Hey everyone! I’m an old but new face to the IMPACT youth gathering. I’ve been a Deacon and Director of education and youth at Riverbend in Edmonton for 20 years. I can’t remember how many youth gatherings I’ve been to over the years, but what I do know is they are always a blast and filled with opportunities to grow in our faith, in our friendships and as a person. Some of my best memories as an adult are from youth trips! That photo of me, that’s me in the 15-person van about to pick up our youth group for a summer camping trip! I was amped up and ready for a week of joy!
So, you might be wondering, “okay Kathy, you’re clearly old, (or shall we say vintage and a l little retro), how are you new to the youth gathering thing?” Fair question. Well, this is the first time I’ll be leading as a guest speaker. Here’s a little intel on me, I LOVE teaching and I REALLY LOVE teaching and talking about the Bible and Jesus. I could spend hours and days teaching and discussing the Bible, and my youth group might even say I do (It’s okay Flock, you can smile a knowing smile). I am actually a shy quiet person, but I sure can get yapping about Jesus! Don’t worry though, the committee gave me a time limit. Another interesting fact about me is I used to teach elementary school, specifically kindergarten! I love the active way kinders learn, and I think that kind of learning is not only fun and engaging, but also how most people learn, so I’ll do my best to help you enjoy thinking and learning. I’m excited to see all of you in BC this summer! Bring your friends!
Lisa is passionate about equipping and empowering youth and young adults to serve in the Church. As the Managing Director of Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada / Lutheran Hour Ministries Canada, she helps create resources and opportunities that support faith-sharing across generations. Before joining LLL Canada, Lisa spent nearly 20 years in leadership roles at Manulife and Sunlife Financial, where she had the opportunity to work in the Philippines. She also spent a year living in Japan during high school, sparking a lifelong appreciation for different cultures and global ministry. Lisa holds a Master’s in Leadership Studies from the University of Guelph and a Business Marketing diploma from Conestoga College. She is currently pursuing a Master’s in Theology at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Catharines. Outside of ministry, Lisa is an Olympic weightlifting enthusiast and believes in the value of strength—both physically and spiritually. She also serves as the Coordinator of Team Zion, along-term LCC mission team that partners with pastors and deaconesses in Nicaragua for Vacation Bible School and community projects. Lisa is married to Andrew and has two adult sons.
Pastor Mike Kuhn has been actively working with Christian Scripture for more than twenty years - preaching it, translating it, teaching it, and applying it. He graduated from Concordia Lutheran Seminary (CLS) in Edmonton in 2004, at which time he was called to serve as associate pastor of Foothills Lutheran in Calgary. In 2011, he began working with Lutheran Bible Translators of Canada as a missionary in Cameroon, Central Africa. Since the summer of 2025, he has been teaching at CLS where he also wears the "Director of Recruitment" hat. If you have ever thought about serving as a full-time church worker, he would love to have a conversation with you! On the personal side, Pastor Mike has been married to his bride, Kara, since 2006. Together, they have four children - Tobias (16), Gideon (14), Gloria (11), and Jubilee (6). He is a loud and proud Canadian who is passionate about God's Word, loves a good laugh, and is an avid sports fan.
Michelle loves youth gatherings because the Lutheran community had a big impact on her life, and not much makes her happier than sharing that with others. When she’s not busy organizing youth retreats, she finds other things to organize instead, but gatherings are her favourite. Michelle lives in Calgary, where she volunteers in different roles in her home congregation, Foothills Lutheran, and she is a freelance editor (The Canadian Lutheran is one of her clients). She loves quality time with friends, walking by the ocean, reading books, watching baseball, and perfectly steeped tea. She's excited to go back to beautiful Pines Bible Camp again, and if you’ve never been to a gathering before, she would really like you to come and be part of the community!
Pastor Eric is pastor at St. John's Lutheran Church in Beach Corner, Alberta. He is married to the incredible Kayla and is proud and tired dad to their twins Wesley and Wren. He spent 10 years doing outreach ministry on the University of Calgary campus. He has been a part of Youth Gathering committees for 20+ years. He loves slo-pitch, hot takes, movies, games, competitions, musicals, and he's a 2025 Activate Champion.
Sonja is a wife, mother, and grandmother, living on Quadra Island. Caregiver of chickens, ducks and the good dog Ryder. She attends Bethany Lutheran Church in Campbell River BC, where she is a youth leader. She is a member of the West Region Ministry and Mission Council as lay representative for the Vancouver Island Circuit. A staff member of the BC Mission Boat Society. She is an Herbalist, college student, armchair theologian. Among her favorite things to do, she enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, foraging, gardening, cooking, and sewing. An avid reader who strives to learn something new every day! She encourages everyone to have a daily scripture reading plan and prayer practice. Dear ones loved by God; Christ has risen for you!
Kayla is from Edmonton, and loves everything about it. She loves youth, playing piano, and planning out fun activities. She’s an amazing puzzler and loves her fiddle leaf fig tree. She’s mother to twin preschoolers who, if they are lucky, will come to the gathering as well. When Kayla isn’t at home dealing with the chaos, she’s working as an analytical chemist at the University of Alberta. And she’s married to Pastor Eric…pray for her.
Samantha is the Associate Director - Family Ministries for Lutheran Church–Canada. When she’s not working at the office in Winnipeg, she’s visiting with congregations, church workers and volunteers. In her free time you can find her traveling, reading, or finding the best ice cream spot around. She’s excited to be back in Grand Forks for her second West Region youth gathering and is looking forward to seeing you there!
Pastor Alex Timm serves the saints of Bethany Lutheran Church in Campbell River, BC. His ministry stretches from wild Friday nights at youth group—dodging gargoyles and racing down church hallways—to the reverent beauty of Sunday morning worship. He sings hymns at the bedside of the dying, proclaims God’s love at weddings, baptizes newborns and new believers, and teaches the treasures of God’s Word and Sacrament in confirmation class. At home, he and his ever-patient wife, Marion, raise four wonderful—but delightfully crazy—kids, Caleb (7), Boaz (5), Lydia (3), and Jocelyn (1). When he’s not preaching or teaching, Pastor Alex sings bass in choir, enjoys gaming, and loves tinkering with computers and cars. His life is FULL—overflowing with the joy of serving our Lord Jesus Christ as husband, father, and in the Office of the Holy Ministry.
Pastor Glenn is currently serving Peace Lutheran Church in Winnipeg, and has been serving on a youth gathering committee in some form since 2012, when he came to Winnipeg from the US. His first experience with LCC Youth Gatherings was the 2007 NYG in Ottawa when he was just a vicar (at Immanuel Lutheran in Lethbridge). This is also where he met is wife, Andrea, and they have been married for 16 years and have three (sometimes) lovely children, Micah, Ivy, and Jonah. He is thankful that his wife continues to support his commitment to youth gatherings, and looks forward to one day seeing his children as participants, and maybe even meeting their future spouses there…many, many years from now! And he finds nothing more fulfilling, and yet oh so humbling, in this life than talking about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the impact it has for the world.