To view Speaker Videos, please visit our Next Steps Page: HERE
SPEAKERS
4pm-5pm, FB Live
Catherine Gilliard
Superintendent of the ECC Southeast Conference, Atlanta, GA
Rev. Dr. Catherine Gilliard currently serves as Superintendent of the Southeast Conference. The Southeast Conference covers the states of Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. She and her husband Deric live in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Catherine has served in many areas of leadership within the Covenant prior to accepting this call as superintendent, including President of the Covenant Ministerium, and is a graduate of North Park Theological Seminary.
Stephanie Ahn Mathis
Co-Senior Pastor
West Hills Covenant Church, Portland, OR
Rev. Stephanie Ahn Mathis is a “Tasian” (Texas-Asian) born on the East Coast by South Korean immigrants and raised in Texas. She is the co-senior pastor of West Hills Covenant Church with her husband Mark in Portland, OR. She has a broad background in ministry working with urban public schools, college ministries, teaching, global discipleship, advocacy, non-profits, and pastoral care for the most vulnerable. She loves to hear people's stories, tell the story of God's love, shalom, and forgiveness, and extend God's hospitality to all. She is passionate about racial justice and gender justice/ identity and particularly empowering and cultivating healing spaces for women of color. Stephanie loves hanging out with her husband and two sons Noah and Eliot, exploring new foods, art, female comedians, dancing, laughing, forest bathing, and hip hop/ rap from the 80s/90s (when she hit her peak of coolness- it has been on decline ever since Y2K). She has a Master of Arts degree in Biblical Justice + social ethics from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and a degree English/ Pre-law with a focus in African -American literature from the University of Texas; Ordained in Word and Service (specialization in spiritual formation and biblical justice) from the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Gricel Medina
Pastor, Speaker, Church Planter, Advocate
Rev. Gricel Medina is a gifted speaker, author, Equity Advocate, and pastor whose leadership and advocacy has impacted the ECC and beyond.
She's a former church planter and consultant in the Midsouth Conference, was the first Latina Chair of the Commission for Biblical and Gender Equality, and has served as a Board Officer of MHPIE (now ALIPE) in the Covenant.
She's also serves on the Board of Reference for Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE), a frequent preacher, consultant at various churches, serves on multiple ministry platform, and an innovator who brings her training in counseling, theology, abuse recovery, leadership, prayer, and bilingual and bicultural skills to strengthen the multiethnic church.
Rev. Medina is Ordained to Word and Sacrament in the ECC and resides in Texas with her family.
Follow Rev. Medina @pastorgricel (Twitter)
Efrem Smith
Pastor, Consultant, Speaker, Author
Rev. Dr. Efrem Smith is a pastor, consultant, speaker, and author. He is passionate about life transformation, multiethnic development, thriving churches, and community development. As a product of the African American Church, he also serves as a collaborative catalyst for African American Church Planting, Disciple Making, and Urban Empowerment Movements.
Efrem was the founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN, He served as the Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church. He also served as the President of World Impact, an urban missions organization. Currently, Efremis the Co-lead Pastor of Bayside Church Midtown, a thriving and multi-ethnic community in Sacramento, California.He is also Co-Owner of Influential LLC, a speaking, consulting, and coaching ministry. Efrem is the author of Raising Up Young Heroes, The Hip Hop Church, Jump, The Post-Black and Post-White Church, and Killing Us Softly.
Efrem is a graduate of Saint John's University and Luther Theological Seminary. He completed the Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctor of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. Efrem is married to Donecia and they have two daughters, Jaeda and Mireya.