Speakers:
SPEAKER
Michael Beck
Michael Beck is a pastor, professor, and author. Beck is a rare breed of both practitioner and scholar, actively engaged in frontline ministry while also researching and teaching at multiple academic institutions.
Michael and wife Jill have led a series of revitalizations and unconventional church plants with "the ones no one else wants or sees." They are currently co-pastors of Compassion and St Marks UMCs, where they oversee a holistic recovery housing program called Open Arms Village, and lead a network of fresh expressions gathering in tattoo parlors, dog parks, burrito joints, EV charging stations, digital spaces, and a substance abuse rehab. Michael serves as the Director of Fresh Expressions Florida, Director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at Perkins SMU, and Director of Fresh Expressions UM.
He is currently a graduate instructor of sociology at the University of Florida and teaches as an adjunct professor at several seminaries including Emory, United, and Duke. Beck is the author of 18 books and widely considered the primary practitioner and thought leader of the Fresh Expressions movement in the United States. Follow on Substack.
SPEAKER
Mike Whang
Rev. Mike Whang is an author, musician, pastor, and founder of Oikon Studios. He is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church and the lead pastor of Oikon United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas. Born in Seoul, South Korea, he immigrated to the United States at the age of four when his father pursued theological studies at Duke Divinity School. The family settled in Durham, North Carolina, and later moved to California.
He completed his own Master of Divinity at Duke Divinity School in 2015 and was recruited by the Texas Conference to serve as an associate pastor in Sugar Land, Texas. He subsequently joined Chapelwood United Methodist Church as a church planter in residence.
In October 2019, he founded Oikon United Methodist Church, which focuses on small groups and fosters a strong sense of community. He is an innovative and transformative speaker, who encourages youth to take God’s Word seriously and imaginatively.
Connect with Pastor Mike and Oikon on Instagram @mikewhang and @oikonhtx.
SPEAKER
YaNi Davis
YaNi Davis is a graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in English, Claremont School of Theology with a M.Div, and will graduate from Maryland Institute with a M.PS (Business of Art and Design) degree in May 2024. YaNi uses her words wisely as a Hip Hop artist, an inspiring speaker, an effective educator, a profound poet, a modern day prophet and multidisciplinary Creative. YaNi has been all around the world sharing her gifts from South Korea to Hyderabad India, around Europe and the US. YaNi is the founder of, My SupaNatural Life, an organization that provides education and wholistic care for people living with disabilities and their caregivers.
YaNi has founded several spiritual communities/churches around the country, is the author of, Love Poems for Peace, is a kidney transplant survivor and is preparing to release their new book and album in the Summer of 2024. To connect with Pastor YaNi, head to www.YaNiMeansPeace.com
SPEAKER
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling
Bishop LaTrelle Easterling is the episcopal leader of the Baltimore-Washington and Peninsula-Delaware area, making history as the first woman to lead the Baltimore-Washington Conference in 2016. Before her election as bishop, she served as superintendent of the Boston Metro District in the New England Conference and was Dean of the Cabinet.
A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Bishop Easterling holds a Bachelor’s degree, a Doctor of Jurisprudence, and a Master of Divinity from Boston University School of Theology, where she graduated summa cum laude. She is known for her commitment to justice, servant leadership, and transformative ministry.
In addition to her pastoral work, Bishop Easterling serves on multiple boards and committees, including chairing The Council of Bishop’s Anti-racism Leadership Team. She is also the founder of the Seeds of Security ministry, supporting those escaping abusive relationships. Bishop Easterling is married to Rev. Marion Easterling Jr., and they have two grown sons.
Artists:
North Point Worship
North Point Worship is a collective of worship leaders, songwriters, and creatives from North Point Ministries in Atlanta, GA. Our heart's desire is to equip the local church with songs that exalt the name of Jesus, inspire people to follow Him, and ultimately join the story of God’s goodness being told from generation to generation.
Telling that story can get messy. Our journey with God is often full of both celebration and tragedy, faith and doubt, surrender and caution. But, we believe the ebbs and flows of our life with God are what make it beautiful enough to fight for, and we hope our songs inspire you to wrestle too. We serve a God who meets us in the middle of it all, and for that, we’re grateful.
Angie Rose
Angie Rose is a dynamic powerhouse multi genre artist from the Bronx. Her message of inspiration is consistent although the sounds are diverse. Hailing from Puerto Rican roots, this Latina inspires her fans to be unstoppable through a combination of raw energy and undaunted lyrics.
Her music promotes diversity and overcoming all obstacles, pulling from traumatic experiences with loss, drugs, alcohol abuse and more, she inspires us all to find healing in Jesus and never give up on purpose.
Workshops
Lauren N. Jenkins is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC), Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (CCTP), and a certified therapist in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (C-DBT) Lauren is also a mental health Advocate, empowerment speaker, and trainer with over 19 years of experience providing therapeutic support and interventions to youth and adults involved in the correctional/mental health systems. In addition, Lauren holds extensive experience facilitating professional development and training for government organizations, as well as community outreach organizations throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia, as well as across the United States. Lauren is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Trainer (Youth and Adult), through the National Council for Wellbeing, a Master Trainer in Adverse Childhood Experiences, through the ACE Interface cohort; and a certified facilitator of other various Trauma Informed and Cognitive Behavioral programming and trainings. In her advocacy work, Lauren is passionate about raising awareness on the impact of suicide on African American Communities. She is a committe member for the non-profit organization Black People Die By Suicide Too, Board Member for the Life of Joy Foundation, as well as a Suicide Prevention advocate and Trainer of various suicide prevention programs, including L.E.T.S. Save Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention for Black and African American Communities through the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and is a Trainer and Co-Director for Soul Shop™ for Black Churches, a faith-based suicide prevention workshops, to support leaders and congregations minister to those impacted by suicidal desperation and suffering.
In August of 2021, Lauren launched The Journey2Well, LLC, (https://thejourney2well.com), a mental health and organizational wellness company to empower and equip organizations, through training, coaching and consulting to promote emotionally healthier staff, leaders, and work environments. The Journey2Well, LLC also provides psychotherapy and processing groups for individuals, primarily those called to the helping profession, in order to help improve their overall quality of life and so they can help others they have been entrusted to serve and support effectively and well.
When Lauren is not providing therapy, or serving as an advocate and trainer, Lauren enjoys leading worship, singing, and songwriting. She is a musician. From 2013-2020, she served as the lead singer for the Christian band "withLove," a Baltimore based band, who uses music and service to spread the word of God and the message to all to "Love God, Love People, and to do Everything with Love." She currently serves as the praise and worship leader at St. Paul United Methodist Church, located in Oxon Hill, MD under the pastorship of the Rev. Tony Love.