Special Guests
Mike Erre :: Speaker
Mike Erre is the lead pastor of Mariners Church Mission Viejo.
He was born near Columbus, Ohio, and moved to Southern California in 1997 to purse an M.A. in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics through Talbot School of Theology (graduating in 2004). He has served in a number of churches: First Evangelical Free Church of Fullerton (Sports Ministries Director), Mariners Church (Student Ministries Pastor) and most recently, Rock Harbor Church (Lead Teaching Pastor).
Mike has published four books: The Jesus of Suburbia, Why Guys Need God, Death By Church, and his newest book, Why the Bible Matters, which was released in March of 2010. He has been an adjunct professor at Biola University and has spoken at many different colleges, conferences and retreats throughout the region.
Bekele Shanko :: Speaker
Bekele and Shewaye are from Ethiopia and were married in 1993. In July 1994, they joined the ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ in Ethiopia and Bekele became the country’s national director. In 1999, Bekele was appointed director of affairs for Southern and Eastern Africa.
In 2002, Bekele gave leadership to Operation Sunrise, a faith-filled strategy to proclaim the gospel to 50 million people in 50 cities in 50 days across 22 nations in Africa. About 500,000 people from over 20,000 local churches and 300 Christian organizations participated. By the end of that summer 1.72 million people indicated a decision to believe in Jesus.
Bekele designed, launched, and is directing Emerging Leaders Initiative Africa, an intensive 2-year leader-development program for emerging leaders in Africa. The first group graduated in May 2010 and the second group will commence in September 2010.
Bekele and Shewaye live in Pretoria, South Africa, and have 4 children: Nathan, Elim, Philip and Nesiel. Shewaye is involved in women’s leadership development. She has passion for children ministry, art and helping orphans.
Matt McCoy & The Harvest Worship Band
Matt McCoy is back leading the Worship band from Harvest Bible Chapel in Chicago. We had a terrific time worshiping with them last year, and we are excited they are with us again.
Josh Coy :: Emcee
Josh is on staff at Bowling Green, his alma mater. Blaming it on his sense of adventure, Josh has resided in Nashville, TN and Portland, OR. He gets a kick out of writing short films, cooking, and other means of glorifying the Creator through creativity. In a past life, Josh hammed it up in the media as a DJ and VJ. As a middle child, Josh is eager to be on stage, hosting the best conference of the year!
