How People Grow | Rev. Albert Hung

The traditional Sunday School approach to discipleship doesn’t seem to be producing the passionate, well-equipped, courageous leaders that the church needs. One of the reasons for this is a failure to understand how people actually grow. Come learn a holistic method of making disciples that will change the way you approach this all-important task.

Rev. Albert Hung is the District Superintendent of the Northern California District Church of the Nazarene. Prior to his current assignment, Albert served as Lead Pastor of Trinity Church, a multi-site, multi-ethnic church serving the English, Spanish, Chinese, and Filipino communities east of Los Angeles, California. He also served as the International Chaplain for Azusa Pacific University, leading chapel services for a global community of students from more than thirty countries. After spending several years in the entertainment business as a stage director, recording artist, and television host, Albert received a call from the Lord to pastoral ministry in 2003 while serving as a missionary in Taipei, Taiwan. He speaks frequently on the topics of preaching, cross-cultural ministry, leadership development, and the future of the church. His published work includes articles for Holiness Today, The Table magazine, and the Reflecting God devotional series.

Understanding the Numb and Unfiltered (Trauma at it’s best) | Mr.Tawan Williams

This workshop will cover the importance of having the elements to feel complete as a person in our world today and how to minister to someone that has experienced high levels of trauma.  Tawan will speak out of his own experiences as a young man growing up in East St. Louis and experiencing high levels of trauma himself.

Mr. Tawan Williams is the author of the book Life Stings “The Overcomer” and is a popular youth motivational speaker. He has given hundreds of presentations and has spoken to over 20,000 people in 15 states through leadership conferences, conventions, school assemblies, and other student events. Tawan is the director of a non-profit,  serves as the Education Coordinator at Christian Activity Center and works at Scott Air Force Base. While Tawan does love speaking and inspiring, he loves his wife, son and two daughters more. They live in Belleville, Illinois.

Hear Me! Four Essential Insights for the Church Regarding Mental Illness | Dr. Todd Bowman

Anxiety. Post traumatic stress. Depression. The evidence of psychological and emotional suffering is all around us. The church has the profound ability to offer the healing touch of comfort, safety, and presence to those who suffer, yet mental illness is often overlooked in the Body of Christ, at best, or defined as insufficient faith and labeled as evidence of secret sin, at worst. This presentation will introduce a new model for living out compassion to those who struggle with mental illness, those of us who are already a part of the church and those we are reaching out to in love.

Dr. Todd Bowman, a psychologist and online professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, completed his undergraduate degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and his graduate schooling at Oklahoma State University. He lives in Olathe, KS with his wife, Rebekah, and their three boys, Ethan (11), Graham (9), and Titus (5), where the family attends Living Hope Church of the Nazarene. He is the author of Angry Birds and Killer Bees: Talking to your kids about sex, and regularly speaks at churches, conferences and universities on issues of human sexuality, sexual addiction, and mental health.  About Todd, Jim Chapman, pastor at O’Fallon New Life Church, says, “Todd is the total package. He is incredibly smart, is the funniest person I know, and his love for Jesus is evident in his work. I really hope I can be like him when I grow up.”

Right Praise, Right Belief: How Worship Shapes Us | Rev. Dr. Scott Dermer & Rev. Harold Lumley

This workshop will explore the vital connection between our worship practices and our theological identity. What we do in worship, and how we do it, is a significant force in the development of our beliefs about God. The order we follow, the songs we sing, the readings we select, the liturgy we engage in, the media we use, and the prayers we offer all shape particular understandings of God. Is our worship creating a rich understanding of God that is deeply rooted in Scripture and the Christian tradition? Or, is it creating an understanding of God that is shallow and confusing?

Rev. Dr. Scott Dermer serves as the lead pastor of the Webster Groves Church of the Nazarene. He received his Ph.D. in Historical Theology at Saint Louis University. Scott is passionate about preaching and equipping the church to be a missional community that is deeply rooted in the historic Christian faith. He loves running and spending time with his wife and three children.

Rev. Harold F. Lumley Jr. is a graduate of Asbury College and Asbury Theological Seminary. An ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene, Pastor Harold has served 47 years in pastoral ministry, including 13 years as a music minister. Pastor Harold currently holds a position of Registered Evangelist in the Church of the Nazarene.

Hospitality at the Table | Rev. Liliana Reza

Diversity is beautiful, and hospitality is essential in cross-cultural ministry. Learn practical steps on how to best engage diverse cultures in your current ministry context.

Rev. Liliana Reza is Campus Pastor and Associate Director of International Ministries at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego, California. Liliana is passionate about cross-cultural ministry and developing opportunities where young adults can engage in holistic service to others.  She has served as a missionary for the Church of the Nazarene throughout South America in various ministry capacities.  She is a licensed minister in the Church of the Nazarene and nearing ordination. 

Christ and the Church of the Nazarene in the Congo | Dr. Kashama Mulamba

Storytellers can spread the great news about Jesus from village to village. Songwriters can write masterpieces that praise His faithfulness. Poets can arrange the words into rhyming stanzas that glorify His magnitude. I wish I were a storyteller, a songwriter or a poet. I’m not, but He used me to spread the great news in the Congo.

Dr. Kashama Mulamba was chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages at Olivet Nazarene University from 2011 until 2016.  He has teen teaching at the college level, in the Congo and in the United States, since 1974.  Dr. Mulamba is a specialist in applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and language and culture.  He is fluent in English, French, Ciluba and Lingala, and nearly fluent in Swahili and Kisonge.  He also reads and translates Latin. Dr. Mulamba is an internationally recognized scholar and has been published in several journals. He has also received several professional honors, awards, and recognitions, including the 2012-2013 Fulbright Award in Research/Teaching. Dr. Mulamba and his wife Madolie have five grown children. The oldest daughter, Godée, lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Gentille, Paty, Nana, and Oeuvre live in the Illinois-Indiana area. Dr. Mulamba has led several mission trips with ONU students to Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Feeding Ourselves, Feeding Each Other | Rev. Christine Hung

How do we move people from being passive spectators to active participants in their own spiritual growth? How do we move beyond spoon-feeding people the same truths over and over again to having Bible studies that are full of deep, robust dialogue that lead to tangible life change? How do we go from dispensing information to sparking transformation? In this session, you will learn a dynamic, participant-led approach to group Bible study that empowers ordinary Christians to engage the Scriptures on a deeper level and bring their personal discoveries into the classroom.

Rev. Christine Hung is the Director of Pastoral Development for the Northern California District Church of the Nazarene. In this role, she helps care for and encourage district pastors and their families, develops training days and workshops for the District, curates a list of resources, networks, and conferences that will help pastors be effective in their call, and is an advocate for greater diversity within the pastoral corps. Prior to joining the Northern California District Staff, Christine served as pastor of Trinity Church Rowland Heights Campus, a multi-site, multi-ethnic church in Los Angeles County. She is passionate about discipleship and empowering ordinary people to participate in God’s mission in the world. Christine also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Center for Pastoral Leadership at Nazarene Theological Seminary, is a featured writer on The Foundry Community blog, leads workshops on Bible study, and speaks regularly on diversity, spiritual healing, and empowerment of women.

Ministry to Spiritual Orphans | Rev. Jill Waltz

Scripture is clear that God designed parents of families to take the lead when it comes to the spiritual development/nurture of their children. Sadly, this isn’t a reality for some kids. Ministering to kids who have never set foot in a church before can prove to be an eye opening experience to even seasoned ministry veterans. We will learn how to create a new culture and how to practically minister to kids who are Spiritual Orphans.

Rev. Jill Waltz is an Ordained Elder in the COTN and has been in full time ministry for over twenty years. She currently serves as an evangelist and leadership trainer. Jill obtained her B.S. degree from Olivet as well as her Masters in Church Management. She has authored 3 books and is passionate about challenging life-long Christians to lean into their role in God’s Story. She currently lives in Middletown, IN with her husband and 3 daughters, mini horse, and donkey named Elvis.

Our Bodies Proclaim the Gospel: Embodying Truth in a Sexualized World | Dr. Todd Bowman

The sexualization of the human person is quite evident in modern society. Themes such as power, intensity and significance are brokered through sexuality, and both our relational imaginations and spiritual maturity as a culture have been negatively impacted. Evangelization in our schools, homes, and communities requires that we have a strong sexual ethic that is lived out faithfully; one that is rooted in scripture and evidenced in our daily lives. This presentation will examine a biblical sexual ethic and discuss the reality of God’s design for human sexuality evidenced in physical creation.

Dr. Todd Bowman, a psychologist and online professor at Indiana Wesleyan University, completed his undergraduate degree at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, and his graduate schooling at Oklahoma State University. He lives in Olathe, KS with his wife, Rebekah, and their three boys, Ethan (11), Graham (9), and Titus (5), where the family attends Living Hope Church of the Nazarene. He is the author of Angry Birds and Killer Bees: Talking to your kids about sex, and regularly speaks at churches, conferences and universities on issues of human sexuality, sexual addiction, and mental health.  About Todd, Jim Chapman, pastor at O’Fallon New Life Church, says, “Todd is the total package. He is incredibly smart, is the funniest person I know, and his love for Jesus is evident in his work. I really hope I can be like him when I grow up.”

The Medium is the Message | Dr. Mark Quanstrom

This workshop explores the relationship between our Wesleyan-Holiness theological commitments and our ecclesial methodologies and strategies. In other words, it asks the question if our practices are in harmony with our theology, or does our methodology at times undermine our theology?

Rev. Mark R. Quanstrom, Ph.D. is the Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry, since June 1, 2015. He is also the Senior Pastor of College Church of the Nazarene, University Avenue, since June 22, 2014. He received a B.A. from Olivet Nazarene University, an M.Div from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology, from St. Louis University. He is the author of two books and numerous articles. His doctoral dissertation was published in 2004 by Beacon Hill Press under the title “A Century of Holiness Theology,” which some consider to be one of the publisher’s landmark publications. His second book, “From Grace to Grace,” is an exploration of the call to holiness and was published by Beacon Hill Press in 2011. Prior to coming to Olivet, he was the pastor at First Church of the Nazarene, Belleville, Illinois, for 23 years. During that time, he was an online instructor for Nazarene Bible College; an adjunct professor for European Nazarene College, director of the Illinois District School of Ministry; and served on the Illinois District Advisory Board. From 2009 to 2014, he was the University Campus Pastor of College Church of the Nazarene.

Understanding Grief and Loss | Rev. Hamish Seegers

Grief and loss affects each and everyone of us.  In this workshop we will seek to examine life lessons and beliefs surrounding grief and loss.  In the midst of our own personal journey we will discover personal coping strategies that will enable us to learn effective methods to journey with others through grief and loss.

Rev. Hamish Seegers works as a professional Chaplain with BJC Home Health and Hospice as well as the Washington University Palliative Care Department. Hamish also serves as a Hospice educator in the Missouri Correctional Facilities teaching offenders how to provide hospice care to other offenders in need.  He received his B.A. in Religion from Olivet Nazarene University as well as a Masters in Religion, a Master’s in Missional Leadership from Northwest Nazarene University, CPE from Rush University, a Palliative Care Specialty from California State University, and in process for a Masters of Divinity in Chaplaincy from Olivet Nazarene University.  Hamish has a vast experience and wisdom serving those who have experienced profound loss and grief throughout his career as a chaplain and bereavement specialist.  Hamish is an Ordained Elder with the Church of the Nazarene.  He resides in St. Charles with his wife Susan, and two children Clive and Eiranae. 

Language and Diversity | Dr. Kashama Mulamba

Language varies among social groups (ethnic, socioeconomic, and gender groups) as well as across situations of use. Along with physical appearance and cultural characteristics, language marks its speakers as “insiders” and allows them to identify and exclude “outsiders”. The question then is: Can we bridge the gap between the “insiders” and the “outsiders” in communities that are diverse like in the US?

Dr. Kashama Mulamba was chair of the Department of English and Modern Languages at Olivet Nazarene University from 2011 until 2016.  He has teen teaching at the college level, in the Congo and in the United States, since 1974.  Dr. Mulamba is a specialist in applied linguistics, sociolinguistics, pragmatics, and language and culture.  He is fluent in English, French, Ciluba and Lingala, and nearly fluent in Swahili and Kisonge.  He also reads and translates Latin.  Dr. Mulamba is an internationally recognized scholar and has been published in several journals.  He has also received several professional honors, awards, and recognitions, including the 2012-2013 Fulbright Award in Research/Teaching. Dr. Mulamba and his wife Madolie have five grown children.  The oldest daughter, Godée, lives in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, while Gentille, Paty, Nana, and Oeuvre live in the Illinois-Indiana area. Dr. Mulamba has led several mission trips with ONU students to Burkina Faso, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

For Laypersons Only: “Me and My Church” | Dr. Mike Palmer

A healthy church is composed of many components. This workshop will focus on relationships and their importance and impact in a local congregation.  We will look at ourselves individually, and at our relationship with our pastor and others that attend our church.  The time we spend together will be positive, inspirational, and encouraging.

Dr. Michael Palmer serves as the District Superintendent for the Missouri District Church of the Nazarene.  Having been a pastor for nearly 20 years and a DS for 13, Mike works extensively with pastors and lay men and women in the church setting. His passion is to “equip God’s people for works of service” in the  church.  He has a strong desire to see pastors and laity work together and thrive in the local church setting and to see the Kingdom of God be reflected in their ministries.

Rural Revival: Sharing in God’s Mission for the Small Town | Rev. Jason Young, Facilitator

Fifty percent of the churches in the Church of the Nazarene are in rural areas and small towns.  Are you part of a rural/small town church?  Does it seem like conferences, training, and resources are always geared toward larger churches in urban and suburban contexts?  This workshop is designed specifically for you, the small-town church leader, Sunday school teacher, children’s or youth worker.  Come join the round table discussion, share creative ideas, and be inspired by stories of God’s work in and through our small town and rural churches.

Pastor Jason Young is no stranger to the rural and small town church.  He has pastored in the rural areas of North and South Dakota, Montana, and Washington State.  He has been involved in everything from planting a new church in a town of 900 to pastoring the traditional longtime church in a town of 4000.  Jason has experienced bi-vocational ministry, has been involved with farming and ranching, small town volunteer fire departments, coaching sports in the local school, and even politics, serving as an alderman.  He currently pastors Hannibal First Church, in Hannibal MO.

Youth Ministry Q&A  | Rev. Richard Stout, Facilitator

I have this one student.’  ‘I only have one student.’  ‘How do I recruit volunteers?’  These are just a few of the million things that bounce around in our heads as we endeavor to minister with students in the local church.  So we’ve brought together some of our very gifted MO District youth pastors to help you wind your way through the ins and outs of youth ministry where you serve.  This session is geared specifically toward adult NYI leaders, but everyone is welcome to attend.

Pastor Richard (aka. PR) has been the Lead Pastor at Sikeston First Church of the Nazarene for the last 3 1/2 years and is currently serving as MO District NYI President.  But before he came to our district, he served as a youth pastor for 17 years in Tennessee and Florida.  Following God’s call to become a Lead Pastor has not diminished his passionate desire to see students become lifetime disciples of the risen Christ, it just expanded to all age groups.  He loves spending time with his family, exercising, and playing just about any sport he’s invited to play.

The Medium is the Message | Dr. Mark Quanstrom

(Repeat of Session 2 Workshop)

This workshop explores the relationship between our Wesleyan-Holiness theological commitments and our ecclesial methodologies and strategies. In other words, it asks the question if our practices are in harmony with our theology, or does our methodology at times undermine our theology?

Rev. Mark R. Quanstrom, Ph.D. is the Dean of the School of Theology and Christian Ministry, since June 1, 2015. He is also the Senior Pastor of College Church of the Nazarene, University Avenue, since June 22, 2014. He received a B.A. from Olivet Nazarene University, an M.Div from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. in Historical Theology, from St. Louis University. He is the author of two books and numerous articles. His doctoral dissertation was published in 2004 by Beacon Hill Press under the title “A Century of Holiness Theology,” which some consider to be one of the publisher’s landmark publications. His second book, “From Grace to Grace,” is an exploration of the call to holiness and was published by Beacon Hill Press in 2011.  Prior to coming to Olivet, he was the pastor at First Church of the Nazarene, Belleville, Illinois, for 23 years. During that time, he was an online instructor for Nazarene Bible College; an adjunct professor for European Nazarene College, director of the Illinois District School of Ministry; and served on the Illinois District Advisory Board. From 2009 to 2014, he was the University Campus Pastor of College Church of the Nazarene.

Cultural Humility vs. Cultural Competence | Mr. Jason Watson

In order to properly serve & love, we must deal with the elephant in the room. Race!!! More specifically, culture. Cultural differences create barriers that we know often exist but don’t realize why. In the workshop we will look a bit more deeply into how we examine ourselves & our implicit & explicit biases. We will also look at how our perspectives impact how we can engage with communities.

Mr. Jason Watson serves as the Director Of Beyond Jobs at Mission: St. Louis, where he leads a team that is laser-focused on workforce development. Jason has helped to craft a successful program that teaches job training, financial empowerment, & manhood to lead men ages 22-35 toward long-term sustainability. His leadership has garnered notable recognition including being honored by Saint Louis Americans Salute to Young Leaders award for his advocacy, mentoring, and community support, as well as being a Focus St. Louis’s What’s Right With The Region award recipient.

Overcoming Barriers in Cross-Cultural Contexts | Rev. Mike Askew, District NMI President, Facilitator

Join us for an exciting session focused on overcoming barriers in cross cultural settings. You will enjoy insights from Rev. Carol Rittenhouse and Dr. Clark and Connie Armstrong as they share their experiences on the mission field. Barriers are everywhere but what does it look like to experience them in a culture that was previously unfamiliar to you? We will also examine how you can more effectively minister to cultures that may look different than your own. Don’t miss this powerful and informative session!

Rev. Carol Rittenhouse is originally from the state of Indiana in the United States.  She was a French and Spanish teacher before receiving a call from God to enter the ministry. She received a degree in Romance Languages (French and Spanish) from Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais, Illinois, USA. Later she completed a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. She has been ordained as an Elder in the Church of the Nazarene since 2010. She served as Associate Pastor at Central Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, USA from 2008-2015. Additionally Carol worked in the Global Clergy Development office of the Global Church of the Nazarene in Lenexa, Kansas, USA, from 2007 to 2015. She has served as a Nazarene missionary at the Nazarene Seminary of the Americas (SENDAS) in Costa Rica since July of 2015. Currently she assists Dr. Ruben Fernandez in his responsibilities as Regional Education Coordinator for the Mesoamerica Region and assists in public relations for the seminary. She also coordinates the Christians Academy of Language and Learning (CALL) program and serves as an adjunct professor.

Rev. Clark Armstrong graduated as a Religion major from Olivet Nazarene University in 1976, and from Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1981. Clark and Connie pastored three churches in the Kansas City area until coming to teach at Asia Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary in the Philippines, September, 2013. Clark had been a professor through the Kansas City District Nazarene Bible College Extension from 1989—2010 while pastoring. In 2010, he received his Doctorate in Education from the University of Kansas. At APNTS, his title is Associate Professor of Pastoral Ministries and Christian Education. Clark is also the Director of the Doctor of Ministry Program. He has recently been named Dean of Students for APNTS.

Mrs. Connie Armstrong‘s career was mainly in the field of Workers’ Compensation for 25 years. She then spent five years as the Administrative Assistant to the President (Hardy Weathers) at Nazarene Publishing House before joining Clark in their appointment as global missionaries on the Asia-Pacific Region. Connie is an assistant to President, Dr. Bruce Oldham, has responsibility for the APNTS website and also is on the Asia Pacific Regional Member Care team, which provides support to the missionary families.  Connie and Clark have three grown children and four grandchildren.