Featured speakers
Len Sweet
Len Sweet is author of more than two hundred articles, 1000 published sermons and almost fifty books. Leonard’s most current publications are the best-seller Jesus Manifesto (with Frank Viola) and the just released Nudge: Awakening Each Other to the God Who Is Already There. In 2011, several publications will be released: What Matters Most: Reclaiming Your Relationship with Jesus from Religion, an e-book exclusive, Real Church in a Social Network World: from Facebook to Face-to-Face Faith, and Len’s first novel The Seraph Seal (with co-author Lori Wagner). In 2012, the following will be released: The Jesus Story (the sequel to Jesus Manifesto), I Am a Follower: The Way, The Truth, and the Life of Following Jesus, A Tale of Two Cultures, and a textbook on preaching entitled Giving Blood.
Len often appears on the “50 Most Influential Christians in America” list, and in 2010 was selected by the top non-English Christian website as one of the “Top 10 Influential Christians of 2010.” His popular weekly podcast called “Napkin Scribbles” is widely used and quoted. Len’s micro blogs on twitter and facebook are ranked as some of the most influential social media sites in the world. Currently Len occupies the E. Stanley Jones Chair of Evangelism at Drew Theological School in Madison, New Jersey. He served from 1995 to 2001 as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean of the Theological School at Drew. Sweet is also a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University in Portland, Oregon and President Emeritus of United Theological Seminary. He is a weekly contributor to the online preaching resource, sermons.com
Linnea Nilsen Capshaw
Linnea Nilsen Capshaw has served as coach, facilitator, consultant and trainer, assisting faith communities, health care institutions, and non-profit organizations to discern and live out their missions. She coaches individuals and organizations helping them claim who they are to begin living out their unique purpose. Over the years, Linnea has continued to retool and refine her coaching methods as she works with leaders in a changing world. She has seen how many organizations have been able to:
- Discover their authentic, ever-evolving purpose in the world and create their organization to align with their purpose.
- Empower people to live out their gifts and call for the good of the world.
Joe Saxton
Jo Saxton is director of 3DM, a movement/organization helping churches develop a discipling and missional way of being the church. Originally from the UK, Jo was college pastor at St. Thomas Church, Sheffield, England, where she began planting missional congregations amongst college students and young adults. Since moving to the U.S. six years ago, Jo has served on church teams discipling young leaders and planting missional communities in areas ranging from the suburbs to the inner city. She is also the author of Real God, Real Life, exploring authentic spirituality in today’s world (released in 2010) Influential (2011) exploring the subject of women in leadership.
Mark Yaconelli
Mark Yaconelli spent 20 years working with young people and the people who serve them (parents, youth workers, pastors) in congregational, camp, and conference settings. His research and ministry with young people has been ground-breaking in its exploration of spiritual direction, contemplation, and ancient spiritual practices as the basis of formation with young people. In 1996, Mark co-founded the Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project at San Francisco Theological Seminary, a grant funded project that sought to test the integration of contemplative practice and awareness within congregational youth ministry programs. He directed that project from 1996 to 2006.
Interviews and profiles of Mark Yaconelli’s work have appeared in the national media including the Wall Street Journal, ABC World News Tonight, New York Times Online, Washington Post Online, and CBS Radio. Feature articles on his work with teens have appeared in The Christian Century, Immerse, Group Magazine, Youthworker Journal, and many other Christian publications. Mark is the author of Contemplative Youth Ministry (2006 Youth Specialties), Growing Souls (2007 Zondervan), Downtime (Zondervan 2008), and Wonder, Fear, and Longing (Zondervan 2009). He is the editor of Getting Fired for the Glory of God: Collected Writings of Mike Yaconelli (Zondervan 2008). Mark recently completed a new book entitled Surprise Wedding and Other Tales of Compassion.