Speakers Bureau

Ralph Martin

Peter Herbeck

Sr. Ann Shields, SGL

Pete Burak

Debbie Herbeck

Sean Breeden

Sr. Sarah Burdick

Randall Cirner

Therese Cirner

Tom and Jean Marie Edwards

Jack Flanagan

Francisco Gavrilides

Dr. Mary Healy

Barbara Heil

John Kazanjian

Michelle Kazanjian

Jack Lynch

David Mangan

Laurie Watson Manhardt

Lavinia Spirito

Deacon Steve Thomashefski

Peter Thompson

Dr. Peter Williamson

Stay in Touch

Get our newsletter and other important updates by signing up below.

Support Our Work

If you want to ensure Renewal Ministries' continued work of Catholic Renewal and Evangelization, please consider a donation! We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in the U.S. and a registered charity in Canada. All U.S. and Canadian donations are fully tax-deductible.

Donation Options

One Time Recurring Planned Stocks

Want More From Us?

Renewal Ministries on a variety of media and devices

Available in App Stores

Download the App!

Ralph Martin

President of Renewal Ministries

rmartin@renewalministries.net

Ralph Martin is the president of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization. Renewal Ministries is the sponsor of The Choices We Face, a widely viewed weekly Catholic television and radio program distributed throughout the world, and engages in a wide variety of mission work in more than thirty countries.

Ralph is also the director of Graduate Theology Programs in Evangelization and a professor of theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in the Archdiocese of Detroit (www.shms.edu). He holds a doctorate in theology from the Angelicum University in Rome.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Ralph as a consultor to the Pontifical Council for the New Evangelization, and he continues to serve in this capacity. Ralph also was appointed as a theological expert for the Synod on the New Evangelization.

He is the author of the widely read The Fulfillment of All Desire: A Guidebook for the Journey to God Based on the Wisdom of the Saints, and many books on spirituality and evangelization, such as Will Many Be Saved? What Vatican II Actually Teaches and Its Implications for the New Evangelization, and The Urgency of the New Evangelization, as well as many articles in scholarly and popular publications. His most recent book, A Church in Crisis: Pathways Forward, examines the forces working to undermine the Body of Christ while also using both Scripture and Tradition to fortify the faithful.

Ralph and his wife, Anne, reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and have six children and nineteen grandchildren.

Download Headshot (JPG, 2MB)

Download Biography (PDF, 65KB)

Peter Herbeck

Vice President and Director of Missions

pherbeck@renewalministries.net

Peter Herbeck is the vice president and director of missions for Renewal Ministries. For more than thirty years, he has been actively involved in evangelization and Catholic renewal throughout the US, Canada, Africa, and Eastern Europe. Peter is a co-host for the weekly television program The Choices We Face. He also hosts the daily radio show Fire on the Earth. He is a frequent conference speaker, has authored When the Spirit Comes in Power and When the Spirit Speaks, and has produced CDs and booklets about discipleship and life in the Spirit. Peter and his wife, Debbie, have four children and seven grandchildren, and reside in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Programs/Topics Include:

Making Disciples
New Pentecost
New Evangelization
What is the Gospel?
The Battle for the Family
The Culture Wars
Fatherhood
Charisms and Spiritual Gifts
Discernment of Spirits
Overcoming Sin
Forming the Next Generation
Men’s Ministry

Download Headshot (JPG, 2MB)

Download Biography (PDF, 65KB)

Sr. Ann Shields, SGL

Speaker and Author

ashields@renewalministries.net

Sr. Ann Shields, SGL, is an internationally noted conference and retreat speaker, and the author of numerous books on Catholic spirituality, including Deeper Conversion, To Be Like Jesus, and More of the Holy Spirit. She currently hosts the popular daily radio program Food for the Journey.

She is part of Renewal Ministries’ leadership team and a member of The Servants of God’s Love, a charismatic religious community established in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan.

Sr. Ann was awarded the Benemerenti Medal by Pope Benedict XVI in September of 2012 for service to the Church. She also is a recipient of the Aggiornamento Award, given by the Catholic Library Association in recognition of outstanding contribution through her books and articles for the renewal of parish and community life.

Download Headshot (JPG, 3MB)

Download Biography (PDF, 66KB)

Pete Burak

Director of id

pete@id916.com

Pete Burak is a 2010 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS). He has a heart for preaching and reaching today’s Catholic youth and young adults. His core message is: “Stand up and be a man or woman of God, in the heart of the Church!” He engages young people with stories from his youth, high school experiences, his two years with the University of Michigan basketball team, and his transfer to FUS. He motivates young people to stand up for Jesus and make a difference in their world.

Pete is a frequent speaker on discipleship, evangelization, and young adult topics. He has spoken for Legatus, has been a featured speaker at the Lift Jesus Higher Youth Rally in Toronto, and also gives numerous high school and middle school retreats. He is the director of Pine Hills Camp for junior-high-aged boys. Pete works as the Director of id, a Renewal Ministries’ outreach to Catholic young adults. Additionally, he has a Masters in Theology and Evangelization from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He is married to Caitlin (Donovan) of Lewes, Delaware, and they have four children.

Programs/Topics Include:

Intentional Discipleship
New Evangelization
Young Adult topics
New Pentecost
Discipleship in the Spirit of Pope Francis
Building a Community of Missionary Disciples

Download Headshot (JPG, 2MB)

Download Biography (PDF, 64KB)

Debbie Herbeck

Founder and Director of Be Love Revolution

dherbeck@renewalministries.net

info@beloverevolution.com

Debbie Herbeck has shared with many her personal journey of faith from Judaism to Christianity and subsequent entrance into the Catholic Church. For the past forty years, Debbie has worked extensively in youth and women’s ministry, speaking, leading mission trips, and mentoring high school and college age women. She has spoken at Franciscan University Conferences, Legatus chapters, and women’s events throughout the world. She is the founder and executive director of Pine Hills Girls Camp. Debbie is also the founder and director of the Be Love Revolution, a ministry that exists to help young women encounter Christ and be His love to all they meet.

She has written Safely Through the Storm: 120 Reflections on Hope, Firmly on the Rock: 120 Reflections on Faith, and Love Never Fails: 120 Reflections on Love. She and her husband Peter have co-authored a book entitled When the Spirit Speaks: Touched by God’s Word. Debbie is a frequent author and speaker for Blessed is She and contributing writer for Undone: Freeing your Feminine Heart from the Knots of Fear and Shame.

Debbie and her husband Peter live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and have 4 young adult children and 7 small grandchildren.

Download Headshot (JPG, 2MB)

Download Biography (68KB)

Sean Breeden

Speaker

sean@encounterministries.us

Originally from Bay City, Texas, Sean is a 2009 graduate of Franciscan University of Steubenville. He resides in Saline, Michigan (just south of Ann Arbor), with his wife Lexie and their four children: Emma, Isaac, Dominic, and Jack. Their home parish is Christ the King in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Sean is the Director of Events and Finance for Encounter Ministries based in Brighton, Michigan, which trains and disciples Catholics to demonstrate the power and love of God in their sphere of influence through the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Sean is a frequent guest speaker at the two-year Encounter School of Ministry, as well as Encounter’s various conferences and weekend ‘Schools’ on the topics of identity, healing, and prophetic ministry.

Sean’s core message is encouraging audiences to be rooted in their identity as sons and daughters of God, to move from maintenance to mission, and to walk in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. While in college, Sean spent two years interning for Dr. Scott Hahn’s St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology, followed by working eight years as a mortgage loan officer until his shift into full-time ministry in 2020. In recent years, Sean has given talks and testimonies at many retreats, conferences, and parish missions; he was on the leadership team for several Lift Jesus Higher Youth Rallies in Toronto, Canada; he participated in the panel discussions for four episodes of the EWTN television program Crossing the Goal, which dealt with the “Lies of a Generation”; and he has also been featured on Peter Herbeck’s radio show Fire on the Earth.

Programs/Topics Include:

How to Move from ‘Cruise Control’ to Intentional Discipleship
Renewal of the Mind: The Catalyst to Greater Conformity to Christ
Living Boldly for Christ in Daily Life
Evangelization Boot Camp: How to Spread the Good News of Jesus in Your Life
There is More: How to Activate the Power of the Holy Spirit in Your Life
The Holy Spirit: The Forgotten Member of the Trinity
How to Move from Self-Reliance to God-Dependence in Ministry
The Key to a Life-Changing Advent
The Key to a Life-Changing Lent
Authentic Catholic Manhood: The Call to Battle
How to Move from Anxiety to Hope & Trust in God
First United Church of Netflix: How to Engage with Entertainment & Social Media Without Losing Your Soul
What Does God Want?: The Keys to Vocational Discernment
Lord, Refresh Our Souls: Navigating Loss and Healing with the Heart of Christ

Endorsements:

“Thank you so much for speaking to us this weekend Sean! Lives were changed through your words and openness to the Holy Spirit. Let us pray that the fire will spread!”

“Sean, God TRULY worked through you this weekend. That afternoon as literally when the FIRE of the Holy Spirit began to manifest among everyone. Thank you for helping to open to flood gates of the Holy Spirit to outpour upon us! The rest of the retreat was truly miraculous. God was seen so clearly and was so present this weekend. We are sooo grateful for your YES and for allowing God to speak through you! And the amount of prayer you brought to your talk was incredibly FELT. Thank you for LIVING your faith for all to see. I’m so excited to see where God will lead us as a community!”

Sr. Sarah Burdick, SGL

Speaker

srsarahb@gmail.com or sburdick@fgrhsaa.org

Sister Sarah Burdick is an evangelist who has ministered to many people at missionary rallies in Eastern Europe and Africa. She is the director of formation for the Servants of God’s Love, a religious community canonically established in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. Sister Sarah has a B.S. in Education from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in Theology from Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.

Sister Sarah has worked with youth in many different capacities over the last twenty years. She taught middle school for ten years, helped direct youth camps; and did college campus ministry at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University. She is presently the head of the theology department at Fr. Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, where she also teaches.

Sister Sarah has also been a guest speaker at the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s youth and leadership conferences.

Programs/Topics Include:

Youth outreach

My Father’s House: On Heaven
True Love and Relationships
Choosing Christ
Discerning God’s Will
A Future Full of Hope
The Pearl of Great Price
Evangelism
The Call to be Salt and Light
Temptation and Mercy (college youth)

Parents

Dealing with Rebellious Teens

Women

Women of Valor
The Role of Women in the Church
Experiencing the Presence of God in the Busyness of Life
Effective Prayer Teams and Prayer Ministry
Discipleship and prayer

Men

Be a Hero

Parish Mission

Hope in the Midst of Suffering

Randall Cirner

Speaker

rcirner@gmail.com | phone: 772-321-7340

Randall Cirner is a clinical counselor, author, and speaker who has been involved in Catholic ministry for over forty years in the US, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Randall has master’s degrees in counseling and theology. In his private counseling practice, he specializes in marriage and family concerns and men’s issues. He has taught theology at both the college and high school levels.

His books include: Ten Weeks to a Better Marriage (coauthored with his wife, Therese); Transform Your Marriage; Whitewater, Bears, Dryflies and Other Ways God Speaks to Guys; and Deliverance from Evil Spirits: A Pastoral Approach (coauthored with Fr. Michael Scanlan). He and his wife Therese were married in 1969. They have five children and two grandchildren.

» Randall serves as a Missionary Teacher on our international missions.

Programs/Topics include:

Living Your Marriage in the Power of the Holy Spirit
Effective Strategies for Spiritual Warfare
Facing and Overcoming Pornography, Masturbation and Other Sins Men Don’t Want to Talk About
The Gospel of Mark: The Way of Discipleship

Therese Cirner

Speaker

tcirner@gmail.com and www.theresecirner.com

Therese Cirner, a licensed clinical counselor and adjunct professor at Franciscan University of Steubenville (FUS), has worked to renew the Church spiritually for the past 30 years. Presently, she hosts the yearly Catholic Women’s Conference at FUS, which draws over 700 women each summer. Therese’s professional qualifications, combined with her deep walk with Jesus, provide the foundation for spiritually dynamic and life-changing presentations. Therese loves to share the Good News of Salvation and how to grow deeper into the life of the Trinity, and has a special ministry to women of all ages.

Programs/Topics Include:

Come to the Water of Life—JESUS
Does Jesus Still Heal Today?
People of Hope in Uncertain Times
Now What? The Next Step in Your Spiritual Life
The Christian Family—The Challenges and Triumphs in Today’s World
How to Make a Good Marriage Better!
Healing, Holiness, Wholeness (for Women)

Endorsements:

“Therese, your sincere and determined effort brought Joy to more than one-thousand women, showed them the Father’s Love and the dignity of being a woman.”
~ Michael, Ohio

“I attended twelve years of Catholic schooling, go to church regularly, and pray and read the Bible. However, until this weekend I never realized that I didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. For the first time in my life, I was open to receive Jesus and I fell in Love with Him—I am changed forever. Thank you.”
~ Jennifer, Michigan

“Therese, you told us something very powerful that weekend. It was not the content, but how you incorporated the graces of the Holy Spirit into your message. It was powerful!”
~ Laura, Pennsylvania

Tom and Jean Marie Edwards

Speakers

goyetomedwards@att.net

Tom Edwards and his wife, Jean Marie, make their home in St. Augustine, Florida. In 1974, after working several years in retail, Tom resigned from his management position to answer a call to full-time ministry. This step soon evolved into an international mobile outreach of lay Catholic evangelization preaching and teaching of the Holy Scriptures. His conference speaking, retreats, and presentation of parish missions have been widely received throughout the United States, Belize, England, Wales, Canada, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Kazakhstan, Jamaica, Trinidad, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, and Asian countries. Tom’s goal always is to allow the living Word of God to become applicable to one’s life today. Tom has served twenty-eight years as a Renewal Ministries’ country coordinator, and currently leads missions in Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Tanzania. Jean Marie has mission experience in many countries and has been especially active in prolife presentations and parish ministries which have brought blessings and moved many to action. Together, Tom and Jean Marie can share a mission with your parish that will have positive and memorable impact. Programs/Topics Include:

Pivotal Moments with St. Paul—Each of us can learn timeless truths from the life of St. Paul. We will seek to embrace the secrets of: Character Conversion, Attitude Adjustment, Priority Placements, Mind of Mission, and Victorious Vision
The Personal Touch—Nobody in our day has a shortage of “things to do.” But in the “busyness of life,” it’s possible to miss out on what is of eternal value. A vibrant and living faith grows when we truly seek to establish and maintain a “personal touch” (relationship) with Jesus, and then extend that touch to family, neighbors, and all of those He puts in our path.
Heart Transplant—We are not talking medical procedure here, but perhaps something far more critical to life. God calls us to a radical transformation—a progression from “who we are now” to “what He created us to be.” The spiritual surgery He desires to perform is challenging indeed, but nothing can be more rewarding than being a man or woman after “God’s own heart.” We will learn about dealing with the “seven deadly pallbearers of character.” The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered.
Forgiveness—God has given us principles for life that open the door to a consistent experience of joy, peace, and the promised fullness of life. There is a great power resident in the “principle of forgiveness.” Violation of the principle can have catastrophic effects. Learn about the great liberation—the healing freedom that accompanies the “power of forgiveness.” Prayer for healing will follow.
Persevering Prayer—How many times do we fail to pray as we ought (“You have not because you ask not?”) Or then again, do we often “wither in prayer” when obstacles arise and life becomes difficult? Scripture contains valuable lessons that address these very issues.
Pathway to Prominence—The “desire for prominence” is a natural human trait. Jesus teaches us a lesson on God’s method of “reaching the top.” His “pathway to prominence” turns the world’s way upside down and inside out.
Who Do You Say That I Am?—It’s a question that demands an answer. Not one person ever created will be exempt from answering it. The right answer must be a personal discovery, but the answer must come from a source not of us. “The answer is a revelation which is definitive; one can only accept it or reject it.” (Pope John Paul II)
Yield to Yield—Two questions are before us: To what must I yield (surrender)? What then must I yield (produce)? Jesus teaches the answers through the analogy of the vine and the branches. Careful pruning by the vine keeper produces the finest of fruit. Branches that remain connected to the vine will draw the fullness of life.
Am I Worth My Salt?—Jesus teaches profound spiritual realities through the illustrations of very common substances. The believer, the Church, is to be salt-like. As little as the world perceives it, those who maintain a faith that is salt-like are the only thing that is keeping the “mystery of iniquity” from coming to a full head. What are these amazing qualities Jesus expects to find in those who count themselves as His followers?
Escaping the Grasp of Greed—Jesus said to beware of greed in all of its forms. We who live in an era of “instant gratification” must be particularly on guard. It has been said that the “spirit of greed” speaks many languages, but the word “enough” is not in its vocabulary. Jesus calls his followers to take deliberate actions to escape the grasp of greed.
The Joy of Generosity—The Holy Scriptures declare, “There is more happiness in giving than receiving.” This kind of giving is not limited to money. The Christian is called to “giving” in every aspect of life. The Scriptures point a clear path to experiencing the “joy of generosity.”
What’s Your Temperature?—The Lord sets before us a spiritual thermometer. In the midst of a world growing progressively cold and indifferent to the great foundational doctrines of the faith, there must be a people who rise up to exemplify and defend them. To fail to do so may be to find oneself in the most deplorable spiritual state—lukewarmness.
Figs, Faith, and Folly—Why would Jesus want to curse a poor fig tree? What were the important lessons for His disciples as they observed this act? We can be sure He will draw close to us, looking for the fruit that should characterize the life of every one of His followers. What will He find—that which satisfies or that which disappoints?
Stir Into Flame the Gift of God—A living faith is characterized by a zeal that consumes and a fire that cannot be quenched. God has made provision and we must accept it.
Personal Conversion and Repentence—Maturing in our faith always means “leaving something behind” and “taking up something new.” Within each one of us are two natures—the one we feed will grow; the one we starve will diminish.
The Captain of Our Salvation—We are called to follow in the way of One who reveals Himself as “Pioneer,” “Pathfinder,” “Leader,” and “Originator”. He has chosen to reveal Himself more and more daily. He is called “faithful and true.” How can we be a people fashioned in His image?
Awake From Your Sleep—Spiritual growth demands that we guard against the ever-present danger of growing dull in our faith. We are exhorted at once to “die to self” and “live for God.”
Mission of the Redeemer—Being missionary in thought and action is not an option for the believer; it is synonymous with being a Christian, an authentic Catholic. We must be a people always “going forth with the Gospel.”

Endorsements: “Tom is a fine emissary of evangelization because he is an effective and dynamic communicator. His mission has been very well received, not only in our own Diocese, but also in other areas of the country and internationally as well. It is a blessing to have him in our midst. I highly recommend that other parishes and institutions utilize Tom’s gifts and talents.” ~Most Reverend Victor Galeone, Bishop of St. Augustine

“Tom’s ministry is to bring the Words of Scripture to life so that God’s revelation may transform the lives of His people—Tom enables participants to experience the power of the Word of God. I am happy to recommend Tom’s ministry to you.” ~ Most Reverend Sam G. Jacobs, Bishop of Alexandria, Louisiana

“Words cannot describe the presence and the power of God that was so evident at each morning and evening presentation. We have indeed been blessed by God by your willingness to share the Good News and already see the fruit.” ~ Rev. J. F. O’Malley, Braeside, Ontario

Contact Tom Edwards Evangelistic Assoc., Inc. P.O. Box 2113 St. Augustine, FL, 32085 Phone: 904-471-8672

Jack Flanagan

Speaker

sbreeden916@gmail.com

Jack Flanagan has been active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for over forty years, tracing his spiritual roots to Duquesne University. He and his wife Terri have been married since 1976, and have six children. Jack was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan, in 2009.

His ministry has included prison and jail RCIA outreach, parish RCIA and sacramental training, Unbound ministry in the local county jail, Unbound family ministry, catechism instruction, missionary work with Renewal Ministries, and youth outreach. He has served in the Renewal Ministries and Word of God Missionary Intern Program.

During his diaconate formation period, Deacon Jack served as his parish’s Education Commission chairman. Deacon Jack had responsibilities for areas such as Men’s retreats, Life in the Spirit Seminars, parish missions promoting deeper encounter and relationship with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Through his work in prison ministry, he realized the great necessity for Godly family life, and began teaching on family life topics as well.

Deacon Jack has a great desire to see the youth, especially junior and senior high students, live fruitful Christian lives. He currently leads a conference entitled, Life in the Spirit Seminars for Youth. He is interested in offering these seminars alongside parents and local young adult leaders, so that they will be enabled to continue in fruitful engagement with their youth long after the seminar.

Jack and Terri are members of Immaculate Conception Church in Milan, Michigan, where Jack was assigned by Bishop Boyea upon his ordination as a deacon. They live in Ann Arbor and are active in the Word of God Community

Programs/Topics Include:

Life in the Spirit Seminars for Youth
Family life
Discipleship and prayer

Endorsements:

“Jack gave very helpful and clear illustrations to our youth. God was very present and was powerfully with us. I am so glad we made the effort to be here. We definitely want to do follow-up now with our youth in the form of prayer meetings and something focused to serve them.”
~Parent; Life in the Spirit Seminar for Youth

Francisco Gavrilides

Speaker

gavrilides.francisco@shms.edu

Since the time of his conversion to Catholicism in 1968, Paco Gavrilides has dedicated his life to serving Christ in the Church with a passion to share the Gospel. As a teacher, speaker, and evangelist, Paco has worked with many dioceses, movements, and individuals both nationally and internationally. He has been especially active in leadership formation, men’s ministry, family ministry, and evangelization among Hispanics and African Americans.

Paco has served as homiletics instructor at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, Michigan, since 2011. He received the equivalent of the STB at the Archdiocesan Seminary in Monterrey, Mexico, and completed his Licentiate Degree in the New Evangelization at Sacred Heart.

Among Paco’s activities and ministerial experience:

For more than twenty years (1974-1995), he was involved in lay missionary work, helping to form small ecclesial communities throughout Latin America, Spain and the United States.

For ten years (2002-2012) he was Coordinator and Emcee for the Detroit Archdiocesan-wide Catholic Men’s Conferences, a work of preaching, teaching, and counseling that involved local, national, and international men’s ministry.

For six years (2006-2012) he served in the Detroit Archdiocese Office for Evangelization.

He is cofounder of New Leaven (2009), a ministry of discipleship and transformation to individuals and couples seeking a deeper maturation in Christ. www.newleaven.org

He has actively collaborated with the mission work of Renewal Ministries, an outreach dedicated to evangelization and spiritual renewal in the Catholic Church, nationally and internationally.

He has been active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and evangelistic outreach to university students with particular emphasis on African-Americans and Hispanics.

As a frequent conference speaker, with bilingual skills in English and Spanish, Paco gives retreats and missions on faith and conversion, spiritual growth and prayer, and spiritual leadership and family life. With his wife, Inez, he gives retreats and workshops for married couples. Paco and Inez have three children and reside in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Programs/Topics Include:

How to Walk with Christ in Hard Times
Evangelism Training
Discipleship and Prayer
Scripture Study Training
The Blessed Mother
Leadership Training
Healing Ministry
Life in the Spirit Seminars

Endorsements:

“On the feast of the Immaculate Conception, at our day of reflection, Paco spoke on our Blessed Mother. For those who already loved our Holy Mother Mary, their love increased ten-fold. For those who had concerns and problems with our Dear Mother, all their questions were answered and doubts erased. For those who knew Her not, their light was lit and the flame enkindled. We would very much like to have Paco back.”
~ Anne Bliss, St. Mary Queen of Creation, Choose Life Committee

“Paco is enlightening, Spirit-filled and engaging! His knowledge of the faith and the Church are evident in his presentations. People from all walks of life will benefit from what he has to say. He draws people to a deeper conversion and discipleship in Christ.”
~ Fr. Gary Smetanka, Pastor of St. Thecla Parish, Clinton Twp., Michigan

Dr. Mary Healy

Speaker

maryhealyoffice@gmail.com

Dr. Mary Healy works with Renewal Ministries as a special consultant. She is a professor of Scripture at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and serves as chair of the Doctrinal Commission of International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Services (ICCRS). Her doctorate is in Biblical theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. She is a member of the Pentecostal-Catholic International Dialogue, and she speaks nationally and internationally. She was appointed by Pope Francis as one of the first three women ever to serve on the Pontifical Biblical Commission.

Dr. Healy has published numerous books, including Healing: Bringing the Gift of God’s Mercy to the World. Renewal Ministries has produced two CDs of Peter Herbeck’s interviews with Dr. Healy, Does Jesus Still Heal? and Made for Relationship: A Biblical Understanding of Homosexual Behavior.

» Dr. Healy serves as a Missionary Teacher on our international missions.

Programs/Topics Include:

Scripture
Theology of the Body
The Holy Spirit
Evangelization
Healing

Endorsements:

“Your talk was awesome. Your knowledge and depth of insight into the Word of God was brilliant! But you were able to convey the meaning in a way that everyone could comprehend and grasp. As always, you allowed the Holy Spirit to pour His power through you. You radiated with the love of Jesus and the tender mercies of the Father. I am in awe how you can be academic and evangelical with such balance.”

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming to our FIRE rally and speaking. Your talk was fantastic and many people still speak about it. I am honored that you helped inspire so many people here. I only regret not having more time to spend with you. Thank you for living in the Holy Spirit and taking the Spirit’s lead!”

“Let me thank you for your witness to true scholarship, in which truth and charity are shown intermingled and without fear. During your talks, I constantly noticed that fact. Thanks for saying yes to the Lord.”

Barbara Heil

Speaker

barbarah@fromhisheart.com

Barbara Heil is a former Pentecostal minister who has traveled the world as a missionary, teacher and evangelist. After an amazing journey, Barbara came into full communion with the Catholic Church in April of 2013. She is a dynamic and inspirational speaker, who along with her husband Jeff, has a passion to awaken others to their destiny and purpose in Christ, and to lead people in deepening their walk with God. Barbara was a widow for 7 years before marrying her husband Jeff. They reside in Iowa and together have 8 children and 10 grandchildren.

» Barbara serves as a Missionary Teacher on our international missions.

Programs/Topics Include:

Life in the Kingdom: connecting the dots: Living the full Christian Life, empowered for mission
Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and the Activation of Spiritual Gifts
Prophetic School, activation in the prophetic gifts.
Praise, Worship and Glory: Living the life of a worshipper
Keys of the Kingdom: Discipleship series for Kingdom living (Discipleship to live with and for Christ, empowered by His Spirit) Includes sessions on the Word, Worship, The Gifts of the Spirit, the goal of the Spiritual Life
Power to Live: Equipped for everyday living in the Kingdom
Inner healing and deliverance
Sons and Daughters in an orphaned world.
Women of the Word

John Kazanjian

Speaker

jkaz1962@gmail.com

John Kazanjian is an Armenian-American entrepreneur who loves people, preaching, and great coffee. To pay the bills, he runs a laundry and shipping business serving students at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. But his true passion is spreading the Good News about Jesus.

John serves as our country coordinator in Turkey, although he travels regularly to many other parts of the world. He works with both the Armenian and Catholic churches to conduct events that lead people into a deeper relationship with Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit.

John and his wife Michelle together also coordinate a deliverance prayer ministry throughout lower and mid-Michigan, based on the principles of the Unbound model developed by Neal Lozano. They have five beautiful daughters who are busy adding sons and grandchildren to the family: three beautiful grandbabies to date. And girls … of course.

Programs/Topics Include:

Discipleship and Prayer
Healing and Deliverance
Men’s Issues
Christian Entrepreneurship
Evangelism Training
Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Living Ecumenism
Fathers and Daughters
Overcoming Marital Challenges

Michelle Kazanjian

Speaker

mkazanjian@sta2.org

Michelle Kazanjian serves as the ministry and training director of Live Free, which involves teaching, training, coordinating ministry, and creating materials for all of the above.

Michelle is also the director of pastoral ministry at St. Thomas the Apostle in Ann Arbor and speaks on topics related to prayer, spiritual growth, healing, marriage/family life, and Church renewal.

She is married to John and has five daughters and seven grandchildren.

Jack Lynch

Speaker

jlynch@renewalministries.net

Jack Lynch is Renewal Ministries’ TV and radio producer. He and his wife Lisa have five adult children, a growing list of grandchildren, and live in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Jack is a graduate of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service. Active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for over forty years, he currently leads Life in the Spirit Seminars for his parish in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Prior to joining Renewal Ministries, he had a thirty-five-year career in information technology, in a variety of positions. He also was a candidate for US Congress in 2008 and 2010.

Programs/Topics Include:

Life in the Spirit Seminar
Winning the Battle for the Family
Prayer and Union with God—The “One Thing Necessary”

Endorsements:

“The best presenter was Jack. If I had difficulty following a speaker, the following week he would summarize it into wonderful words.” ~ Mary Jane, Michigan, Life in the Spirit Seminar participant

“Jack was an exceptional leader and he made a huge impact on the success of the series.”
~ Annie, Michigan, Life in the Spirit Seminar participant

David Mangan

Speaker

ddavidmangan@gmail.com

David Mangan is a graduate of Duquesne University and holds a Master’s Degree in Education. David has been involved in all levels of religious education for more than forty years as teacher and administrator. He and his wife Barbara were married in 1972, and have five children and sixteen grandchildren. They live in Ann Arbor, Michigan and are members of Christ the King Catholic Church.

David was one of the participants on the retreat in February of 1967 where events took place that are often marked as the beginning of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. He has served as a leader and teacher in Catholic renewal movements and has been active in preaching, teaching, family life seminars, bringing young people into the life of faith, healing ministry, and leadership training. David has written several magazine articles and has co-authored a book entitled Life in the Spirit for Your Kids, a practical “how to” manual for leading children into meaningful and lasting experience with God.

David presents himself not as an “expert” on Christian life and family life, but as a struggling father, doing his best to live an effective Christian life and raise his own kids Catholic. His conferences, workshops, and retreats are entertaining and practical, giving real help and hope.

David currently teaches math at Washtenaw Community College, after retiring as a math and theology teacher at Father Gabriel Richard High School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. His current book is God Loves You and There’s Nothing You Can Do About It.

Programs/Topics Include:

Come Holy Spirit Workshop: In this workshop, David helps participants receive or be renewed in the baptism in the Holy Spirit and live in the power of God by His grace.
Keeping Your Kids Catholic Workshop: In this workshop, parents will learn why young people leave the Church and how to prevent it, how to build resilient family relationships, how to introduce children to Jesus, how to create a Catholic culture at home, how to pray effectively for kids, and how to receive God’s power to help perform parental duties.
Healing Ministry
Leadership Training
Discipleship and Prayer

Endorsements:

“Parents who participate in David’s workshops leave knowing that God loves them so much that He will honor their efforts to hand on the faith to their children. For more than 30 years, David has been a leader in Catholic renewal movements and a popular conference speaker. But in the workshop David speaks mainly as a Catholic dad, sharing personally and practically about preparing kids to make the right faith choices.”
~ Bert Ghezzi, author of Keeping Your Kids Catholic and the Keeping Your Kids Catholic Workshop

“Those who participated continue to refer to the practical insights that surfaced. The presentations, discussions, and personal reflections were clear, invigorating, and do-able. Our participants felt an atmosphere of mutual hope and support. The sessions were very confirming and uplifting.”
~ Fr. Patsy Iaquinta, pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, Bluefield, West Virginia

Laurie Watson Manhardt

Speaker

catholicbiblestd@aol.com

Laurie Watson Manhardt, PhD is a Catholic wife, mother, and grandmother. After teaching young girls at the Huron Valley School in Michigan, she taught second grade catechism for several years in New Jersey, preparing children to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist.

After teaching an inter-faith Bible Study for ten years, Laurie recognized the need for orthodox, layperson-friendly Catholic Bible study materials that could present the finest of Catholic Biblical scholarship available. Together with three Biblical scholars, Father Joseph Ponessa, SSD from the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome; Monsignor Jan Majernik, STD from the Franciscan School of Biblical Studies in Jerusalem; and Bishop Jan Liesen, SSD, a graduate of the Biblicum who serves on the Papal Theological Commission, she is offering the Come and See Catholic Bible Study Series for adults and children. Adult books cover the entire Catholic Bible in fourteen volumes.

Presently, Laurie and her husband Jim host a home Bible Study for couples in mixed marriages. She also serves in a weekly Bible study for teenagers in her parish in Vero Beach, Florida. She is particularly interested in helping people who feel called to start a Catholic Bible study in their home or parish.

Programs/Topics Include:

God’s Word Can Transform You
Deepening the Catholic Heart
Why I am a Catholic
The Eucharist—Our Food for the Journey
How to Start a Bible Study in Your Parish
Home Bible Study as a Means of Evangelism
Getting Teens into God’s Word
Summer Catholic Bible Study School

Endorsements:

“The Come and See Bible Studies Series is a trusted source for sound Catholic Biblical study. Unlike other programs, the Come and See Series covers all 73 books of the Catholic Bible. The series offers an “in-depth” look at each Biblical book yet covers a great multitude of material.

Because the series has obtained the Nihil obstat and Imprimatur, groups using it can be assured that it is free of doctrinal or moral error. Combining the Catechism of the Catholic Church with the study of Sacred Scripture has opened the doors of both minds and hearts to discover explanations about why the Church teaches what she does. The reasonable price is also appreciated by groups hungering for good materials they can continue on with. People are very creative in how they use this program. Both small groups and large groups are finding inventive ways to get into God’s Word and encounter Jesus, the living Word through the Come and See Catholic Bible Study.”
Sharon Doran, MA, Omaha, Nebraska

“Thank you very much for the Come and See Catholic Bible Study Series. Bible study and adult education are critical tools for Catholics in the process of faith formation. Thank you for your commitment to this process and sharing your faith through the books. May God always guide you and fill you with the gift of the Holy Spirit to continue in this ministry.”
Most Reverend Gerald M. Barbarito, Bishop of Palm Beach, Florida

“Thank you for the opportunity to review the Catholic Bible Study material. I have reviewed the book myself and find it very interesting. Your labor of love has certainly produced great fruit.”

Most Reverend Nicholas DiMarzio, Ph.D., D.D., Bishop of Brooklyn, New York

“Thank you so much for the Come and See: Catholic Bible Study book. It is truly wonderful and just what I needed!”
Genevieve Zalatorius, Prague, Czech Republic

“I have heard Laurie Manhardt speak at the women’s conference here in New Jersey and am very happy to recommend her.”
Father Brendan Williams, Pastor, St. Veronica Church, Howell, New Jersey

Lavinia Spirito

Speaker

ltspirito@yahoo.com

Lavinia Spirito is the founding team teaching leader for Catholic Way Bible Study, currently distributed in forty US states and internationally.

Though she grew up in Rome, Italy, Lavinia received her BA in Anthropology and Spanish from the University of Michigan; obtained her JD from The University of Kentucky College of Law; and has earned a Masters in Theology from The Augustine Institute in Denver, Colorado.

She is also adjunct lecturer for the Saint Meinrad Permanent Deacon Formation Program.

She prepares and delivers all the lectures for Catholic Way Bible Study, an in-depth study of the Scriptures as applied to daily life. She travels and speaks nationally and internationally giving retreats, priest retreats, conferences, parish missions, and days of reflection. CWBS’s five-part TV series on The Gospels can be seen on EWTN.

She is co-host of Real Living and Unpacking the Gospel, two weekly radio programs on relevant issues facing today’s Catholics, and also makes guest appearances, blogs, and writes articles for the various websites.

Through Renewal Ministries in Ann Arbor, Michigan, she collaborates in i.d.9:16, a young adult ministry.

She has led and participated in catechist and deacon formation, RCIA, adult education, and CCD. Lavinia is active in parish renewal and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the US and Italy.

She and her husband, Michael, live in Lexington, Kentucky, and have two adult daughters.

» Lavinia serves as a Missionary Teacher on our international missions.

Programs/Topics Include:

Understanding Mercy
Marriage and Family Life
Scripture Study Training
Discipleship and Prayer
Interacting with the Culture; Catholics in the Public Square
Catholic Devotion
Spiritual Gifts/Charisms
Women and Personal Holiness
Catholic Magisterial Teaching

Endorsements:

“Lavinia Spirito employs her passion for the Word of God and her scholarly expertise to open the Word of God and help the ordinary believer connect this Word to his or her daily life.”
~ Most Reverend John Stowe, OFM Conv., Bishop of Lexington, Kentucky

“Lavinia Spirito engages her listeners’ heads and hearts with the Biblical truths that further our continuing faith formation, evangelization and community building.”
~ Most Reverend Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

“Lavinia Spirito does a truly excellent job in unfolding the great wealth of God’s Word in ways that ordinary people can understand, but nevertheless is true to the Word’s challenge. The program unpacks the Scriptures in a way that is useful and inspiring. I recommend this for everyone!”
~ Ralph Martin, S.T.D., Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Archdiocese of Detroit

“Years of laboring ‘in the trenches’ teaching Catholic Bible studies has equipped Lavinia with a unique talent to make a wealth of life-changing information accessible to anyone who hungers to know the Word of God.”
~ Peter Herbeck, Director of Missions, Renewal Ministries, Ann Arbor Michigan

“Lavinia Spirito does her homework! With all the skill and tenacity of a highly-trained lawyer researching a case, Lavinia examines the text and historical background of the Bible, interprets it accurately, and applies it to life today. She fulfills, and helps others fulfill, St. Paul’s words: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Tim 2:15). Catholic Way Bible Study belongs to a new wave of Catholic initiatives to restore the Word of God to the center of Catholic life. I highly recommend this program!”
~ Dr. Peter S. Williamson, S.T.D., Adam Cardinal, Maida Chair in Sacred Scripture, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, General Editor, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture

Deacon Steve Thomashefski

Speaker

dcn.steve@gmail.com

Deacon Steve Thomashefski has served in the Catholic Church for nearly fifty years through the Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, Charismatic Renewal, and Discovering Christ movements. He has directed parish missions and youth retreats, and spoken at Catholic evangelistic rallies and various conferences.

Deacon Steve also has done mission work in Russia, Eastern European and Africa since 1991. Formerly a successful carpet retailer, Steve sold his business in 1998 in order to devote more of his time to evangelization and mission within the Church. He spent a number of years serving as Renewal Ministries’ country coordinator in Hungary, where he led evangelistic rallies and trained and supported lay communities in cooperation with local bishops.

Deacon Steve and his wife Lucia are the parents of six grown children and one grandchild. Lucia is a member of the music ministry at Christ the King Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, MI and Deacon Steve serves as a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Lansing.

» Dcn Steve serves as a Missionary Teacher on our international missions.

Programs/Topics Include:

Marriage and Family
Evangelism Training
Healing Ministry
Youth Outreach
Discipleship and Prayer

Peter Thompson

Speaker

peter4God@shaw.ca

Peter was born in London, England, and at an early age desired to serve as a missionary in Africa. He tested his vocation with the Holy Ghost Father’s (Spiritans). The ordained priesthood, however, was not to be his calling. Peter, his wife Madeleine, and their three small children emigrated to Canada in 1967. In 1974, through the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, Peter and Madeleine experienced a profound renewal in faith. When St. John Paul II called for a decade of evangelization in 1990, they responded by serving with Sion Catholic Community for Evangelization in England, giving parish missions with extensive door-to-door evangelization. This gave Peter a great love for apologetics. Peter then served with the Vatican office of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal (ICCRS) for eight years. He began serving with Renewal Ministries in 1998, primarily in Africa. Peter’s great love for Christ’s Church is expressed in his teaching both in defending the faith and in opening the hearts of Catholics to the riches of our Catholic faith, founded by Christ.

Programs/Topics Include:

The Jubilee Year of Mercy: “His Mercies Never Come to an End”
“Laudato Si”: Praise be to You, My Lord
What is Pope Francis Saying to the World?
Catholic Apologetics: This series addresses the major issues Catholics face in responding to questions and attacks on the Church. (It can be adapted to a mission format for parish audiences with four to eight presentations.)
Church History: This series of six to eight talks gives a basic overview of major events and issues that have faced the Church throughout the centuries.
Called to Mission: This series of three lectures looks at the Great Commission, what recent pope’s have said, and practical help with evangelization.
Called to Holiness: Four talks on prayer, fruits of the Spirit, Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, and the Sacraments of Grace (Eucharist and Penance).
Christ Speaks Today: Three lectures on Revelation 2-3 focusing on the seven Churches and how the same messages apply to the Church today.
When Our Minds Wander at Mass: Four lectures on the great mystery of the Eucharist, and how the Eucharist can help Catholics overcome distractions.
Forgotten Doctrine: Understanding the history, doctrine and current practice of indulgences.
Life and Growth in the Spirit: Two series of presentations based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church’s discussion of man’s vocation and life in the Spirit.
Choose Life or Death: What determines our final destiny and does Purgatory exist?
Finally Draw Your Strength from the Lord and His Mighty Power: Ephesians 6. This series studies spiritual warfare, assisting participants to understand the battle and equipping them to remain faithful to Jesus and His Church. Personal testimony: He will not crush the broken reed or extinguish the flickering flame (Mt 12:20). Peter shares his faith journey with honesty, showing the immensity of God’s mercy and love.

Dr. Peter Williamson

Dr. Peter S. Williamson completed his studies in Biblical theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. Peter has been involved in evangelization and pastoral ministry for over thirty-five years in the United States, and more recently, in Lithuania and Kazakhstan. He presently serves as a country coordinator for Renewal Ministries, and holds the Adam Cardinal Maida Chair in Sacred Scripture at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit, Michigan.

Peter wrote Catholic Principles for Interpreting Scripture and How to Become the Person You Were Meant to Be. He is the coeditor with Ralph Martin of John Paul II and the New Evangelization. He is one of the editors of The Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture. He also coordinates Spirit of St. Paul Bible Studies at Sacred Heart Major Seminary. Peter lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Peter_Williamson@sbcglobal.net