2015 ACC Spring Assembly Celebration
Speakers
Jason Storbakken, founder of Radical Living and Director of Chapel and Compassionate Care at Bowery Mission
Jason is a grassroots theologian and radical practitioner following the way of Jesus. Jason was raised primarily in the upper Midwest, spent a decade (from the age of 17 to 27) meandering cities, cultures and continents, and finally settled in the County of Kings (i.e., Brooklyn!) where Jesus breathed on him, and even blessed him with Vonetta, his wife and co-laborer in Christ. They have two wonder-filled children.
In 2007, Jason and Vonetta founded Radical Living, a Christian cohousing community in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Radical Living is a multicultural, intergenerational and ecumenical community of artists, workers and students that includes individuals and families. Jason also serves as the Director of Chapel & Compassionate Care at The Bowery Mission in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where he provides pastoral care to New York City's unhoused and food-insecure community. He is a minister in the Mennonite Church USA.
Jason has been published in magazines as far ranging as High Times and Forbes. His first book, "Radical Spirituality: Repentance, Resistance, Revolution," was released in September 2014.
Samuel Wanjau, Pastor of African Community Church of Lancaster
Sam was born in Kenya, and moved to the United States in 1995. He is the founder and full-time pastor of African Community Church of Lancaster, which is involved in several church plants. Sam
has a master’s degree in Family Therapy and does counseling for men struggling with drug and alcohol addiction through the Federation of Freedom Ministries.
Brian Miller, lead pastor of Sunnyside Mennonite Church
Brian grew up in Mexico, Dallas, and Tulsa being formed by diverse cultures, languages, and faith communities. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite University in 1992 and later completed a post-baccalaureate teaching certification at Millersville University and a MA in Education at EMU-Lancaster. Brian taught high school Spanish for twelve years-most of which were at Ephrata High School. In 2001, Brian began serving as Associate Pastor at Sunnyside. In 2008, he transitioned into the role of Lead Pastor and completed seminary studies through Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2012. Brian is married to Heather and they have three children who attend high school, middle school and elementary school in the Lampeter-Strasburg district. Brian enjoys running, drinking coffee, eating zwiebach, reading, digging in the dirt and listening to all kinds of stories.
Emily Ralph, associate pastor of Sunnyside Menn. Church
Emily was born in Ohio and grew up all over eastern Pennsylvania, graduating with a bachelors in music from Moravian College and a masters in intercultural transformation from Eastern Mennonite Seminary. Emily has been a worship minister and Christian radio host and is a founding partner and website designer for Rethink Creative Services. In addition to her role at Sunnyside, Emily is the communication coordinator for Mennonite World Conference’s Pennsylvania 2015 Assembly and does writing, voicing, and video work on the side. She is working on a Ph.D. in mission studies through the University of Manchester and will move into full time study beginning this fall. Emily is engaged to marry the fantastical Ryan this summer and is a devoted sister and aunt who enjoys listening to stories, traveling, spending time outdoors, reading, laughing, and eating ice cream.