Keynote SpeakerS
Lina AbuJamra
Dr. Lina AbuJamra founded Living with Power Ministries and is a popular Bible teacher, podcaster, and conference speaker. She is also the author of several books and the host of a radio show. In her “spare” time, Lina is a pediatric ER doctor who practices telemedicine and provides medical care and humanitarian help to Syrian refugees and others in disaster areas.
Amy Gannett
Amy Gannett is a writer and Bible teacher passionate about equipping Christians to study God’s Word through the Bible Study Schoolhouse. She is also the founder of Tiny Theologians, a line of discipleship tools for children. Amy and her husband, Austin, are church planters in eastern North Carolina. You can read more on Amy’s blog and follow her on Instagram.
Pamela MacRae
Dr. Pamela MacRae has been involved in ministry to women in churches and para-church ministries for over 35 years. She led conferences for women at Moody Bible Institute for five years prior to joining the faculty in 2004 to oversee the Ministry to Women program (and later a second program, Ministry to Victims of Sexual Exploitation). She is a frequent speaker for women’s retreats and seminars.
Workshop Speakers
Megan Brown
Megan Brown is Founder and Executive Director of MilSpo Co. She graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a B.A. in Ministry Leadership. Megan serves as a military missionary. She has written, Summoned: Answering a Call to the Impossible, and Know What you Signed Up For: How to Follow Jesus, Love People, and Live on Mission. She is the 2016-Armed Forces Insurance Keesler AFB Military Spouse of the Year. She lives in south Mississippi with her husband and four energetic kiddos. Megan is passionate about equipping military connected women with the redemptive story of Christ. For more information about MilSpo Co., download the MilSpo Co. app.
Emmanuella Carter
Emmanuella is a writer, teacher, and frequently sought-after preacher that engages audiences from the moment she steps in front of them. Since becoming a Christian, her passion ignited to use her gifts to equip women in biblical literacy and empower them to live into all that God has called them to be. A native of Lansing, Michigan, Emmanuella will graduate this spring with her Master of Divinity at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Theology from Moody Bible Institute, where she formerly served as adjunct professor. She now uses her education as Women's Ministry Director at her home church, the Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago.When she’s not teaching the Bible Emmanuella can be found traveling with her husband Chelten Carter or consumed with a creative D.I.Y. project.
Anna Cotto
After more than a decade in the corporate world, Anna transitioned to full-time ministry in 2011 when she and her husband planted an EFCA church. Today, they are growing a new campus of Village Bible Church in Naperville, IL where Anna currently serves as Ministry Director. She is also an instructor for the EFCA’s Prepared Program teaching Discipleship & Mentoring. She has a BS from the University of Illinois Chicago and an MA from Moody Theological Seminary. She lives in Chicago's western suburbs with her husband and three children.
Judy Dunagan
Judy Dunagan is a wonder seeker of God and His Word and is passionate about discipleship and making God's Word and prayer come alive in everyday life. She served for years as a women’s ministry director at her church before joining Moody Publishers as an acquisitions editor of women’s books and Bible studies. Judy is the author of the new book The Loudest Roar: Living in the Unshakable Victory of Christ. She and her husband Rick live in Colorado and are the joyful grandparents of five grandchildren. Connect with Judy at: www.JudyDunagan.com.
Keri Early
Keri loves to teach and encourage others. She has worked and ministered in a variety of settings including public schools, churches, and Christian higher education. Keri teaches women online as an adjunct professor for Moody Bible Institute. She also teaches online courses and is part of the leadership team for Prepared—the Evangelical Free Church of America’s equipping program for women in ministry leadership. Keri enjoys volunteering with student ministries at her church. She earned her Master of Arts in Ministry Studies with a concentration in Women’s Leadership from Grace College. She and her husband Brandon and their three boys live in Clive, Iowa.
Deb Gorton
Dr. Deb Gorton earned both her MA in Psychology and her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fuller Graduate School of Psychology in Pasadena, CA. Additionally, she holds an MA in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary. Presently, she serves as the Gary Chapman Chair for Marriage, Family Ministry, and Counseling at Moody Theological Seminary as well Program Director for Moody’s Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. Dr. Gorton authored Embracing Uncomfortable: Facing our Fears While Pursuing our Purpose. She is a co-host for “Becoming Well,” a podcast that explores the intersection of faith and mental health. Dr. Gorton resides in Chicago, loves the Cubs, the city’s architecture, and, believe it or not, walking daily to work even in the dead of winter. If she’s not home in the city or traveling for work, you’re likely to find her with family in Colorado, South Dakota, or Arizona.
Simone Halpin
Simone Halpin is Executive Director and co-founder of Naomi’s House that serves survivors of commercial sexual exploitation. Naomi’s House created a model that grew over 5 years from serving five women annually through residential services to hundreds of women annually in multiple programs across the Chicagoland area. Simone has served on the staff of The Moody Church since 2010, serves on the Board of Directors of Collective Chicago, and is a weekly contributor to the Next Level Podcast produced by her church, Glen Ellyn Bible Church. She met her husband, Anthony, while studying at Texas A&M University (B.S. in Health). She holds a M.A in Biblical Studies from Moody Theological Seminary and is a current Doctor of Ministry student at Wheaton College. Simone and Anthony reside in Wheaton with their four children.
Mary Hendrickson
Dr. Mary Hendrickson (Ed.D) joined Moody’s faculty in 2017, and currently serves as Associate Professor of Human Services and Pre-Counseling. She is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) in the state of Illinois and has also served as a marriage and family counselor and pastoral counselor in Pasadena, California and Brooklyn, New York. She currently lives in Hoffman Estates, Illinois with her husband of twenty-two years, Craig, and their seventeen-year-old daughter, Amaya.
Kristin Jacobsen
Jesus captured Kristin’s heart at a very young age and ignited within her a desire to serve the kingdom of God with her life. For over a decade and a half, she has taught the Bible in schools and churches, most recently serving as a Women’s Ministry director. Her passion is to equip and encourage others to use their unique gifts to make earth more like heaven. A graduate of Moody Bible Institute and a Chicagoland native, Kristin recently relocated with her family to the Kansas City Metro where her husband Dan is a pastor. Together they have three beautiful (and busy!) kids.
Dee Jobe
Deanna (Dee) Jobe is from the southwest side of Chicago. She and her husband Mark have seen New Life Community Church grow from a handful of people to several thousand. For years Dee worked in corporate administrative roles in downtown Chicago, but her dream was to give her energy and focus to ministry. In 1990 she left her job to pursue that dream. Dee has served in multiple ministry capacities. Currently she leads and mentors a gathering of pastors wives, is the Director of Women’s ministry at New Life Midway, organizes women’s conferences, oversees the Children’s ministry and serves alongside her husband, Mark Jobe President of Moody Bible Institute . Dee studied at Moody Bible Institute and Columbia International University. She is a wife, mom, grandma and mentor of women.
Cyndi Leamon
After a 21-year business career, including Vice President for Education and Events, while also serving the local church as a lay leader, Cyndi responded to God’s call into church staff ministry. Since 2008, she has been a ministry staff Director leading and growing transformational disciple-making ministries for women, children, and all adults. Cyndi also serves on staff as the Director of Ministry to Women with the Great Lakes District of the Evangelical Free Church of America where she ministers to women’s leaders in over 150 churches in four states. She is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Bethel University, and Villanova University. Cyndi and her husband Mike met in High School Algebra class, are married over 30 years, and enjoy God’s blessing of three young adult children, a son and daughter-in-law, and four grandsons under 4 years old.
Laurie Norris
Laurie Norris serves as Dean of Faculty and Professor of Bible at Moody Bible Institute. Laurie holds a PhD in Biblical Theology (New Testament) from Wheaton College, and a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary. In addition to teaching, speaking, and writing, Laurie serves as a fellow with the Center for Pastor Theologians, an organization that seeks to bridge theology and the local church. She is passionate about discipleship and mentoring, especially among college students. Laurie and her husband Bob live in the western suburbs of Chicago with their four dogs and a cat.
Cathie Ostapchuk
An alumna of Moody, Cathie’s work as a leadership catalyst, communicator, consultant, coach, author and podcast host has led her to equip leaders globally. Cathie is Co-Founder and Lead Catalyst of Gather, a transformational movement to connect women, equip leaders and mobilize the female church in Canada. She is a published author of Brave Women, Bold Moves, Choosing Courage in a Culture of Conformity. Cathie co-hosts both the Gather Influence Podcast and has launched The Strong Way Podcast. Cathie is focused on calling up and developing leaders of today and tomorrow. Find her at cathieostapchuk.com.
Christy Spader
Christy is passionate about seeing women equipped and empowered for ministry. She has been involved in higher ed, church and parachurch spaces for over the last decade. She currently serves as an adjunct professor in areas of Discipleship at both Moody Bible Institute and Wheaton College and is on staff with Calvary Memorial Church in Oak Park, IL with Women’s Ministry and Small Groups.
Elizabeth App
Elizabeth App has spent three decades ministering in Chicago. Together with her husband Asa, they have led youth ministries, marriage mentoring ministries, and helped plant multiple congregations. They have led to the Lord, baptized, and discipled many men and women. Her heart’s desire is to see women come to know Christ, love and obey His word, and reach others for His kingdom. Elizabeth grew up in Nicaragua as a missionary kid. She speaks Spanish fluently and has ministered overseas in various countries. She and Asa graduated from Moody Bible Institute and have been on staff with New Life Community Church for 30 years. They have four adult God-loving children.
Shari Thomas
Shari researched and codeveloped church leader assessment inventories focused on women in church planting. Her discoveries led her to cofound Parakaleo in 2006, a ministry dedicated to this target audience. She and her husband, John, have partnered for 40 years in Christian ministry planting churches, developing gospel-rich training, assessment, and creating a missional leadership culture for church planting couples around the world. Shari’s friends describe her as a fun-loving, limits-pushing, risk taking woman. She looks forward to becoming that eccentric old woman who dares you to jump into whatever you love with both feet.
Valencia Wiggins
Dr. Valencia Wiggins, Ph.D., L.P.C. is an Associate Professor and Director of Clinical Training at Moody Theological Seminary for the Master’s Clinical Mental Health program. She completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Walden University and MA in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton Graduate School. In addition, Dr. Wiggins works in private practice with individuals and families. Her clinical work includes sexual abuse, trauma, grief and loss, eating disorders, family issues, depression, adolescents, and women’s issues. Dr. Wiggins enjoys helping individuals reach their emotional health potential.
