Carolina Conference Camp Meeting

Dick Duerksen is a storyteller from the Oregon Conference and a self-proclaimed "Itinerant Pollinator of Grace." During 48 years as an Adventist preacher, pastor, and administrator, he has carried the good news of grace around the world, using narrative-style presentations that bring hope to your heart. Duerksen and his wife, Brenda, have three married children. He is also a professional photographer whose photos help bring calm, peace, and healing into many hospitals and clinical offices.

Richie Halversen spent years battling drug addiction and running away from God’s calling before finally experiencing a powerful conversion. Then began many years of recovery and helping others who were struggling with addiction as he had. He now serves at the Bowman Hills Church in Tennessee with his wife and partner in ministry, Brittney, to whom he has been married for 21 years. They have four children: Kaleb, Hayley, Tristen, and Taylor.

Gordon Bietz began his career in Northern California, and has since served as teacher, pastor, and president of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference, recently retiring after 19 years as president of Southern Adventist University. He now serves as part-time director for higher education for the Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities (AACU), a consortium of 13 institutions that collaborate on marketing and enrollment projects. He and his wife, Cynthia, have adult twin daughters and six grandchildren.

Roger Hernandez is the ministerial and evangelism director for the Southern Union. He has written over 14 books, including the Discipleship Book of the Year, Everyone Welcome. A practical and engaging internationalspeaker, Hernandez presents on leadership, evangelism,accountability, and diversity. Kathy Hernandez is the Southern Union ministerial and evangelism coordinator. She has a degree in elementary education and a master’s in youth ministry, following her life’s calling to nurture those who need the love of a family.

Michael Carducci, co-founder of Coming Out Ministries and director of EXCEED Ministry, is an international ministry leader addressing his history as part of the LGBTQ community and being sexually addicted. Carducci speaks on how he learned the process of true surrender and experiencing peace in his life. Carducci shares his tools for overcoming temptation and helps guide others to Christ and find healing through a solid dependence on Jesus.

Melissa McCoy-Weisner and Eric Vaughn Weisner have been married 12 years. They were married to each other previously before divorcing, at which point they both individually sought God and, in the process, found one another in a new light, giving them a passion for marriage and family ministry focused on prayer. Eric is a middle school computer science teacher; Melissa is an English teacher and assistant girls’ dean at Highland Academy.

Dennis Millburn holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business management. He has served as treasurer in the Iowa, Florida, Southern New England, Gulf States, and Southern Union Conferences, and recently retired after 44 years. Millburn is married to Bobbie, a nurse, who enjoys traveling with him to various churches to preach on stewardship and provide weekend seminars filled with practical training in personal finance, emphasizing strategies for living onone income in ministry.

David A. Sedlacek has taught social work, family ministry, and discipleship at both Oakwood University and in the Seminary at Andrews University, as well as serving in direct practice, administration, research, and ministry. Beverly Sedlacek has worked for over 40 years counseling hurting people in areas of addiction, abuse, relationship difficulties, emotional problems, and financial difficulties. David and Beverly co-direct Into HIS Rest Ministries, a Christian counseling ministry, and enjoy their five grown children.

Melissa McCoy-Weisner and Eric Vaughn Weisner have been married 12 years. They were married to each other previously before divorcing, at which point they both individually sought God and, in the process, found one another in a new light, giving them a passion for marriage and family ministry focused on prayer. Eric is a middle school computer science teacher; Melissa is an English teacher and assistant girls’ dean at Highland Academy.

Gordon Bietz began his career in Northern California, and has since served as teacher, pastor, and president of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference, recently retiring after 19 years as president of Southern Adventist University. He now serves as part-time director for higher education for the Association of Adventist Colleges and Universities (AACU), a consortium of 13 institutions that collaborate on marketing and enrollment projects. He and his wife, Cynthia, have adult twin daughters and six grandchildren.

Robert Banks, aka Pastor Bob, grew up in Connecticut and attended the Methodist Church. His teenagequest to find Christ led him to the Adventist churchand a clear call to ministry. He worked as a pastor in the greater Boston area where he met his wife, Joannie, and has since served as pastor, ministerial secretary, and professor, preaching and teaching on six continents. He and Joannie currently pastor in Virginia.

Henry Johnson is currently serving Carolina Conference as Youth and Young Adult director.  As this journey continues, his passion is in proclaiming the true God of Scripture through  his true personality--especially to young people and those of non-Adventist perspectives. He longs to see the development of restorative community through discipleship. His motto is: Founded on Scripture and Focused on Jesus. 

Jim Davidson pastored several churches in the Florida and Kentucky-Tennessee conferences before being called to serve in the Carolina Conference as ministerial director, then executive secretary and finally, president. He has servedas executive secretary for the Southern Union Conference since 2011. The joys of Davidson’s life are his wife, Bonnie, and their two adult children, Sarah and Jonathan.

Dick Duerksen is a storyteller from the Oregon Conference and a self-proclaimed "Itinerant Pollinator of Grace." During 48 years as an Adventist preacher, pastor, and administrator, he has carried the good news of grace around the world, using narrative-style presentations that bring hope to your heart. Duerksen and his wife, Brenda, have three married children. He is also a professional photographer whose photos help bring calm, peace, and healing into many hospitals and clinical offices.

Tony LaPorte is the men’s ministries coordinator for the Carolina Conference and pastor of the Charleston Adventist Church. A 20-year veteran retired from the U.S. Army,he received his degree in theology from Southwestern Adventist University and a master’s degree in counseling from Amberton University. LaPorte and his wife, Nereida, previously served as family ministries coordinators for the Iowa-Missouri Conference, and are parents to four boys.

Richie Halversen spent years battling drug addiction andrunning away from God’s calling before finally experiencinga powerful conversion. Then began many years of recovery and helping others who were struggling with addiction as he had. He now serves at the Bowman Hills Church in Tennessee with his wife and partner in ministry, Brittney, to whom he has been married for 21 years. They have four children: Kaleb, Hayley, Tristen, and Taylor.

Maury Gilmore (left) is a Certified ChristianConciliator who helps Christians to biblically resolve conflict in their personal, family, church, and business relationships. She has served many in the Western North Carolina area. Susan Smith is a restorative justice facilitator and district criminal court mediator with Piedmont Mediation, Inc. She has herown Christian mediation and conflict coaching ministry.

Robert Banks, aka Pastor Bob, grew up in Connecticut and attended the Methodist Church. His teenagequest to find Christ led him to the Adventist churchand a clear call to ministry. He worked as a pastor in the greater Boston area where he met his wife, Joannie, and has since served as pastor, ministerial secretary, and professor, preaching and teaching on six continents. He and Joannie currently pastor in Virginia.

Daniel R. Jackson has been president of the North American Division (NAD) since 2010. With the exception of five years of service in the Southern Asia Division, Jackson, a native Canadian, has lived and ministered in the NAD. He holds a M.A. in religion in systematic theology, and has served the church as a pastor, teacher, and in administration. Jackson and his wife, Donna, enjoy the three children and four grandchildren the Lord has given them. Foremost, Jackson says he is a fellow traveler on the same path as every Christian headed toward the Kingdom.

Henry Johnson is currently serving Carolina Conference as Youth and Young Adult director.  As this journey continues, his passion is in proclaiming the true God of Scripture through  his true personality--especially to young people and those of non-Adventist perspectives. He longs to see the development of restorative community through discipleship. His motto is: Founded on Scripture and Focused on Jesus.