Speakers & Contributors

Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
   ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
   Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
Feed the hungry,
   and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
   and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The Lord will guide you continually,
   giving you water when you are dry
   and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
   like an ever-flowing spring.
Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
   Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
   and a restorer of homes.

Isaiah 58:9-12 NLT

Speaker and Renew Gathering Organizer

Becca serves as the director of The Center for Faith & Leadership where she's developing the next generation of Christian leaders in Fredericksburg. She is passionate about integrating life and ministry into one and is thrilled to share her passion through leading and organizing Renew! 

Emma is the Associative Director of The Center for Faith & Leadership. She is passionate about living intentionally in community and tending to others with great care.  Emma believes God has placed a unique calling on the Center to empower, disciple & equip young people to live passionately for God and she is honored to take part in Renew

Speaker

Gannon Sims is a Founding Director of Fresh Expressions US a movement that takes the church Jesus loves closer to the people Jesus loves. He’s the the author of Bringing Church Home. He and his wife Carey along with a team of mostly college students and young adults planted The Center Community, a network of house churches in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Earlier this year, he became pastor of Cliff Temple Baptist Church, an historic urban congregation with a vibrant ministry and network of house churches in the Oak Cliff neighborhood of Dallas, Texas.

Worship Leader

Cole is the Prayer and Worship Coordinator at the Center for Faith and Leadership. He is electric when it comes to spending time with God through worship & music. He is bold, intentional, and seeks to live an honorable and dedicated life to the Lord. If you want to see Cole light up, hand him a guitar & sit back. Cole is excited to lead worship at Renew and curate a space where others can enter into the presence of God.

Speaker

Carey Sims is founder of CreatedSpace (www.createdspace.org). Created Space curates an
interactive, collaborative space for business and ministry leaders to process decisions, gain
insight and discern next steps.
Carey is a spiritual director and ICF certified coach with 25 years in business and ministry. She
holds the Master of Business Administration degree from Regent University and the M.Div.
from Duke University. 
As an entrepreneur, Carey is particularly interested in the intersection between theology and
economics and how the church can make social impact while proclaiming the gospel.  As a
spiritual director, she delights in helping people develop practices that deepen and enliven their
friendship with God.   
As former director for The Center for Faith and Leadership (www.umwcenter.org) and church
planter, (www.center.community), Carey remains passionate about equipping young leaders
through life-on-life discipleship and leading new forms of church.

Caterer

This is the second year Natalie is serving a our Renew gathering chef. Natalie picked up a lot of her skills in the kitchen while working summers at a Young Life camp in Lexington, VA. She makes the best chocolate chip cookies you'll ever sink your teeth into and has a servant's heart when it comes to feeding others. We promise you will leave with a full and happy belly!