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Mandy Smith is a pastor and speaker. Her latest book is Unfettered: Imagining a Childlike Faith Beyond the Baggage of Western Culture and her book The Vulnerable Pastor was named a best book of the year by Missio Alliance, Leadership Journal, Englewood Review of Books, and Hearts and Minds Bookstore. Smith directed Missio Alliance's SheLeads Summit for two years, has been the keynote speaker at many national gatherings, and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary and Western Seminary's Eugene Peterson Center for Christian Imagination. She is also a regular contributor to Missio Alliance and Christianity Today.

PRESENTERS

Nina Balmaceda - A Latina Perspective

Vilma “Nina” Balmaceda, PhD, is a scholar-practitioner whose work focuses on interdisciplinary education and civic leadership development for justpeace and reconciliation. She serves as the associate director of the Center for Reconciliation and a consulting faculty member of the practice of reconciliation and Hispanic studies at Duke University’s Divinity School. She is also president and CEO of Peace and Hope International (PHI), a faith-based peacebuilding nonprofit dedicated to preventing and confronting violence and other forms of injustice in Latin America. A former Fulbright scholar at Notre Dame and John Stott for Human Needs and Global Resources scholar at Wheaton College, Nina served as graduate dean of CETI Continental before joining Duke University. 

Born and raised in Lima, Peru, where Nina worked in the human rights field, she holds a Law degree by the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru; master degrees in International Peace Studies and in Government; and a PhD in Political Science by the University of Notre Dame du Lac. Nina and her family are based in Durham, North Carolina. 

James Choung - A Generational Perspective

James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation — overseeing evangelism, discipleship, planting, growth, missions, multiethnic initiatives, and the Creative Labs — at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. He is also ordained with the Vineyard USA, and has written three books — the latest being Longing for Revival. He speaks frequently at campuses, churches, seminaries, and conferences, and most recently taught a doctoral course on evangelism at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is thankful that his work has been featured in Christianity Today, Leadership Journal, Outreach Magazine, Seminary Now, and exploregod.com.

James wrote his D. Min. dissertation on postmodern leadership development also at Fuller Theological Seminary, received his M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and studied management science and marketing at MIT. He has previously served on the pastoral staff of a Boston-area urban church plant, of a megachurch in Seoul, and led an LA-adjacent house church. As for other interests, he has led worship at various national conferences including the Urbana Student Missions Conference, and sat on boards for higher education and an overseas business startup. For fun, he likes to travel with his wife, laugh with his two sons, spoil his daughter, bask in Los Angeles’ endless summer, and swing a racket in hopes of playing something like tennis.

Daniel Harris - A Disability Perspective

Daniel Aaron Harris, age 40, identifies as a cerebral palsy native Memphian, artist, author, actor and activist. As the director and founder of Fallen Walls for 19 years, he encourages and helps people find their vocation inside their location regardless of their ability. He has written 8 children’s books in a series called Bobby Blue Books. Other writings include articles, and a play that helps change the narrative of disability. He is currently working on a doctorate of ministry focusing on disability at Western Theological Seminary. Daniel is also a proud member of the theatre and film community in Memphis, helping  shape a new landscape for persons with disabilities.

Lenore Three Stars - A Native American Perspective

Lenore Three Stars (Oglala Lakota) was born on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, where her father was born. Her mother is Minnecoujou Lakota from the Cheyenne River Reservation, S.D.

Lenore earned her BA from Fort Lewis College in Colorado, then completed a civil rights career in Seattle, Washington. When she retired, she moved to Spokane to be an active unci (grandmother) to her two takojas (grandkids), and began her graduate studies. Lenore earned an M.A. from Portland Seminary/George Fox University in Oregon.

Lenore speaks and writes from a Native perspective on decolonizing theology and racial reconciliation. She serves on boards related to her interests in justice, the local community, Indigenous issues, and a discipleship of creation care.

Vince Bantu - A Gospelist Perspective

Vince Bantu is the Ohene (President) of the Meachum School of Haymanot and is Assistant Professor of Church History and Black Church Studies at Fuller Theological Seminary. Vince’s assignment from the Lord is to proclaim that the Bisrat (Gospel) of Yeshua is for all nations, tribes and tongues and to do this by teaching on the earliest history of Christianity in Africa and Asia. Vince is the author of A Multitude of All Peoples (IVP), Gospel Haymanot (UMI) and The Bisrat (Jude 3 Project). Vince is also the Ohene (President) of the Society of Gospel Haymanot (SGH), an academic society of theological Gospelism—Afro-rooted theology committed to the universal Lordship of Jesus, biblical authority and the liberation of the oppressed. Vince also serves as the Katabi (Editor) of the publication of SGH—the Haymanot Journal. Vince, his wife Diana, and their daughters live and minister in St. Louis and they love to travel, watch movies and bust some spades.

Nicole Roccas - An Orthodox Christian Perspective

Nicole Roccas, PhD, is a writer, podcaster, and communications professional in the Toronto area. She has always been fascinated by the intersection between temporality and lived faith, and her writing focuses on how struggles--primarily grief, trauma, mental health struggles--play out in time. She grew up in Wisconsin, completed her graduate work in Cincinnati in History, and currently serves as the Communications Coordinator for The Canadian Council of Churches. Along the way, Nicole converted to Eastern Orthodox Christianity from fundamentalist-leaning Evangelicalism. You can find her on Instagram and Twitter (@nicoleroccas) and her website (www.nicoleroccas.com).

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