LCMC Annual Gathering Keynote Speakers
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EFREM SMITH Efrem Smith is a internationally recognized leader who uses motivational speaking, comedy, and preaching to equip people for a life of transformation. He also consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development for churches, educational institutions, and other organizations.
Efrem has held positions with church and Para church organizations as well as community foundations. Currently, he serves as Senior Pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church and President and Board Chair of The Sanctuary Community Development Corporation in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Efrem is also an Itinerant Speaker with Kingdom Building Ministries. He is the author of the books, “Raising-up Young Heroes” and “The Hip Hop Church.”
Efrem is a graduate of Saint John’s University and Luther Theological Seminary. Currently, he is a doctoral student in Church Leadership at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He is also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.
Efrem is married to Donecia and has two daughters; Jaeda and Mireya. He has received many awards such as the Role Model Award from the Hennepin County Community Coalition, the Spiritual Education Award from the Minnesota Governor’s Commission on the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. State Holiday Celebration, a recipient of the 2005 “Revolutions Award” from the Flavor Fest Hip Hop Convention, and the Community Service Award from Saint John’s University.
JOHAN HINDERLIE
Pastor Johann Hinderlie is graduate of Williams College in Williamstown, MA and Northwestern/Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. He served churches in Washington, North Dakota and Wisconsin before working at Golden Valley Lutheran College.
When the college closed in 1985, he became Executive Director of Mount Carmel Ministries which included serving as the radio pastor of the Psalm of Life. He is married to Sonja and they have three adult sons, a daughter-in-law and one granddaughter.
CHALLA BAROChalla Baro was born and raised in Ethiopia. His family has a long history of Christianity there so his faith was secure in his youth. He came to the United States and in July 2000, the Union of Oromo Evangelical Churches (worldwide organization) extended a call for him to service as director for the union. He has a wide range of responsibilities, coordinating the work of the Oromo churches in various U.S.A. cities, in Canada, Australia and Europe, and maintaining work and communication with our Oromo Churches in Africa. He has traveled to various centers as part of this work, including England, Germany and Norway and continues to serve in this role at the present.
In 2007 the Oromo church in Minneapolis extended a call for him to serve as an associate pastor where he now labors in the field of the Kingdom. This church is the largest immigrant church in the ELCA, and it is estimated that there are more than 20,000 Oromo immigrants in the Twin Cities area.
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