Seminars Speakers
Dr. Neil Nedley
Neil Nedley, MD, is founder and medical director of the community based and residential Nedley Depression and Anxiety Recovery Programs™. Dr. Nedley is an award-winning practicing physician who also serves as president of Weimar University, a higher education college that houses the world-famous NEWSTART program. He has presented and published numerous scientific studies in the medical and scientific literature and is well known as an author, public speaker, and teacher throughout the world. He and his team developed a K-12 curriculum that is taught in public and private schools to enhance emotional intelligence in youth. Many souls have been won or revived because of Dr. Nedley’s medical ministry.
Gary Gibbs
Gary Gibbs is the president of the Pennsylvania Conference. He is the author of several books and numerous GLOW tracts, including The New Winsome Witnessing and Prophecies of Hope Bible study guides. He has served as a church administrator, television and media pioneer, pastor, evangelist, and church growth consultant. He is a sought after trainer and coach for his practical approach to growing churches, evangelism, and personal witnessing.
Sarah Rogers
Sarah Rogers is the Prayer Coordinator for the BC Conference as well as the Prayer Coordinator at Church in the Valley (a Seventh-Day Adventist Church located in Langley, BC). She has been involved in prayer ministry for 20 years and enjoys sharing the love of Jesus with others. She and her husband, Pastor Walter, have four children, ages 4 to 12. In her spare time, Sarah loves to read, cook, travel, garden, make music, and host people. She looks forward to seeing Jesus face-to-face very soon!
Valoaga Siatunuu
Valoaga Siatunu’u was born in Kailua, Hawaii and is of Samoan descent. He is the pastor of the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Seventh-day Adventist Church in Port Hardy, British Columbia, Canada and is the coordinator for Indigenous Ministries B.C. Valoaga is happily married to his beautiful wife and partner in ministry, Sheryl Siatunu’u. Valoaga is the father of six children and four grandchildren. Valoaga’s passion is to serve the Lord faithfully and hold regular bible studies on prophecy, the sanctuary and character transformation through the love of Christ in preparation for the imminent return of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Brad Dennis
Brad Dennis is from the Huu-ay-aht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. His Huu-ay-aht name is Qwa uun nahs aht, “from the place of the chiefs.” He received his Bachelor of Social Work degree and Master of Social Work (MSW) degree from Walla Walla University in 2001 and 2003, respectively.
He is currently registered as a Registered Clinical Social Worker (RCSW) in British Columbia. His instructional experience includes historical, Development of Social Welfare, Social Work Perspectives on Mental Health Disorders, Practise with Couples and Families, Privilege and Oppression, Spirituality in Social Work, and Advanced Practise with Groups
Currently, he works with his wife, DeeAnna Dennis (MSW), in their community wellness consulting business, T’ašii Hašah Consulting, providing consultation, training, and coaching for aboriginal governments seeking to reclaim and restore traditional ways of wellness. He also serves part-time pastoring a small church and ministering to the broader community.
On the personal side, Brad enjoys playing with his family and supporting his wife in the
homeschooling adventures of their children, cycling, hiking in the wilderness, foraging
wild foods and plants for wellness and medicine, woodworking, knitting, chess, and learning new skills and growing in a deeper relationship with his Creator.
Aaron Sikhosana
Aaron Sikhosana serves in the BC Conference as pastor of the Creekside and Burnaby churches. He is also a registered counsellor with the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association.
Krystin Henley
Krystin Henley is a mental health coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist trained in Cognitive Behavior Therapy. She has a passion for teaching others about emotional intelligence through her ministry Nurturing Characters and is an author of a children’s book, Millie and Her Tangled Thoughts. Krystin and her husband, Jackson are blessed with four children and enjoy traveling, gardening, and exploring their Pacific Northwest backyard.
Raising Emotional Intelligence (EQ) in the Family System
Explore the intricate dynamics of family life and the benefits of fostering emotional intelligence (EQ). Gain practical insights and skills to enhance EQ, increase better communication, resolve conflicts, and nurture stronger bonds within your family unit. Learn to strategize a practical application within the lens of parenting, the marriage, and the growth of your children with Christ as a foundation.
Elmamarie Heldzinger
Elmamarie is a mental health counsellor in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She works at a Christian counselling centre and is also a Focus on the Family Christian counsellor on the CCN Network. She also works for Dr. Neil Nedley in the Nedley Depression and Anxiety Residential Program as a cognitive behavioural therapy coach and life coach. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in marriage and family therapy at Liberty University. She holds an Exercise Physiology Certification with the American College of Sport Medicine. She has been a teacher in the SDA school system and homeschooled their four children. Dr. and Mrs. Heldzinger are the proud parents of four adult children, two of whom are married. They love the Lord and are active in their local church, having hosted seventeen Nedley Depression and Anxiety community-based clinics in the past seven years.
Mike Tucker
Mike Tucker is the Speaker Emeritus of Faith for Today Television, and host of the award-winning television program, Lifestyle Magazine. He conducts seminars like Mad About Marriage, Good Grief, and The Choice, and serves as a Teaching Pastor for Canyon Creek Project, a church plant in Richardson, Texas. Mike has served as a Pastor, Counselor, Christian High School Bible Teacher, Youth Pastor, a Pastor’s Pastor for his denomination, and Senior Chaplain for medical and psychiatric facilities.
Mike has authored several books, including Meeting Jesus in the Book of Revelation; Journal of a Lonely God; Jesus, Your Heart’s Desire; Every Good Thing; Ten Keys to a Happy Marriage, Mad About Marriage, Tears to Joy, and his most recent book, Why Pray.
Mike has remarried and lives in the Dallas, Texas area with his wife, Pam [Lister], a Gospel Singer from Canada. He enjoys spending time with his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. Mike describes himself as the happiest bad golfer you’ll ever meet!
Don Anderson
“Most times, my favourite part of Sabbath is the discussion during Sabbath School.”
Dr. Felix Cortez
Sonja Buchanan
Cindy Mercer
Donn Leiske
Donn Leiske is an international seminar presenter on the subject of country living and preparedness for future troubled times. As a lifelong educator, Donn and his family have been practicing the country living lifestyle for most of their lives, attempting to avoid the dangers of the large urban centers and enjoy the beauty and solitude of nature while being self-sustaining. Donn is the author of the book, “Sustainable Country Living”, offers videos on the “Preparing for the Time of Trouble” YouTube channel, hosts the website www.preparingforthetimeoftrouble.com, and produces the End Time Updates.
Palmer Halvorson
Palmer Halvorson has a passion for innovative soul-winning and evangelism that began when he was in his teens in British Columbia, Canada. Over his career, he has worked for or supported evangelistic ministries such as It Is Written, Voice of Prophecy, Adventist World Radio, ASI, and others through creative resources, media production, product development, marketing, strategy, and innovation—all focused on reaching others so together we can finish the work and go “home”.
Dr. Carole Anderson
Dr Carole Anderson, a Registered Psychologist in BC and Alberta, operates a private practice in Port Moody, BC. She also shares her expertise as a professor in the Psychology Department at Burman University. A mother of two and the wife of Pastor Don Anderson, she leads a balanced life that enriches her professional journey.
James Lalonde
James LaLonde is a psychotherapist who owns a wellness solutions company. He has worked in the fields of mental health, marriage and family, and addictions for over 25 years. He now primarily does consulting, mentoring, and training. James lives with his wife, Carina, in Kelowna, B.C.
Jiri Moskala
Jiři Moskala, Ph.D., is professor of Old Testament exegesis and theology and dean of the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. He joined the faculty in 1999. Born in the Czech Republic, Moskala earned in 1979 a doctor of theology in 1990 from the Comenius Faculty of Protestant Theology (now Protestant Theological Faculty of Charles University, Czech Republic.In 1998 he completed a doctor of philosophy degree from Andrews University with a dissertation on clean and unclean foods in Leviticus 11. Moskala has served in a variety of capacities within the Seventh-day Adventist Church including ordained pastor, administrator, and teacher. In 1989, after the Velvet Revolution when the Communist regime fell, he established the Theological Seminary for training pastors and became the first principal of that institution. Moskal travels widely throughout all the divisions of the world church and is an active member of the Adventist Theological Society. He also belongs to a variety of other professional societies, and contributes to a wide variety of scholarly and denominational publications.
Dale McCreery
Dale McCreery was born and raised in an Adventist family in Hazelton BC. He is a member of the Métis Nation, a language teacher, and just completed a PhD on how to best pursue well-being for students through education, in particular language education. He will be presenting on some of the ways that the gospel applies to communities rather than just individuals, as well as looking at ways that this impacts how we live our faith in the context of minority communities or missions.
Denny Mumambi
Denny Rumambi currently serves as the Treasurer/VP for Finance for the British Columbia Conference. He joined the BC Conference in November 2019 from Istanbul, Turkey where he served as Secretary/Treasurer for West Asia Field, a field that oversees our church operation in countries like Turkey, Republic of Iran and Northern Cyprus. Prior to that, Denny served as Academic Dean at Middle East University in Beirut, Lebanon. At the same time, he taught at the undergraduate and graduate level in the Business Department of that university and also helped the Finance Department of ADRA Middle East. Denny started his denominational work at Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) as Junior Accountant, Payroll Accountant, then later became the Chief of the Accounting Department before being appointed as the Assistant to the Treasurer.
Dianne Olino
Dianne Olino is a Certified Public Accountant in the Philippines with almost ten years of experience in the field of accounting. She has worked in various accounting-related roles in both the Philippines and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. In addition to her professional work, Dianne has also served as treasurer for local churches in the Philippines and Dubai for six years. Currently, she is working as an auditor for the British Columbia SDA Conference and is dedicated to bridging the gap between Canadian and Philippine accounting and taxation through the CPA Program in Canada, in which she is currently enrolled.
Edward Dunn
Edward Dunn is a member of the Mississauga First Nation in northern Ontario and is presently the Health Ministries Director and Assistant to the President at the Southern Asia Division (India) of the Seventh-day Adventist church. He has served the Adventist church as pastor or administrator in British Columbia, Alberta, Upper Columbia and Alaska Conferences as well as the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. He has earned a Masters and PhD degree in Public Health. He and his wife Cheryl have served in several countries worldwide, helping people with spiritual and physical healing.
Monte Church
Monte Church was born in Wisconsin and raised on the Stockbridge Mohican Indian until age 16. He attended Walla Walla College and graduated from Southern College. He started his ministry as a youth pastor at Madison Academy in Tennessee, spent 10 years in evangelism, and then became the Native Ministries Director for the Pacific Northwest and Canada for 29 years. In retirement, he consults and encourages indigenous ministry. He authored the “Following Jesus” Bible study series, produced a magazine and the Native New Day Bible studies, and created Native New Health presentations.
Brian Wahl
Brian Wahl is the Director for Church Ministries for the BC Conference.
Bill Spangler
Bill Spangler is a BC native, growing up at Grandview Flats. He began pastoring in Nova Scotia in 1977. He pastored for 8 years in the Maritimes and then was invited to pastor his childhood home church in Grandview Flats and Armstrong, from 1985 until 1990, when he moved to Red Deer. In 2000, Bill trained as a family mediator working for Alberta Justice services helping families work out parenting challenges with the court system. He also trained as a personal Life Coach. He pastored the Sylvan Lake, Alberta church from 2014 until retiring in Red Deer in 2020. Bill is married to Gwen Yaceyko and they are parents to Kristen and Karin. Their daughter Kristen passed away from cancer in 2019. They have two grandchildren, Elsa and Henry.
David Shin
David Shin David Shin is professor of religion at Weimar University. He has also served as pastor for seventeen years and twelve years as an adjunct teacher at the Michigan Conference Campus Ministries program. Dr. Shin holds both a Master’s in Theological Studies and a Doctorate from Andrews Theological Seminary. He has a passion for the deep study of God’s Word and for sharing its truth and principles with others.
Anil Kanda
Anil Kanda was born and raised in Orange Country, California but his family comes from Punjab, India. He grew up in the Hindu / Sikh religion, but while a college student and working, heencountered and experienced the powerful truths of God’s word. Anil has been a pastor and conference evangelist for several years but now serves as the Young Adult Discipleship Director for Central California. You’ll be blessed by his energetic and thought-provoking presentations.
Gerry Lopez
Gerry Lopez understands the importance of a strong and visible children’s ministry in churches; he feels the future existence of the church depends on it. Gerry has enjoyed working in children’s ministry for more than 14 years as a youth pastor, children’s ministry pastor, and elementary school chaplain. Gerry has worked in churches in Southern California, Puerto Rico, and West Palm Beach, Florida. He recently served as the Children and Family Ministry Pastor at Sligo SDA Church in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Gerry loves equipping and empowering children’s ministry leaders; in doing so he feels that he can both make a difference in expanding the mission of the Church, as well as play a role in getting children to know Jesus as their personal savior.
Gerry is an alum of Antillean Adventist University where he received his BA in Theology and is currently working on his MA in Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University.
Gerry is married to Eunice who is a pre-school teacher at Great Kids Development Center in Takoma Park, MD and they have two young adult daughters.
Sherri Urig
Sherri Urig Sherri’s passion is that all our children have the opportunity to say yes to Jesus! She has worked in various areas of children’s ministries for more than 30 years, including conference Children’s Ministry director, daycare administrator, writing for faith-based preschool curricula, and kindergarten teacher . Sherri is currently the Children’s Ministry director for the North American Division.
Sherri has a heart for mission, serving in Guam and Palau with her pastor husband, Bob, developing curricula for the children’s outreach program, “Kids in the Park,” as well as child evangelism programs for use in Nicaragua and the Philippines.
Sherri is an alumna of Southwestern Adventist College and has a Masters in Children and Family Ministry from Bethel Seminary.
Sherri and Bob have two beautiful children and six amazing grandchildren just ask them!