BEHOLD CONFERENCE
Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed - PSALMS 34:5
Lee
Michael
Leader of Behold, Youth pastor at Friendship Church, Athens, Al. Lee has over 20 years in youth Ministry.
Joshua & Mary Dea Rains
Josh and Mary Dea started serving in youth ministry together as volunteers in 2011. In 2014, they were married in Guntersville, AL, where Josh began full time youth ministry and Mary Dea worked as a middle school teacher. After 5 years of ministry in Nashville, Tn, they made their way back to Alabama, where Josh currently serves as worship pastor at Friendship Church in Athens. They thank God for the blessing of being parents to their two incredible daughters, Goldie and Birdie. The Rains family loves every opportunity God gives them to share his love with the world.
At Laguna Beach
Christian Retreat,
Panama City Beach, FL
Includes 2 nights and 5 meals
BEN
BROOK
BEN
BROOK
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BEN
BROOK
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BEN
BROOK
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BEN
BROOK
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BEN
BROOK
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BEN
BROOK
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Ben Birdsong is a church and para-church student ministry veteran and currently serves as the Minister of Missions at Christ Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He is also an adjunct professor teaching children, youth, and family ministries at Birmingham Theological Seminary. Ben also helps churches with custom curriculum through Your Youth Ministry Curriculum and authors with book projects through Birdsong Innovations.
Ben has bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Human Resource Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Divinity degree from Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Emerging Generations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.
As an author, Ben has written the devotional books Words from the Cross: 7 Statements that Will Transform Your Life, journeying through Jesus’ final moments before His death, and James: Everyday Faith.
Ben is married to Liz. He enjoys reading, writing, watching movies, and blogging at www.benbirdsong.com.
BEN BIRDSONG
Your Youth Ministry Curriculum and Author
Debi DeBoer-First Priority of Alabama & Priority Kids of Alabama Debi Deboer has been on staff for the past 26 years serving as Ministry Director for The Greater Birmingham area. The vision of First Priority is to take the Hope of Christ to every student by networking local churches to partner around school campuses to equip students to share their faith with their peers.
There are 272 campuses in greater Birmingham with 163,301 students and we want to reach every last one with the Gospel. "I am passionate about this generation and I want to make sure they are grounded in biblical truth and not a product of the culture around them. "
She is happily married to James Deboer and has three children Lindi, Lani and Joppe. She enjoys reading, traveling, relaxing at the lake and spending time with friends and family.
DEBI DEBOER
Ministry Director and Area Director for First Priority, Alabama
Rev. Dr. Michael Miller has served faithfully in international and national Christian ministry for over 34 years. Michael is passionate about leading people to Christ and seeing the Holy Spirit work in people’s lives. Michael is blessed with a wonderful family including his wife, Angela, of over 28 years, and four adult children. Michael enjoys time with his family and the outdoors.
Michael grew up in Tuscaloosa and began in the ministry in 1989 in Hawaii with Youth with a Mission. Michael’s time in Bible College in Hawaii would be a base for further mission work where he also served in the Philippines, Hong Kong, India, Africa, and Central America in a wide range of ministry settings (church planting, evangelism, community development, teaching English, etc.). Michael received his graduate and undergraduate degrees with honors and various distinguished scholar awards from the University of Alabama and his Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Seminary in Kentucky where he received his doctorate as a Beeson Fellow. Currently Michael serves as a Presiding Elder in the Global Methodist Church in the North Alabama Conference. He has also served on various conference and district leadership teams within the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church. These include serving as chair of Evangelism for the North Alabama Conference for five years, serving on the Church Growth and Revitalization Team for the North Alabama Conference, serving as District Youth Coordinator for the Southwest District, etc. Before entering fulltime ministry, Michael worked as a medical social worker in the neonatal intensive care unit of DCH Regional Medical Center, Hospice of West Alabama, and the Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. Michael has also conducted research for the National Institute of Aging with UAB and the Alabama Bureau of Geriatric Psychiatry.