Seminars Speakers cont. from page 11
Barbara Neher has been teaching sewing and cooking classes for 48 years. She has written two cookbooks and a sewing instructional book. She is cofounder and national director of the“ It’ s My Very Own” and“ Bags of Love” ministries. These ministries are now in five countries and 42 states. For the fourth year of her seminar, she has planned new and additional information on gardening, cooking, and food preservation.
Alan Parker is a professor of religion at Southern Adventist University, where he is also director of the Pierson Institute of Evangelism and World Missions, and coordinator of the graduate program in religion. He recently authored an article in Ministry entitled,“ Five Keys to Locking the Back Door” where he draws from his twenty years of experience in evangelism and church planting to talk about effective strategies for church retention.
Nelson Silva has been a youth worker in churches and public schools since 2003. In the public school system, he counseled inner-city youth and their parents, and served as a liaison between 17 schools and homes. He collaborated in the creation of after school programs to target inner-city youth development and discipleship. In 2013, Nelson completed a doctor of ministry in Youth, Families, and Culture which allowed him to delve deeper into inner-city ministry in the context of the Seventhday Adventist Church mission in public schools. The creation of an after school children’ s ministry in two public schools gave way to a church plant. Nelson serves as the associate youth director for young adults, public campuses, and Hispanic youth ministries in the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference.
Melissa & Vaughn Weisner Melissa Weisner is an English teacher at Springfield High School. She was in youth ministry with her husband, Vaughn, for almost 10 years when God called her to prayer ministry. She has been in prayer ministry for 4 years, not only as the prayer ministry leader at her home church, but also as an assistant in prayer ministry at the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference. Melissa has spent 2 years mentoring other ladies in prayer ministry, speaking about prayer, and speaking about praying for your husband. She brings an interest in military to the forefront as a daughter and wife of former military men.