“Go and make disciples of all nations” – Jesus (Matthew 28:19)
Schedule
Friday, Feb. 6, 2026
8:30 am
Introduction & Greeting, Doug Lethin
8:45 am
The Church & The Counselors: The Need for Treatment Providers, John Boone
9:30 am
Trauma Informed Care – Part 1: A Biblical Approach, DeDe Smith
10:15 am
From Trauma to Treatment Provider, Vicki Pastre
11:00 am
A Place to Heal: Inviting Counseling and Care into the Church, Kathleen Vandevender
11:45 am (Lunch provided)
Lunch and Learn: The Pathway To Becoming a Counselor, Joshua Vandevender
12:30 pm
Trauma Informed Care – Part 2: A Biblical Approach, DeDe Smith
1:15 pm
How the Church Can Inform and Understand the Balance of Dialog that Can Help Or Hinder Those in Recovery
2:00 pm
General Session, Scott Armstrong
3:30 pm
Afternoon Break
7:30 pm
General Session, Scott Armstrong
Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026
9:00 am
Time of Prayer
9:15 am
General Session, Steve Hanson
9:50 am
Panel Discussion: The Elements & Practice of Soul Winning (Scott Armstrong, John Boone, Elisa Cortez, Levi Sargeant)
11:00 am
Break (Coffee & Donuts)
11:15 am
General Session, James Dillon
11:45 am
Time of Prayer
12:00 pm
General Session, Scott Armstrong
12:45 pm
Time of Prayer & Closing
Location
Christian World Fellowship
4932 Liberty Rd S
Salem, OR 97306
Promo Downloads
Poster 11x17
1024 x 768
1920 x 1080
UPCOMING EVENT
Regional Conference
Purpose
This is a time dedicated to sharing the love of Christ and helping others find their way to Him. Whether you're new in your faith or have been walking this path for years, this conference offers something inspiring and practical for everyone.
Speakers
Scott Armstrong
NAM Director of Education
Scott Armstrong is the senior pastor of Solid Rock Church in Fenton, Missouri, and a veteran church planter. He is known for developing leaders and dynamic speaking. For more about church planting, read his story in Active Duty: A Church Planting Adventure.
John Boone, LCDC
Pastor in Lufkin, TX
John Boone is the lead pastor of Cornerstone UPC in Lufkin, Texas, where he has faithfully served in ministry for over 40 years. Alongside his pastoral calling, he has recently completed a Master’s degree in Counseling and is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Texas, as well as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC).
DeDe Smith
QMHA/CADCII/Biblical Counselor
For over 40 years, I have worked as a Recovery Counselor/ currently I am a supervisor at Bridgeway Community Health. Previously I worked For Union Gospel Mission at the Shelter for Women and Children. I am an Adoptive mom of two, have one son who lives in Heaven, and support his non-Profit CANCER CAN'T. I understand that the Sorrow and Joy co-exist.
I currently reside in Salem and I am blessed to live close to my daughter, Dr. Kristine Medyanik of Shattered Glass Leadership. I am Married to Frank and we share 23 grandchildren between us. I live grateful every day. I would like to share some important counseling interventions that can enhance your testimony, and how you can support individuals needing a shift. Romans 12:2 Transformation.
Vicki Pastre
CADC1, QMHA1
Vicki has trusted in God for her healing and her recovery. She and her husband John, are instrumental in facilitating a Life Recovery class in their local Church, Christian World Fellowship. Vicki knows trauma firsthand. Her tenacity has lead her to a place of understanding and helping herself and others. She knows the pathway of what recovery looks like.
Kathleen Vandevender
MBA, MSM, CMHC Intern
Kathleen Vandevender, a Mental Health Counseling Intern with an MBA and MS in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University, brings a client-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally aware approach shaped by Reality/Choice Theory, Person-Centered Theory, and Solution-Based Therapy. Her combined academic and clinical background strengthens her belief that the church can be a safe, relational refuge where people feel seen, supported, and free to heal.
Kathleen’s experience as a Pastor's wife for over 47 years, senior care, education, and therapeutic foster parenting has shown her the power of compassionate presence for those navigating trauma and transition. These experiences shape her vision of the church as a healing place where counseling principles and Christ-like care work together to nurture restoration.
Joshua Vandevender
Joshua Vandevender holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Administration from Indiana Wesleyan University. His academic background combines practical skills with a strong theoretical foundation, preparing him to work with diverse individuals using culturally sensitive, trauma-informed care.
From 1998 to 2006, Joshua served as a U.S. Army Chaplain’s Assistant, where he developed core strengths in counseling support, crisis response, and leadership—experience that continues to shape his work as a counselor-in-training.
He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling (CMHC). His coursework includes counseling theories and helping relationships, ethics and professional issues, lifespan development, multicultural counseling, perinatal mental health, diagnosis and psychopathology, and group counseling.
