Transform Minnesota Events

FAQ

SPEAKERS

Dr. Martin Giese

Martin Giese serves as President of Oak Hills Christian College and the Oak Hills Fellowship (Oak Hills Christian College, Camp Oak Hills, Oak Hills Center for Native American ministries, and Oak Hills Church Ministries), in Bemidji, Minnesota. Previously, Martin served for 17 years as pastor of First Baptist Church of Parkers Prairie, Minnesota, and 23 years as Sr. Pastor of Faithbridge Church of Park Rapids, Minnesota.

Martin grew up on a farm in western Minnesota, (Appleton) and came to personal faith in Christ at age 8.  He attended the University of Minnesota, Morris, St. Cloud State University, Oak Hills Bible College, Moody Graduate School, and Bethel University/Bethel Theological Seminary.  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies with a concentration in Christian Education from Oak Hills Bible College (now Oak Hills Christian College), a Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry from Moody Graduate School, and a Doctor of Ministry in Executive Leadership from Bethel University/Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN.

In addition to his pastoral ministry Martin served for 10 years as an adjunct faculty member of the Billy Graham Schools of Evangelism – instructing church leaders concerning motivating Town and Country Churches for evangelism.  Martin also served as founder and director of the “Country Shepherds’ Workshop,” an interdenominational training seminar for pastors of Town and Country churches based at Oak Hills Christian College, Bemidji, MN. In addition to his pastoral duties, Martin travels as a conference speaker and consultant on Town and Country Church leadership throughout North America.

Martin and his wife Marcia have four children: Anna (Shane) Long, Sarah (Jeff) Donatelle, Rachel Giese, and David (Sally) Giese, and thirteen grandchildren, and two step-grandchildren.

Rev. Kara Stromberg

Rev. Kara Stromberg currently serves as the Superintendent of the Northwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, where, through the work of the conference and in partnership with a great ministry team, she serves churches and unites churches together in service throughout the Dakotas, Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Within this region over 60% of Northwest Conference churches are located in rural/small town settings. Kara and her team lead initiatives that start and strengthen churches, invest in the next generation through ministries with children, youth and families, and care for pastors by investing in their health and development. Being first called to vocational ministry as a teenager, Kara is honored and grateful to serve the church in this way.

Born and raised in South Dakota, Kara attended Bethel College and Seminary and loves all that the Midwest offers.  Kara and her husband, Nate, have been married for 25 years and have three children: Ben, Greta, and Juniper.

WORKSHOPS

Building the Team Today for the Church Tomorrow
Presenters: Joe Williquette and Joseph Rukavina

Five “Shifts” Needed to Share Christ in Rural Areas
Presenter: Bruce Dick

Suicide Prevention and Response in Ministry: Things I wish I had known before I had to respond
Presenter: Chaplain Glen Bloomstrom

Church Revitalization Made Slightly Less Difficult
Presenter: Brian A. Thorstad

Gen Alpha: Resilient Ministry with Kids
Presenter: Chanda Winkels

From Trauma to Triumph: What to Know and Do Related to First Peoples and First Peoples Ministry in North America
Presenter: Dr. Ryan O’Leary

Leadership Math
Presenter: Rev. Dr. Mary Hendrickson

Stepping Off the Hamster Wheel
Presenter: F. Remy Diederich

Addressing Pornography Directly and Compassionately
Presenter: Paul Klassen

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