Keynote Speakers

Greg Finke

Executive Director, Dwelling114.org

Rev. Greg Finke had been a pastor in Michigan and Texas for nearly 25 years when he launched Dwelling 1:14 in 2011.  Since then, he has trained tens of thousands of everyday missionaries to join Jesus on His mission as part of everyday life and then show their family and friends how to do the same.

Grace Johnson

Education Administrator, The Master's Institute Seminary

Grace and her husband Jesse live in St Paul with their two little girls, Selah and Mabel. Grace has been walking with Jesus ever since she can remember, and he continues to save her every day. She received her M.Div from the Master's Institute Seminary and served as a New Generation Pastor at Hope Church (Phoenix, AZ). She is constantly making mistakes and learning from them with her gracious friend, Jesus, who she LOVES to talk about with anyone and everyone. 

Preachers

Andrea Paulson - Opening Worship

Associate Pastor, First St. Paul's Lutheran Church (Hastings, NE)

Pastor Andrea Paulson a follower of Jesus, saved by grace through faith, overwhelmed by the relentless love and abounding hope found in Christ alone. Her desire in life is to point to Jesus. Nothing else matters. 

Andrea serves as Associate Pastor at First St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hastings, NE. For over a decade, Andrea has been committed to advocating for and raising up the next generation of church leaders. Her passion is to equip people of all ages to live their mission so they can point to Jesus.

Andrea graduated in 2002 with Bachelor's degrees in History and Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership. She attained her Master's of Divinity in 2016. With her background in education, Andrea teaches the Bible in ways that are engaging, creative, interactive and sometimes a little off the wall. But if it points us to Jesus, that's really all that matters. 

Andrea and her husband Jeff just celebrated their 20th anniversary. While at the gathering, she's going to turn 40! They have four children, Lucas, Alex, Lisa and Amelia and a spirited German Shepherd, Dakota. Besides Jesus and her family, Andrea is thankful for coffee, Diet Coke, worship music, hockey and missions to Catadupa, Jamaica. 

Jonathan Haseley - Closing Worship

East Campus Pastor, Lutheran Church of the Master (Omaha, NE)

Jonathan serves as the East Campus Pastor of Lutheran Church of the Master in Omaha, Nebraska.  He previously served as an associate pastor in Sanborn, New York, as well as a church planter in Niagara Falls, New York.

Jonathan is a graduate of Niagara University and Niagara Lutheran Theological Institute.  He and his wife, Rachel, have one son, Jesse, and are expecting their second child in February 2020.

Jonathan enjoys reading, spending time with his family, cheering on the New York Yankees, and living as an everyday missionary with Jesus!

Tuesday Night Concert

Rachel Scott

Singer / Songwriter / Worship Leader

Rachel Scott is a singer/songwriter/worship leader who has partnered with non-profit organizations such as Compassion International, Love 146 (www.love146.com) and Rachel’s Challenge. Her music can be found on Inciite Media’s Faith Songs, (www.faithsongs.org) and Max Lucado’s Fearless Worship.

Rachel Scott has also shared the concert stage with various artists such as, Hillsong London, Sara Groves, Rebecca St. James, Michael W. Smith and Laura Story, Jason Gray, and Andrew Peterson. Rachel’s albums “Resolution” and “Sons & Daughters” can be found on all internet outlets and iTunes worldwide. Rachel Scott resides in Omaha, NE, with her husband Greg. Together they have three boys, Jayden, Sam & Wes.

Other Speakers

John Waak

Pastor, Martin Luther Lutheran Church (Giddings, TX)

A graduate of Luther Seminary, under the tutelage of Gerhardt Forde he developed an interest in the implications of Luther’s theology for the practice of Christian spirituality. Pursuing further studies in Christian spirituality at Fuller Theological Seminary, he discovered great symmetry between a Lutheran spirituality and that of the Orthodox Church, especially as it is found in the  Egyptian desert fathers and mothers of the fourth and fifth centuries.

Today his life is the practice of the fruit of the forgiveness of sin: union with Christ.

Jody Skogen

Pastor, St. Mark's Lutheran Church (Cedar Rapids, IA)

Jody Skogen serves as a pastor in Marion/Cedar Rapids, Iowa with St. Mark's Lutheran Church. Jody loves sharing her passion for the Lord and God's Word and has a deep desire to help others know, love and follow Jesus. Seeing lives changed and people experiencing greater freedom in Christ, as well as strengthening the church in regard to organizational health, are among some of her greatest joys.

Jody grew up in Waverly, Iowa and has spent time serving in ministry in the Iowa communities of Cedar Falls, Thompson, and Lake Mills, as well as serving on a ministry team for a year in the northeast U.S. and Australia.

Spending time with her family, particularly her husband, Dan, and their daughter, Tara, is one of her very favorite things to do. 

Becky Hand

Pastor, Life in Grace Lutheran Church (Odessa, TX)

Becky Hand is the founding pastor for Life in Grace Lutheran Church in Odessa, Texas where she currently serves.  Called with only a lay minister’s training she entered the first-year class at the Institute of Lutheran Theology (ILT) and graduated with an MDIV.  She also holds a Master of Science degree from Texas Tech University.  She taught college biology classes for 15 years and loves to teach. God had a slightly different plan.  Currently she is the program coordinator for Augustana District and is beginning a term on the Ministry Board for LCMC and the Board of Directors for ILT. 

She and her husband, Robert, live in Odessa where Becky has spent most of her life.  He has three children and four granddaughters for whom Becky has happily claimed full ‘grandmother’ status. 

Aaron Thompson

Seminarian, Upper Arlington Lutheran Church (Columbus, OH)

Aaron Thomspon has been doing ministry for the past 15 years: working with youth ministry, preaching, adult education and worship. He’s passionate about seeing churches invest in the next generation of leaders for the sake of the Kingdom.

When he’s not doing ministry, Aaron loves spending time with his wife Anne and his son Julian. He also loves rock climbing, movies, board games and just recently finished the Harry Potter series, about which he has a lot of hot takes ready to be shared.

Susan E. Ellingstad

Partner, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P.

Susan E. Ellingstad is a partner in Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P. and heads the firm’s employment law department. She represents large and small governmental and business clients in federal, state and administrative employment actions in Minnesota and throughout the country. Ms. Ellingstad’s practice includes claims involving employment discrimination and harassment under Title VII, the MHRA and other federal and state employment statutes, wage and hour violations, and commercial litigation. She frequently represents clients in labor arbitrations for wrongful termination.

Ms. Ellingstad has been named one of Minnesota’s “Super Lawyers” by Minnesota Law & Politics/Super Lawyers and selected for the fourth consecutive year in the Top 50 Women Lawyers category. She has also been selected to Minnesota Law & Politics’ list of the Top 40 employment litigators in Minnesota. She has recently been named 2016 Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer.

In addition to litigation, Ms. Ellingstad frequently writes and lectures on the Fair Labor Standards Act and other employment law issues, conducts training seminars for businesses, and counsels employers in the areas of FLSA compliance, performance management and disability accommodation issues. She also mediates employment law cases.