Presenters
FEATURING: SARAH KELLY
Sarah Kelly
Sarah Kelly is a 2 time Grammy Nominee who has sold approximately 350,000 albums. She started writing songs around age 7, driven by her desire to worship God in a new way. After making a cd with her youth group and selling 10,000 copies out of her trunk she found herself in the national spotlight in her mid-twenties. Signed to Gotee Records her song “Take Me Away” she reached #6 on the charts and earned Kelly her first Grammy Nomination.
Kelly and her husband Jonas Ekman launched Sweekman Productions - a production company with a state of the art recording studio. They collaborate with some of the most respected musicians and engineers in LA and Nashville so we’re able to offer our students world class recordings.Kelly is a huge believer in following your dreams, but she’s also learned that it takes a lot more than dreaming if you want to be successful. “The reason I’m qualified to teach these kids is that I know how much work it takes to launch a career as an artist. The Sarah Kelly Music School exists to inspire, instruct, and empower you to create work of meaning and value through outstanding education, inspiring services, and a network of mentoring and support.
Ty Gibson
A passionate communicator with a message that opens minds and moves hearts, Ty Gibson is lead pastor of Storyline Church (storylineadventist.org), Co-director of Light Bearers (lightbearers.org) and of the ARISE Discipleship School (arise.online). As the founder of The Solidarity Wall, he is committed to the fight against sexual assault. Ty has authored eleven books, as well as the wildly popular TruthLink Bible Study Guides (truthlink.org). His most recent video work can be viewed at digma.com and tabletalk.online.
Jennifer Jill Schwirzer, LPC
Jennifer lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband Michael. They have two adult daughters and a great little dog named Fred. Jennifer runs a private counseling practice, writes books, makes music, hosts a TV program, presents seminars and loves Jesus and people.
Sarah McDugal, MSA-ID
Author | Speaker | Abuse Recovery Coach
Co-founder of Bucket Brigade Against Abuse and WILD (Women in Leadership Development)
Sarah holds a master's degree from Andrews University, and is the author of One Face: Shed the Mask, Own Your Values, and Lead Wisely. Sarah has visited or volunteered in 45 countries, often as a speaker on relational ministry, abuse recovery, and women’s leadership development. Mother of two and lover of great coffee and good books, she freely admits being a recovering neat freak who sometimes leaves dirty dishes in the sink longer than she should.
Dr. Bernard-Fisher is director of the Counseling and Testing Center, and is responsible for its overall operation. She received her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from Andrews University, and completed a clinical psychology internship at Mercy Hospital in Detroit, MI. Her training also included a pre-doctoral internship and a post-doctoral fellowship at the University of Notre Dame, where she functioned as staff psychologist at the University Counseling Center. She is a fully licensed psychologist in the state of Michigan.
Psalm 82 Initiative
Psalm 82 Initiative is the public face of a ministry team that has operated behind the scenes for more than 15 years, helping churches identify and deal with all forms of abuse. Psalm 82 Initiative’s approach to both victims and abusers is unapologetically biblical. They specialize in consulting for high profile abuse cases, with most of their caseload being ministry-related. They also provide practical training for making churches safer.
Nicole Parker
Nicole Parker is a bestselling children's author and biblical counselor. She holds a master's degree in Pastoral Ministry from Andrews University. She is the happily married wife of Dr. Alan Parker, and is currently homeschooling their four children, the oldest of whom they just adopted from Ukraine in December. She is also an adjunct faculty member in the religion department at Southern Adventist University, where she currently teaches Biblical Counseling and Sexuality and Scripture.
Tanya Asim Cooper serves as Director of the Restoration and Justice Clinic and Assistant Clinical Professor of Law. Professor Cooper's research focuses on domestic violence in the Christian Church. Together with her research colleagues, Dr. Roslyn M. Satchel (Seaver College) and Dr. Thema Bryant-Davis (Graduate School of Education and Psychology), Professor Cooper has received over $100,000 in grant funding from Pepperdine University to support their project, Domestic Violence in the American Christian Church: Current Trends & Effective Resources. In 2017, they hosted an inter-disciplinary conference, In Search of Sanctuary: Strengthening the Church's Response to Intimate Partner Violence. In 2018, Professor Cooper received a fellowship to attend the Summer Research Institute at Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford.
Alyssa Palmer, JD
Associate Dean for Student Life, Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Students
Alyssa Palmer serves as the Associate Dean for Student Life and the Title IX Deputy Coordinator for Students at Andrews University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Political Science and Legal Studies with certificates in Gender & Women’s Studies, African Studies and Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin. She later pursued her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, specializing in health law and policy. Among her experience is working with the Domestic Violence Unit for the Milwaukee District Attorney’s Office. She also worked for several years doing advocacy and policy work related to maternal and child health issues with the Wisconsin Alliance for Women’s Health and Children’s Health Alliance of Wisconsin.
Torben Bergland, MD
Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist
Torben Bergland trained as a psychiatrist in Norway and has especially focused on psychotherapy in treatment of patients with all kinds of mental disorders, including patients who have suffered trauma and neglect. He currently serves as Associate Director of the Health Ministries Department at the General Conference, the global headquarter of the Seventh-day Adventists Church. He is specifically tasked with raising awareness and understanding of mental health issues and equipping the Church to serve its members and societies in the area of mental health.
Chris Silber
is an Emmy winning writer and filmmaker based in LA. Raised in Germany and Britain, he has worked on numerous successful films worldwide – most notably the Golden Globe and Bafta nominated Goodbye Lenin, critically acclaimed Alpine drama North Face, Sound Of Music-inspired biopic The Von Trapp Family and the inspirational New York romance My Last Day Without You, which he also co-produced. Known for the inspirational and transformational impact of his productions, Silber has appeared as a speaker and lecturer in America, Europe and Africa. As a survivor of sexual child abuse, he uses his platform to raise awareness and empower others with similar stories.
Mekayla Eppers, former Mrs. America
From a young age, social workers, psychiatrists, and counselors warned Mekayla what her future might look like. Being a victim of sexual molestation wasn't exactly the label she hoped to be raised with. She said no more! Determined to break the bonds of being a victim, Mekayla rose above everyone's expectations of her and made the seemingly impossible, possible. Graduating in the top 15 of her class, playing 3 sports in college, competing on national television as Miss Indiana USA, and capturing the Mrs. America title in 2018 are some of her greatest accomplishments once she made the transition to a survivor. Now Mekayla spends her time, post-crown, helping others realize their true potential through her coaching business, Reign Pageantry.
Scott R. Ward
Scott R. Ward is a 28 year youth ministry veteran currently serving as Assistant Professor of Discipleship and Religious Education at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He completed his DMin in Discipleship and Biblical Spirituality in 2014. Dr Ward is passionate about personal spirituality and the practical role it can play in a person’s journey through life.
Dr Ward’s first book, Authentic: Where true, life-changing Christianity begins, was released by the R&H Publishing Association 2012 and shows how the key to fulfilling the gospel commission is a personal and intimate relationship with Jesus.
David Sedlacek
David Sedlacek is Professor of Family Ministry and Discipleship at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He received his master's and doctorate in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He has worked in various settings, both public and private, as a clinician, researcher, teacher, pastor, and administrator. He has worked extensively in the areas of addiction, abuse, relationships, marriage and family. He is a Certified Family Life Educator and a Licensed Masters Social Worker and currently directs the MA in Youth and Young Adult Ministries program. He has been the Principal Investigator of studies of both SDA LGBT+ millennials and the parents of SDA LGBT+ children. He co-facilitates a care group for LGBT+ students on the campus of Andrews University. Together with his wife, Beverly, he has written a book entitled Cleansing the Sanctuary of the Heart: Tools for Emotional Healing.