Speakers

Presenters

	ALATHEA Alathea’s music conveys a depth of thought, insight, and care that is rare in a surface age, and it shows with their continually expanding community of supporters. Mandee Radford and Christi Johnson sing and play multiple instruments with a depth and honesty that allows them to connect to anyone, anywhere, simply by being invitational in the way they approach their craft and their lives. 2008 winners in The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, their lyrics display a sharp intellect and grounding in the work of influential artists. Their fourth, most recent recording, My Roots Grow Deeper, is a full and textured record, thoroughly modern yet absent of any cliché studio trickery or gimmicky hybrids. With Radford's clear-as-a-bell vocals and Johnson's smoky harmonies, the song cycle delivers an emotional and atmospheric ride as dynamic as the mountain view they glimpse from their East Tennessee cabin.
Instrumentation Mandee Radford - Guitar, Banjo, Resonator Guitar and Vocals Cristi Johnson - Mandolin, Harmonica, Dulcimer, Percussion, and Vocals Discography My Roots Grow Deeper (2007) featuring "Hurricane" WINNER of wearelistening's 2007 SINGER/SONGWRITER international competition, a winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2007, and title track included on Acoustic Fuel's Wonderwoman Compilation What Light is All About (2003) The Rains (1999) Just Falling (1997)
	ROXANNE ANDERSON I consider myself a ‘visual’ story teller and work for self-release and expression from an idea. Being taught at a very early age from artist mother to draw and paint, I continued my formal art education both at Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University, studying Art and Art Education receiving a BS in Educational Studies. As an art teacher at the Canton Museum of Art and surrounding areas I feel an extended mission to teach how art speaks loudly for those who have ears to listen. Envisions of themes are always present in my mind and sporadically rendered in sketchbooks eventually working their way onto a canvas and coming to life. I render both sacred and secular in my work and never decide if a piece states itself is either or. Spirituality resides within and seeps through manifesting itself no matter what the theme or title of a piece is. I am inspired by the movement of the Pre-Raphaelite’s reintroduction of the medieval romance and religious subject matter inspired from its past literary sources. I incorporate this into my work in conjunction of the illuminated manuscript page.
	HANNELORE BROWN Hannelore Brown has been a student at the The Linden Tree since 1997 and a member of The Colored Pencil Alliance Canton District Chapter since 1998 also a member of The Alliance Art Center since 2000, her paintings were published in the limited edition The English Cocker Annual 2001, a 145-page periodical. Hannelore accepts commissions. Her work can be viewed online at www.sharperart.org.
	LINDA CLARK Question: What do you call a person who is an Administrative Assistant by day and a director, choreographer, novelist and playwright by night? Answer: Busy, but happy to be part of the creative art world! Seriously, for more years than I am willing to say, I have been involved in all kinds of presentations. I have directed “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” for the North Canton Playhouse, “The Wizard of Oz” for GlenOak High School and I have choreographed and directed countless other productions for school and my church. I am a character on and off stage and have played numerous roles in musicals -all the while enjoying all aspects of theater with every age group. One of my original plays was taken on tour to New York (Teen Challenge) and seen in churches across the country. I love watching people step out of their comfort zone and realize they can actually do more than they thought they could do- be it dancing, singing, acting or behind the scenes lighting, sound and stagehand jobs. I thoroughly enjoy bringing songs to life with lyrical dance or drama. I recently had a mystery/suspense novel published and am constantly surprised by the number of readers who let me know they can’t wait for my next novel. Now if I’d just get busy and write it! I have been a believer since I was a child. Though my faith in Christ grows stronger when I am challenged by adversity, I don’t pray for more trials! Sometimes I get caught up in the praise and worship segment of a service and wish it would just go on and on. I’m not sure what it will be like in heaven, but I’m sure I’ll be singing (or humming) through it all!
	JOHN & SUE COLLINS Sue has a varied art background dating back to her grade school years. Her natural ability to flourish in almost any media after quickly grasping the fundamentals of a skill, that she most likely acquired from her mother, Dianne, a graphic artist by trade. Though very talented in many mediums, Sue's foremost specialty is one-stroke painting using acrylics. Sue applies her technique to different surfaces, that include, wood, glass, fabric, canvas, candles, metal, and paper. She has sold many reconditioned furniture pieces and other creations at local consignment shops. Other mediums sue has done work with include beading, paper crafting, wood working, and sewing.
As a psychiatric nurse at Akron General Medical Center, Sue enjoys art as more than just a pastime. She finds it to be therapeutic and a great source of solace. As a recent regular attender of Canton First Friends, Sue feels very privilaged to be a part of First Friends 2007 "The Art of Worship Conference" as she shares the blessings of God with others along the way. Multimedia has always been John's mainstay since his formative years growing up as the son of missionaries in Chiang Mai Thailand. John's interests run the gamut. From grade school to Malone College and beyond John has delved into lapidary, paper mache, wood carving, ceramics, woodworking, printing, calligraphy, metal work, basketry, decoupage, glass etching, photography, and various painted mediums. Photography, ceramics and woodworking have been John's forte in recent years as he incorporates each mediums unique characteristics in the creation of one-of-a-kind lamps. Teaming up with Sue Stephan, John is pleased to share his God given gifts with participants in the 2007 The Art of Worship Conference at First Friends Church.
	LONDA DISABATINO My faith in Christ has been growing, strengthened and stretched, which has drawn me into a deeper richer intimacy with Him. I see His hand in my life’s journey. The more I worship Him, the greater my excitement about life, art, and our wonderful Savior.

	CATHIE FITHIAN Catherine Fithian has taken art lessons since 1986, at the Linden Tree Fine Art Studio in North Canton and has also taken several Fine Art classes at Kent State University and the University of Akron. She has enjoyed teaching students at the Linden Tree Fine Art Studio for the past seven years. After 32 years, Cathie retired from the Multi-County Juvenile Attention System and is teaching at the Linden Tree and in her home, Prism Point Fine Art Studio in Navarre. My art and my faith have always been a strong part of my life.
	CHARITA GOSHAY

	DENICE HAZLETT Denice began journaling about her life's difficulties and dreams at age five and hasn't stopped since. She talks incessantly, reads sporadically, learns constantly and creates creatively (Well? That's true, isn't it?). She has a deep love of the arts of all kinds--theatre, film, music, painting, photography, gardening, long walks on the beach, pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, she is definitely into yoga...wait. That's not right.
She tries to stay sane through journaling and blogging while surrounded by craziness. (Otherwise, there'd be very little to write about.) After all, she's been married for seventeen years to Toby, a wonderful man and talented musician, and spends most of her time discovering stuff along with her five home-learning kids (Non scholae sed vitae discimus!), a live-in father, six goats (add one, if you count the live-in father), four dogs, a dozen cats, fallen arches, a flock of chickens, and various other creatures too strange to mention here. She doesn't want to scare you away. No, she doesn't. Her other hobby is hosting houseconcerts in her farmhouse high on a hill in Amish country. She and her family have hosted Bob Bennett, D-Squared, Jason Harrod, Jake Armerding, Pierce Pettis, Jan Krist and more. She considers it a miracle that she can enjoy these fabulous, amazing, talented people while sitting on her couch sipping organic raw milk and eating lentil soup. Life, indeed, is interesting, and she's happy to share it all with you.
	TRAVIS HILEMAN
	L.I.O.N. PLAYERS L.I.O.N. is an acronym that stands for Life Isn't Only Now, and encourages young people to consider the eternal consequences of their actions here on earth, and to develop spiritually, and live lives of moral integrity in accordance to God's Word, the Bible. The name L.I.O.N. also represents Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, who according to Revelations 5:5 has triumphed L.I.O.N. uses the performing arts (drama, mime, dance, testimonies, and music). The program L.I.O.N. presents is merely a vehicle to connect with the audience, to pray with people, and to introduce them to Jesus. The majority of ministry done by the L.I.O.N. Players is done after the performance, during times of personal interaction with attendees.

	MARTIN NIELSEN

	RORY NOLAND Rory Noland is the director of Heart of the Artist Ministries, an organization dedicated to serving artists in the church. A songwriter, speaker, and consultant, Rory is also the author of three books, all published by Zondervan---The Heart of the Artist: A Character-Building Guide For You and Your Ministry Team, Thriving as an Artist in the Church: Hope and Help For You and Your Ministry Team, and his latest book The Worshiping Artist: Equipping You and Your Ministry Team to Lead Others in Worship. Rory leads worship for the Transforming Center, a ministry that cares for the souls of pastors and leaders, and he also currently serves as Pastor of Worship at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, Illinois.

	JENNIFER OLIN-HITT Rev. Jennifer Olin-Hitt, a United Methodist pastor of fifteen years, has preached, taught, counselled, and encouraged many to recognize each opportunity in life as a gift from God on which to build a beautiful life. Using scripture and life experience, she will help participants recognize their own creative potential to choose a life of meaning and purpose at each unfolding opportunity.
	POLLY REBSTOCK

	MARA SCHWENDIMAN Artistic Director, Living Fountain Dance Company Mara was born in Akron, Ohio. She has taught at various dance schools, including Turning Pointe School of Dance, Ohio Youth Ballet (as Artistic Director) and Natalie’s Dance Company. Mara danced for two years in Denver with the Colorado Ballet. During the summer of 2003, she was invited to dance with Artisan Dance Theatre in Montana under the direction of Sallyann Mulcahy and Arnold Spohr. She had the opportunity to dance with Laura Alonso’s company, Central Pro Danza, in Cuba in the summer of 2002.
Mara graduated with a B.A. from The University of Akron in May 2002. Through her major, Interdisciplinary Studies, she focused on Dance, Business, and Classical Studies. She greatly enjoys teaching and is challenged to grow in every area of her life. She is currently the Artistic Director at Living Fountain Dance Company. Mara is thrilled that this position is helping her learn more about managing a dance company and hopes to use this knowledge to advance the company. She truly believes in LFDC’s vision of “dancing from the inside-out.” Having been at many other dance companies, she understands the value of teaching students how to dance from their heart and soul, which builds character and strength. It also prepares students for obstacles they will face in the future. Mara is very enthusiastic and is happy to further LFDC’s vision.

	PATRICIA WALKER

	BARRY WILSON I grew up in a Southern Baptist family, was baptized and ordained in a Southern Baptist church, and earned my Master of Music degree from a Southern Baptist Seminary. As a result of my background I spent the first forty-plus years of my life accepting that, “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17 KJV) I still accept this as a truism of faith, but I have come to understand that when the evangelical church takes this scripture out of context and uses it to justify deep-seated prejudices against certain artistic expressions, the worship of the church becomes impoverished.
In the denominational milieu of my youth there was no reason for an art form to exist within the church except to magnify the Word of God because the Word of God was the one and only source of faith. It was fortunate for me that my chosen art form was music because it is easy for music to serve the Word. I spent a great deal of time between 1999 and 2003 working on my doctor of worship studies degree through the Institute for Worship Studies (www.iwsfla.org). During this time I met worship leaders from other denominations and experienced a wide variety of artistic expressions in worship. Through my studies and through the witness of my new friends, I came to the conclusion that other art forms DO have a place in personal faith and corporate worship. The scope of this statement does not allow for an explanation of the place of all art forms in the life of faith. However, Jesus said that His Father was looking for worshipers who would worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23) I believe that the Spirit-led use of art can facilitate the healing of the artificial dichotomy between head-faith and heart-faith that seems to exist in many churches today. In addition, when the church opens her doors to a wide variety of artistic expressions, she puts herself in the position to minister to lost and hurting people within the artistic community.

	TRICIA WILSON Tricia Wilson has degrees in vocal performance and music education. She is presently an independent contractor in the field of voice acting and is the Assistant Director of The Doxology Institute, a non-profit organization designed to support people in the artistic community. I grew up in a non-artistic household in a small town. I attended the Baptist church where my family attended for years. At an early age I was intrigued by music and acting. There were not many opportunities at church to sing or perform in plays but music and acting were still a huge part of my world. As I child and teenager I took dance, piano, and voice. I even played percussion in band for a while but quickly realized I was a better majorette than a percussionist.
As I got older I began to concentrate on singing, performing at church and auditioning for community theatre productions. I went on to major in music in college and became a part-time minister of music at a small church. While serving this church I became involved in beauty pageants and began winning! I began receiving more invitations to sing at local events. Not long into this I was confronted by the pastor of the church who said to me, “You need to make a decision. Are you going to be in the entertainment world or are you going to serve the Lord?” I was stunned! I thought I could do both. Rather than challenge my pastor I resigned my church position. This became a struggle for me. Wasn’t I supposed to use my talent in a lost world? After much struggle and searching I learned about the doctrine of the imago dei. I had always known that I was created in the image of God but I realized that it goes much farther and deeper than that. The realization hit me that when we are washed with the blood of Christ we are totally recreated; soul, body, and mind. The Lord DID intend for me to serve Him not only at church but in the world. He wants me in secular theatres, music performances, art galleries, wherever there is an artist who needs Him. As St. Francis of Assisi said, “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.”