Speakers

 

 

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Tina Carriger

(pronounced care-i-gher) was born and raised in Lincoln, NE. She is the oldest of 3 children. It was never her dream or desire to be a pastor, but when God calls you either respond or live in disobedience. She is a graduate of Southern Adventist University and Andrews Theological Seminary.

In 2017, she joined the Oakwood University Church Pastoral Staff where she served for 2 1/2 years under the leadership of Dr. Carlton P. Byrd. Presently she pastors the First SDA Church in Springfield TN. Pastor Carriger wears many hats but the one hat that governs her life is, child of God.

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Jose Cortes (Panelist)

Jose Cortes Jr. treasures and loves Joanne Cortes, his wife and companion in ministry. Together, they are blessed with two boys, Jose III and Joel Benjamin. Next to God and family, his greatest joy and passion come from ministry, and about 25 years of pastoring, youth and young adult ministries, soul winning, church planting, and leadership as a conference and union departmental director.

Cortes currently serves as Associate Director of the North American Division Ministerial Association. He leads in the association’s areas of Evangelism, Church Planting, Global Mission, Church Growth, and Mission to the Cities for the Adventist Church in North America. Cortes recognizes the importance of this task and continually asks the Holy Spirit for a double portion of love, vision, courage, grace, wisdom, power, and compassion to reach, retain, and reclaim others for Christ, along with the great team of about 5,000 pastors, leaders, and volunteer lay pastors across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the islands of Guam and Micronesia.

“Pastor Jose” holds a Master of Divinity (M.Div) from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan, and a B.A. in Theology from Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University, in Takoma Park, Maryland.

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Pastor Nathaniel H. Drew (Panelist) is a native of Silver Spring, Maryland, is the lead pastor of the Breath of Life SDA Church, Memphis, TN. He holds a bachelor’s degree in theology from Oakwood University, a Master of Divinity degree from Andrews University Theological Seminary, and a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Capella University. He is also a licensed Marriage and Family therapist. It is his passion to see the brokenness in the family system made whole. His personal vision is: “Heal the family, change the world.”

Pastor Drew has been recognized for excellence in church leadership in the areas of church growth, stewardship, community outreach, and administration. A well sought-after preacher, Pastor Drew has preached the Word of God all across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and South Africa.

The Lord has also blessed him to author two books: “While You’re Waiting: God’s ‘Not Yet’ is Not a No”, and his most recent project, “15 Ways to Make a Big Impact in a Small Church”.

Through it all, Pastor Drew considers his greatest accomplishment to be marrying the love of his life, the former Lillian Ware of Cleveland, Mississippi.  A close second was the birth of their two daughters Linaya Joy and Noelle Desiree’. Pastor Drew loves God, and he loves people.

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Tom Evans

Tom Evans is the Outreach Ministries Director for the Oregon Conference. His passion is to innovate ways to reach people for Jesus in a first world, secular context. Tom’s areas of expertise include church planting, coaching, and church growth. He is married to Silmara (originally from Brazil). They have three grown daughters, two boys at home, and are in the process of adopting two boys from Eastern Europe. They have several 4-legged family members as well: Golden Retrievers and Siberian cats.

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Manny Gomez (Panelist)

More information on this speaker coming soon.

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Richie Halverson

More information on this speaker coming soon.

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Henry Johnson

More information on this speaker coming soon.

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Kennedy Luckett

More information on this speaker coming soon.

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Alan Parker

More information on this speaker coming soon.

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Jennifer Woody serves as a Pastor in the Washington Conference, located in Federal Way, WA.   Jennifer holds a BA in theology from Washington Adventist University and a master’s in pastoral ministry through Andrews University.  She is currently in the Doctorate of Ministry program through Andrews University, with a concentration in Church Growth and Multiplication.

She has been married to Justin Woody for 22 years, and they have two beautiful daughters Sydney, age 18, a freshman at Walla Walla University, and Sky age 15, a sophomore at Auburn Adventist Academy.

Jennifer claims Colossians 1:28-29 as her purpose and motivation in ministry, “And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.  And for this purpose, also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.”