UNITE ​’22 Agenda

Cheryl is an international speaker, author, podcast/​TV host, and social justice advocate. CBC has recognized her as one of 150 Black Women who are making Canada a better place.

Cheryl Nembhard, Author, Award Winning Flimmaker Toronto, ON

With over 28 years of experience coaching, mediating, training, facilitating, and consulting, Betty is highly regarded as a conflict, change, and leadership specialist. She specializes in working with complex challenges, supporting leaders and their organizations to be at their best. 

Betty Pries, Change, conflict, and leadership specialist Ontario, CA

Colin is an ordained minister, author, and founder of UrbanPromise Toronto and Connect City, a ministry that connects young leaders to God’s mission in vulnerable communities. Colin has appeared on Canadian television, radio, and in national newspapers and works as a coach and mentor to pastors and business leaders. 

Rev. Colin McCartney Ontario, CA

Leanne (Ontario, Canada) has served as the Lead Pastor of Mount Hamilton Baptist Church for 15 years, and she speaks at conferences and special events. She’s particularly passionate about helping and encouraging women preachers to find their preaching voice, and she loves to find creative ways of making sermons come to life in practical ways.

Leanne Friesen Mount Hamilton Baptist Church

David Zahl is founder and director of Mockingbird Ministries, an organization devoted to ​“connecting the Christian faith with the realities of everyday life.” He’s also the cohost of The Mockingcast and author of Seculosity. He and his family live in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he serves on the staff of Christ Episcopal Church.

David Zahl, Director Charlottesville, VA

Samuel is a teacher, author, trainer, activist, and coach for leaders who want to create a better world from the inside out using peace and nonviolence methods. He’s the founding director of the Center for Nonviolence and Conflict Transformation based in Rockford, Illinois. Samuel lives with his family in Milton, Ontario.

Samuel Sarpiya, Executive Director Ontario, CA

David is BR Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary in Chicago. He’s pastored and participated in many church plants and writes on issues facing the local church. His theology combines Neo-Anabaptist streams of thought, his commitments to evangelicalism, and his love for political theory. 

David Fitch Chicago, IL

Greg is a former atheist, theologian, author, and senior pastor of Woodland Hills Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. He holds a PhD from Princeton Theological Seminary and has authored or co-authored 18 books, including the best-selling and award-winning Letters From a Skeptic and The Myth of a Christian Nation.

Greg Boyd, Senior Pastor St. Paul, MN

Alyssa is a writer and speaker who’s convinced that this life is all about figuring out how to live as a recipient of the amazing grace and unending love of Christ. She knows that it’s about running towards the most broken places on earth armed with radical love, subversive peace, reckless faith, and unwavering hope — and facing our own brokenness in the process. 

Alyssa Esparaz, Communicator & Advocate Toronto, ON

David (Ontario, Canada) is the Executive Vice President of Procurement & Program Management at Infrastructure Ontario where he brings his expertise in law, corporate governance, strategic planning, and commercial transactions. David also has a strong affiliation with International Teams Canada, where he experienced overseas mission-based service and the transformative effect of deliberate discipleship.

David Ho Infrastructure Ontario

John (British Columbia, Canada) is the lead pastor at Reality Church in Vancouver – a community centred on the person, life, gospel, and hope of Jesus. John loves to be active and in his spare time enjoys playing hockey and soccer.

John Hau Resourcing

Meghan is Lead Pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Arizona. She’s the author of The Bible Unwrapped and is currently writing a second book on contemporary loneliness and the gospel. Theologically, her interests include biblical hermeneutics, spiritual practices, preaching, and rediscovering the place of the Spirit in Jesus-centred faith.

Meghan Good, Lead Pastor Arizona, United States

When he’s not pastoring, Steve is instigating place-based projects, hosting workshops, and inviting everyday citizens to leverage their time, ideas, and creativity for the sake of their neighbourhoods. He’s the co-founder of Good City Co., a civic organization that helps citizens take greater ownership over the places they call home.

Steve MacDouell, Founder of Good City Co., Pastor at The Meeting House Toronto, ON

Shawna has served in various pastoral staff roles for over 20 years in both Texas and Minnesota. She’s married to Scott and is mom to Deklan, Gavin, Jensen, and Afton. She loves her role at Woodland Hills Church and is passionate about helping people find their place of belonging.

Shawna Boren, Engagement Pastor St. Paul, MN

Jordan was raised in the Scarborough housing neighbourhood of Warden Woods and has such a huge heart for the people there that he planted a church to bless them. As an accomplished rapper, Jordan has recorded two albums and uses Rap music as a way to reach young people. Jordan enjoys watching the Toronto Raptors, reading good theology books, and recording music.

Jordan Thoms Toronto, ON

Danielle’s aggressive compassion has served people firsthand in countries all over the world — from establishing justice departments and church plants, to launching global anti-trafficking initiatives, to creating new initiatives to mobilize people towards transformational living. Danielle trains, advocates, and inspires people to live differently.

Danielle Strickland, Author Toronto, ON

Tania consults with and trains ministers in Spirit-led discipleship and the development of church cultures that facilitate hearing God experiences. Her PhD research, academic publications and books God Conversations and The Church who Hears God’s Voice all aim to equip people to recognize the Spirit in the context of their local church. Tania is an ordained minister with the Australian Christian Churches.

Dr. Tania Harris, Director of God Conversations Sydney, AU

Hank has a Master’s of Divinity from Evangelical Theological Seminary and pastors at Harrisburg Brethren in Christ Church. His ministry experience has been gleaned through serving at camps, community and youth centres, and in the social work field. Hank and his wife, Shell, live in Harrisburg with their daughters Harper and Kennedy.

Hank Johnson, Senior Pastor Harrisburg, PA

Kurt is a pastor, writer, and spiritual director. He’s the Lead Pastor at Brentview Baptist Church in Calgary, AB and the author of Echoing Hope: How the Humanity of Jesus Redeems Our Pain. He also hosts Theology Curator, a podcast and website dedicated to giving voice to Jesus-centred theology and formation.

Kurt Willems, Pastor, Writer, Spiritual Director Calgary, AB

Melissa is part of a faith community in Waterloo where she pastors and provides guidance in the areas of worship, justice, and community. She has been drawn to the connection between musical/​communal worship and the pursuit of justice and has explored this connection both in her work as a social worker and in faith community contexts.

Melissa Burke, Pastor Kitchener, ON

Adam leads Yeovil Community Church alongside his wife Rachel where they’ve been exploring Jesus-centredness, distinctive inclusivity, and whole community transformation over 14 years. Adam is passionate about community transformation and the church working in partnership to see his nation transformed.

Adam Dyer, Lead Pastor Somerset, UK

Jeff pastors at Southridge Community Church in St. Catharines, Ontario, a community that’s been seeking to put and keep Jesus at the centre for over 20 years.

Jeff Lockyer, Pastor St. Catharines, ON

Lisa is passionate about helping people embrace their path in life, even if it’s not the one they’d planned or expected. She also (attempts) to keep daily rhythms of spiritual practices to stay aware of what God is already up to in her own life and in the lives of those around her. She is a pastor at The Meeting House Oakville.

Lisa Goetze, Pastor Oakville, ON

Jon provides leadership to transformational Leadership Formation experiences in Jesus Collective. He is also a founding partner in Transformational Coaching, a leadership development training experience that teaches coaching skills while inviting leaders to deeper inner transformation.

Jon Hand, Leadership Formation Pastor Welland, ON

Jonny (Utah, United States) is a church planter, pastor, writer, and podcaster in Salt Lake City, Utah, known for his integration of creativity, spirituality, and culture. Jonny received his doctorate of contextual theology from Northern Seminary.

Jonny Morrison Jesus Collective Blog

Keith is a storyteller, speaker, church planter and Lead Pastor. He holds a Masters degree in Organizational Leadership from Malone University and has over 10 years experience working in Residential Treatment Centers for at-risk teens. Keith is committed to building multiethnic communities that follow Jesus in the way of love, peace, and reconciliation.

Keith Smith, Lead Pastor Gateway Church, Wooster, OH

Jordan spent a number of years working for Youth With a Mission leading teams on short term missions. He is now a Lead Pastor at The Meeting House and enjoys seeing all people activated on mission in their everyday life.

Jordan Taylor, Lead Pastor Burlington, ON