RE:image II Presenter Bios

· Rodger Nishioka

· Larry Graves

· Mary Dreier

· Eric Halverson

· Pat Mathson

· Michael Bausch

· Anissa Bacon

· Noelle Garcia

· Karen Young & Jackie Schmidt

· Ferzana Hashmi

Rodger Nishioka, Keynote Speaker

Associate Professor of Christian Education at Columbia Theological Seminary, Nishioka is widely recognized for his groundbreaking research - some of it in Iowa - into why teens and young adults leave mainline churches. Nishioka focuses on equipping pastors to be teachers and leaders in the church's educational ministry. He is particularly interested in building a congregation's youth and young adult ministries. He holds a BA from Seattle Pacific University, an M.A.T.S. from McCormick Theological Seminary, an Litt.D from Austin College, and is a Ph.D. candidate at Georgia State University. He is an author of or contributor to four youth ministry books, and a member of the Presbyterian Church, USA.

Larry Graves
From Maintenance to Mission

Rev. Larry Graves serves on the national staff of the American Baptist Churches–USA. He serves the American Baptist Extension Corporation as a field representative assisting churches with acquisition, renovation and construction of property for the spreading of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He served on the Mid-American Baptist Region staff as an Area Minister and Director of Camping for 12 years. Graves has served on two congregational renewal teams that have assisted over twenty churches in the renewal process.

Mary Dreier
1. Building a Labyrinth: Materials and Methods

2. Labyrinth: Reenergizing Christian Educators

3. Labyrinths: Spaces for Kids with God

Mary is an experienced Christian Educator, spiritual director, retreat leader, labyrinth builder and facilitator, caretaker and host of Soul of the Prairie, contemplative, and creative spirit.  She is a graduate of the CENTER program of the Iowa Conference of the United Church of Christ, has studied theology and spirituality at the graduate level at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota, has trained with Robert Ferre’ of Labyrinth Enterprises, is an associate of the Spiritual Guidance Program of the Shalem Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, and a member of the Spirations Institute for Interspiritual Formation’s spiritual midwifery program.

Mary is currently pursuing her passion of creating and enabling space for dancing with God at Soul of the Prairie, a place where “souls and stories gather” on her family farm near Hubbard.   At Soul of the Prairie Mary offers spiritual direction/companionship, space for individual and group retreats, labyrinth walks and programs, and special events where God’s music is clear and the melody compelling.  For more information about Mary and Soul of the Prairie, go to www.souloftheprairie.com.

Eric Halverson
Creating Video Images
The craze of watching videos over the Internet has driven millions to routinely engage in this form of entertainment.  Many Churches choose not to use these sites because of the lack of protection.  In this workshop learn how to to spread your message and increase visibility around the clock through safe custom video sharing libraries exclusive to your Church.

Pat Mathson
Children Embracing Prayer

Patricia Mathson is the author of books and magazine articles in the field of religious education. She has a Master of Religious Education degree and many years of experience in faith formation. She is currently Children's Ministry Coordinator for Hope Family Center in Des Moines. She is a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is West Des Moines.

Michael Bausch
Creating Powerful Images 

Michael Bausch teaches the use of the arts and multimedia in worship based on many years of parish ministry experience. He is minister of Summit Congregational UCC in Dubuque, Iowa and serves as adjunct faculty at both the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary and the Pacific School of Religion. The Alban Institute published his Silver Screen, Sacred Story: Using Multimedia in Worship in 2002.

Anissa Bacon
1. Finding Your Voice in Song

2. Copyright Law for Churches

Anissa Bacon is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ. She currently is serving as an Associate Minister at Plymouth Congregational Church in Des Moines, Iowa. Anissa holds degrees in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine, a Master of Arts (in Sacred Music) from Bangor Theological Seminary and a Master of Divinity from Boston University. Before becoming an ordained minister, she served the church for over ten years as a local church Music Director in Maine and throughout New England as a workshop presenter in community song. Her musical interests continue to lie in the field of hymnody, most particularly in discerning the beliefs and life of a people by the songs that they sing.

Noelle Garcia
1. Involving Youth in Music Ministry

2. Traditional and Contemporary Music

Noelle Garcia grew up in Texas, Colorado, Tennessee, and now resides in Michigan. She is the Coordinator of Youth Ministry at St. Patrick Church. When Noelle was younger, she was constantly challenged in her faith by friends and classmates who were not Catholic. Those challenges, and her own stubborn determination, led her to learn more about the Catholic Church. She grew to not simply understand what she professed to believe, but literally fell in love with it. Noelle’s faith now is not just a part of her life, but her passion.

Noelle started taking piano lessons when she was in third grade. When she was 15, a friend invited her to play in a praise and worship band that eventually was part of the first Youth 2000 conference in Memphis. That event, as well as the subsequent Franciscan University of Steubenville conferences she attended, changed Noelle’s outlook on life in a profound way and she realized her call to ministry.

Noelle began writing songs and shared them with John Angotti, the music director at her home parish in Memphis, Tennessee. John mentored Noelle and gave her the opportunity to share her original compositions, play, sing, and direct at the parish. Noelle attended Christian Brothers University and majored in Human Development. At the same time, she performed and shared her faith at various ministry events and established the youth band called “Savio” — after Saint Dominic Savio. After completing her student teaching, Noelle realized that teaching in a classroom setting was not the only way to reach young people and she began to pursue liturgical and musical ministry as a fulltime career. She loves sharing her passion for the Church and her music, bringing peace and setting people on fire with the love of God as people pray with her in song.

Karen Young and Jackie Schmidt
Welcoming Special Needs Kids

Jackie Schmidt is the director of the Children’s Weekday Program at Lovely Lane church in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  The preschools and daycare that Jackie oversees are labeled as Least Restricted Environment sites meaning that several students have been placed there by their local school district because of the center's ability to adapt a typical classroom to accommodate their special needs. Karen Young is the Minister of Discipleship at Lovely Lane UMC in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She has been in ministry with children for over 20 years and is passionate about helping all children feel loved and welcomed by God.

Ferzana Hashmi
The Immigration Game

Bio forthcoming.

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