Speakers – USMB

PASTORS' CONFERENCE SPEAKERS

Terry Hunt

Terry has been the lead pastor of The Life Center in Lenoir, North Carolina for the past 32 years. He currently serves as the North Carolina District Minister and Moderator, and serves on the MB Foundation, U.S. Board of Faith and Life and U.S. Conference boards. During his 32 years as a pastor, Terry worked bi-vocationally for seventeen years as a plant manager in the furniture industry. Terry grew up in Mennonite Brethren churches where he has served in many capacities such as Sunday school teacher, youth leader, trustee, deacon and NCD Secretary. Terry is happily married to his wife, Kathy, and together they have 4 beautiful daughters.

Henock Tsegaye

Henock was born and raised by a Christian family in Ethiopia. At the age of 12, under difficult circumstances, Henock received a special call from God to ministry. At that time, Christianity was forbidden by the government and the churches were closed, but they fellowshipped “underground” in the home of his parents. Upon graduation from high school, Henock attended Bible school, and after graduation he established a mission organization to continue evangelism work in Ethiopia and beyond. God opened the door for Henock to come to the United States and to attend Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Christian Leadership. Henock and his wife, Selome, have four children and currently serve as lead pastors of Ethiopian Christian Fellowship Church in Olathe, Kansas.

Brent Warkentin

Brent has served in four Mennonite Brethren churches over the past 33 years. For the past 13 years Brent has served as the lead pastor of First MB Church in Wichita, Kansas, and he currently serves on the board of MB Mission. Brent grew up as a missionary kid in Indonesia, giving him years of experience and insight into cultural differences. Brent has been happily married to his wife, Joan, for 33 years. They have two married daughters and 2 grandchildren.

CONVENTION SPEAKERS

Winnie Bartel

Winnie has been a representative of the USMB on the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) Board of Directors for many years. In 1997, Winnie served as the NAE representative and chaplain on a team that represented the United States at the fourth U.N. Conference on Women in Beijing, China. She also served on the World Evangelical Alliance Board, chaired the Women's Commission, led a 19-member International Task Force addressing abuse against women worldwide and was Chair of the Global Celebration for Women in the Houston Astrodome, in 2001. Winnie continues to speak at conferences and retreats as well as staying active in her local church and community.

Aaron Hernandez

Aaron is the lead pastor of two churches in the McAllen area of south Texas. He and his wife, Alejandra, along with their five children, serve both Grace Point @ Grulla and Grace Point @ McAllen. Aaron has been a pastor for twelve years, and prior to that he served as a worship leader for ten years in Reyosa, Mexico.

Eric Nelson

Eric Nelson is the campus pastor of South Mountain Community Church – Lehi. Eric and his wife Carrisa, along with their children Nora and Jack, moved to Utah 3 years ago to plant a new SMCC church campus in Lehi, Utah. Lehi is the least “churched” county in the United States where fewer than 1 percent of the residents are affiliated with an evangelical church. Eric has a Master's of Divinity from Multnomah University in Portland, OR.

S.Y.

S grew up as the son of a pastor in a restricted-access country. When he was 17 years old, he had a life-changing encounter with Jesus on a Mediterranean beach. Soon after, he began serving in church planting and then itinerant evangelism. He now provides leadership for MB Mission’s Arabic Ministries team. Through media such as TV, radio and the Internet, the team shares the good news, provides discipleship training, makes disciples and plants house churches in nine countries. Recently, the vision has grown to include a new focus on refugees and immigrants in Germany and Canada. S serves together with his wife, L. They have two children.