Unite Productions

Keynote Speakers

Craig A. Evans is Payzant Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada. He earned a doctorate in biblical studies at Claremont Graduate University in 1983. Prior to his appointment at Acadia he was Visiting Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at McMaster University in Hamilton, and for twenty-one years was Professor of Biblical Studies at Trinity Western University in Langley, British Columbia, where for many years he chaired the Religious Studies Department and directed the graduate program in Biblical Studies. He was also for one year a Visiting Fellow at Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey.

Professor Evans is author or editor of more than fifty books. Among his authored books are Jesus and His Contemporaries: Comparative Studies (1995), Jesus in Context: Temple, Purity, and Restoration (1997), Mark (2001), The Bible Knowledge Background Commentary: Matthew–Luke (2003), Jesus and the Ossuaries (2003), and Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies (2005). His newest book, Fabricating Jesus: How Modern Scholars Distort the Gospels, was released by InterVarsity Press in December 2006. At the spring 2006 commencement the Alumni Association of Acadia University honoured Professor Evans with the Excellence in Research Award.

Professor Evans has given lectures at Cambridge, Durham, Oxford, Yale, and other universities, colleges, seminaries, and museums, such as the Field Museum in Chicago and the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. He also regularly lectures and gives talks at popular conferences and retreats on the Bible and Archaeology, including the Biblical Archaeology Society summer sessions, as well as fall sessions at the annual Society of Biblical Literature meetings. He has lectured on the Dead Sea Scrolls, Jesus and archaeology, canonical and extra-canonical Gospels, and the controversial James Ossuary.

Professor Evans lives in Kentville, Nova Scotia, with his wife Ginny; they have two grown daughters and a grandson.

 Dr. Dorothy M. Peters holds graduate degrees from Trinity Western University, the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester. She is the author of Noah Traditions in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Conversations and Controversies of Antiquity, publishes her articles in journals and books and regularly presents papers at conferences locally and internationally. Currently, she is writing an inspirational book that reflects upon the word pictures of suffering and hope found in the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Dorothy is on faculty in the Dead Sea Scrolls Institute and the Religious Studies department at Trinity Western University in British Columbia. Recently, she was awarded a two-year postdoctoral research fellowship funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada for work on her new scholarly project, "The Languages of Hospitality and Violence Concerning the Outsider: Multilingual Conversations in the Dead Sea Scrolls."

Within her church community, Dorothy is equally content either serving coffee or preaching or traveling to Guatemala to work alongside the poor and to hear their stories. At home, she relaxes by making seaweed compost, growing organic fruits and vegetables, and playing with her grandchildren. Mother of four and grandmother of three, she resides with her husband, Greg, in Abbotsford and on Mayne Island.

Tom Davis currently serves as CEO of Children's HopeChest, a global orphan care ministry headquartered in Colorado Springs. A tireless advocate for fatherless children, Davis has spent most of his adult life calling believers to become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the 143 million orphans worldwide. Over 80 churches have engaged orphan communities around the world. Through those connections, thousands of orphans now have a bright and hopeful future -- one that is filled with opportunities and the love of the one true Father. Davis speaks hundreds of times each year at churches and conferences, mobilizing the church to action on behalf of the poor. He is the author of four books. His most recent novel, SCARED is a fictionalized account of his first-hand experiencing working with orphans in Swaziland, Africa. Davis' blog, www.cthomasdavis.com is the premier resource for the latest developments in Christian orphan ministry. Davis also currently teaches courses as adjunct professor at George Fox University in Newberg, OR.

Davis is a former youth pastor, having built several successful post-modern youth church movements in the Dallas area. He is also a corporate leadership training expert and speaking coach, working with Fortune 500 companies to help them improve their leadership and communications skills.
When not traveling the globe, Davis resides in the mountains of Colorado in the small community of Palmer Lake. He and his wife Emily have seven children, including two adopted daughters from Russia.
 

Rev. Todd E. Johnson, PhD (University of Notre Dame), is the Brehm Chair of Worship, Theology, and the Arts at Fuller Theological Seminary where he teaches in the areas of worship, spirituality and performance.  He is the lead professor in the new PhD concentration in Christian Worship. Before coming to Fuller, Todd has taught at the University of Notre Dame, Loyola University Chicago, and North Park Theological Seminary.  Todd has also taught adjunct in numerous schools across North America in including Tyndale Theological Seminary in Toronto.  Todd has also worked with a wide variety of denomination on issues of worship from Roman Catholic to Assemblies of God.

 Todd’s are of expertise is in liturgical theology, or the relationship between theological meaning and the actions of Christian worship.  He has written numerous articles and essays on the history and theology of worship.  He edited the volume, The Convictions of Things Not Seen: Worship and Ministry in the 21st Century.  He has co-authored a volume with Dale Savidge entitled Performing the Sacred: Theology and Theatre in Dialogue (July 2009), and will be releasing an interactive learning resource for teaching worship in 2010.

Johnson has served in many ministerial capacities, including inner city youth work in Pittsburgh and Chicago, campus ministry, hospital, and police chaplaincy. He is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Covenant Church and has served as parish pastor and on numerous conference and denominational boards and commissions. Beyond his academic training, Johnson has also studied theater in Chicago, training at the Victory Gardens Theater, Steppenwolf Theatre, and The Second City Training Center in Chicago.

 Todd and His wife have five children (the last three being triplets). He is an avid hockey fan and an amateur pop music critic and an enthusiastic athlete, having completed numerous races including marathons and triathlons.

Glenn Packiam is the Director of New Life School of Worship and an Associate Worship Pastor at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He is also the worship leader and Associate College Pastor for New Life's college ministry, theMILL. As one of the founding leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band, Glenn has been featured on several Desperation Band and NewLifeWorship albums including "Everyone Overcome", the award-winning "My Savior Lives" and the most recently released "Counting on God". Glenn has written a few well-loved worship songs like "Your Name", "Everyone (Praises)", and "My Savior Lives."

Glenn is also the author of Butterfly in Brazil: How Your Life Can Make a World of Difference, published by Tyndale House. His second book, "Secondhand Jesus: Trading Rumors of God for a Firsthand Faith" was recently released by David C. Cook Publishing in conjunction with his debut solo album "Rumors and Revelations" from Integrity Music.

What all this means is that Glenn talks to a lot of people, plays a lot of music, and drinks a lot of coffee. And all of that makes for a wonderful life. Glenn and his absolutely amazing wife, Holly, and their two adorable daughters, Sophia and Norah, are enjoying life in the shadow of the mighty Rocky Mountains.

Workshop Leaders

Mike Harland

Mike Harland hails from Corinth, Mississippi. While attending New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Mike served churches in Mississippi and Louisiana, completing a Master of Church Music degree in 1987.  Mike has always had the heart of a songwriter. His songs have been recorded by The Imperials, Gold City, Luke Garrett, Chris and Diane Machen, Steve Amerson, Calvin Hunt, and others. After a decade of writing songs and finding them printed by numerous entities, Mike became an exclusive songwriter for LifeWay in 2002.  Mike currently serves as Director for LifeWay Worship, LifeWay Christian Resources, Nashville, Tennessee.  Mike recently co-authored a book and corresponding Bible study, Seven Words of Worship, with good friend and worship ministry consultant Stan Moser.

Rick D’Orazio

Rick and Colleen D’Orazio, together with a small group of friends in 1999 joined together to plant the Freedom Centre International, a community church located in the heart of Port Credit Village in Mississauga, Ontario. Currently, Rick serves as the church's team leader. He has a passion to see local church communities healed, equipped and released into all the different spheres of society Known for his passion for life, enjoyment of resourcing people's dreams, and his dedication to loving well, Rick is a servant leader. When he's not challenging, equipping and strengthening his own congregation to "make history" for God, Rick travels internationally to provide support and advice to various Partners in Harvest (PIH) church plants in his capacity as the International Director of Church Planting. Rick is also one of the founding members of a local community advocacy group for First Nations people known as the Friends of the Mississaugas.
Rick and his wife Colleen have four children -- Kailyn, David, Jonathan, and Talia -- as well as a dog Oscar -- all of whom keep them busy and fulfilled.
 

Beth Fellinger

Beth Fellinger has been involved in pastoral ministry for 29 years and is the director of ‘Ugly Couch Café Ministries’ which provides strategic planning to youth ministries. Beth was ordained in 2001 and has always been involved with youth ministry. In the last 9 years, her focus has been on training and encouraging both youth and youth leaders at conferences and training sessions across Canada and around the world. Beth believes strongly in the power of the local church and intergenerational ministry and has a passion to see the youth of this world embrace faith in Christ.

Rena Gaile 

Award-winning singer-songwriter , voice coach, worship leader and recording artist Rena Gaile brings over 25 years of experience on stage and in the studio to her vocal workshops. The power and passion of her angelic voice is no stranger to radio programmers across Canada and her industry accolades include nom-nods for Best New Artist and Best Female Vocalist in the company of Shania Twain, Terri Clarke and Michelle Wright.  Awards include Best Gospel Song (Just As I Am-original) and Best Gospel Album times two(One People and At Your Feet) and a recent nom nod for best female vocalist at the Maja Awards. In her workshops, Rena  focuses on getting a big sound with proper placement, breathing and vocal technique. From vital direction on how to use a sound check to your advantage and placement of sound for vocal power, to health tips for voice preservation, this interactive workshop gives you essential singing, voice care and performance pointers.   Rena offers excellent quick-fix tips for hobbyists and professionals, team singers and soloists.   Rena is currently a worship leader at her church and head of the music department at People's Christian Academy.

John Franklin

John Franklin is the Executive Director of Imago a Toronto based initiative designed to support Christians in the arts in Canada.  Over the past decade he has been hosting discussions, putting on arts events and networking with Christian artists across Canada and internationally. He also publishes Imago's quarterly newsletter.

Before taking up his position with Imago he spent 25 years as a professor of philosophy.  This past summer he taught a course on Theology and the Arts at Toronto School of Theology University of Toronto.  He is a member of the Arts and Media Committee for Lausanne 2010 in Cape Town South Africa and is Chair of the Task Force on Arts in Mission for the World Evangelical Alliance Mission Commission. www.imago-arts.on.ca 

Andrew Pitts

Andrew and his wife, Amber, are originally from southern California. After earning his A.A., B.B.S. and B.Th ., they decided to move to the Toronto area so that Andrew could complete his M.A. (2007) and now his Ph.D. (2010) in Christian Theology, with a focus upon the New Testament, at McMaster Divinity College. Andrew worked for the last few years at Harvest Bible Chapel in Oakville as the director of the Young Adults ministry and is now setting aside time to finish what is left on his doctorate. Andrew is the author of several journal articles, chapters in books, and relevant to this conference (with its focus on the Dead Sea scrolls), he is the co-editor of the forthcoming book: Christian Origins and Hellenistic Judaism: Social and Literary Contexts for the New Testament (Brill, 2010). 

Gene Tempelmeyer

Presently the Lead Pastor at Spring Garden Church, Toronto, Gene has led small churches and large churches in small towns to large cities.  The desire to see people all along the spiritual continuum take one step closer to Christ has informed and inspired his ministry all along the way.  As the years have accumulated one the most satisfying aspects of his ministry is mentoring young pastors and seminary students. Gene and his wife, Debbie (Marketing Director of Cook Communications Ministries), have survived raising two children.  An artist in his spare time, Gene’s paintings have appeared in GTA galleries and at GKTart.com.

Diane Geerlinks & Betty Panza

Diane Geerlinks and Betty Panza have many years of teaching experience in schools and in churches. With a passion for the Word of God, they’ve researched and unearthed some of the treasures of the Christian faith stored deep in the Old Testament and in the history of the Jewish people. This passion developed into writing curriculum for children’s ministry programs and Digging Deep Ministries was born. Their passion is that His people, both young and old, would dig deep and experience God’s unfathomable love.

John Willis

John Willis has been in the audio industry for over 25 years and has an array of experience in designing and implementing audio, lighting and visual systems. He has toured extensively for over ten years with a variety of national and international artists and brings some of the experiences gained over the years to the conference. Were his touring schedule permits, he still runs sound as his local Church.
 

 John Devries 

John Devries is the National Sales Manager for Roland Systems Group Canada. Has been with the Roland Corporation for over 20 years in various positions and most recently to head up RSG Canada. John is head of audio at his church, Good Friend Fellowship, Orangeville and is also one of the worship leaders.