Rachel Johnson

Rachel Johnson graduated from Messiah University in May 2024 with a Bachelor of Arts in Youth Ministry. After college, Rachel spent a year in Brethren Volunteer Service in the FaithX office, coordinating and going on FaithX trips leading up to and during the summer of 2025. This led to a second BVS year as an NYC 2026 coordinator! When Rachel isn’t working with youth or in other ministry endeavors, you can find her crocheting and drinking a warm cup of tea, making up any excuse to travel and visit new places, trying dairy free recipes, and spending as much time as possible with family and friends. Rachel attended NYC in 2018 as a participant and is grateful for the experience to see the other side of NYC as a coordinator! (Atlantic Northeast District, Mechanic Grove CoB)

Anna Schweitzer

Anna Schweitzer is currently a sophomore at Indiana University Bloomington studying Exercise Science. Before starting college, she took a gap year to serve with Brethren Volunteer Service in Baltimore, Maryland at a transitional living shelter. Anna was raised in Richmond, Indiana and grew up attending Cedar Grove CoB. She has been involved with the church in many ways, such as being a member of the SOH/KY Vision Board and being one of the youth speakers at NYC 2022. Some of her other interests include dancing, singing, and cheering on IU football! This will be Anna’s first time attending NYC not as a participant, and she is excited to help facilitate the same faith-deepening and world-expanding experience she had 4 years ago! (Southern Ohio/Kentucky District)

Becky Ullom Naugle

Becky Ullom Naugle, a Colorado native, has now lived in Illinois for almost 25 years. When she is not spending time with the faithful and talented youth, young adults, and advisors of the Church of the Brethren, she happily answers to (incessant) calls for “Mom!” Becky and Patrick are parents of two amazing kids: Jackson (10) and Ethan (7).

Daniel is a recent McPherson High School graduate, who has committed to Kansas University and will be majoring in Animal Sciences. In his free time Daniel likes to hang out with his friends, play soccer, golf, and visit new places. Daniel is excited to connect with new people at NYC and participate in all the fun activities that NYC has to offer, especially hiking. If you hear someone singing on the streets of NYC, it’s probably Daniel. (Western Plains District, McPherson CoB)

Katie is a recent graduate of Plymouth High School and plans to study marketing and organizational leadership in college. In high school she was involved in competitive and game day cheer. At NYC Katie is excited to meet new people and worship together. You can often find her handing out with friends and drinking a Sprite. Katie is convinced that everything can be fixed with the beach and ice cream. (Northern Indiana, Bremen CoB)

Kayleigh has been homeschooled her whole life and recently graduated high school. She wants to work in childcare. Kayleigh loves photography, reading, cats, watching romance movies, and hanging out with her friends. She is excited to hang out with friends and strengthen her relationship with God while at NYC. She also has a purple belt in Taekwondo. (Mid Atlantic District, Beaver Creek CoB)

Nissie is a recent Coral Glades High School graduate. She is a passionate movie enthusiast and enjoys dabbling in Swift, JavaScript, photography, playing the guitar, and serving as a lacrosse goalie. With her love for cooking Haitian cuisine, she always makes sure to spoil her friends and family. She attended NYC in 2022 and really enjoyed meeting new people and is looking forward to the late night activities this year. She is an avid Adele fan, who consistently ranks in the top 0.00001% of her listeners. (Atlantic Southeast District, Miami First CoB)

Tyson is a recent graduate from Fort Defiance High School and is looking to pursue a career in Information Technology. He loves to hang out with his friends, play video games, and enjoys creative writing in his free time. Tyson attended NYC in 2022 and made many friends along the way. He is excited to do the same this week. Tyson is able to fix phones in under 1 hour and has three certifications in the IT field. (Shenandoah District, Pleasant Valley CoB)

Zach is a recent graduate of Rockingham Early College High School and is planning on attending Appalachian State University this Fall. In his free time, he likes to run, play soccer and spend time with his friends and family. You can also find Zach fishing and spending time outside in nature. This is Zach’s first NYC and is excited for hiking and enjoying the scenery of the Rocky Mountains. On Sundays you can find Zach behind the sound booth at his church. (Virlina District, Eden First CoB)

Emily Van Pelt

Emily Van Pelt is attending her 6th National Youth Conference and is excited about her first NYC in Estes Park, Colorado. In 2014, she was one of the NYC Coordinators! She’s been married to Wes for 13 years and together they have 2 kids. She’s worked at two of the Church of the Brethren Camps (Camp Bethel and Brethren Woods Camp), visited 13, and someday hopes to visit all 28! (Virlina District, Antioch CoB)

Rod Matz

Rod is a firefighter/Paramedic at the fire department in his hometown. He has been married to his wife Heidi for 26 years and they have two children Chloe (22) and Brody (15). Rod is a Deacon at his church and sings in the choir. He is also on the tech team that runs sound and live streams worship services on Sunday mornings. In his free time, he enjoys going on mission trips, kayaking, geocaching, all things outdoors, and volunteering at the local Christian Health Center. Since Rod likes good food and feeding people, he also enjoys cooking at the firehouse and at home for friends and family. Rod has enjoyed working with the NYC Youth Cabinet and is looking forward to a great week in the Rockies, meeting youth from all around and seeing how God is working in our lives. (Northern Ohio District, Ashland Dickey CoB)

Brandon Grady

Brandon Grady has been totally blind since age twelve and partially sighted from birth. He finds himself blessed to now have been in the set-a-part ministry for 13 years, currently serving as pastor at Black Rock COB in the Southern Pennsylvania District. Every day, he is further realizing how blessed a gift life itself truly is, having been adopted out of one of Mother Teresa’s Orphanages in New Delhi, India at 2 years of age.

“With eyes of faith to see the future. With eyes of hope, no longer blind! With eyes of love to see each other. With eyes to seek so we can find that we have left our fears behind!” Those words have stayed in Brandon’s heart since 1998 when he attended NYC. This was the refrain of the theme song when Brandon attended NYC as a junior in high school.

Fast forward some twenty-eight years, and he still gives thanks for that mantra. Especially as a blind person, Brandon is so thankful to God for the eyes of faith. Though he loves singing and enjoys the language of music in general, the biggest blessing in his life has truly been the removal of his vision, giving him insight into the heart of humanity he otherwise just would not be able to have.

He finds himself at this stage of life again as he now attends NYC as an “adult.” Brandon is excited to learn and grow alongside the youth of today’s, not tomorrow’s, church! He is also eager to gain insight into forming his own faith as the eyes of faith continue to light his path only by the glorious grace of the leading of the Holy Spirit! To God be the glory!

Calvin Park

Calvin Park serves as pastor to the amazing people at the Brownsville Church of the Brethren in Maryland. He has an undergraduate degree in Youth Ministry and two Master’s degrees, one in Old Testament and one in Biblical Languages. Calvin’s pastoral ministry began with youth and young adults and has served congregations in New England, suburban Maryland, and rural Pennsylvania. He loves the Church of the Brethren and our unique Anabaptist and Pietistic heritage. Calvin is a bit of a nerd who enjoys a lot of different activities. He’s a fan of reading, particularly biographies and history books when it comes to non-fiction, and sci-fi and fantasy when it comes to fiction. He loves playing video games as well as tabletop roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons or Daggerheart. One hobby Calvin has (that is maybe a little odd for a Brethren pastor) is learning martial arts. Currently he is studying Tang Soo Do. He also loves drinking coffee and having conversations. In addition to all of this, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, especially when that also includes one of the above activities! Calvin is thrilled to be a part of National Youth Conference this year!

Cindy Laprade Lattimer

Cindy Laprade Lattimer is excited to be on this NYC journey with you! She is a parent with her husband to 3 kids, which means Cindy gets to go to lots of soccer games and theater performances, play board games and try to understand what’s being built in Minecraft. It also means she is learning to love a pet corn snake. Cindy is grateful for the ways her work, as a pastor at the Stone Church of the Brethren and chaplain at Juniata College in Huntingdon, PA, lets her do things she loves: listen to stories, create space, talk about Jesus, write, learn, plan worship, and hope. Cindy can often be found surrounded by yarn, crochet hook in hand and coffee within reach. And she knows it’s been a good day when it begins and ends with a book – especially one filled with poetry, narrative nonfiction, fantasy, or a mystery.

Dennis Beckner

Dennis Beckner is pastor of Columbia City (Ind.) Church of the Brethren in Northern Indiana District and is currently serving as Annual Conference Moderator. He has spent a lot of time serving the youth of the denomination; volunteering at Camp Mack in Indiana, been an advisor and small group leader at every National Youth Conference since 1990, coordinated senior high activities at three Annual Conferences, for six years coordinated the Midwest regional youth conference – now called Powerhouse, has been keynote speaker at both Powerhouse and Roundtable (an east coast regional youth conference), and led many FaithX service trips. He has served as a local youth advisor in three congregations, leading youth fundraisers, lock-ins, retreats, and coordinated many Youth Sundays. Dennis grew up in the Church of the Brethren. He is a graduate of Manchester University and Bethany Theological Seminary. He met his wife at Manchester, worked on summer staff at Camp Mack, both daughters attended Manchester – the oldest of which now works at Camp Mack. He is most looking forward to finally attending NYC in Estes Park, as he missed attending NYC in 1982 as a youth.

Dianne Garcia

Dianne Garcia is lead pastor and original planter of Iglesia Cristiana Roca de Refugio in San Antonio, Texas, which seeks to create a community of belonging and belovedness in the family of God for immigrants. In February 2024, the church founded Nuevos Vecinos, a ministry – led by Dianne – that supports families in crisis. Dianne believes fundamentally in the biblical call to hospitality that requires all Christians to be co-creators in the transformation of the world. She holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and a master’s degree in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, also in Cambridge. She has trained as a mental health counselor at Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, and taken courses at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Dianne has been chosen to receive the Rothko Chapel Oscar Romero Award for human rights advocacy in 2026.

George Hopkins

George Hopkins was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He’s a graduate of Morgan State University where he also served as a student-leader with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA). After earning his degree he worked full-time with FCA in Baltimore City and then he served as a pastor at Grace Fellowship Church.

In 2014 he partnered with twenty people to launch Sowebo Community Church—a multi-cultural church actively engaged with the community in Southwest Baltimore. For eight years George led a diverse church committed to serving the community and partnering with local leaders to strengthen the neighborhood. In 2018 he joined BUILD (Baltimoreans United In Leadership Development) to get involved with community organizing and was elected as a Co-Chair in 2020. In his role within BUILD, George has focused much of his effort working with leaders throughout the city to confront the legacy of redlining in Baltimore. George continues to utilize his leadership experience to cultivate public-private-civic partnerships, inspire people through written and spoken words, and serve on boards such as Turn Around Tuesday, ReBUILD Metro, and Medical Teams International.

Jeff Seace

Pastor Jeff Seace was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and raised in southern Maryland. He attended Shippensburg University and Elizabethtown College. Jeff worked for the state of Pennsylvania as a Youth Development Counselor Supervisor at Youth Forestry Camp #3 for 15 years and with youth for 17 years.

In 2020, he experienced a spiritual call and embarked on the path of becoming an ordained pastor with the Brethren. Jeff is serving as the junior pastor at Riddlesburg Church of the Brethren. Children have always been an important calling for Jeff and the focal point of service through love in Jesus Christ.

Jeff has three adult daughters and a stepson and stepdaughter with grandchildren being welcomed into the world. He spends time helping others when able, including teaching Bible studies and serving on the programing committee of Camp Blue Diamond. He enjoys the outdoors, movies and video games.

Kat Armas

Kat Armas is a Cuban-American author, speaker, and theologian. She holds a ThM from Vanderbilt Divinity School and a dual MDiv and MAT from Fuller Theological Seminary, where she received the Frederick Buechner Award for Excellence in Writing. Kat speaks and leads workshops at universities, churches, and organizations across the country, engaging the intersections of empire, decolonization, and the Bible. She is the author of Abuelita Faith, Sacred Belonging, and her most recent book, Liturgies for Resisting Empire.

Keyon Williamson

Keyon Williamson is a traveling preacher, licensed minister, writer, and student at Duke University Divinity School, where he is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree with a focus on preaching. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Southeastern University.

Keyon previously served on the pastoral and ministerial teams at Southeastern University and The Worship Center Orlando. He also helped launch a young adult worship night in Florida, creating space for his generation to gather in prayer, worship, and community.

He writes Seen and Saved, a Substack blog exploring life, faith, and culture from a Gen Z Christian perspective.

Michaela Alphonse

Michaela Alphonse is a member and minister at Miami First Church of the Brethren in Miami, FL. On a good day, you can find her at a park or a library with her daughter. Michaela enjoys singing, dancing, reading, and exploring. She’s excited to hear this year’s NYC playlist!

Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey

Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey is no stranger to National Youth Conference, having been one of the coordinators of NYC in 2010. Since then, she has served in congregational ministry and is now the Director of the Susquehanna Valley Ministry Center, which supports and resources congregations and leaders for ministry in the Church of the Brethren. Audrey lives in Northern Virginia with her husband Tim and three children, Anita, Ira, and Emmett. She is excited to be a part of another NYC and continue to support the faith and leadership of the youth in the denomination.

Bekah Houff

Bekah Houff is the Director of Events at the Community Foundation of Elkhart County in northern Indiana. In her role, she works with all departments at the Community Foundation to plan and implement their events to inspire good in her community. Bekah has a bachelor’s degree from Bridgewater College and a Master of Divinity from Bethany Theological Seminary. Bekah has served as university pastor, director of church relations, and success advisor at Manchester University. She has also been coordinator of outreach programs at Bethany Theological Seminary as well as youth/young adult conference coordinator, and assistant work camp coordinator for the Church of the Brethren. She is a member of the Goshen City Church of the Brethren. Bekah is married to Nic Kauffman. In her free time, she loves to support her local community, golfing, camping, and hanging out with her pets, Helo, Starbuck, and Boomer.

Connor Ladd

Connor Ladd graduated from Bethany Theological Seminary in 2025 and currently serves as pastor at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren in Roanoke, Virginia. In his free time, Connor enjoys reading, playing Ultimate Frisbee, and exploring his new home in Virginia. This will be Connor’s fourth NYC and his first one as a Worship Coordinator. As one of the youngest pastors in the Church of the Brethren, Connor is very excited to help plan NYC because he knows how important it is to create a safe and spirit-filled place for the youth in our denomination so youth can grow, explore, and develop their God-given gifts.

Shawn Flory Replogle

Shawn Flory Replogle is the proud partner of Alison, with whom he shares a great family: Adin, Caleb, Tessa, and Simon. Together, they live in Lindsborg, Kansas, where Shawn has been a pastor and a consultant who facilitates/advises/consults/and trains organizations of all sizes and shapes. Currently Shawn is the Executive Director of Organizational Resources for the Church of the Brethren, based out of Elgin, Illinois. This will be Shawn’s tenth National Youth Conference, including attending NYC in 1986 as a youth (the last time NYC was at the YMCA!) and serving as an NYC Coordinator in 1994 (but he’s not really that old!), and he has done just about everything there is to do at an NYC: “OK, I’ve never led the choir… or played in the band…or been on the medical staff… but nearly everything else!”

Kyle Remnant

Kyle Remnant has coordinated music for National Junior High Conference, National Young Adult Conference, and Annual Conference. He is stoked to add National Youth Conference to that list this year! Kyle and his wife, Kaity, serve as Youth Coordinators at the Bridgewater Church of the Brethren. He is also the Director of Arts and Enrichment at Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community and conducts the Eastern Mennonite University Wind Ensemble. He maintains an active performing schedule as a trombonist and comedian, just not at the same time. “Dr. Kyle” has degrees from Bridgewater College and James Madison University, and a certificate from THE Bethany Theological Seminary.