Devotional Speakers
Sunday Morning Jordane Smith Pastor for Youth and Young Adults College Heights Seventh-day Adventist Church | Sunday Evening Alex Bryant President North American Division | Monday Morning Mark Johnson President Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada |
Monday Evening Derrick Morris President Hope Channel International | Tuesday Morning Jose Rojas President MOVEmentum Ministries | Tuesday Evening Ivan Williams Ministerial Director North American Division |
Seminar Presenters
Desiree Bryant
Desiree is a 16-year product of Adventist Christian Education, and a second-generation teacher. After completing her bachelor’s degree from Oakwood College, she began her career as a 2nd grade teacher at Ramah Jr. Academy in Cleveland, Ohio. Since that time, she has earned a Masters’ degree in Teaching Reading from Western Michigan University, and served as a classroom teacher for 18 years. From there she went on to serve as principal/superintendent of Education, Shepherdess Leader, Family Life & Women’s Ministry leader, Site-Coordinator and Project Director of a summer Literacy Day Camp program called “Freedom School” over 4 summers for Central States Conference; then Associate Superintendent for the Northern District schools in Potomac Conference. She most recently served as the Projects Coordinator for NAD Office of Education, and currently serves as the NAD Ministerial Spouses Leader.
Desiree enjoys travelling, music, community outreach, reading, home decorating and remodeling, and spending time with family. She has been married to Alex Bryant, President of the North American Division for 38 years. They have 3 adult sons, one daughter-in-law, and three beautiful granddaughters.
One of her favorite scriptures is Prov. 3:5, 6, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”
Dr. Claudio & Dr. Pamela Consuegra
Claudio and Pamela Consuegra are the Family Ministry Directors for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. Claudio was born in Colombia, South America, while Pamela grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia.
Claudio has served as pastor in various conferences throughout the United States. He has also been a law-enforcement, hospital, and hospice chaplain, a marriage and family counselor, and conference department director and administrator. Claudio holds a BA in Theology, MS in Counseling Psychology, and a DMin in Family Ministries. He is an adjunct professor of Family Ministries at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
Pamela has a background in Adventist education, having served as a teacher, academy principal, and Superintendent of Schools. Pamela holds a BS in Elementary Education, MS in Curriculum and Instruction, and a PhD in Leadership. She is an adjunct professor of Family Ministries at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University.
Claudio and Pamela have a rich background in the area of family ministries having worked as a husband/wife team in numerous conferences, hosting a radio program for LifeTalk, a parenting show, “Help! I’m A Parent,” and “A Word for Your Family,” for Hope Channel and Loma Linda Broadcasting Network. They have authored eighteen books, among them the three-part series, “Help! I’m a Parent,” “Grandparenting: Giving your Grandchildren a GRAND View of God,” “Making Jesus My Best Friend,” “Welcome to the Family,” “Family Faith,” “Preparing for Your Marriage,” “Enriching your Marriage,” and the Sabbath School Adult Study Guide for the spring of 2019 entitled, “Family Seasons,” as well as the companion book by the same name. In addition, they have published numerous journal articles.
They have two daughters: Diana, an English teacher, married to Andrew, a Navy aircraft technician, and Hadassah, a Colorectal General Surgeon, married to Greggory, a Speech and Language Pathologist and a soon-to-be born granddaughter.
Claudio and Pamela are passionate about building strong, healthy marriages and families for God’s Kingdom.
Mira Djakov
Mira Djakov holds Master in Marriage and Family Therapy and is presently working for Interior Health in Kelowna, BC as a Mental Health Clinician. She also maintains a successful private practice where she offers couples and family counselling. Mira is passionate about helping individuals, families and couples overcome the challenges to create stronger and more meaningful relationships and lead lives worth living. She has presented on these topics internationally. Mira embraces the moments of happiness as well as growth in her role of a child of God, wife, and mother. She enjoys music and nature. Mira serves as a Family Ministry Coordinator for the BC SDA Conference.
Nephtaly Dorzilme
Nephtaly Dorzilme is a graduate of Saleve Adventist University, France with a B.Th; he is also a graduate of Ottawa University with a Master degree in Educational Counseling (M.ed), and of Andrews University with a Master degree in Divinity (M.div), He is a Certified Family Life Educator from CFLE.and he also earned his doctorate degree from Andrews University in Family life Studies.
With the Ontario Conference, since 1997 he served as pastor at Thunder Bay SDA church, Meadowvale SDA Church , Woodbridge SDA church. Bethel SDA church in Toronto Heritage and Parkdale SDA churches in downtown Toronto. Currently he serves as Lead pastor at the Francophone churches in ’Ottawa and Orleans. He serves as Field Secretary in Eastern Ontario, and as Representative of francophone Ministries for NAD Haitian Caucus. He is the author of the book “No Need to Fight”. A book designed to help parents experience and impart peace amid the crisis of adolescent. Prior to coming to the Ontario Conference, he has worked as liaison officer for family reunification Government of Ontario. He has also served as pastor in North Haitian SDA Mission
Pastor Dorzilme is married to Suzette who is a Registered Nurse. They have two adult children. Their oldest son Gueber is also a graduate of Andrews University, he is now working in his field Information System in Toronto. Their daughter Lindsay is a graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville Alabama. She is now a Nurse Practitioner working at Huntsville Hospital and teaching clinical Nursing at Oakwood University. Suzette and Nephtaly are blessed with two grand daughters. Pastor Dorzilme enjoys serving the Lord and his people.
Dr. Denis Fortin
Denis Fortin is professor of historical theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Since joining the Seminary faculty in 1994, Fortin has served also as director of the Master of Divinity program (1999-2001), associate dean (2000-2004), chair of the Department of Theology and Christian Philosophy (2006), and dean (2006-2013).
Born in Quebec City, Canada, Fortin received a Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry from Canadian Union College (now Burman University), Alberta, in 1982. He earned a Master of Divinity from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary of Andrews University in 1986 and a Doctor of Theology (PhD) from the Université Laval, Quebec, in 1995. His dissertation studied the developments of three Adventist denominations in Canada in the nineteenth century. Prior to coming to Andrews University, he served as a pastor in the Quebec Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. He currently also serves as teaching pastor of the One Place Fellowship on the campus of Andrews University.
He is involved in a number of scholarly societies, among them the American Academy of Religion, the Adventist Society for Religious Studies (president, 2019), and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. He has served on numerous committees for the Seventh-day Adventist Church and on the Commission on Faith and Order of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. (1999-2013). He has received the Daniel A. Augsburger Excellence in Teaching Award (Andrews University, 2006), the Siegfried H. Horn Award for Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship (Andrews University, 2017), and the Don F. Neufeld Medallion of Excellence (Burman University, 2017).
Fortin has authored many publications on Adventist history and theology. His latest publications include a Bible study guide, Oneness in Christ, on unity in the Church (2018) and a companion volume One in Christ: Biblical Concepts for a Doctrine of Church Unity (Pacific Press, 2018). His annotated 125th anniversary edition of the Ellen G. White classic, Steps to Christ (Andrews University Press, 2017), received widespread support and praise. He is also co-editor of The Ellen G. White Encyclopedia (Review and Herald, 2013) and in 2004 published Adventism in Quebec: The Dynamics of Rural Church Growth, 1830-1910 (Andrews University Press). Forthcoming publications include a biography of Adventist church leader George I. Butler (Pacific Press). Profile on the Andrews University Digital Commons
Fortin is married to Kristine Knutson (MA in Educational Psychology). They have three children: Kimberly in Port Byron, New York; Mark in Buchanan, Michigan; and Erika, in Longboat Key, Florida. In the spring 2019, Denis and Kris walked the French pilgrimage road, the Way of St. James (800 km/500 miles), to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. They enjoy bird watching and hiking.
David Hamstra
David Hamstra is from Minneapolis, USA. He is married to Heidi, and they have four children. He attended Burman University (BA, 2004) and Andrews University (MDiv, 2010), where he is currently pursuing a ThD in Theological and Historical Studies. In 2020 David returned to full-time pastoral ministry as lead pastor for the Edmonton Central Adventist Church in Canada. His pastoral interests include multicultural leadership, mission in post-Christian contexts, and conflict ministry. His academic interests include theology and philosophy of history, hermeneutics, and ethics. In his spare time Pastor David enjoys running, cooking, singing, and social media content curation.
Paul Musafili
Mr. Musafili is serving as Treasurer/VP Finances at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada (SDACC). He is an executive officer and provides leadership in all matters pertaining to finances in addition to the participation in the general planning and management of the organization. He holds a B.Sc. in accounting, a M.Sc. in accounting and a M.Sc. in Management of Small and Medium-sized organizations.
He has over 30 years of experience as a teacher, accountant and manager. As part of his responsibilities as the Treasurer/VP of Finance at SDACC, he chairs finance committees of all entities affiliated with the organization.
Dr. Stephen Reasor
Dr. Stephen Reasor is chair and associate professor of new testament and practical theology in the Religious Studies Department at Burman University. Prior to teaching at Burman, he served the church as a chaplain and senior pastor with the Alberta Conference for fourteen years. He is the author and editor of the Koine Immersion Series of Greek textbooks published by GlossaHouse, and holds doctoral degrees in biblical studies and homiletics. He and his wife, Pattie, have two teenage children and have lived in central Alberta for the past sixteen years.
Dr. David and Dr. Beverly Sedlacek
David is Chair and Professor of Family Ministry and Discipleship in the Department of Discipleship and Lifespan Education at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He received his master’s and doctorate in Social Work from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. He has worked in various settings, both public and private, as a clinician, researcher, teacher, pastor, chaplain, and administrator. He has worked extensively in the areas of addiction, abuse, relationships, marriage, and family. He is a Certified Family Life Educator and a Licensed Masters Social Worker..
Beverly is a therapist in private practice at University Medical Specialties in Berrien Springs, MI. She earned a Master of Science (MSN) degree specializing in psychiatric nursing from the Francis Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio and a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) from Andrews University. She has served as Clinical Director in several treatment facilities and has taught psychiatric nursing at several colleges and universities.
David and Beverly have written a book entitled Cleansing the Sanctuary of the Heart: Tools for Emotional Healing along with its accompanying workbook. They conduct seminars nationally and internationally on many topics related to family ministry and are family ministry directors in their local church. They have five children, twelve grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Mike Tucker
Mike Tucker is the Speaker Emeritus of Faith for Today Television, and host of the award-winning television program, Lifestyle Magazine. He conducts seminars like Mad About Marriage, Good Grief, and The Choice, and serves as a Teaching Pastor for Canyon Creek Project, a church plant in Richardson, Texas. Mike has served as a Pastor, Counselor, Christian High School Bible Teacher, Youth Pastor, a Pastor’s Pastor for his denomination, and Senior Chaplain for medical and psychiatric facilities.
Mike has authored several books, including Meeting Jesus in the Book of Revelation; Journal of a Lonely God; Jesus, Your Heart’s Desire; Every Good Thing; Ten Keys to a Happy Marriage, Mad About Marriage and more. His most recent book, Tears to Joy, shares his own journey of grief after losing his wife and ministry partner of 40 years.
Mike has remarried and lives with his wife, Pam, in the Dallas, Texas area. He enjoys spending time with his daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren. Mike describes himself as the happiest bad golfer you’ll ever meet!