Meet the Contributors
Rev. Elaine Austin
Rev. Elaine Austin is a beloved pastor, camp minister, and founding member of Worship & Wonder. She has worked with young and old for over thirty years. She taught Wonder and the Bible for the GenOn church cohort.
Rev. Mona Candea
Rev. Mona Candea as Associate Director of Next Generation Ministries in the Missouri Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. She supports local churches in the areas of children, youth, college-age adults, and camping ministries. Mona was a content creator for the year one family resources.
Katie Cassady
Katie Cassady holds a Masters degree in Pastoral Ministry and published Sunday Fun as a tool to help families intentionally integrate the practice of Sabbath. She blogs at Blessed Is She and Unexpected Honey. She was a content creator for the year one family resources.
Cat Caya
Cat Caya is a nonprofit writer based in California. She spent over a decade in full-time vocational ministry—with two years living and working overseas—and previously served as the communications lead for Evolving Faith. Cat is passionate about helping others cultivate their imagination for a most just, equitable, and loving world. She is on the incubation team for the project.
Rev. Justin Coleman
Justin Coleman is the senior pastor of University United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill, N.C. His ministry at University UMC includes leading the church as it seeks to live into radical kinship by loving God, serving others, and building Christian community. He taught a Design Thinking workshop to the church cohort. Read his book Home for Christmas: Tales of Hope and Second Chances.
Rev. Melissa Collier Gepford
Melissa is the Intergenerational Discipleship Coordinator of the United Methodist Great Plains Conference. She graduated from Perkins School of Theology, and is an ordained deacon. Melissa is a writer, speaker, and most recently, the creator of Dandelion Marketplace. She is a coach-sultant and a content creator for the project.
Kayla Craig
Kayla Craig created the popular Liturgies for Parents Instagram account, which Christianity Today named an “essential parenting resource.” Kayla is the author of Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way. She is a part of the incubation team for the project.
Karen DeBoer
Karen DeBoer loves children (and their grown-ups too!). Much of Karen’s work has focused on providing people with practical ideas for forming faith in community and at home. She is an author, editor, content curator and creator, and Open to Wonder podcast host. She is a part of the incubation team, a coach-sultant, and a content creator for the project.
Betsy Dishman
GenOn’s Training Director, Betsy Dishman, also serves on staff at her local church in Virginia. Helping churches evaluate where they are with intergenerational ministry and guiding them to develop their own pathways to realize their specific vision and goals is her passion. Her favorite quote to explain her work is: “It’s a process, not a program!”
Liz Emis
Liz is the incoming Minister of Education for First UMC in Omaha. She creates spaces for wonder, plurality, and expansive, practical theology with and for children, youth, and families. She is a practical, liberative, childist theologian. She attends Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and will graduate in May '25 with a Master of Divinity degree, concentrating in Childist Studies, Ethics & Education. Liz is a content creator for the project.
Katie Fahey
Katie Fahey has a Master of Divinity and Master of Social Work, and has been working with children, youth, and young adults since she was one herself. She currently serves in the office of admissions at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL, where she helps people discern their call to ministry. Katie is a content creator for the project.
Sarah Flannery
Sarah has 14 years of ministry to children and families, both in the church and in school settings. In the summer of 2024, Sarah became the director of the Christian Parenting and Caregivers Grant awarded to Louisville Presbyterian Seminary, which seeks to provide resources and promote research on Christian parenting to families and faith formation staff in churches. Sarah has published two books on family ministry and is now working toward a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy through Eastern University in Philadelphia, PA.
Erin Floyd
Erin Floyd works in the nonprofit sector, addressing family homelessness. Prior to her nonprofit work, she helped write numerous publications for ecumenical publishers, such as Cokesbury Celebrate Wonder and Deep Blue. She also worked at several United Methodist Churches as Director of Educational Ministries and Director of Children and Families. Erin is an advocate for inclusion, social justice, and social change.Â
Rev. Cheryl Garlick
Rev. Cheryl Garlick has been blessed by intentional Jesus-focused relationships with children for over 30 years. She is a United Methodist deacon and has served families and children in the San Francisco Bay Area. Cheryl has recently become a Spiritual Director for both adults and children. Cheryl is on the incubation team and is a coach-sultant for the project.
Jennifer Grant
Jennifer Grant is an author and editor based in Chicago. Her picture book Maybe God Is Like That Too won a gold medal form the Moonbeam Spirit Awards for excellence in children's literature. She has written several other books for children (and some for their grown-ups!) and was a content creator for the project.
Suzanna Green
Suzanna Green has worked in the area of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries for the past 10 years in Presbyterian, Methodist, and Episcopal settings, most recently serving as the Bishop’s Deputy for Christian Formation in the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. She is a content creator for the project.
Sarah Gregory
Sarah Gregory holds an MACE in Christian Education from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. She spent her full time vocational ministry career equipping people of all ages to express their faith in creative ways to cultivate the fruits of the spirit in their communities. Sarah now works part time as a campus minister and freelance writer in St. Louis where she lives with her husband Kaleb and four children.
Rev. Kelli Hitchman-Craig
Kelli Hitchman-Craig is a pastor in Auburn, Alabama. She has a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School and is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church. Kelli is a lover of dogs, tomato sandwiches, and DIY house projects.
Laura Holbrook
Laura has served for 40 years in the Presbyterian Church USA. Her titles have included Director of Christian Education, Director of Family Ministry, and Program Director for Massanetta Springs Conference Center. She has designed and led events in the areas of parenting, children and worship, midweek ministries, and youth ministry. She is on the incubation team and a coach-sultant for the project.
Kyle Jonas
Kyle is a dad to two toddlers, James and Hutch. Though, he says Luna is his best-behaved child (... she's his dog). He loves many hobbies, including woodworking, landscaping, camping, writing, and traveling. He has a master's degree in Communication Studies and Theology, and works in video production in Nashville, Tennessee for Adelicia Company. He is on the incubation team for the project.Â
Amanda Kie Borchik
Amanda is a board-certified (APC) Humanist pediatric chaplain at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in Nashville, TN. Over the past six years, she has cared for pediatric patients in intensive care units and in Hematology/Oncology at Vanderbilt Children’s. She values children's natural spiritual expression in play-based, child-centered care. Amanda taught a workshop for our church cohort about spiritual care for children.
Suzie Lane
Suzie Lane is the Program Director for GenOn Ministries, where she writes and edits training materials and curriculum. Suzie is retired from over twenty years of Christian education in small and large middle- Tennessee church settings. Â
Katie Lemaire
Katie Lemaire is a Cajun girl currently living in the desert of California (her eighth move thanks to her husband's Air Force career). She holds a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and she currently works as a full-time mom and homeschool teacher to two star students. When not teaching, she loves writing and reading nonfiction. Katie is a content creator for the project.
Sara Miller
Sara is a pastor and mental health educator. She's been in ministry for 11+ years in a variety of settings. Sara has a BA in Youth Ministry and, in May 2022, received both a Master of Divinity (MDiv) and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Counseling (MAPCC) from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. Sara is a content creator for the project.
Linda Ray Miller
Linda Ray Miller is a retired Christian Educator, having spent many years in United Methodist churches in Texas and Tennessee. She is a former editor for Children’s curriculum at Cokesbury. She now enjoys gardening, quilting, and keeping up with her grown children.Â
Christy Miller White
The Rev. Christy Miller White, a deacon in full connection, has worked with children, youth, young adults, and persons with special needs for over 25 years in a variety of settings. She serves as a coordinator for age group ministries for The United Methodist Church and as a Minister of Children and Families in Michigan. Christy has dedicated her ministry to breaking down the barriers that keep people from God’s love. Christy led a workshop for the church cohort on Trauma Informed Ministry.
Rev. Lori Patton Aguilar
Lori's favorite titles are, "mom" to two toddlers and "spouse" to John. As a family they enjoy cooking together, camping and being outdoors. Lori has a Masters of Divinity with an emphasis in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary and is an Ordained Elder in the United Methodist Church. Lori serves as the Senior Pastor at Lenexa United Methodist Church in Lenexa, KS.
Anita Peebles
Rev. Anita is an ordained American Baptist pastor. She is a 2018 graduate of Vanderbilt Divinity School and a 2014 graduate of Oberlin College. Anita was ordained by an Alliance of Baptists-associated congregation in April 2018. She is interested in eco-theology and feminist theology, and loves thinking about how to make Christian social justice education and rituals accessible to young children.
Liz Perraud
Liz Perraud is the Executive Director of GenOn Ministries, a nonprofit organization that partners with churches to nurture, grow, and deepen intergenerational relationships through training, resources, and support. Liz has more than 30 years of experience in the field of Christian faith formation and frequently speaks and leads training in the US and Canada (or wherever Zoom will take her). She is a contributor to “InterGenerate” (“The Art of Christian Relationships” chapter) and “Engage All Generations” (“Intergenerational Community Around the Table” chapter).
Fernie Rivera
Fernie Rivera is a dad, pastor, church planter, husband and ministry coach, who is passionate about helping all people experience heaven on earth. Fernie holds a BA in Religion from Oklahoma City University and a Master of Divinity focusing on church planning and planting from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He currently serves as one of the pastors at University Methodist Church in San Antonio, TX.
Jason Brian Santos
The Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos is an American practical theologian and the pastor of Community Presbyterian Church. He served as the national director for Christian Formation for the Presbyterian Church (USA), where he is an ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament. He holds a Ph.D. in practical theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, where he also earned his Masters of Divinity. He is the author of A Community Called Taiz (IVP, 2008) and co-author of the forthcoming revised edition of Intergenerational Christian Formation (IVP Academic, 2012).Â
Tracey Schoch
Tracey has spent 20 years helping nonprofits and faith-based organizations with communications and outreach, including time with Gospel Rescue Ministries and Prison Fellowship in the Washington DC area. She joined GenOn Ministries in 2018. When not working, she can often be found playing par 3 golf or “picking” for one of the vintage booths that she manages with her husband.
Brittany Sky
Brittany Sky is a mama, writer and creator, family ministry leader, researcher, and product developer who loves kids and the adults who care for them. She is the Project Director of the GenOn Ministries Christian Parenting Project. Brittany holds a BA and MA in Christian Education and an MBA for good measure.Â
Jeremy Steele
Jeremy Steele is a writer, conspirator and spiritual entrepreneur who refuses to give up on Christianity. He spends his time resourcing the dreams of the next generation and helping them discover the ancient paths to spiritual enlightenment and connection with God. You can find more about him and his work at Jeremy-Steele.com.
Laura Steele
Laura is a Licensed Master Social Worker with a B.A. in Religion and a Master’s degree in Social Work. She specializes in children & families and currently practices in the D.C. area. Laura’s favorite gig is raising her four children who are undoubtedly the most amazing kids in the world (a totally unbiased opinion).
Debbie Streicher
Debbie is Co-Director at Milestones Ministry and has facilitated, overseen, organized, and developed faith formation programs for all ages in the congregational setting for over 30 years. She is a certified coach, on the Lifelong Faith Team, and is on the Incubation Team and is a coach-sultant for the project. She has consulted and led events across the  United States, Canada, and Australia for congregations focusing on the importance of establishing faith practices in the  congregation and in the home.Â
Jen Strickland
Rev. Dr. Jennifer Strickland holds a BA from Miami University, an MFA/MA in Creative Writing and Literature from Chapman University, an M.Div from Princeton Seminary, and a DMin from Duke University. She has dual-standing in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the United Church of Christ denominations. Pastor Jen has served churches in Kansas, Nebraska, and California, where she currently lives with her husband (and co-pastor), their 3 dogs, 2 pigs, and daughter. She’s passionate about creation care, animal welfare, and preaching about God’s expansive compassion and love for all living creatures.
Denise Utter
Denise Utter is a speaker, coach, and writer who was formerly a parish Director of Faith Formation and the Catechetical Associate for Family Faith Formation for the Diocese of Joliet. Her experience at both parish and diocesan levels shapes her work as a consultant for Vibrant Faith, Lifelong Faith Associates, and Families Living Faith, where she helps leaders reimagine faith formation in their own parishes and schools.Â
Rebekah Witt
Rebekah Witt is the Director for Youth & Young Adults at Opequon Presbyterian Church, a coach-sultant and the Project Assistant for the GenOn Ministries Christian Parenting Project, and is a Presbyterian Youth Workers Association Board Member. She has a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education & Master of Arts in Teaching from James Madison University.
