2020 Ministerial Spouses’ Year-End Meeting Presenters and Panelists
Angeline Brauer
Presentation Title: We Were Made to Move
Dr. Brauer has served as the Health Ministries Director for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists since 2016. She holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in Nutrition from Loma Linda University School of Public Health and a Master of Health Science (MHS) in Epidemiology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health She believes that comprehensive health work includes physical, mental, social, and spiritual wellbeing, and that all of us have a vital part to play in ministering hope and wholeness to our communities. She is also happily settling into married life as a newlywed.
Mike Tucker
Presentation Title: Adjusting to the Losses of Life.
Mike is the Speaker Emeritus of Faith for Today Television. Co-host of Lifestyle Magazine. Presenter of seminars: Mad About Marriage; Good Grief; & The Choice. He is the Campus Pastor at Canyon Creek Project, a new church project in Richardson, TX focused on grace in a tangible way where he and his wife Pam are currently serving.
Julie Norton
Moderators for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Julie Norton is an Elementary Educator who is currently serving in Guam-Micronesia Mission (GMM) as Facility/Hospitality Manager, AVS Coordinator, and Shepherdess leader for the Ministerial Spouses. She, along with her husband Ken, GMM President, and their two children have served in North America, Thailand, Palau, and Guam. Julie enjoys experiencing other cultures, meeting new people, and listening to their life stories.
Kathy Hernandez
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
A daughter of God (the best father in the world). She is the wife of Pastor Roger Hernandez, Southern Union Ministerial and Evangelism Director; the mother of 4 children, 2 Biological children, Vanessa and Jonathan, and 2 Foster daughters, Ucina and Daisy, and grandmother of two beautiful girls. She has a Bachelor's in Elementary Education and a Masters in Youth Ministry. Currently, she is the Coordinator for the Ministerial and Evangelism Department at the Southern Union Conference. She loves working for the Lord in reaching youth and feels honored every time He chooses to use her. Katherine believes she is nothing without her God.
Jenny Ramirez
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Jenny graduated with a BS in Nursing In 1996 and has served as a registered nurse in the fields of Med/Surg/Telemetry, Mother/Baby and currently in an ambulatory same-day surgery Center. She has been happily married for 23 years to Elden Ramirez, president of the Montana Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. They have been blessed with two daughters: Elennie and Jasmine. Jenny loves above everything, God, family, and her call to serve as a nurse. Her favorite Bible passage is found in Joshua 1:8.
Philip Riley
Presentation Title: We Were Made to Move
Phil last worked for Discovery Channel and at the GC for Hope Channel. For the past two years he has worked at the North American Division, where he is currently serving as the assistant to the Health Ministries Dept. Phil is married to the former Anna Oakes and the proud new father of a son named Paul Anderson Riley, as well as a small dog and a big cat. He enjoys garden-fresh tomatoes and produce from his gardens, as well as working on his fixer-upper, which has been a Very. Slow. Process.
Desiree Bryant
Presentation Title: “Let’s Get Cooking!”
Desiree holds a BS and an MA in Education. She has served in the field of Education for 34 years as classroom teacher, principal, superintendent, associate superintendent, and most recently as project coordinator for the NAD office of Education. Currently she is serving as Associate Director, Ministerial Spouses’ Leader for the North American Division. Desiree is married to Dr. G. Alexander Bryant for 37 years, and they have 3 adult sons, one daughter-in-law, and three granddaughters. One of her favorite scriptures is Prov. 3:5, 6.
Debra Crable Anderson
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Debra is an experienced communications professional. Her background includes a 20-year career in radio and television and 15 years of executive communications on Capitol Hill. In the summer of 2018, as the number of black men being killed at police officers' hands continued to grow, Debra, a long-time advocate of social justice, organized a March on Washington, DC, to pray for peace. Just two days later, over a thousand people joined in the peaceful protest at the Lincoln Memorial. Currently, Debra serves as Assistant to the President ꟾCommunications Director at the Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventist. She is married to Paul Anderson, Director of Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries at the North American Division. They have two adult children and four incredible grandchildren.
Audrey Weir-Graham
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Audrey holds a BA in Religion and History, and a MA in Education/Curriculum and Instruction.She is a retired teacher of 30 years, having taught 5 years in the Adventist system and 25 in the public-school system.Since officially retiring from the classroom she now works part-time for the Teacher’s College of San Joaquin as a Support Supervisor where she coaches teaching interns.Audrey has been married to Ricardo Graham, the president of Pacific Union Conference for 43 years, and they are the proud parents of two children, Jessica, and Jonathan.
Shawn Payne
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Shawn attended Oakwood University and the University of Alabama-Huntsville. He holds a BA of Communications and a Masters’ of Business Administration. Shawn is a Certified Software Trainer, a Certified Life Coach, and an all-around lover of technology. He is the spouse of Pastor Tricia Payne, who is the pastor of the Conant Gardens SDA Church in Detroit, Michigan. Shawn believes: "God without man is still God, but Man without God is nothing." His favorite text: Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
Jose Cortes, Jr.
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
"Pastor Jose" holds an MDiv from the Theological Seminary at Andrews University, and a B.A. in Theology from Columbia Union College, now Washington Adventist University. He currently serves as Associate Director for Evangelism for the North American Division, and is the spouse of Pastor Joanne Cortes, who currently serves as a pastor in the Potomac Conference Corporation of Seventh-day Adventist. He and his wife are companions in ministry. Together, they are blessed with two boys, Jose III and Joel Benjamin. Next to God and family, his greatest joy and passion comes from ministry.
Evelyn Sullivan
Presentation Title: Finding Balance as a Clergy Spouse.
Evelyn holds a BS and a MA in Education and is currently serving in the North American Division Office of Education as the Director for Early Childhood Education and REACH. REACH stands for Reaching to Education All Children for Heaven, which focuses on students with special needs and Mental Health. She has spent many years teaching young children to love to learn and has combined her passion for teaching and administration to promote the importance of early childhood education. Evelyn is married to Judge Kevin Sullivan and together, they have three adult children and six grandchildren.
Kathleen Williams
Moderators for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Kathleen was born and raised in Columbia, SC. She holds an MBA and serves in the Human Resources Department at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist World Headquarters as the Senior Benefits Specialist. Kathleen is the spouse of Dr. Ivan Williams Sr., the Director of Ministerial for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. They are the proud parents of a daughter, Imani, and a son, Ivan II.
Jennifer Christian Newton
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Jennifer holds an MBA, CFMP, and is self-employed as a consultant. She teaches Christian financial seminars and serves as the Associate Ministerial Secretary for the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists on a volunteer basis. In this capacity she is the event planner and provides support to pastoral spouses and families. Previously she was Assistant Vice President and Regional Audit Manager for General Motors Commercial Finance. She received her Bachelor of Science from Andrews University. She has an MBA in Project Management and is a Certified Faith-based Meeting Professional. She is the spouse of Brad C. Newton, the Executive Secretary and Ministerial Director of the Pacific Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventist.
Denise Rustad
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Denise was born and raised in Miami, Florida. She earned a B.S. degree in Education from Southern Adventist University and a Masters’ degree in Inclusive Education. With the help and persistence of many church members, she eventually fell in love with the associate pastor at the Duluth SDA Church. His name is Gary Rustad. They married in 2005. They now have three children, and are living in Calhoun, Georgia, where Gary currently serves as the president of the Georgia-Cumberland Conference. Denise works part-time at AdventHealth Gordon Hospital as the CREATION Life coordinator.
Jordan Roddy
Panelist for “Social Justice and Cultural Sensitivity Panel Discussion”
Jordan Roddy is married to Pastor Gilda Roddy who serves as Assistant Director for Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries, for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist. They have four children- Leah 14, Gisèle 12, Charlize 9, Jude 8. Jordan’s primary role is husband and father and school tutor during the pandemic. As a family, the Roddy’s are actively involved in church life and enjoy leading worship. Outside of family duties, Jordan serves as Hospital Administrator.