The Evangelical Church Alliance

2021 International Conference

July 20-22; Erlanger, Kentucky

Serving Ministers Since 1887

ECA INTERNATIONAL

Evangelical Church Alliance ®

Holiday Inn Cincinnati Airport Ark Encounter

Schedule

Tuesday, July 20

Meeting Room

5:00 p.m. Evening Banquet Campbell/Boone

Mr. Ray Cummins, Master Guitarist

7:00 p.m. Opening Session* Owen/Kenton

Dr. Scott Lemenager

8:45 p.m. Evening Reception Campbell/Boone

Wednesday, July 21

7:00 a.m. Devotions Owen/Kenton

Dr. Sam Goebel

7:30-8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Campbell/Boone

9:00 a.m. Business Meeting Owen/Kenton

10:00 a.m. First Morning Session Owen/Kenton

Rev. Aarynton Smith

11:00 a.m. Second Morning Session Owen/Kenton Rev. Joshua Birchfield

1:15 p.m. Candidate Oral Exam Orientation Riverview

2:00 pm Women’s Fellowship Hamilton

Rev. Lori Coleman

7:00 p.m. Evening Session* Owen/Kenton

Rev. Myles Weiss

8:45 p.m. Evening Reception Campbell/Boone

Thursday, July 22

7:00 a.m. Devotions Owen/Kenton

Dr. Sam Goebel

7:30-8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Campbell/Boone

9:00 a.m. Ministerial/Military Chaplain Reports Owen/Kenton

10:00 a.m. Military Chaplain Corps Presentation

Chaplain (COL) Lawrence Dabeck, US Army

11:15 am Military Chaplain Luncheon Hamilton

Afternoon free to visit the Creation Museum or Ark Encounter

7:00 p.m. Ordination Service Owen/Kenton Chaplain (MAJ) Yan Xiong, US Army

9:00 p.m. Evening Reception Campbell/Boone

*Youth Ministry (Ages 12 to 18) Tues. & Wed. Evening Sessions Hamilton

Unsupervised Children’s Room Open All Sessions Pendleton

Dr. Sam Goebel received a call to the ministry following a successful business career. After serving as an evangelist, the Lord then called him to serve as Senior Pastor at Family of Jesus Fellowship in Ravenna, Ohio, where he served for 20 years. In 2003, Dr. Goebel resigned to accept the position of President/CEO of the Evangelical Church Alliance, which he held for almost nine years. Sam was elected ECA Chairman of the Board in 2016, faithfully fulfilling those duties until resigning the office in 2018. He is currently Pastor of Congregational Care at River Valley Christian Fellowship in Bourbonnais, Illinois. He lives in

Kankakee, Illinois with his wife, Anita, and son, Christopher.

Continued on back

Mr. Ray Cummins’ story is one of powerful inspiration. His young life began on a high note, plummeting to one with feelings of des-pair at age 16 when the career of being a professional trumpeter, his dream, planning, and preparation came to an abrupt end due to illness. But as is often the case, God had a better plan for Ray, one filled with possibilities that he could never have imagined or fore-seen at such a young age. During the illness, Ray’s dad brought home a Chet Atkins LP and a guitar! God healed him, and his life was changed forever! Ray has had an incredible career! For starters, he’s enjoyed headline status at the Chet Atkins Apprec iation Society (CAAS) for 20 years. He frequently appears as a guest artist with major symphony and pops orchestras, and he’s been a featured artist on the Grand Ole Opry. In addition, he’s a veteran of more than 500 recording dates and more than 200 television shows, including “Hee Haw” and “Nashville Now” He has also played at hundreds of churches and Gospel venues as well as many times at the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter in Kentucky. Ray has been inducted into the National Thumbpickers Hall of

Fame, and this year inducted into the Northern Kentucky Home of the Legends Hall of Fame! He has performed with Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, and Merle Travis, and has toured with many of the biggest names in show business. There are highs and lows in life, but Ray’s faith in Jesus Christ has brought him through! Ray’s greatest venue is playing in churches and desiring to bring people to the Lord through his music!

Speakers & Instructors

Rev. Joshua Birchfield moved to the Pocono Mountains from Bronx, New York with his wife, Rev. Roxanne Birchfield, in Feb-ruary, 2015. A year following the move, Roxanne gave birth to their daughter, Hunter, in February, 2016. Rev. Josh received his Master of Divinity from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014 and became a fully ordained minister shortly after his graduation. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Counseling. For over five years, he served as the Associ-ate/English Ministry Pastor of a Chinese/Taiwanese community church in Flushing, New York. Over the past year and a half, Rev. Josh, along with his wife, have focused their ministry on providing premarital and marital services to couples of diverse backgrounds, with an emphasis on interracial and black couples. It is important to note that both he and Roxanne, who is also

an ECA endorsed Air Force Reserve Chaplain, are ordained by the ECA.

Rev. Aarynton Smith is a Chaplain under the Department of Justice, serving at the Atlanta Federal Prison. He has served in

multiple ministerial roles including Youth Pastor, Hospital Chaplain, and Sports Chaplain. Rev. Smith earned his Bachelor of

Arts in Biblical Studies from SUM Bible College & Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Regent University and is

ordained through the Evangelical Church Alliance. Aarynton and his new bride live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rev. Dr. Scott A. Lemenager, who began ministry in 1980, has served as Special Assistant to the President, and Clerk of Standards and Credentials Committee for the ECA since November, 2012. Dr. Lemenager lives in Kankakee, Illinois with his wife, Polly. Married in June of 1978, they have 10 biological children and 15 grandchildren. Four of his children are actively involved in ministry throughout the world. Dr. Scott, ordained as a minister with the ECA, has pastored and planted churches in Illinois, as well as ministered in per diem Chaplaincy. He has addressed congregations both in other states as well as overseas. Also ordained as Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church in America, he previously served as Stated Clerk for the denomination’s Chicago Metro Presbytery and Presby-tery of Northern Illinois. Dr. Lemenager specialized in World Religions, Philosophy, Sociology, and Death and Dying as an Adjunct Faculty of Kankakee Community College from 2001 to 2018 and on May 14, 2016, he received the Outstanding Faculty Member

award. He also taught for Moraine Valley Community College and Joliet Junior College. A graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illi-nois, with a Master of Divinity in Missions and Master of Arts/Missiology (all but thesis), he also holds a degree in American Intercultural Studies from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He was awarded Doctor of Divinity honoris causa by the National Clergy Council, Washington, D.C. for his many accom-plishments and varied ministry experience.

Rev. Lori Coleman has been an ordained member with the Evangelical Church Alliance since 1994. She is a writer, pastor, and teacher in northeast Ohio, where she currently resides with her husband, Bobby, who is also ordained with the Evangelical Church Alliance. Together they have pastored The First Congregational Church of Wayne in Williamsfield, Ohio, for 27 years. Rev. Coleman is a graduate of Lane Bible College of S.M.E.A., Inc. (Transfer, Pennsylvania) and is currently teaching there. As a pastor, she preach-es, teaches, plans and administers special services each week. Lori has also served as a pastor with the United Methodist Church, specializing in the revitalization of small church congregations that are struggling and placed on the circuit. She also holds a BA in Education from Hiram College. As an educator, Lori has worked with ABLE (Adult Basic Literacy Education) in teaching adults. One of her specific callings in ministry is to women. This includes pastors’ wives and all women who seek to show the hallmark of Christ in

their daily lives. Lori specializes in leading, teaching and encouraging women to rise up and trust God with the calling He has given them.

Revs. Randy and Marli Brown have been married for 33 years and served in music ministry for just as long. They graduated from William Tyndale College and are both ordained with the Evangelical Church Alliance. Randy and Marli Ministries, their love-offering based concert and speaking ministry, takes them all over the nation ministering to churches in all evangelical denominations. Randy, an accomplished pianist and songwriter, grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and holds a BA in Piano Perfor-mance and Music Composition. He also serves on the ECA Board of Directors. Marli grew up in Brighton, Michigan, and has a BA in Psychology. She is the author of “Ridin’ Shotgun” which recounts their family’s journey of living on the road in an RV for eight years. Marli is also a sought after women’s speaker. Randy and Marli have recorded 13 CD’s, including worship chorus-es, hymn arrangements, and original songs. They make their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Their mission is to see the lost

saved and the saved made stronger. For more information, you can visit their website at www.randyandmarli.com.

Rev. John Teller has been involved in youth ministry since 1986 and was ordained with the ECA in 1994. He and his wife, Melissa, will again be hosting the youth at this year’s conference. Beginning his music career at age five, John graduated from the acclaimed School for the Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati, Ohio. He helped to produce the Junior High Game Nights series from Youth Specialties and has written and recorded many contemporary worship songs for youth and adults. John has experience as a youth, children’s and music pastor and has mentored and raised up leaders in each. His wife, Melis-sa, has been a children’s pastor and worked with students for many years. She and John have worked together with the ECA youth for the last seven years. The youth gatherings during the conference’s evening sessions will be combined with fun-filled contests and interactive “PK” oriented teachings, which will leave your youth encouraged and challenged to “fight the good fight” and emerge in victory. Your youth will also connect with other ECA teens from around the world. Having a “whatever

you want me to do, I’ll do it” attitude for years, we are anticipating John’s impact as the youth leader at our conference.

Speakers & Instructors (continued)

Worship Leaders

Youth Ministry

Rev. Myles Weiss, and his wife, Katharine have been in ministry for over 30 years. They serve as the pastors of Jewish Minis-tries at The Father’s House [tfh.org] and lead the Messianic gathering, House of Peace [mkhop.org]. For six years they hosted “Zola Levitt Presents”, a weekly TV program broadcast worldwide. Rev. Myles, ordained with the ECA, is a licensed psychother-apist with a private practice in Biblical counseling. Myles and Katharine have presented marriage enrichment seminars from Ha-waii to Siberia. They regularly host tours to Israel. They have two sons, one beautiful daughter-in-love and the most brilliant 1

1/2-year-old grandson ever born.

Ordination Message

Chaplain (Colonel) Larry Dabeck is the Command Chaplain for US Army South, the Joint Forces Land Component Command for Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). He is a Notre Dame Fellow, International Security Center, for 2020-2023. Chaplain Dabeck is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Church Alliance, providing pastoral care to the Soldiers and families of Army South. He leads religious support and advisement for US Army operations in the Caribbean and Central and South America. Chaplain Dabeck also serves as a senior leader for the US Army Office of the Chief of Chaplains. He recently completed a US Army War College Fellowship in Strategic Leadership at the University of Notre Dame International Security Center. He has a passion for mentoring Chaplains as faithful religious leaders and advisors. Chaplain Dabeck has been married to his amazing and patient wife, Cathy, for 34 years. They have three sons, who are married army officers, and a delightful 2-year-old granddaughter. They all enjoy faith, family, fun, and football, although Larry remains disappointed in his Cincinnati Bengals.

Chaplain (Major) Yan Xiong, one of the student leaders who initiated the 1989 Tiananmen Democratic Movement, wit-nessed and survived the Tiananmen Square Massacre. As the elected Chairman of the Beijing University Students Inde-pendent Council and, during the Democracy Movement, the Chief member of Students' Dialogue Group, Yan was one of 21 on the Chinese government's "Most Wanted List" of student leaders. His involvement at Tiananmen Square led to his arrest and imprisonment at Qin Cheng prison for 19 months. He came to the United States as a political refugee in 1992 and served as the elected Chairman of the Party of Freedom and Democracy of China of the Second Party Representative Con-ference from 1992 to 1995. Chaplain Xiong joined the US Army in 1994, being deployed to Iraq for one year and commis-sioned as a Chaplain in 2003. Dr. Xiong holds six degrees, including a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and is the author of hundreds of articles and three books, including a book of poetry. Chaplain Xiong has been a

member of the Evangelical Church Alliance since 2002.