Spring Training 2014 Speakers
Bios
Cathi Adams – Making Mudpies – Entering the Places of Hurt with OthersRecovery Director
Cathi attended Mt. Mary College, doing her internship at Elmbrook. After graduating in 2007, she was hired at Elmbrook and is currently
the Recovery Director at Elmbrook. She is the
wife of one, mother of two, and grandma of six. Her area of training is “a loving God, a longlife, a lot of mistakes, and a master’s degree in counseling”.
Philip Alexander – Forum: Christianity and the Challenge of World Religions Founder, President and Director of Biblical Studies with Solid Reasons
Philip Alexander is President and Director of Biblical Studies with Solid Reasons, Inc., whose greatest passion is to help people grow in their faith and knowledge of God. In 2010 Philip co-founded Solid Reasons, Inc. to equip Christians to defend their faith via conferences and educational curriculum. Today, Solid Reasons is a national organization dedicated to teaching a holistic approach to the Christian Worldview, including studies of philosophy, theology, apologetics, history, science, and culture.
Philip holds a Master of Theology (with an emphasis in Biblical Studies), a Master of Arts degree in Christian Apologetics, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Adult Education. Philip has had the opportunity to study with some of the greatest Christian thinkers in the world, including Josh McDowell, Dallas Willard, JP Moreland, Gary Habermas, Craig Hazen, Clay Jones, John Mark Reynolds, and many others. Philip's first book Quitting God: Diagnosing an Epidemic of Unbelief, that focuses on the increased statistics of both Youth and Adults walking away from the faith, will be released later this year. Along with his colleague, Greta Bloyd, Philip is working on a kid's book series on evidences for Christianity. Also, this fall Philip will be debating Dan Barker, co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation.
Sam Dallas - Forum: Christianity and the Challenge of World Religions Director of Evangelism with Solid Reasons
In addition to serving as Solid Reasons' Director of Evangelism, Sam Dallas is the Minister to Students and Minister of Apologetics at Reece Prairie Baptist Church in Burleson, TX. He and his wife, Krissi, have lived in the DFW Metroplex since 2003. Sam holds a B.A. in Bible and a minor in Philosophy from Oklahoma Baptist University, a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Biola University. Sam is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in
Evangelism and North American Missions from Southwestern Seminary. While Sam loves teaching anyone and everyone, Sam's passion is training Christian teenagers to share and defend their faith for the advancement of the Kingdom of God. He believes that such training will also solidify an authentic faith in teens’ lives that can stand up to a culture that is becoming increasingly hostile to the truth of God.
Andy Hagen – The Critical Journey: Six Stages of Spiritual Development Pastor and Teacher
By God's grace, Andy has served as a pastor for the past 45 years; as a chaplain in the US Army, as a pastor in three local churches, and as a program director at Cedarly Pastors Retreat. He is passionate about coaching and encouraging pastors and ministry leaders to be all they can be in Christ for the growth and health of the church. Andy and his wife Nancy live in Delafield and have been members at
Elmbrook for 12 years.
Debi Hovila – Playgrounds, PTA’s and Patios Women’s Life Group Director – iMoms
Debi Hovila is the Imoms Program Director here at Elmbrook church. She and her husband live a busy life raising 3 kids age 13, 11 and 9. She enjoys exercise to unwind, gourmet meals and vacations on the beach. Debi has a heart for women and a desire to empower them to seek their full potential in Christ in whatever stage they are in.
Jan Keddie – SHAPE
Director – MIssional Inspiration and Involvement
Jan Keddie has a passion for helping individuals discover how God has created them to be part of his plan in changing the landscape in their part of the world. Jan has attended Elmbrook since 1964 (proper response would be "she doesn't look that old") and joined the staff in 1996. In 2012 she moved from her position coordinating the worship services to serving in the mission department helping to educate and mobilize people into their place in God's mission. Jan has four married adult children who have blessed her with seven grandchildren.
Sylvia Jeronimo – Everyday Circles
Director of Leadership Training and Development
Sylvia is married and has three children. She is Portuguese by birth, South African by upbringing and American by chance. She has served on staff for 7 years and counting and is now the Director of Leadership Training and Development for the Adult Hub.
Tom Keppeler – This is your City: The Making of Milwaukee Mission and Serve Hub Lead Pastor
Tom Keppeler is lead pastor of the Mission&Serve Hub at Elmbrook Church. Prior to that, Tom and his wife, Mary, served as missionaries in Romania for 18 years. Tom and Mary have three children and live in Menomonee Falls.
Bill Marris – Battles & Bloodshed: Understanding Old Testament Violence Founder of Lake Country Circuit Rider Ministries, Inc.
William Marris has taught Biblical courses for the past twenty-five years at a number of Milwaukee area churches, adult Sunday-schools, small groups, and at a local Bible College. He is the founder of Lake Country Circuit Rider Ministries, Inc., a Bible teaching mission to Southeastern Wisconsin. In addition, Bill is a Senior Elder at Oakwood Church, in Hartland, WI.
He holds a Master’s Degree in History Summa Cum Laude from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate. He has been accepted for membership in Mensa. Bill has visited many Biblical sites in Israel, Egypt, Greece, Turkey, Jordan and Italy, and has made short-term mission trips to Russia, East Africa, and to Papua New Guinea. His lifetime goal is to proclaim Christ “to the ends of the Earth” (Acts 1:8), and he has travelled to nearly seventy countries, all fifty states, and has personally testified about the Lord Jesus Christ on all seven continents. Bill hopes to publish two books later in 2014. He is married to Lynne, and they have three adult married children, six grandchildren, and a Wheaten Terrier named Cosmo.
Samir Massou – A Window into the Past- Old Testament Survey Old Testament Professor – Trinity International University
Paul Mullen – Our Souls At Work: A Fresh Look at Faith and Work Senior Elder / General Manager-‐Point of Care Untrasound – GE
Paul is an Engineer by training, a Marketer by practice, and a General Manager by title. Still active in both his technical and marketing roots, he was named the Top Marketer in GE in 2012 and he also is the inventor or co-inventor on a dozen US Patents.
Pauls’ resume is nearly entirely filled with experience at GE Healthcare, completing 30 years of service with the company in December 2013. But his organizational experience extends far beyond the strictly corporate world: Paul is the founding Partner of Frontera Business Services, a company that provides transaction processing and donor relationship management support to small- and medium-sized NGOs that raise money in the USA. He serves as board member or board advisor to a number of NGOs and community
organizations, focusing his work on leadership development, governance, and process improvement.
Paul’s next project involves the development of a community consulting network that will bring together experienced professionals and deploy them as short-term volunteer consultants in the community… McKinsey and Company without the fees. The idea is to align people’s natural gifting with the needs of the community, coming along side school Principals, small business owners, benevolent service organizations, and others who are working to improve the culture and community in his home city.
Paul is an accomplished photographer, a hobby he developed under his father’s guidance as a boy, and whose skill and passion he has passed on to his three daughters. He and his wife are currently learning to thermoform acrylic to make 3-dimensional artwork for their home. Paul served as an Elder at Elmbrook Church from 2008 through 2013, serving as the Vice Chair and Chair in the last two years.
Jill Rennick – A Christian Response to Homosexuality Co-‐Director – The Grace Place
Jill Rennick is currently the Director of The Grace Place in Milwaukee. Jill has a degree in Psychology from Cal State Fullerton and a certificate in Bible from New Tribes Bible Institute. After years of full-time ministry at Elmbrook Church and in response to God’s direction and the passion of her own heart, she is now involved in full-time ministry to those whose lives have been impacted by
homosexuality. Having grown up as a believer who herself struggled with same-sex attractions, Jill has the desire to help equip the body of Christ to minister the grace and truth of God to those in their world who have been impacted by homosexuality. She believes the good news of the gospel is offered and available to all and has the power to transform lives.
Doug Schoen – Theology 101 Caring Ministries Associate Pastor
Doug grew up in New Jersey, graduated from Wheaton College (IL) in 1969 with a Music Education degree, then served 3 years in the U.S. Army Band at West Point (NY) as a trumpeter (concurrently earning a Master's Degree at Teachers College, Columbia University). After teaching public school music in Utica, NY, he served for 3 years on the pastoral team at Grace Chapel in Lexington (MA). During the following 5 years that he was a Professor of Music at Greenville (IL) College, he simultaneously earned his Ed.D. from Washington University.
Doug moved to Barrington (RI) College to become Chairman of the School of Music. In 1987 he came to Elmbrook as Associate Pastor for Fine Arts Ministry, then in 1998 assumed his role in the Pastoral Care Ministry.
Doug and his wife, Carolyn, have two children, five grandchildren.
Interests include TaeKwonDo, cross-country motorcycling, composing and arranging music, traveling to Africa.
Dave Seemuth – A Primer on the Book of Romans
Director of Elmbrook Study Center -‐ New Testament Professor
Dave is the Director of the Elmbrook Christian Study Center and has been on the staff of Elmbrook Church for 32 years. He holds a Ph.D.
in New Testament from Marquette University and loves to teach the Epistles of Paul especially.
Steve Sonderman – Are Leaders Made or Born: How God Calls, Develops and Launches Kingdom Leaders Adult Hub Lead Pastor
As one of only a handful of full-time men’s pastors across the country, Steve Sonderman is on the leading edge of local church ministry to men. Steve has been an associate pastor at Elmbrook Church in Brookfield, Wisconsin, for the past 26 years. He regularly consults and leads seminars for churches from a wide range of denominations to assist in developing local men’s ministries.
Steve’s real passion is to see every local church have its own ministry to men. As a result of his own research into the unique ministry needs of men, he founded No Regrets Men’s Ministries (formerly Top Gun Ministry). No Regrets Men’s Ministries has as its purpose the desire to equip churches to develop men’s ministry in the context of the local church. His book, How to Build a Life-Changing Men’s
Ministry, provides the nuts and bolts of putting together a men’s ministry that works. Steve’s latest release, Mobilizing Men for One-on-One Ministry, is a practical guide for personal ministry for any man whose heart’s desire is to leave no man behind!
Steve has been married to Colleen for 30 years and they have four adult children: Kristin, Angela, Tim, and Jon.
Troy Thomas – Bible Discovery Method Executive Director – NR Men’s Ministry
Troy Thomas serves as Director of No Regrets Men’s Ministries. He is passionate about seeing men come alive in Christ. Troy grew up in Cedarburg and went to college on a football scholarship. After a short stint with the Washington Redskins, Troy married Liz, his high school sweetheart and got a “real” job working with technology and then as a management consultant before becoming a pastor.
Troy has a bachelor’s degree from Northern Iowa, an MBA from George Washington University, a Masters in Christian Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is currently working on an Masters of Divinity at Rockbridge Seminary. Troy and Liz have three kids (one is still at home) along with Frank – a small dog with a big heart. In addition to his family and his work, Troy really enjoys coaching youth football and outdoor adventures.
Tom Tunnicliff – Developing a Learning Mindset: You really Are Your Own Best Teacher Life Groups Director
Tom Tunnicliff has been on staff the Director of Life Groups since the fall of 2012. Most recently Tom has been working as program director of the Theological Education Initiatives for the Kern Family Foundation in Waukesha. Tom has broad experience in many areas – which includes work as an architect, as well in pastoral and academic roles.
Tom received his Masters of Divinity from Western Seminary, a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California, and a Bachelors of Architecture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He has a passion for discipleship, spiritual formation, and equipping the next generation of leaders for the Church. Tom and his wife Kirsten have three children, Hunter (18), Hannah (15), and Hudson (13) and live in Waukesha.
Sally Turner – Our Souls At Work: A Fresh Look at Faith and Work Manager and Consultant – Office of Patient Experience-‐Aurora Health Care
Sally is a nurse who has served in numerous positions in Health Care over the last 40 years: as a front
line staff nurse, a family nurse practitioner, a nurse executive and currently an internal consultant for Aurora Health Care on providing the best patient and family experience. Sally left Wisconsin after college and worked in both rural Vermont and inner city Boston. For the past 22 years she has worked for Aurora Health Care, 21 of those at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee’s inner city.
After being unchurched for 20 years, Sally became a Christian at age 45 after she reluctantly joined her husband at Elmbrook Church for a Thanksgiving Day service. Prior to acceptance of the Lord Jesus as her Savior her career had a steep upward trajectory. Since
becoming a Christian, the road has been a bit rockier. But she has seen Gods hand clearly through every step. She has many regrets from her non-Christian years as a wife, mother, and leader during which she experienced her greatest career success…and almost no regrets since becoming a Christian, despite experiencing a number of career set-backs.
She has Masters degrees from Harvard School of Public Health and Boston University. She has received the Boston Department of Health and Hospitals Employee of the Year Award, the Hope Shining Award from the Healing Center for Survivors of Sexual Abuse, and the Milwaukee Business Journal Women of Influence Inspirational Leader Award. She speaks locally and nationally on “leading from every chair” to create thriving workplaces and compassionate healthcare environments.
