Born and raised as a proud Canadian who currently lives in Calgary, AB. Has served as a youth pastor and lead pastor in the city of Calgary and currently is serving as the North American Director of Youthworker Initiatives for Barefoot Ministries based out of Kansas City, MO. Matt has a strong passion to see youth pastors, youth volunteers and students serve God wholeheartedly with the abilities that they have.

Beth Fellinger, currently the Director of Family Ministries at Oakridge Presbyterian Church in London has been involved in pastoral ministry for 28 years. Beth is also the director for Ugly Couch Café Ministries designed at helping churches with strategic planning in the area of youth ministry. She is also the national advisor for Youth Alpha Canada. She was ordained in 2001. She has always had an involvement in youth ministry and in the last 7 years has been far more hands on with training and encouraging both youth and youth leaders at conferences and training sessions across Canada and around the world. Beth believes strongly in the local church and in intergenerational ministry. She has been married to Barry for over 28 years and has two university age children and many adopted ones who at some point have shared their home. She has a passion to see the youth of this world won for God.

Workshop: Ugly Couch Cafe

Barry Fellinger is currently the Manager of Information and Referral Services for Mental Health Service Information Ontario, a service of ConnexOntario Health Services Information.

Prior to assuming his role at ConnexOntario, he was Executive Director of the Crest Centre, a rural agency which provides housing and vocational services for those with serious mental health issues and developmental challenges. His past work experience in the mental health field also includes positons of Case Manager, and Program Director. His work in the mental health sector also has involved participation on various committees, work groups and task forces at local, regional and provincial levels. He holds a Bachelor's degree in theology, majoring in counselling, and a Human Resource Management Certificate.

Workshop: Working with Mental Health issues

You can read Chris' bio here

Workshop: Understanding Compassion Fatigue

David Balzer recently joined Canadian Mennonite University as an Instructor in Communications and Media Studies. For the past 12 years David was a media producer with Family Life Network in Winnipeg and co-hosted the GodTalk radio show on CJOB 68 on Sunday nights for over a decade. David has a keen interest in creating media that engages people's notions and experiences of God. He is married and has 3 school-age children. David has a BA in Administrative Studies (University of Winnipeg), a Bachelor of Religious Studies (MBBC) and an MA in Speech Communication (California State University).

Workshop: Living Faithfully in a Media Age

When Greg was 17 years old, attending a youth camp in BC, he experienced the power of God like never before. His life was changed. His passion to see the power of God meet teenagers and radically alter their lives.

Greg is currently working as the District Ministries Director for the PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario. He was a youth pastor in Calgary, Prince George and Victoria for 11 years before that. During this time he discovered that youth ministry effects more than just teenagers, but entire families. He has been married to Tammy for 13 years and they have 4 kids, Rachel, Curtis, Brianne and Stephanie.

Workshop: Suburban Youth Ministry

John Berard is a part-time staffer (ministry coordinator) with st. benedicts table in Winnipeg. He has been a youthworker in various capacities for 25 years serving as youth pastor in three congregations. He has been a consultant with churches in the areas of youth ministry, Christian education, and board development and at the denominational level on issues related to camping and higher education. He holds a masters degree, has been an adjunct professor, and most recently assistant professor of youth and family studies at Booth College. He spent 5 years with Youth for Christ in Winnipeg and now works as the National Training Director for YFC Canada and has just completed a soon-to-be-published book for Youth Specialities/Zondervan. And while he thinks such information is really just fluff in a bio, he has a long track record as a soccer coach, enjoys good coffee and lots of jazz.

Workshop: Organic Youth Ministry

Kara Mandryk is the Assistant Professor of Worship and Christian Spirituality at Providence College. She has her Master's Degree in Biblical Studies and her Doctor of Worship Studies from the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies in Orange Park, Florida. Her doctoral research focused on the adaptation of ancient spiritual disciplines and rituals for young adults in the 21st century.

Through her studies, Kara has developed a deep love for the Word of God and the history of the Christian Church. Kara's goal is to encourage people to think both theologically and practically about the Christian life by engaging the Scriptures and church tradition. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Kara is a proud member of the Altar Guild at St. Aidan's Anglican Church.

Workshop: Contemplative Worship

Kent Dueck has worked for 23 years as an urban missionary to youth in Winnipegs' North End. He is passionate about impacting street involved youth, gang members, and Families with the gospel of Christ. He is the founder of a ministry that provides Job Skills Training, Chopper bikeClub, Teen Mom's Group, Inner City Racing, a drop-in, Third Floor Clubs (Discipleship), Leadership Development, Gem Lake Wilderness Camp, Out-Trips, and Meals for Kids, to inner city children and youth.

Workshop: Poverty by design

Malynda Zacharias loves chocolate and is a girl at heart! As the Founder and Ministry Leader of Beautiful Unique Girl, she leads a mentorship program for 18-25 year old girls, preparing them to speak, share the Good News and interact with younger women (gr 9-12 and gr 5-8) across North America. Married to Marshall Zacharias of Avante Records, mother of 2 boys, Malynda has served as a worship pastor for a large community church. She is a songwriter, with accolades including a Juno-award winning album, and has mentored artists such as Amanda Falk and Kassie Tyers. She is passionate about seeing a generation of young women Discover their Beauty, Walk in Freedom and Live with Purpose by encountering the truth in God's Word.

Workshop: Developing a girls ministry

Raena Peters is on staff with Living Waters Canada as their Youth Ministry Coordinator. For more than 15 years our community based Christ-centered ministry has offered prayer and discipleship programs in Canada that can bring hope and wholeness to peoples' lives. We work as an extension of the local church providing a safe and honest place for those who struggle with pornography, same sex attraction, emotional dependency, past abuse, eating disorders, low self-esteem and many other issues.

Raena has experienced first hand the effects of relational and sexual brokeness due to her father's unfaithfulness to her mother and his sexual addiction. Through learning how to deal with broken trust and anger one has learned much about God's grace, mercy and forgiveness.

Workshop: Creating safe environments

Rob's dream has always been to be that epic adventurer in the movies, you know the ones. The adventurers like Errol Flynn, Aragorn from Lord of the Rings, any unsuspecting hero. He found in life more adventure than in any of the movies. Rob came to know Christ as a teenager and followed God's leading into you ministry. After 13 focused years of ministry, Rob still has the passion for teenagers he had as a young man and that passion has grown to include youth workers as well.

Rob is the Director of Canadian Youth Worker and a Youth Ministry Speaker. Rob's largest passion is for his wife Janet and two children, Therone and Morgan. Rob looks for fun in movies, visiting with friends, sports, reading but most of all dating his wife.

Workshop: Social Networking in Ministry

After visions of a lucrative NBA career came to a screeching halt in grade 7, Tim came to know Christ as a teenager, and eventually jumped into youth ministry with both feet. Sixteen years into it, his drive to see teenager's drawn to God and churches have youth ministries that rock their communities is stronger than ever.

Tim serves as a communicator and youth ministry coach for Truth Matters as well as youth pastor at Church of the Rock in Winnipeg. His biggest fans on and off the court are his wife Tracey, and three awesome kids, Carter, Amber, and Drew. For fun he loves wrestling with his kids, hugging his wife, fishing, reading, biking, basketball and most of all, sleeping.

Workshop: Basic Counseling Skills for Youth Ministry