MEET THE SPEAKERS

Meet our Spring 2023 speakers! 

Ryan Brown Picture Ryan Brown

Ryan Brown is the Executive Director of LINC NW. Ryan is passionate about connecting people in meaningful relationships and loves to craft environments that promote care and support for families. Ryan enjoys frisbee golf, biking, and adventures and lives in Arlington, WA with his wife and three children.

William Ehlers Pic William Ehlers

Metamorphosis 

William will look at how God has worked in his life to transform him into the person you see now. Born in Beijing, China, William’s parents adopted him and took him in as their own and shared God’s love every day! William will share how God uses trials to overcome evil and spread love. 

William Ehlers is a medical scribe in Tacoma, WA and serves at several emergency rooms around Tacoma. He is currently pursuing a career in healthcare and has several years of clinical experience. When he isn’t working, he enjoys volunteering at the humane society, running, and painting. Last year he entered his first 5k race and now has a half marathon under his belt. He plans to enter a full marathon and other races next year. 

Doug H Picture Doug Haugen

Living My Purpose
Men are in crisis today for lack of friends. Research tells us that the percentage of men with at least six close friends fell by half since 1990, from 55 percent to 27 percent. The study also found the percentage of men without any close friends jumped from 3 percent to 15 percent, a fivefold increase. Doug will share about the four kinds of friends we experience and how friends have helped him live out his God given purpose. 

Doug Haugen served congregations in Mercer Island, WA, Sandy, UT and Auburn, CA before serving as Executive Director of Lutheran Men in Mission. Under his leadership Lutheran Men in Mission developed the Master Builders Bible for Men, the One Year to Live men’s retreat and gave birth to Project XII. Project XII is a network of passionate, creative leaders from many backgrounds that have come together to identify, create, and promote effective ministries with men.

He was one of the writers of the Serendipity Bible for Small Groups (which became the Master Builders Bible for Men). With his wife Doris, he is the author of the InterVarsity Press LifeGuide Bible Study on Jonah, Joel and Amos and Ask or Imagine: Episodes on the Journey to Becoming a Family. Most recently he has been working with nineteen writers from eight denominations/ministries writing Project XII’s Lifelines series for men. Doug and Doris are now retired, living in Tumwater. They are the proud parents of Dawn (Mickey) and Derek (Krista) and grandparents of Kayja and Bryce.

Rob Kenney DHDI Headshot ROB KENNEY

With the End in Mind

If death is the “end” for all of us, what should our priorities be?  Why it’s critical to have an eternal perspective on your life.

Rob started his “Dad, How Do I?” YouTube channel in April of 2020. He thought he would help 30 or 40 people learn some basic skills. A month and a half later his channel went viral, and quickly grew to over 1 million subscribers. Now, almost 3 years later, he has over 4 million subscribers, and is known the world over as the “Internet’s dad”.

My project-1 ANDREW BIRD

Faith Through Trials

Andrew will discuss how he has maintained a strong faith in God through various personal and family trials.

Andrew spent his formative years in New Orleans and South Mississippi. After graduating from William Carey University, he worked in sales and hospitality, eventually meeting his wife while working as a bartender in New Orleans. In 2017, he and his wife married and moved across the country to Olympia, WA, to be closer to family. He now resides there, with his wife, Caitlin, 7-month-old son, Daniel, and two English Setters, named Leo and Buster. 

Logan V Picture LOGAN VANDENBURG

Young Men and the Church

Young men are struggling socially, physically, and mentally. They don’t know where they fit in inside the larger scope of society. They are struggling to find a purpose and calling that fits the needs of themselves and others. According to the Washington Post, Suicides rose 8 percent among males ages 15-24, the largest rate increase of 2021. The Church is in a unique position; it has the ability to offer a place where young men can build a sense of community, take on a feeling of accountability and responsibility, and can form a relationship with a God who knows and loves them. Logan will speak on his perspective growing up in the Lutheran Church and witnessing how the Church has shaped him into who he is today and how critical his faith has been in his understanding of what it means to be a young man. 

Logan grew up in Hamilton, Montana, and currently attends Pacific Lutheran University, where he works as a Chapel coordinator for campus ministry. Logan also works as the Ministry Assistant at Trinity Lutheran Church, serving as a bridge between the communities of PLU and Trinity. After PLU, He hopes to attend seminary and continue his path of ministry.



 

To meet the speakers from the 2022 and prior events, please navigate to the Previous Speakers link.