Thursday Evening Communion Speaker
Mac Wiener, Pastor, Bible Teacher
Presenting: Jesus as the Bread of Life
Too often we rely on our own strength when, in truth, we desperately need Jesus in our lives. We come to the Lord's Table with honesty about our weakness and a yearning to be filled. Our communion message will be based on John 6:25-35 where will we will be fed by God as we think about Jesus as the Bread of our life. Mac Wiener lives with his wife, Jeanne, and their two children in Elmhurst, Illinois where he currently serves as a Bible teacher at Timothy Christian School.
Friday Morning Keynote Speaker
Jan Boone, Executive Director of GEMS Girls' Clubs
Friday Morning Keynote: When God Whispers
Throughout these years of service, God has whispered many clear directions regarding the future of the ministry. Jan will share practical ways we all can direct our steps by learning to listen to the whispers of God. Exciting new directions that the Lord is taking the ministry will also be shared by Jan and others.
Friday Afternoon Keynote: The Invisible War
Every day we enter a battle for our minds. Our enemy has fighting skills–lying and deceiving–that are in a class of their own! Unless we understand the battle and the enemy and learn to equip ourselves, we will never win the war. Consider how your life might change if you were winning the battles.
Jan Boone has been serving as the Executive Director of GEMS Girls' Clubs since 1995. Jan lives with her husband, Dale, near Lawton, Michigan. They have two grown daughters and a son-in-law who bring much delight to their lives.
Friday Evening Keynote Speaker
Lenae Bulthuis, Training Manager of GEMS Girls' Clubs
Presenting: Think Right: Win the Fight! Theme Address
Lenae Bulthuis has been writing the Annual Theme resources since she began serving as Training Manager for GEMS Girls' Clubs in 2003. In this year's theme address we will learn that what we think determines who we become. Through Philippians 4:8 we will discover the good and right thinking that God desires. Renewing our minds will transform our lives! Lenae lives with her husband, Mike, near Prinsburg, Minnesota. They have three daughters, a son-in-law, a grandson they adore, as well as another on the way.
Saturday Morning Keynote Speaker
Kendra Smiley, Author and Speaker
Presenting: Eliminate the "If Onlys" and "What Ifs"There are "if onlys" and "what ifs" in everyone's life.
The Lord does not want us to allow either of those unproductive (and sometimes crippling) patterns of thinking to control our lives. Through her message we will be encouraged and equipped to make the "next right choice." Kendra Smiley was born and raised in Central Illinois and still lives there with her husband of more than 35 years. Together they have raised three sons.
www.kendrasmiley.com
Saturday Afternoon Speaker/Music Leader
Rob Biagi, Musician and Songwriter
Presenting: Music and Today's Kids
Music is a powerful force in the lives of today's kids. Secular pop radio and CDs soak them in powerful messages that shape their worldview, their attitudes, their behavior, and their sense of value. We must provide more and more wholesome alternatives to secular pop music. Join Christian Kids' Artist Rob Biagi as he shares his experience and insight in an effort to help you navigate the waters of popular music. Rob and his wife, Kathleen, live in Southern California with their three children. www.robbiagi.com
Saturday Afternoon Speaker
Kristen Anderson, Author and Speaker
Presenting: Life In Spite of Me
Kristen Anderson thought she had a picture-perfect life until strokes of gray dimmed her outlook. Once a happy child, Kristen's world darkened after three friends and her grandmother died within two years. Still reeling from these losses, she was raped by a friend she thought she could trust. She soon spiraled into a depression that didn't seem to have an end. Then, on a cold January night at the age of 17, Kristen attempted suicide by laying down on a set of railroad tracks near her parents' home. She was run over by 33 freight train cars at 50 mph, and both of her legs were severed, but, miraculously, she survived! Kristen is the founder of Reaching You Ministries, the author of Life, In Spite of Me, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, has been featured on Oprah, and is a popular speaker at colleges, women's and youth events, churches, and suicide prevention outreaches.
www.reachingyouministries.com
Sunday Morning Keynote Speaker
Dee Brestin, Author, Speaker, and Bible Teacher
Presenting: Hearts of Flesh
Nationally and internationally recognized author/speaker Dee Brestin has spent the past 25 years writing, speaking, encouraging, and challenging women of all ages to discover a life-changing intimacy with Jesus. Dee's message will be based on her new book The Stonecutter: Replacing a Heart of Stone with a Heart of Flesh. Dee is excited to share the challenge that a mediocre Christian life with occasional picnics in the desert is not what God wants for us; rather, the Lover of our Souls longs to ignite our hearts and to set us free!
www.deebrestin.com
Windy City Cuisine and Comedy Night
River City Improv
River City Improv is a group of Christians whose mission is to be a positive force in our community, providing clean comedy to those of us who need to laugh. RCI will entertain us with improve, comedy that will be built upon a series of games or scenes which will require audience suggestions. RCI is made of up Calvin College alumni who enjoy providing wholesome entertainment.
Worship Team
Colleen Reinders, Grace Moes with the Unity Music Ministries Band
Colleen and Grace, also known as Unity Music Ministries, have been working together in worship ministry for almost 30 years. These Oakville, Ontario residents have been a part of GEMS Conferences for over twelve years. Their friends and frequent music partners—Pat Panza, Bill Van Caulart, Mitch Whatford, and Doug Hoogsteen will join Colleen and Grace on stage to lead us in worship. The band members are also all from the Oakville, Ontario area and frequently unite to lead groups into the presence of God.
www.colleenandgrace.com