Joe Davis is a nationally-touring artist, educator, and speaker based in Minneapolis, MN. His work employs poetry, music, theater, and dance to shape culture. He is the Founder and Director of multimedia production company, The New Renaissance, the frontman of emerging soul funk band, The Poetic Diaspora, and qualified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory….
Inés Velasquez-McBryde is a pastor and speaker. She is the lead pastor of The Church We Hope For, a multiethnic church in southern California. She is originally from Nicaragua where her father was a pastor and community developer and her mother was a diplomat at the Spanish embassy under Foreign Affairs. Her life was shaped…
Heather Hansen (she/her) is the Associate Pastor at Abiding Presence Lutheran Church in San Antonio, Texas. She was a congregational youth minister for 12 years and a youth ministry coordinator for the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA for five years. Additionally, Pastor Heather taught Christian theology and Youth Ministry at Texas Lutheran University for…
Edwin Ortiz-Rivera is a pastor, the Mission Developer, and the Multiethnic Coordinator for the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. He was a missionary in Spain and has more than 20 years of missionary experience, including a Master’s Degree in mission. Pastor Edwin is the author of two novels: La Travesía del Cucubano and La…
Dr. Rob Muthiah’s work specializes in theology, congregational leadership practices, multiculturalism and race, Christian ethics, environmental justice, missional ecclesiology, and empowering the whole people of God. Dr. Muthiah has taught at Azusa Pacific Graduate School of Theology and Fuller Theological Seminary, where he taught classes such as Foundations for Ministry Life, Ethics and Worship, Transitions…
Dr. Ramón Pastrano IV is a founder and board member of Twin Cities-based ImpactLives, Inc., and founder of ThirdSphere LLC, a center for transformational leadership in cultural competence, social innovation, and entrepreneurship. Pastrano earned his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications/Media Studies from Briar Cliff University. His advanced degrees include a Master of Science in…
Kristofer Phan Coffman, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Luther Seminary. Kristofer completed his Ph.D. in Classical and Near Eastern Religions and Culture at the University of Minnesota and is the first person of Cambodian descent to receive a PhD in Biblical Studies. He’s been teaching New Testament Greek and courses on Paul at Luther…
Dr. Jennifer Hornyak Wojciechowski is an assistant professor of Church History at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN, and the associate editor of the journal Word & World. Her areas of scholarship include the history of Christianity, women’s history, American history, Christian mysticism, and the intersection of religion and social reform. She is the author of Women…
Darcy Mittelstaedt (she/her) is a Deacon and the Bishop Associate for Leadership and Lifelong Faith Formation for the Southwestern Texas Synod ELCA. She has also served as a Camp Counselor at Carol Joy Holling Camp in Ashland, Nebraska; Minister for Communication at the Grand Canyon Synod ELCA; and Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Director at…
Chris Steubing is a pastor at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Canyon Lake, Texas. He previously oversaw congregational vitality and new ministry initiatives as Director for the Evangelical Mission of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA. Steubing attended Texas Lutheran University (B.A.) and Luther Seminary (M.Div.) and worked in several churches as a youth…
Catherine J. Wright (Ph.D. Baylor) is associate professor of biblical and theological studies at Bethel University. She teaches primarily in the area of the New Testament, and has a special interest in Luke and in spiritual formation. She is the author of Spiritual Practices of Jesus: Learning Simplicity, Humility, and Prayer with Luke’s Earliest Readers…
Dr. Amy Buechler-Steubing is an education professional with over 25 years of experience spanning organizational leadership, program development, curriculum and instructional design, and teaching. She is passionate about expanding access to quality education, increasing social and economic mobility for underserved populations, and developing leaders. Amy is currently an administrator at the University of Texas in…
