Jorge Acevedo is the Lead Pastor at Grace Church, a multi-site United Methodist congregation in Southwest Florida. Jorge led a group of young clergy in the creation of the book and Bible study Sent: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas and is author of Vital: Churches Changing Communities and the World. He is a contributor to Circuit Rider magazine, Good News magazine, and Our Faith Today.
Lanecia Rouse is the author of numerous articles on Christian formation for Upper Room Ministries and Abingdon Press. She has held pastoral roles in the United Methodist and British Methodist Church, most recently as Project Manager of the Art Project, Houston, a therapeutic art ministry with those experiencing homelessness. Lanecia earned a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School and currently lives in Houston, where she continues her ministry as a writer, artist, photographer, and workshop leader.
Rachel Billups serves as the Executive Pastor of Discipleship and as part of the preaching team for Ginghamsburg Church in Tipp City, Ohio. Rachel is an Ordained Elder within the United Methodist Church and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Bible/Religion and History from Anderson University and a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School. Before joining the Ginghamsburg team, Rachel served as the lead pastor of Shiloh United Methodist, a multi-site church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Jacob Armstrong is the founding pastor of Providence Church, a United Methodist church plant in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, reaching 1,000 people each week. Providence's vision is to see those who are disconnected from God and the church to find hope, healing, and wholeness in Jesus Christ. Jacob is the author of Treasure, The God Story, Upside Down, Loving Large, Interruptions, and The New Adapters.
Justin LaRosa, LCSWâ·¯is an ordained deacon in The United Methodist Church, a licensed clinical social worker, a certified enneagram practitioner, an author, and a spiritual entrepreneur who initiates and leads change. He is the Director and Pastor of The Portico, a cutting-edge initiative in the oldest church in downtown Tampa, Florida. Justin is the author ofâ·¯The Jesus Challenge: 21 Days of Loving God and Neighbor, and has co-authored three books,â·¯A Disciple’s Path, A Disciple’s Heart,â·¯andâ·¯SENT: Delivering the Gift of Hope at Christmas.â·¯He and his wife Caroline have a daughter, Isabella, and a son, Russell.
Sally Hoelscher lives in Iowa City, Iowa, where she works as a freelance writer, Christian educator, and retreat leader. Someday Sally would like to see the Aurora Borealis, visit Yellowstone National Park in the winter, and write a mystery novel. She and her husband are parents of two college students.
