2025 Intergenerate Affinity Groups…
During the InterGenerate Conference, we will be offering early bird and night owl Affinity Groups. These are casual times of connecting with other people on various topics of interest. Below are a few already planned, but several more will be announced soon. Remember to use our new SCHED app (launching April 14!) to see locations, times for all conference events.
Do you wish we had a certain topic for an affinity group? Email intergenerate.ig@gmail.com to let us know if you have a topic you would like to see someone facilitate, or if you might like to facilitate an affinity group.
Betsy Dishman has enjoyed serving as GenOn Ministries Training Director since 2016. Her work has included writing and leading workshops for GenOn, InterGenerate, and various ecumenical organizations. Betsy has served on staff at local churches for over 30 years leading music ministry and children, youth, and family ministries.
Dr. Dawn Rundman is Director of Congregational Development and Marketing at Augsburg Fortress Publishers. Wielding a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology, a fondness for innovative faith practices, love of wordsmithing, and several years as a summer camp counselor, Dawn believes intergenerational church communities can be hubs for healthy human development. Dawn is the InterGenerate Treasurer.
Bio: A dad to three sons, Rich Griffith, D.Min., is professor of youth ministry at Toccoa Falls College. Rich also serves as a part-time pastor, contributes to various academic journals, and is featured on several podcasts. Dr. Griffith has worked with teens and families for over 30 years. His life-long work in youth and family ministry, single-dad, and his academic pursuits, have given him a passion to help young people and those who disciple them.
Cathy Vitek has served as the Children's & Family Ministry Pastor at Bethany UMC in Ellicott City, MD since 2015, is certified in the Orange Strategy of Family Ministry, and is a doctoral candidate at the Robert E. Webber Institute of Worship Studies. Cathy loves Jesus and kids of all ages and their grown-ups. And also her family, the beach, running, paddle-boarding, reading and hanging outside in the sun.
Rev. Dr. Amy Yu, a Toronto-based pastor with over 30 years in ministry, understands the challenges of generational divides within churches. Her doctoral research focused on intergenerational ministry’s impact on faith formation. As Vice Chair of InterGenerate, she champions unified, cross-generational faith communities.
Katharine Rose is the founder of Eternal Echoes Ministry, which is dedicated to passing on faith, wisdom and life lessons from older Christians. She is a writer, speaker, and podcast host with a heart for intergenerational mentoring and discipleship, and believes in the power of storytelling to bridge generational divides.
Gabby Brandner serves as the Children’s Minister at Central Church of Christ in Amarillo, Texas. She graduated from Lipscomb University in May of 2024, where she majored in Children’s Ministry. She is passionate about the role of children in the faith community and children’s spirituality. Her current research includes the intersection of children’s spirituality and trauma, the implications of children being made in the image of God, and adapting spiritual disciplines for children.
Dr. Wilson McCoy (MDiv, DMin) serves as the Teaching Minister at the College Hills Church in Lebanon, TN. He is an adjunct professor and a generational church consultant. He enjoys writing, cooking, listen to Wilco, and escaping to the beach. You can learn more about his work at drwilsonmccoy.com.
Valerie M. Grissom, MDiv, DWS, is certified for ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Northwest Coast Presbytery (PC-USA), near Seattle, Washington. She serves as Chair of the InterGenerate Team. Valerie is the editor of All Ages Becoming: Intergenerational Practice in the Formation of God's People. As a worship leader and pastor for over 20 years, Valerie is passionate about worship renewal in the Church. To find out more about Valerie’s research, writing, speaking, coaching, and mentoring regarding intergenerational and intercultural worship, visit valeriemgrissom.com.
Dr. Holly Catterton Allen retired in 2022 from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she taught undergraduate courses such as Family Ministry and Nurturing Spiritual Development in Children. Dr. Allen’s recent books include Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship, (InterVarsity Academic, 2023) and Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development (InterVarsity Academic, 2021).
Trevecca Okholm is retired from nearly forty years of full-time church ministry and also from university teaching in practical theology and family ministry. She continues to serve the church as a family ministry coach and consultant, speaker for parent groups and retreats, and as a trainer/facilitator for worship & wonder models of faith formation. Trevecca has authored two books on marriage & family, grandparenting faith intergenerational and co-edited Children’s Ministry and the Spiritual Child: Practical Formation-Focused Ministry (ACU, 2023).
Dr. Holly Catterton Allen retired in 2022 from Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, where she taught undergraduate courses such as Family Ministry and Nurturing Spiritual Development in Children. Dr. Allen’s recent books include Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship, (InterVarsity Academic, 2023) and Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development (InterVarsity Academic, 2021).
Daron has a passion for reaching families and children of all ages and works as Children and Family Ministries Director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North New South Wales. Daron speaks regularly at children and family ministries events and training seminars in Australia and around the world. Pr Daron is a mad balloon twister and often twists the gospel into all sorts of amazing creations as he preaches. Pr Daron is seen regularly on satellite TV as the Balloon Man, on Arnie’s Shack television series seen right across the world. Daron is married to Lisa and has two children Andrew and Madison. In his spare time Daron loves gardening and breeds show poultry.
Rev. Ron de Vries has 30+ Years of youth ministry experience, Ordained Pastor for 13 years, 17 years of church consulting, CRCNA partner of the Generation Spark leadership team, Education from Kings University (Theology), Princeton Seminary (Youth and Young Adult ministry).
Valerie M. Grissom, MDiv, DWS, is certified for ordination as Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Northwest Coast Presbytery (PC-USA), near Seattle, Washington. She serves as Chair of the InterGenerate Team. Valerie is the editor of All Ages Becoming: Intergenerational Practice in the Formation of God's People. As a worship leader and pastor for over 20 years, Valerie is passionate about worship renewal in the Church. To find out more about Valerie’s research, writing, speaking, coaching, and mentoring regarding intergenerational and intercultural worship, visit valeriemgrissom.com.
Steve Case serves as the president of Involve Youth, a youth ministry consulting organization based in Northern California, although the farther he travels, the smarter people think he is. He also coordinates the Intergenerational Church concentration cohort for the Andrews University DMin program. With a PhD in religious education, Steve loves discovery and celebrates shared discoveries. As a Baby Boomer, he’s now old even though he thinks he’s young. Maybe he just hasn’t grown up.
Suzi Farrant is Young People and Young Adults Development Worker for the Church of Scotland. Having spent 9 years pioneering fresh approaches to youth ministry in local congregations she’s been advocating over the last 13 years at a national level for culture shift within the church such that children and young people are intentionally included. She holds a Master of Theology degree from the University of Aberdeen, where her thesis was on Bonhoeffer and intergenerational church-community.
Tammy Preston was the founding pastor of an Intergenerational faith community in Australia for 18 years and a founding member of Intergenerate Australia/New Zealand. Tammy is a trained teacher, has a degree in theology, is currently doing her Ph.D. in Intergenerational ministry at Cardiff University in Wales. She has written two books and contributed to 3 other books in the area of Intergenerational ministry. Tammy speaks and teaches regularly throughout Australia, NZ, USA, Lebanon, UK, Asia and Cambodia. Seeing the “family of God” be empowered to grow and walk the lifelong journey of faith together is something she is passionate about.