, and co-wrote three children’s books, What Am I Feeling?, What Do I Do With Worry?, and What Do I Do with Anger? to help parents foster emotional awareness in kids.
They also have two children’s books to help kids experience the true meaning of Christmas and Easter, 25 Days of the Christmas Story: An Advent Family Experience and 10 Days of the Easter Story: A Family Experience Through the Feelings of Holy Week.
Shane serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He and his wife, Kasi, reside in Texas with their five children. He has been in ministry for over 20 years as a denominational leader, church planter, lead pastor, and student pastor. Shane is also a traveling communicator, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Every year he speaks to over 100,000 people about the good news of Jesus Christ. He is the author of two books, 9 Common Lies Christians Believe: And Why God’s Truth Is Infinitely Better and Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry Leadership. As well as a new Bible study called Revival Generation: Awakening to a Movement of God. Shane is also one of the hosts of The Gensend Podcast. Follow him on Instagram & Twitter: @shane_pruitt78.
Alisa Childers is the author of the bestselling book, Another Gospel?, in which she describes the years-long journey she took as she wrestled with questions that struck at the core of the Christian faith and found the truth. Her new book is called The Deconstruction of Christianity, which analyzes and responds to the growing Deconstruction movement. She is a wife, mom, author, podcaster, and speaker. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. She hosts The Alisa Childers Podcast, and the Unshaken Faith Podcast. Alisa’s story was featured in the documentary, American Gospel: Christ Crucified. You can connect with Alisa online at alisachilders.com.
“Sharing Jesus and what the Lord has done through the beautiful and broken parts of my life has always been my goal. Music is just the means to that end. I am grateful for His mercy, grace, and every opportunity He brings my way!”
Isaac Pittman has been writing music and singing songs since he was a little boy. Music has not only been an outlet for him to create and utilize his gifting, but it has created a space for him to heal, inspire, encourage, and find purpose within the pain. Isaac began leading worship when he was 18 and has toured and been doing music full time since moving to Nashville in 2012.
With over 26 years of KidMin experience, Danielle possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families with the message of Jesus Christ. Danielle is a well-respected leader and trainer in the area of Children’s Ministry and has spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences. She is a writer for both curriculum and ministry resources including: “God’s Brave Girl” (Lifeway), “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” (Lifeway), and the “Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook” (Outreach). Danielle is the lead instructor for the Children’s Ministry Certificate at beadisciple.com. Danielle serves as Minister to Children at Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, TN. Danielle’s blog, dandibell.com, is one of the top 100 kid’s ministry blogs.
Kimba Campbell serves as the Lifeway Kids Publishing Team Leader for Bible Studies for Life. Before coming to Lifeway, she served on church staff for over 18 years in Texas, Georgia, California, and Tennessee. Kimba is a Texas Aggie (Gig ‘Em Aggies!) and also earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Paul, stay busy with their three boys.
Katie Allred (MA, University of Florida) is an entrepreneur, professor, and thought leader in faith, technology, and church communications. Katie is the founder of ChurchCommunications.com, where she helps over 20,000 churches with their marketing and branding.
Kate has been serving in Student and Girls Ministry for the last thirteen years at churches in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. She graduated with a degree in Biblical Studies from Liberty University and a Masters of Religious Education from Liberty School of Divinity. Kate currently serves as the Girls Minister at BattleCreek Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Brian has served in a variety of churches and has spent the last 5 years overseeing Students and Kids Ministry for BattleCreek Church (a multi-site church) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Brian loves the local church and NextGen ministry and is passionate about seeing kids and students reached with the gospel and growing in their relationship with Christ. Brian and his wife, Jenn, have been married 12 years and adopted two children, Selah and Ezekiel.
Jameson and his wife, Mallory, have one son, Ridge. They are constantly looking for adventure and shared experiences that create meaningful memories. In his own time, Jameson loves to swim, bike, and run. He has been on staff with Prestonwood Students at Prestonwood Baptist Church for the past eight and a half years. Before moving to Texas, he served at a church in Southern Indiana for over 10 years. He received his Masters in Youth Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Since 2016, Tiffany has served as the Special Needs Minister over the Embrace Special Needs Ministry at Brentwood Baptist Church. Prior to joining church staff, Tiffany worked in the local public school system for 15 years as a Special Education Teacher, a Behavior Specialist, and finally as an Assistant Principal. Tiffany holds degrees in Special Education from MTSU and Vanderbilt University, and an additional Master’s degree in Educational Leadership & Administration from Trevecca Nazarene University. Other things that bring Tiffany joy are gardening, playing violin, spending time at a fun local restaurant or going to a concert at the Ryman or the Schermerhorn Symphony Center with family and friends.
Dr. Shelly Melia serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry and Professor of Childhood Education at Dallas Baptist University. She oversees the Master of Arts in Family Ministry and Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry. Prior to coming to DBU she served as a children’s minister for over 25 years in churches in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor and sees a few clients each month at Promises Community Ministries in Burleson, Texas.
Melita Thomas is the Team Leader for Kids Ministry Training and Events at Lifeway. She also serves as the Vacation Bible School Specialist. Melita holds a masters degree in Christian education and is a passionate advocate for children’s ministry in the local church. Melita enjoys teaching children at her church, spending time with her two wonderful nephews, and cheering on the Nashville Predators hockey team.
Shelly began her career and love for education as a public school teacher. She has passionately served children and families for over 27 years and currently leads the Preschool & Children Ministries at First Baptist Church in Dallas. Shelly earned her Bachelor Degree in Elementary Education and her Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Baptist University. Her passion is to develop leaders to teach biblical truth intentionally and consistently to children, building strong foundations of faith. As an experienced conference leader, writer and developer of i-Campus Kids, Shelly loves the Lord with all of her heart and seeks to introduce boys and girls to Jesus Christ.
Shelly has been married to her husband, Tye, for over 30 years and loves her role as wife and mother of 3. After raising her children, she is now enjoying every minute as a grandmother of 5!
Jeremy Echols is the Director of Family Ministry at The Glade Church just outside Nashville, Tennessee. Jeremy’s ministry calling is to make the message of Christ clear in the lives of kids and to pour into those who love on kids. Before coming to The Glade Church, Jeremy served as a volunteer in his local church with kids ministry, young married couples, and mens groups and was a leader with Lifeway’s CentriKid Camps for almost two decades. Jeremy enjoys reading and going out on the lake with his family to kayak. Jeremy & Emily have been married almost 22 years and they have a daughter, Madison, who loves puppies, playing outside, and cheerleading.
Taylor serves as the Next Generation and Children’s Minister at the Church at Station Hill. Taylor is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Taylor has served in children’s ministry for over 20 years and is passionate about partnering with leaders and families to equip the next generation. Taylor, his wife Jenai, and their three kids live in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Nathan serves as Project Coordinator for Lifeway Students. He has served in student ministry for 15 years in a variety of roles from volunteer leader and student pastor in the local church to working with student pastors at the associational level. “Producer Nathan” helps facilitate student ministry training through the podcast, Youth Ministry Booster, and also served on FUGE camp staff for six years—including four as camp director—before joining the team full time. Nathan enjoys baking, video games, and officiating sports.
Anthony serves as the Student Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church located in Oklahoma City. He has had the privilege of teaching teenagers for over a decade now and is passionate about seeing lost teenagers becoming found teenagers who find more lost teenagers. On his off day, you can find him with his family in a local coffee shop enjoying a pour over.
Jenni Carter joined the state missionary staff of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board in August 2013 and currently serves as the NextGen Kids Consultant. Prior to this position Jenni served as a Children’s Minister in the Middle Georgia area for 24 years. She is a gifted conference leader and enjoys equipping Kids Ministry leaders.
Tony Rankin wears many hats—storyteller, author, clinical therapist, minister of pastoral care, father, grandfather, husband, and collector of baseball and train memorabilia.
Jeremy Carroll is the Lifeway Kids Ministry Publishing Manager for VBS and Discipleship resources. Jeremy has been active in local church ministry for nearly 20 years and before coming to Lifeway served churches in Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama. Jeremy earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. A Middle Tennessee native, he and his family live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
With over 20 years in NextGen ministry, Crystal Mazzuca is passionate about encouraging and equipping people to reach the next generation for Christ. She is a Lifeway Content Editor and Resource Specialist for Hyfi. Crystal loves serving her local church and the global Church community, creating content that inspires and develops leaders, and hanging out with young people whenever she can. She lives in Olympia, Washington with her 3 sons and enjoys the beach, reading, and playing video and board games.
Matt Morgan serves as Campus Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Maumelle, Arkansas. Prior to this role, he served in children’s ministry for nearly two decades. He loves seeing people of all ages understand the richness of the gospel. He is husband to Dana and dad to Maggie and Macy.
Chad lives in Stillwater, Oklahoma with his wife of 15 years, Martha, and their daughter, Malia. He has served the church in Oklahoma since 2003 in roles such as youth pastor, small group pastor, and campus pastor. Chad is the co-founder of Youth Ministry Booster and is a Parent Ministry Specialist at Lifeway. Chad’s hobbies include starting new hobbies. He once set his middle school’s unofficial record of most slices of pizza eaten at a CiCi’s pizza after a track meet.
Melissa Whitworth is the Preteen Ministry Director at First Baptist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. God has blessed this preteen ministry over the years and it has grown to become a thriving and exciting ministry within the church. Melissa has been happily married to John for almost 25 years and they have two adult children, Andrew (recently married to Kaylin) and Allison.
Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ongoing Bible Studies and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church, co-author of Every Age, Every Stage: Teaching God’s Truth at Home and Church, and co-editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife, Janetta, is the Preschool Minister. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives, and spoiling their grandchildren.
Kayla Stevens is the Publishing Team Leader for Hyfi Kids and Preschool at Lifeway and a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She has contributed to several books and Bible studies including What about Kids Ministry? Practical Answers to Questions about Kids Ministry (2018), What is a Christian? Answers for Kids (2018), and Behold Your King (2020). She also served as the Content Editor for Flip the Script (2022). Kayla has been serving in Kids Ministry for over 15 years and has a deep passion for empowering children to own their faith and grow deeper in the joy of Jesus.
Isaac Kierstead is the Digital Content Specialist for Hyfi Kids and Preschool. Isaac has been working in kids ministry for the last 15 years and whether it was as a camp pastor, kids minister, or VBS graphic designer, he loves pairing the gospel and fun! Isaac has been married five years to his wife, Rachel, and lives in Columbia, Tennessee.
Mark Jones serves as the Children’s Pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where he loves and teaches preschoolers, children, and their parents. Mark enjoys speaking all around the nation to train children’s ministry leaders and parents. He is the founder of Mr. Mark’s Classroom, an online leadership development and teacher-resource company which helps overwhelmed children’s ministry leaders get clarity, confidence, and resources to help them reach kids for Jesus, equip kids with Bible skills, and teach kids to serve others.
With a passion for being an influence and for helping build strong and healthy families, Dr. Kathy Koch, (pronounced “cook”) writes (6 books and counting) and speaks (a lot and often) on a wide range of topics that are both timeless and current. Her humorous and easy-to-learn-from speaking style, foundational wisdom, and practical and relevant details leave her audiences empowered with strategies to navigate the challenges of raising and teaching children. She warmly speaks with compassion and understanding, never shying away from tough topics in our current culture. Her messages are always beautifully woven with Biblical truth and hope. With audiences ranging in age from 10 to 100, Kathy has a unique gift of engaging, entertaining, and teaching them all. She attributes much of her excellence to the three degrees she earned from Purdue University, including a Ph.D. in reading and educational psychology. She taught second graders, coached middle schoolers, was a tenured associate professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, and finally a school board member before becoming a full-time conference and keynote speaker in 1991. Dr. Kathy founded Celebrate Kids, Inc., in 1991 and co-founded Ignite the Family in 2018. It is now the conference ministry of Celebrate Kids.
Zac currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7 & ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife Karen and two wild boys Isaiah & Gideon. For 19+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee middle school, high school and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.
Lauren Brown is the Children and Family Minister at Brookwood Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana. She has a degree in Elementary and Special Education, and will soon graduate with a masters in Family and Special Needs Ministry. Lauren is married to her husband of 20 years, Huey, and they have three children, Gordon (17), Jack (15), and Kate (13). The Lord called Lauren into ministry at a young age and she has spent the last 17 years in full time Children’s Ministry. Lauren has a heart for watching children grow in their love and knowledge of who God is, as well as seeing families thrive in discipleship at home.
Jennie Ross is the Children’s Director at ClearView Baptist Church. She is a graduate of James Madison University and holds a masters degree from Union University. Jennie loves to share her experiences with other churches desiring to reach their communities. She lives in Franklin, TN with her husband, Mark, and two daughters.
With over 20 years in NextGen ministry, Crystal Mazzuca is passionate about encouraging and equipping people to reach the next generation for Christ. She is a Lifeway Content Editor and Resource Specialist for Hyfi. Crystal loves serving her local church and the global Church community, creating content that inspires and develops leaders, and hanging out with young people whenever she can. She lives in Olympia, Washington with her 3 sons and enjoys the beach, reading, and playing video and board games.
Klista Storts serves as a Content Editor with Lifeway Christian Resources VBS resources. She has been a keynote speaker and conference leader for kids ministry conferences around the country over the past 25 years. Prior to coming to Lifeway, Klista served for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board and at churches in Oklahoma and Tennessee. She has a passion for equipping and coming alongside leaders as they build a spiritual foundation in young children.
Kevin M. Jones is the Dean of the School of Education at Cedarville University. He also serves as the Managing Editor for Lifeway’s The Gospel Project. Kevin is a graduate of Kentucky State University, two-time graduate of the University of Kentucky, and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Spalding University. He began his career as a first grade teacher and has taught in various K–12 and post-secondary settings. Kevin currently serves as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. His longing is to see fathers build resilient sons and to see Christian teachers and leaders influence the lives of students nationally and internationally for the glory of God. He and his high school sweetheart, Demica, have three children: Kennedi, Kevin Jr, and Karsynn.
Ken Braddy is a 30-year veteran of local church education and discipleship ministry who serves as Lifeway’s Director of Sunday School. In addition to being a respected trainer, author, blogger, podcaster, Ken is also a group leader at Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Jana Magruder serves as Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids in Nashville. With a background in education, publishing and ministry, she loves championing the local church to help families disciple kids of all ages. Jana and her husband Michael are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three big kids.
Jay Hardwick serves as Senior Pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Nashville, TN where he has served since December 2020. A native of South Carolina, he is a graduate of North Greenville University and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently a doctoral student at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Jay is passionate about leading people to follow Jesus and to engage in His mission in the world. His passion shows up in his preaching, his personal investment in making disciples, and in developing the next generation of ministry leaders. In addition to leading Forest Hills, Jay serves as Camp Pastor each summer for Fuge/StudentLife camps and speaks regularly in conferences and on college campuses. Having answered the call to vocational ministry in high school, Jay loves investing in college, student and NextGen ministries.
Jay and his wife of 23 years, Lara Beth, have three daughters and live in Nashville. He enjoys traveling with his family, playing golf, drinking good coffee and cheering on their favorite sports teams—Go Gamecocks, Cubs, Preds, and Titans!
Alexandra Hoover is a wife, mother of three, sought-out speaker and best-selling author of Eyes Up: How to Trust God’s Heart by Tracing His Hand. She is passionate about communicating the beauty and hope of the gospel, whether through writing or speaking, online or in person. Her words spur people on to hope, healing and their mission. She has the privilege of serving as a ministry leader at her local church and spends her days loving on her family, dancing with her kids, and living on mission right where God has her. Connect with her at alexandravhoover.com or on social media @alexandravhoover.
Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. He is driven to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
Steve is the author of Managing Leadership Anxiety: Yours and Theirs and the founder of www.capablelife.me, an online community helping you to function as a calm, aware, present human in the work place and home place. Steve has served in a variety of pastoral roles for 26 years, the majority of those years as a lead pastor. He is also proud to be a strategic partner with Compassion International, Leadership Network, and Missio Alliance.
Steve was privileged to grow up in Perth, Western Australia, in an adventurous family of origin. After moving to the United States for theological study, he married Lisa and they have two sons and a daughter, in whom they take great delight. When Steve is not working, you can find him laughing with his family, knee-deep in a trout stream, or trying a guitar he cannot afford at a local music store.
Ben Trueblood serves as the Director of Student Ministry for Lifeway and has served in student ministry for over 20 years. In addition to his role at Lifeway, Ben is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. He is driven by a desire for student ministries to expand God’s Kingdom, to see the lives of students transformed by the gospel, and to produce students who shape the culture in which they live.
Ben and his wife Kristen have four young children. In his free time, Ben enjoys family, hunting, CrossFit, and the St. Louis Cardinals. You can follow Ben on Instagram and Twitter at: @bentrueblood.
One Common is an energetic and lively Electronic/Pop Christian brother duo with a youthful sound appealing to the rising generation while also attracting older generations. One Common is comprised of 2 brothers—Carlos and Michael—who exhibited musical gifting from an early age. What started as singing their feelings as toddlers grew into a more profound outlet for not only expressing their personal journeys through music but expressing the irreplaceable love they have for Christ Jesus.
Their career began in early 2016 when their dad felt the Lord calling their family to take a leap of faith and minister through music across the country. The family sold everything, crammed into an RV, and hit the road to spread the Gospel, with no set destination in mind. Only one purpose: to bring the love and truth of Jesus to as many people as they could.
Through this experience, they not only grew in their faith, but also developed their own musical style which would best be described as synth-pop with future bass and dance influences. With infectious anthems and earnest lyrics, each performance serves as a celebration of God’s glory and a testament to His faithfulness. One Common exudes a unique, unforgettable spirit through each song, proving the best plans for our lives aren’t ones we can map ourselves.
One Common has played alongside some of Christian music’s biggest names: Zach Williams, Unspoken, CAIN, Capital Kings, Kutless, Tedashii, Travis Greene, and Cade Thompson. They have also experienced huge online success, with their music earning over 3 million streams to date.
One Common, now resides in Nashville, Tennessee.
For over 30 years, Travis Cottrell has been answering the call of God on his life as an artist, songwriter, worship leader, author, and arranger. With more than 30 published solo recordings and musicals to his credit, Travis has long been a respected creative in the worship leading and Christian music publishing world. Since his ministry began, he has amassed 26 Dove Award nominations and won twice, including one for the critically acclaimed Jesus Saves Live. Three of his projects have peaked at #1 on the Christian music charts. He has written and recorded with countless artists crossing many musical genres, including Garth Brooks, Amy Grant, Mercy Me, CeCe Winans, Natalie Grant, Keith and Kristyn Getty, Alan Jackson, Michael W Smith, NF, and more. His most recent projects have partnered him with such producer greats as Tommee Proffit, Cody Fry, Nathan Nockels, Jeff Pardo and Brown Bannister.
Travis has written and arranged projects for the local church, has authored several books, and has performed and recorded in world renowned places such as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, and Abbey Road. In 2013, he received the coveted Encore Award from his alma mater, Belmont University, given to alumni in recognition of achievements in the field of music.
This year, Travis will celebrate a great milestone in ministry: 25 years of serving alongside Beth Moore as worship leader for Living Proof Ministries. Together with Beth, he has ministered to millions of people, in all 50 states and across the world.
Travis also serves as Worship Pastor at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, TN, where he serves with his wife, Angela. Together, they have 3 children—Jack (and his wife Samantha), Lily, and Levi.
Drew Dixon is the publishing team leader for all the Lifeway Students ongoing curriculum. He also co-founded and served as the Chief of Content for Love Thy Nerd, a unique 501c3 nonprofit serving geeks and nerds. Prior to that I was Editor-in-chief of GameChurch.com. Regular writer for WORLD Magazine, Christian Research Journal, Think Christian, and Christ and Pop Culture, Lifeway Group Ministry, Lifeway Church Leaders, Lifeway Group Ministry, and The Gospel Project. Written previously for Christianity Today, Relevant Magazine, and Paste Magazine.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of Kids Ministry that Nourishes and Life Verse Creative Journal, which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids. She is a Baylor graduate and offers a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and publishing. She is the author of “Kids Ministry that Nourishes” and “Life Verse Creative Journal,” which she co-authored with her teenage daughter. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children reside in Nashville.
Stephanie Salvatore has worked at Lifeway Christian Resources for over 25 years in a variety of areas, ranging from student ministry to magazines, to app development. She has served as the creative director for Lifeway Kids for 10 years. When she isn’t working, chasing chickens around her farm, or collecting vinyl, you can find her volunteering in her church’s Kids Ministry.
Are you prepared to minister to your community during a time of significant crisis? The truth is that very few churches are prepared when a community-wide crisis hits. This conference will feature the wisdom of several leaders who have “been there, done that” and gone on to make it a focus of their ongoing ministry. No one can predict when a tragedy will burst onto the scene of a church or community. However, all of us can strive to be better prepared to minister in these difficult circumstances.
Chuck Peters is the Director of Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. He is driven to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
True discipleship only occurs in the context of personal relationship. In Bible times, instruction took place as disciples walked behind a Rabbi, listening to his instruction and observing his life. Paul said it like this, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” In this session, you will discover why relationships are essential to a healthy ministry, uncover 4 key relationships you need to foster in your churches, and learn how to equip volunteers with skills that will enable them to cultivate influential relational connections more effectively with the kids they lead.
The call to ministry brings unique challenges that can make us feel overwhelmed and underprepared. Is it even possible to balance family, personal growth, and the obligations of ministry? If you’re facing these challenges and struggling to stay motivated, join us as we discuss five of the biggest challenges faced in ministry and how the gospel gives us power and hope to continue serving where God has called us to serve. This session will also include a Q&A.
Zac Workun currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7, and ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife, Karen, and two wild boys, Isaiah and Gideon. For 15+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee the middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.
Nathan serves as Project Coordinator for Lifeway Students. and has served in student ministry for 15 years in a variety of roles from volunteer leader and student pastor in the local church to working with student pastors at the associational level. “Producer Nathan” helps facilitate student ministry training through the podcast, Youth Ministry Booster, and other outlets and also served on FUGE camp staff for six years, four as camp director, before joining the team full time. Nathan enjoys baking, video games, and officiating sports.
This session will explore ideas to reimagine and remake your student ministry gathering spaces that are inviting, creative, and memorable for worship, prayer, and teaching.
Jameson Barker and his wife, Mallory, have one son, Ridge. They are constantly looking for adventure and shared experiences that create meaningful memories. In his own time, he loves to swim, bike, and run. He has been on staff with Prestonwood Students at Prestonwood Baptist Church for the past seven and a half years. Before moving to Texas, he served at a church in Southern Indiana for over 10 years. He received his Masters in Youth Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
The best time for students to learn leadership is now. It is really important to not wait around until we begin to train up the new generation of student leaders now. This session will give you the framework and tools for building out a thriving leadership pipeline in your youth ministry.
For decades the Church has engaged the culture assuming some fundamental understanding of God, the Bible and church. In today’s post-Christian world, that can no longer be assumed. So, how do you engage a generation of kids where many truths and stories in scripture are unknown, and the very fabric of what they believe to be true in the world is antithetical to Christian teachings? In this session, you’ll discover new tools to reach the next generation with strategies that engage the kids walking in your door today.
The need for understanding God’s design for the growth and development of children has never been more needed than NOW! The mental health of children and adolescents has been declared a national crisis. Parents and teachers are struggling to make sense of what is best for children. In this session we’ll examine the most recent and relevant findings on how God wired the brain for learning and how connection and relationships are critical for children to thrive in all areas of development.
Feeling overlooked? Do you feel like you’re leading a ministry that no one cares about except you? Decisions being made for your ministry without your buy-in or with no ownership from you? Learn how to grow your influence and make a BIG, POWERFUL difference in the leadership of your church and the congregation. Learn ways to be heard and seen and get your church and team understanding that Kids Ministry is where it’s at!
R. Scott Pace is the Vice President of Undergraduate Studies, Dean of The College at Southeastern, and Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Preaching. He has authored many books ranging from theology to ministry and leadership to preaching including “Answering God’s Call,” “Student Ministry by the Book,” and the forthcoming book “Calling Out the Called” co-authored with Shane Pruitt. His greatest passion is for his family. He and his wife, Dana, have been married since 1999. They have four children—Gracelyn, Tyler, Tessa, and Cassie.
How do you prepare, coach, and equip students in your ministry who feel called to ministry? This session will help you make plans to care for your called students.
Zac Workun currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7, and ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife, Karen, and two wild boys, Isaiah and Gideon. For 15+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee the middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.
Anthony Vargas currently serves as the Student Pastor at the North Campus of Prestonwood where he’s been for over five years. He’s had the privilege of serving students for over a decade while helping other Youth Pastors by writing eBooks and hosting the Youth Pastor Tips Podcast. He’s been married to his wife, Bailee, for over eight years and they have one son, Oliver.
Tony Bianco is the Student Minister at Houston’s First Baptist Church and has been in ministry for 15+ years. Tony is married to his high school sweetheart, Diamend, and together they have two amazing kids. Tony has a MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration in Student Ministry. Tony leads a ministry team and is a nationwide speaker who teaches students, parents, and ministry leaders on technology, discipleship, and leadership. Tony’s desire is to see students and families have King Hearts and live Kingdom Lives!
Crystal Mazzuca is the Director of Kids’ Ministry at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia, WA, INCM coach, blogger, and freelance writer. She’s done youth ministry in five cities, including two in Swaziland, Africa. Crystal has a strange love of video games, comic books, and ninjas, which typically have some influence on the stories she writes.
One of the most important batons to pass in ministry is from kids to student ministry. This panel discussion will focus on the best practices in welcoming new kids into your student ministry.
Society says the “ideal family” isn’t the reality for many of families we minister to today. Families look different, are overscheduled, are raised by grandparents or adoptive homes, and often don’t make church a priority. In this session, we’ll explore the needs of families and discover Christ-centered, practical ways to engage and minister to them so they are connected to the church body. This session will also include a Q&A.
Every great team knows how to win at home. This session is primed for church leaders to help parents and students and families win spiritually at home.
Amanda Mejias serves as the Lifeway Girls Brand Specialist, which is just a super fun way of saying that she serves parents and leaders of teen girls. After serving on church staff for many years, she is passionate about building relationships and creating resources that equip the local church. Amanda has been married to her wonderful husband, Brandon, for five years and they have a daughter named Blakely. When she is not chasing her toddler around, Amanda is always down to hear a good joke, meet for coffee, and talk about her golden retriever.
Every youth ministry is at least 50% girls. So how are we, as ministry leaders, making plans to minister to them well?
Are you trying to copy the latest dog and pony show? How has pop culture influenced your ministry? Are you teaching biblical truth or chasing trends? In this session, we’ll explore tips for successful evaluation of resources and discover practical helps to avoid the dangers of ministry trends created by today’s culture.
If your ministry reflects your school district, it’s likely that 20% of your students have special needs, learning disabilities, and mental health diagnoses. In this session, learn how to identify students who need extra help and discover ways to support them.
Preschoolers can become loud and out of control unless the teacher knows how to guide the learning time. This conference will prepare you for creating an environment of safety and learning that everyone can enjoy each week.
Heidi M. Hensley has been in full time ministry since 1995 and currently serves as the NextGen Pastor at Skyline Church in San Diego, California. She is passionate about serving the whole family as she works to build strong connections between parents, kids, and student ministries. Heidi has a master’s degree from Southern California Seminary and lives in San Diego with her husband and two grown sons.
Whether you lead one of the NextGen ministries at your church or all of them, we can agree that volunteers are element that can make or break your ministry. In this session, we’ll look at the top ways to recruit, develop, train, and retain leaders and consider the importance of a NextGen-wide strategy to support healthy handoffs between ministries.
Mark Jones serves as the Children’s Pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City where he loves and teaches preschoolers, children, and their parents. Mark enjoys speaking all around the nation to train children’s ministry leaders and parents. He is the founder of Mr. Mark’s Classroom, an online leadership development and teacher-resource company which helps overwhelmed children’s ministry leaders get clarity, confidence, and the resources they need to win at reaching kids for Jesus, equipping kids with Bible skills and teaching kids to serve others.
This session will equip you with one full year of interactive games that get kids out of their seats and highly engaged. Your class will be the one every kid wishes they could attend. Be ready to play fast and take pictures!
Sandra Peoples is one of the leading voices in the special-needs community. She is the author of three books and is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special needs families. Sandra and her husband Lee have two sons—David and James, who has level 3 autism. Sandra also has a sister with Down syndrome, which gives her a life-long perspective on being in a special-needs family. Her family lives outside of Houston, TX where Lee is a pastor and Sandra serves their church as the inclusion coordinator for special needs families. She also serves the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention as their special-needs ministry consultant, helping churches around the state start and strengthen their disability ministries.
Students with invisible disabilities (autism, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, etc.) often struggle at church. But as we take steps to get to know them and meet their needs, they will feel more comfortable and calm during their time with us. Learn how to support and encourage these students through suggestions for classroom management, specialized volunteers, and sensory-friendly spaces. This session will also include a Q&A.
Chad Higgins serves as the campus pastor at Summit Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He is also the co-founder of Youth Ministry Booster. He is passionate about seeing ministers grow both spiritually and professionally to serve the Kingdom well. Chad and his wife, Martha, have been married for 12 years and have a two-year-old daughter and Daniel Tiger enthusiast, Malia. Chad lives for Shark Week, sushi, and lazy Saturdays. Ask Chad about his latest secret venture or current audiobook obsession.
When parents hear that they should be the primary disciple-maker in their kid’s life what do they really hear? This session will focus on helping churches and parents speak the same language as they work together to tackle this most important task. No more being frustrated as a staff member or overwhelmed as a parent!
Tony Bianco is the Student Minister at Houston’s First Baptist Church and has been in ministry for 15+ years. Tony is married to his high school sweetheart, Diamend, and together they have two amazing kids. Tony has a MDiv from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a concentration in Student Ministry. Tony leads a ministry team and is a nationwide speaker who teaches students, parents, and ministry leaders on technology, discipleship, and leadership. Tony’s desire is to see students and families have King Hearts and live Kingdom Lives!
Our students (and us) are on their phones, tablets, and devices more than ever. Come discover strategies for reaching and discipling teens in a screen-addicted world.
Ben Trueblood has over 20 years of student ministry experience, 14 of which were spent in the local church as a student pastor. In addition to his role at LifeWay, he is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. and has authored three books. Ben and his wife Kristen have four children. He enjoys spending time alone in a duck blind, racking up miles in Nike Run Club, drinking an ice cold Coke Zero, collecting random hobbies, and afternoons watching Cardinals baseball.
Nathan serves as Project Coordinator for Lifeway Students. and has served in student ministry for 15 years in a variety of roles from volunteer leader and student pastor in the local church to working with student pastors at the associational level. “Producer Nathan” helps facilitate student ministry training through the podcast, Youth Ministry Booster, and other outlets and also served on FUGE camp staff for six years, four as camp director, before joining the team full time. Nathan enjoys baking, video games, and officiating sports.
Growing a healthy ministry is sometimes a matter having better systems, structures, and organization to empower leaders and find work/life balance. This session is for those who feel disorganized, overwhelmed, or want to check off some boxes in their ministry.
Melita Thomas is the Team Leader for Kids Ministry Training and Events at Lifeway. She also serves as the Vacation Bible School Specialist. Melita holds a masters degree in Christian education and is a passionate advocate for children’s ministry in the local church. Melita enjoys teaching kindergartners at her church, spending time with her two wonderful nephews (6- and 9-years-old), and cheering on the Nashville Predators hockey team.
VBS is not just for kids—it’s for students and adults, too! Come get your first look at the resources for Twists & Turns VBS and find out why VBS should be an important piece of your NextGen strategy.
Dr. Shelly Melia is Professor of Childhood of Childhood Education at Dallas Baptist University where she serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School of Ministry. She is also a Licensed Professional Counselor with a special research interest in grief and resilience. Prior to her time at DBU, she served as a children’s minister and family minister for over 25 years in churches in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas.
We are hardwired for relationships but there is a deficit of relationships in most of the children and students in our ministries. This conference will unpack the importance of relationally driven and relationally rich environments in our churches.
Chad Higgins serves as the campus pastor at Summit Church in Oklahoma City, OK. He is also the co-founder of Youth Ministry Booster. He is passionate about seeing ministers grow both spiritually and professionally to serve the Kingdom well. Chad and his wife, Martha, have been married for 12 years and have a two-year-old daughter and Daniel Tiger enthusiast, Malia. Chad lives for Shark Week, sushi, and lazy Saturdays. Ask Chad about his latest secret venture or current audiobook obsession.
Conflict is hard, conflict is inevitable, but as pastor-leaders we are called to navigate and negotiate dissent and disagreement between parents, volunteers, and staff leaders. This session will explore strategies to help you successfully navigate conflict.
Zac Workun currently serves as the Student Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Zac is also the co-founder and network lead for Youth Ministry Booster. Zac is a voracious reader, avid gamer, car-camper, folk musician, black coffee-drinker, beard aficionado. Enneagram 7, and ENFP. He loves to eat breakfast food at new places with his wife, Karen, and two wild boys, Isaiah and Gideon. For 15+ years, Zac has served on staff at local churches in Oklahoma and North Carolina to oversee the middle school, high school, and college-aged ministries. Zac received his undergraduate education from Oklahoma Baptist University and his Master’s of Divinity from Duke University.
Church leaders have reported that students and adults are more apathetic about their faith, involvement, and attendance than ever, so what are church ministry leaders to do? This session is a bold look at what it might take to stir a generation.
Kevin M. Jones serves as the Dean of the School of Education at Cedarville University. He also serves as the Managing Editor for Lifeway’s The Gospel Project. Kevin is a graduate of Kentucky State University, two-time graduate of the University of Kentucky, and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Spalding University. He began his career as a first grade teacher and has taught in various K-12 and post-secondary settings. Kevin currently serves as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. His longing is to see fathers build resilient sons and to see Christian teachers and leaders influence the lives of students nationally and internationally for the glory of God. He and his high school sweetheart, Demica, have three children: Kennedi, Kevin Jr, and Karsynn.
Families are dynamic and have unique challenges and opportunities to shape the lives of people around them. This session will explore how Paul’s writings in 1 Thessalonians can be an encouragement and guide for families seeking to glorify God, impact the local church, and serve the community.
Danielle has over 25 years of kidmin experience and possesses a great fervor for sharing, discipling, and shepherding children and families. Danielle is a well-respected leader and trainer in the area of Children’s Ministry and has spoken regionally at local churches and nationally at children’s ministry conferences. She is a curriculum writer for The Gospel Project for Kids and has also written the following resources: “God’s Brave Girl” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), “The Gospel God’s Plan for Me” Leader and Student Guides (Lifeway), and the Younger KidMin chapter for “Children’s Ministry Volunteer Handbook” (Outreach). Danielle is the lead instructor for the Children’s Ministry Certificate at beadisciple.com. In 2010, Danielle was named one of the top 20 Children’s Ministry Leaders to watch by “Children’s Ministry Magazine.” You can follow her on her blog at dandibell.com.
In a world full of cultural influences, how do we equip kids to be culture shapers instead of being shaped by culture? In this breakout, we’ll engage in activities, discuss relevant applications, and look at practical resources to help children develop a biblical worldview.
Landry Holmes is the Manager of Lifeway Kids Ongoing Bible Studies and Network Partnerships, Nashville, TN, and is a graduate of Howard Payne University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Author of It’s Worth It: Uncovering How One Week Can Transform Your Church, co-author of Every Age, Every Stage: Teaching God’s Truth at Home and Church, and a general editor of the Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary for Kids, Landry is a church leader, writer, workshop facilitator, and publisher. He teaches kids at his church in Middle Tennessee, where his wife, Janetta, is the Preschool Minister. They enjoy spending time with their two adult sons and their wives, and spoiling their grandchildren.
Almost three years ago, did you think “COVID” would become a common vocabulary word for preschoolers? One outcome of that global pandemic has highlighted what many of us have observed for the past several years: preschoolers are becoming increasingly anxious. If present realities are any indication, preschoolers will experience a continuation of anxiety and its cousins—anger and antisocial behavior. Therefore, we may need to adapt classroom management strategies at church to provide appropriate discipline and positive guidance.
Amanda Mejias serves as the Lifeway Girls Brand Specialist, which is just a super fun way of saying that she serves parents and leaders of teen girls. After serving on church staff for many years, she is passionate about building relationships and creating resources that equip the local church. Amanda has been married to her wonderful husband, Brandon, for five years and they have a daughter named Blakely. When she is not chasing her toddler around, Amanda is always down to hear a good joke, meet for coffee, and talk about her golden retriever.
Kate Downing has served in Student and Girls Ministry for the last eleven years at churches in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Through teaching and writing, she loves to help others come to know Jesus and fall in love with Scripture. She currently serves as the Girls Minister at BattleCreek Church in Tulsa, OK.
This panel discussion will include best practices for girl’s ministry as well as strategies for ministering well to girls at every age and stage.
Having several decades of experience in the local church, Dr. Jody Dean teaches courses in administration, risk management, and discipleship. Co-author of “Protect” and “Together We Lead” as well as a contributor to several other works, he has a desire to equip ministry leaders and lay leaders to serve the church. He serves as Associate Professor of Christian Education and Associate Dean of Distance Learning at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is married to Emily and they have two children.
Dr. Faye Scott has served as Minister to Children and Families in four churches across the state of Louisiana over the span of 28 years. Faye has recently retired from fulltime service in the local church and serves as the Content Editor for Lifeway’s Bible Studies for Life Grades 1–2 curriculum. In addition, she serves as adjunct faculty for Leavell College at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Faye’s doctoral dissertation focused on the prevention of child sexual abuse in the local church and she is passionate about equipping church leaders, especially in the area of preventing child sexual abuse. Faye has three married children and six grandchildren.
Unfortunately, sexual abuse in the church is not a new issue. This session will provide a brief overview of the topic of child sexual abuse in the church, the spiritual implications of abuse in the church, and an in-depth discussion of preventive measures the church can utilize to create a safe environment.
Ken Hindman serves as the Children’s Pastor at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee. He has served in preschool and children’s ministry for 29 years. He is a graduate of The University of Alabama with a BS degree in Childhood Education. Ken is the creator of Marketplace, a hands-on biblical learning experience for kids. Ken has designed a variety of programs for preschoolers, children, and families such as Resurrection Journey, Kid$ense, Creation Station, TeamKid Camp, Fall Fun Fest, and Journey to Bethlehem. Ken is also a contributing author of Every Age, Every Stage and spends time influencing young parents to disciple their kids at home. In his spare time, Ken enjoys vegetable gardening, Alabama football, collecting nativities and spending time with his family. Ken and his wife, Kristina, live in Arlington, Tennessee with their two sons, Mack (22) and David (20).
Where do you go for answers to the difficult questions? Who do you trust when it comes to ministry to preschoolers, kids, teens, and their families? In this session you’ll discover trusted methods for securing a coach, mentor, or group of experienced ministry leaders who can help you find the answers. We’ll also explore the process for supporting and encouraging a ministry mentee the Lord can use to impact the world.
Anthony Vargas currently serves as the Student Pastor at the North Campus of Prestonwood where he’s been for over five years. He’s had the privilege of serving students for over a decade while helping other Youth Pastors by writing eBooks and hosting the Youth Pastor Tips Podcast. He’s been married to his wife, Bailee, for over eight years and they have one son, Oliver.
Sometimes it is really hard to keep the attention of your 12–14-year-old students, but there is hope! In this session we’ll talk about the tips, tricks, and creative talk planning/sequencing that will capture your middle school (junior high) students’ attention. Squirrel!
Kate Downing has served in Student and Girls Ministry for the last eleven years at churches in Georgia, Texas, and Oklahoma. Through teaching and writing, she loves to help others come to know Jesus and fall in love with Scripture. She currently serves as the Girls Minister at BattleCreek Church in Tulsa, OK.
What are teen girls wanting you to know? This session takes an honest look at what teenage girls wish more of their parents and pastors knew about how hard it is to be a teen today.
Ben Trueblood has over 20 years of student ministry experience, 14 of which were spent in the local church as a student pastor. In addition to his role at LifeWay, he is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. and has authored three books. Ben and his wife Kristen have four children. He enjoys spending time alone in a duck blind, racking up miles in Nike Run Club, drinking an ice cold Coke Zero, collecting random hobbies, and afternoons watching Cardinals baseball.
Discover the way out when you feel worn down, worn out, and just unsure if you have anything left to give as a pastor, minister, or volunteer.
Stephanie Chase has been married to Rick Chase for 30 years. They have 3 children—Nicole (29), Tori (27), and Michael (24), and two amazing grandchildren ages 4 and 8 months. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University and received her master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Stephanie loves the Lord, her family, and people and is passionate about developing leaders and raising up the next generation of believers through writing, speaking, and serving! She has worked in Education and Kids Ministry as a teacher, director, writer, and trainer for over 20 years. She currently serves as the Kids Minister at Champion Forest Baptist Church. For fun, she loves to run, eat ice cream, read, and play outside!
Be inspired and equipped to teach preschoolers, children, and students the Bible in creative, fun ways. We may only get one Sunday, one Wednesday, one event, one opportunity to plant the seeds that can change eternity. Come learn how to make it happen and how to equip those you lead to do just that.
Mary Ann Bradberry brings many years of experience in Christian education for children to each of her sessions. After eight years as the Executive Director of Texas Baptist Church Weekday Education Association, Mary Ann recently retired to spend more time exploring the world through the eyes of her five-year-old granddaughter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a graduate degree in Early Childhood Education from North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. For 12 years, Mary Ann was an editor-in-chief for Lifeway Kids where she edited preschool Sunday School curriculum, ParentLife magazine, and Vacation Bible School resources. Before going to Lifeway, Mary Ann served as a Preschool and Children’s Minister at churches in Texas and Oklahoma. She has also been an adjunct professor at Dallas Baptist University. Mary Ann lives in Austin, Texas where she attends Real Life Church.
Play is critical for young children (and adults)! Play is how children explore, discover, socialize, develop creativity, learn teamwork, and make sense of their world. And the latest research presents evidence that brain functions such as attention, focus, empathy, and behavior regulation are best developed through play. But most importantly, play nurtures the child’s wonder and awareness of God. This session will explore the definitions of play along with its benefits and discuss the barriers preventing children’s play.
John Paul Basham serves as the Manager of Lifeway Student Ministry Publishing. He served in the local church for 10 years before coming on staff at Lifeway and has a deep passion for the work of the church and its mission to make disciples.
Jameson Barker and his wife, Mallory, have one son, Ridge. They are constantly looking for adventure and shared experiences that create meaningful memories. In his own time, he loves to swim, bike, and run. He has been on staff with Prestonwood Students at Prestonwood Baptist Church for the past seven and a half years. Before moving to Texas, he served at a church in Southern Indiana for over 10 years. He received his Masters in Youth Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Heidi M. Hensley has been in full time ministry since 1995 and currently serves as the NextGen Pastor at Skyline Church in San Diego, California. She is passionate about serving the whole family as she works to build strong connections between parents, kids, and student ministries. Heidi has a master’s degree from Southern California Seminary and lives in San Diego with her husband and two grown sons.
Crystal Mazzuca is the Director of Kids’ Ministry at Westwood Baptist Church in Olympia, WA, INCM coach, blogger, and freelance writer. She’s done youth ministry in five cities, including two in Swaziland, Africa. Crystal has a strange love of video games, comic books, and ninjas, which typically have some influence on the stories she writes.
This session is a panel discussion of the importance of ministering to the whole family plus practical helps for engaging and equipping parents to disciple in the home.
Ben & Lynley Mandrell host The Glass House podcast—conversations that point the way forward to healthy emotions and relationships for ministry leaders and their families. They have been married since 2001 and have four children: Ava, Max, Miles and Jack.
“Culture is created by the positive behaviors we celebrate and the negative behaviors we tolerate.” This principle applies in every organization—including our homes. In this practical workshop, Lifeway president Ben Mandrell and his wife Lynley share: a) why they felt led to create their own set of family values, b) how they use them with their children, and c) how every family in the church can easily design their own.
Matt Morgan serves as Campus Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Maumelle, AR. Prior to this role, he served in children’s ministry for nearly two decades. He loves seeing people of all ages understand the richness of the gospel. He is husband to Dana and “Daddy” to Maggie and Macy.
There are seasons in ministry where a leader must ask, “Is God calling me to stay or go?” Whether you’re seeking a new vision for where God has placed you or clarity on where He might be calling you, this breakout session will help you identify how to discern the voice of God through His Word, His people, and His Spirit, and will encourage us to keep following wherever He leads.
Chuck Peters is the Director of Lifeway Kids. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck, and his wife, Cris, have served in Student and Children’s Ministry for many years. Before his role at Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer and on-screen talent. He is driven to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
Chad Higgins serves as the Parent Ministry Specialist for Lifeway Students. Chad is passionate about serving and helping student ministry leaders and helping parents in their discipleship journey.
Ben Trueblood serves as the Director of Student Ministry for Lifeway and has served in student ministry for over 20 years. In addition to his role at Lifeway, Ben is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S. He is driven by a desire for student ministries to expand God’s Kingdom, to see the lives of students transformed by the gospel, and to produce students who shape the culture in which they live.
Ben and his wife Kristen have four young children. In his free time, Ben enjoys family, hunting, CrossFit, and the St. Louis Cardinals. You can follow Ben on Instagram and Twitter at: @bentrueblood.
Ben Mandrell is the 10th president of Lifeway Christian Resources. Prior to joining Lifeway, Ben pastored churches in Colorado and Tennessee. Ben and his family moved to the Denver area in 2014 to plant Storyline Fellowship in partnership with the North American Mission Board and First Baptist Church in Orlando, FL. The church launched in February 2015 and grew to 1,600 in weekly attendance in four years. In its third year, Storyline voted to quadruple its giving through the Cooperative Program, becoming one of the top 10 churches in the state giving through the Cooperative Program. Before planting Storyline Fellowship, Ben served as senior pastor of Englewood Baptist Church in Jackson, TN, from 2006-2013, leading the church to grow from 1,800 to 2,600 in weekly attendance.
A native of Tampico, Illinois, Mandrell graduated from Anderson (Indiana) University in 1998. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. Ben and his wife, Lynley, have been married since 2001 and have four children: Ava, Max, Miles, and Jack.
Christy began singing and writing music in the church from a young age, as the daughter of a pastor in Oklahoma. She met Nathan in 1993, at the Christian Artists Seminar in Estes Park, Colorado, and they married in 1995. An invitation from Louie Giglio came later to join the first ever Passion Conference in Austin, Texas, which flourished into a fruitful fifteen years of writing and leading worship for the Passion movement. Christy’s devotion to creating earnest and honest songs prepared her to be an integral author and voice in songs like “Healing Is In Your Hands,” “Waiting Here For You,” “Let It Be Jesus,” and “Lord, I Need You.” She recently launched a podcast entitled “The Glorious in the Mundane,” which is intentionally focused on helping women in all places in life, finding the wonder and awe of God in the moments of the here and now.
Christy & Nathan live in Franklin, Tennessee with their three beautiful children: Noah, Elliana, and Annie Rose. When they’re not focused on parenting, producing, and writing, they love to spend time making their house, affectionately called Keeper’s Branch, a place of rest for their family. Whether it be a season of growth, pruning, or rest, God has been faithful to carry Christy and Nathan and give them songs and prayers for the sharing.
Darren Whitehead is the lead and founding pastor of Church of the City. In 2013, he and a small team had a vision to plant a family of churches that live in the way of Jesus for the renewal of global cities. Every weekend thousands of people join in person and online at one of 3 regional church congregations across the Nashville area. Originally from Australia, Darren has lived in the United States for over 20 years. He holds both Masters and Doctorate degrees in Ministry, with his dissertation focus on millennials and the future of the Western church. He recently released his second book, Holy Roar: 7 Words That Will Change The Way You Worship, co-authored with worship leader Chris Tomlin. Darren and Brandy have three daughters and live in Nashville.
SL/Worship is a worship collective powered by Student Life Camp. Leading students across the U.S. through camp and on tour by bringing energy and depth that leads to moments students won’t forget as they meet with God through worship.
Gregg Matte was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and trusted Christ as his Savior at the age of 16. Since then, God has done a tremendous work in him and through him. In 1989, as a Texas A&M sophomore, Gregg and his roommates started a small Bible study named Breakaway in their apartment. Under Gregg’s leadership, Breakaway exploded, reaching thousands of students each week. In 2004, God called Gregg to become the pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church. Today, this great church has grown tremendously and is impacting the world as never before. Gregg holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an author of numerous books, the latest being “Capture the Moment.” Most importantly, Gregg is married to Kelly and is a father of two: Greyson and Valerie.
Kevin M. Jones serves as the Dean of the School of Education at Cedarville University. He also serves as the Managing Editor for Lifeway’s The Gospel Project. Kevin is a graduate of Kentucky State University, two-time graduate of the University of Kentucky, and earned his Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Spalding University. He began his career as a first grade teacher and has taught in various K-12 and post-secondary settings. Kevin currently serves as a pastor at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. His longing is to see fathers build resilient sons and to see Christian teachers and leaders influence the lives of students nationally and internationally for the glory of God. He and his high school sweetheart, Demica, have three children: Kennedi, Kevin Jr, and Karsynn.
Katy Boatman is the author of You Can Rest: 100 Devotions to Calm Your Heart and Mind and lives in Nashville, TN with her mini goldendoodle. She’s on staff with IF:Gathering, but her favorite role is being an aunt to Shelby, Blake, and Ellie. Katy has spent fifteen years mentoring girls through student ministry, and she is passionate about helping them understand who God is and reminding them they are not alone. If she’s not writing or walking her dog, you can typically find Katy eating Mexican food with her friends! You can connect with Katy on Instagram: @katyboat.
Ricky Chelette is Executive Director of Living Hope Ministries and has been involved in ministry in the church for over 35 years. Having spoken to thousands who struggle with their sexual identity, Ricky brings vast experience and personal knowledge to this difficult subject. His logical, humorous, and straight-forward approach makes sense of a very complex and often confusing topic. Ricky holds a BA in Political Science/Pre-Law and a Masters in Religious Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. A sought-after speaker, he has taught at seminaries, colleges, and universities, throughout the US and around the world. Ricky also serves on the pastoral staff of First Baptist Church, Arlington, TX., where he has ministered for over 27 years.
David Thomas, L.M.S.W., is the Director of Family Counseling at Daystar Counseling (daystarcounseling.com) in Nashville, TN, the co-author of eight books, including the best-selling Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys. He is a frequent guest on national television and podcasts, including his own podcast called Raising Boys and Girls, has been featured in publications like USA Today, and speaks across the country. He recently completed Are My Kids on Track? The 12 Emotional, Social & Spiritual Milestones Your Child Needs to Reach. He and his wife, Connie, have a daughter, twin sons, and a feisty yellow lab named Owen.
Sissy Goff, M.Ed., LPC-MHSP spends most of her days talking with girls and their families, with the help of her counseling assistant/pet therapist, Lucy the Havanese. She has worked as the Director of Child and Adolescent Counseling at Daystar Counseling Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee since 1993, with a master’s degree from Vanderbilt University. Sissy speaks to parents across the country and is the author of eleven books including Raising Girls and her newest books, Raising Worry-Free Girls and Braver, Stronger Smarter (for elementary school girls). Sissy is a regular contributor to various podcasts and publications, including her own podcast called “Raising Boys and Girls.”