About the Workshop: As societies face increasing immigration, how we listen and choose to be present with the Other offer powerful modes of grace and peacemaking. With stories from the Polish-Ukrainian border and Middle East migration, this workshop fleshes out a new imagining of presence as missional and challenges us to consider how power and privilege affect that presence. Practical tools that cultivate healthy and grace-filled discussion will be provided.

Teanna Sunberg lives in Poland and is a recognized Nazarene voice on border response and cross-cultural ministry. She has lived in eastern Europe for 29 years as a Nazarene missionary and is currently working on her PhD in intercultural studies at Biola University. Her dissertation focus is on presence and violence at borders. She is an author and professor/lecturer in intercultural studies, a mom of 4 daughters, an ordained elder, and a women’s clergy advocate.

Teanna Sunberg lives in Poland and is a recognized Nazarene voice on border response and cross-cultural ministry. She has lived in eastern Europe for 29 years as a Nazarene missionary and is currently working on her PhD in intercultural studies at Biola University. Her dissertation focus is on presence and violence at borders. She is an author and professor/lecturer in intercultural studies, a mom of 4 daughters, an ordained elder, and a women’s clergy advocate.

About the Workshop: The goal of this workshop is for participants to overcome barriers and raise awareness that exist for women with disabilities to experience full inclusion in professional ministry. Daughters with disabilities are included in the prophesying daughters spoken of in Acts 2, and participants will walk through applicable scriptures highlighting these daughters. Participants will be challenged to identify barriers and obstacles that exist in the church for persons with disabilities, specifically those in ministry or those called into ministry. Participants will also be given resources and tools to address these challenges.

Rev. Kari Morris-Guzman has been an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church since 2000. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries from Greenville (College) University in 1996, and a Master’s of Divinity degree from Azusa Pacific University in 2007. Kari has served in three Free Methodist Churches as an Associate Pastor, and is currently serving at The Avenue Church in Riverside, California. She lives in Riverside with her 12 year old daughter, Grace.

Rev. Kari Morris-Guzman has been an ordained elder in the Free Methodist Church since 2000. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Pastoral Ministries from Greenville (College) University in 1996, and a Master’s of Divinity degree from Azusa Pacific University in 2007. Kari has served in three Free Methodist Churches as an Associate Pastor, and is currently serving at The Avenue Church in Riverside, California. She lives in Riverside with her 12 year old daughter, Grace.

About the Workshop: Too often, the success and health of a church is determined by attendance. However, pastors need help focusing on their realities, with church attendance expected to decline. It’s important to let pastors know that their churches do not have to have hundreds in attendance to have an impact. A church also doesn’t need thousands of dollars. Strategically using a church’s limited resources can impact a community. The goal of this workshop is to encourage the small church pastor to make a community impact regardless of attendance numbers.

Karen L. Bates is a doctoral student who also works as a communications coordinator at a university. She has over 25 years of pastoral experience as a bi-vocational pastor ministering to small and medium congregations.

Pastor Karen received her bachelor’s degree in communications, a master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a certificate in journalism. She spent more than 20 years as a reporter and editor at a newspaper in Ohio. Her passions are working with small churches, encouraging diversity, working on prayer ministries, preaching, and helping pastors dream about what can be and how they can make it happen.

Karen lives in Bowie, Maryland, and worships at Healing Place Church, where she served as an assistant pastor.

Karen L. Bates is a doctoral student who also works as a communications coordinator at a university. She has over 25 years of pastoral experience as a bi-vocational pastor ministering to small and medium congregations.

Pastor Karen received her bachelor’s degree in communications, a master’s degree from Asbury Theological Seminary, and a certificate in journalism. She spent more than 20 years as a reporter and editor at a newspaper in Ohio. Her passions are working with small churches, encouraging diversity, working on prayer ministries, preaching, and helping pastors dream about what can be and how they can make it happen.

Karen lives in Bowie, Maryland, and worships at Healing Place Church, where she served as an assistant pastor.