Gathering Talks

Videos & Talks From Our Previous Gatherings

2015 Talks

11:22

God As My Physical Hope

Caitie Sangalis at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC). Caitie Sangalis is from Colorado and earned her BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King's College NYC. She is a freelance editor, event planner, and writer. Prior to embarking on her freelance career, Caitie worked at Q as the content editor. As an ENTJ, Caitie is passionate about trauma, books, buzzfeed, and kickboxing. To de-stress, Caitie likes to organize and write lists. She lives in Long Island City with her husband Ted and their son Augustine and many neatly arranged piles of lists.

15:02

Serving Hope To Teens in the Projects

Talk by Genevieve Smith at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC). Genevieve Smith is a believer, daughter, sister and friend. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Genevieve and her family relocated to North Carolina when she was in high school to avoid homelessness. Through the ministry of YoungLife, Genevieve responded to God's pursuit of her heart during high school. She seeks to make Him known to everyone she encounters. Genevieve currently works as the Area Director for Young Life in Red Hook, Brooklyn, where she has the privilege of sharing Jesus Christ with teenagers. Red Hook is home to the largest housing projects in Brooklyn. Gee, as her friends affectionately call her, is passionate about making sure that every teen there has had the opportunity to hear the Good News of the Gospel. When she is not building relationships in Red Hook, Genevieve enjoys reading, writing, listening to Underground Hip Hop, and exploring her love for her hometown of Brooklyn. Genevieve holds a BA in English and Africana Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte as well as a certificate in Urban Youth Ministry from Urban Youth Workers Institute at City Seminary.

10:20

Freedom

Talk by Suzi Chun-Turley at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC). Suzi Chun-Turley has spent her career in both private and nonprofit sectors helping organizations become more effective. Her private sector experience includes providing senior leaders management leverage at Bridgewater Associates, strategic consulting at McKinsey & Co. and investment banking analytic support for nonprofit and government entities at J.P. Morgan Securities. Her experience supporting nonprofit organizations includes building up a charitable services group at Next Jump, serving as an internal management consultant for the United Nations, and helping to develop one of the nation’s earliest SROI (social return on investment) models for REDF, a social venture fund in San Francisco. Most recently, she was the Director of Social Impact at Tough Mudder. She received her M.B.A. from Columbia University and B.S. in Operations Research from Columbia School of Engineering. She lives in Washington Heights with her husband David and their two children, Hudson and Margot, and is most likely craving chocolate ice cream right now.

10:27

Tatiana Mahoney

Talk by Tatiana Mahoney at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC). Tatiana Mahoney’s first introduction to Operation Exodus was in 1994, when she began serving as a mentor. At the time, she was working as a research assistant for Cronkite-Ward, a documentary production company. Later, she worked at CBS News, and then as an editor at Parents.com, which is where she learned to be a portal for relevant information for parents looking to improve their parenting skills. The position of Parent Coordinator at Exodus came at an opportune time, when Tatiana had to leave her job to care for her mother, who was battling cancer. After her mother passed away, Tatiana felt the best way to honor her legacy, which included her passion for education, was to continue at Exodus, and it became a true calling. Tatiana works hard to ensure that every family gets support based on the family’s needs, helping parents feel “empowered,” to become positive role models at home, and strong advocates for their children within the school system.

08:37

Hope in Identity

Talk by Tatiana Mahoney at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC). Carly Byrd has lived in New York City since 2002 and has over 13 years experience in the finance industry. She currently works at Deutsche Bank specializing in US taxation and chairs the Securities Industry SIFMA corporate actions society tax committee. She is native Hawaiian and lives in Harlem with her husband Ashley, two daughters, and dog.

09:30

Precious Metals Part 1

First talk by Carolyn Harrison at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC) Native Philadelphian Carolyn Harrison currently lives and serves as Metro Director in the Greater Bronx for Young Life. A trained theater arts educator for twenty years, Carolyn began her second career as a youth minister with Young Life in East New York, Brooklyn as the Area Director. Carolyn completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Theater Arts at Bucknell University and Antioch University-McGregor School respectively. She completed a Master of Divinity at Nyack College-Alliance Theological Seminary in 2015. Carolyn is advancing her work as a theater professional by creating a performance piece entitled Precious Metals which highlights the parallel nature of struggles and victories experienced by women regardless of their historical, geographical, or cultural context. Carolyn will showcase Precious Metals in December 2015 as an offering of thanks for completing her Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. Additionally, Carolyn serves on the Intercessory Board of Community2Community (C2C), a grassroots organization dedicated to building self-sufficient communities by working alongside the Haitian community of Petit Goâve as they recover from the staggering effects of the 2010 earthquake. Newly married, Carolyn is grateful for the partnership with her husband, Eric Harrison, whose creative inspiration and loving support enables her to pursue life at full capacity. Of all her accomplishments, Carolyn is most proud of her ministry as a parent to two young adults and one teen, two daughters and a son, for whom she prays daily that they might become the world changers that God intends.

07:47

Precious Metals Part 2

Second talk by Carolyn Harrison at Hope Gathering 2015 (Sept 25 & 26 in NYC) Native Philadelphian Carolyn Harrison currently lives and serves as Metro Director in the Greater Bronx for Young Life. A trained theater arts educator for twenty years, Carolyn began her second career as a youth minister with Young Life in East New York, Brooklyn as the Area Director. Carolyn completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Theater Arts at Bucknell University and Antioch University-McGregor School respectively. She completed a Master of Divinity at Nyack College-Alliance Theological Seminary in 2015. Carolyn is advancing her work as a theater professional by creating a performance piece entitled Precious Metals which highlights the parallel nature of struggles and victories experienced by women regardless of their historical, geographical, or cultural context. Carolyn will showcase Precious Metals in December 2015 as an offering of thanks for completing her Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. Additionally, Carolyn serves on the Intercessory Board of Community2Community (C2C), a grassroots organization dedicated to building self-sufficient communities by working alongside the Haitian community of Petit Goâve as they recover from the staggering effects of the 2010 earthquake. Newly married, Carolyn is grateful for the partnership with her husband, Eric Harrison, whose creative inspiration and loving support enables her to pursue life at full capacity. Of all her accomplishments, Carolyn is most proud of her ministry as a parent to two young adults and one teen, two daughters and a son, for whom she prays daily that they might become the world changers that God intends.

2014 Talks

Psalm 52:9

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Dr. Diane Langberg is a practicing psychologist whose clinical expertise includes 35 years of working with trauma survivors and clergy. Dr. Langberg is Chair of the Executive Board of the American Association of Christian Counselors, serves on the boards of GRACE, the Society of Christian Psychology, and World Reformed Fellowship. She is also founder of The Place of Refuge, an inner-city, non-profit trauma and training center.

Romans 15:4

Suzy Silk has lived in NYC for the past 8 years, serving on staff with CRU in various roles while also completing her MA in "Bible and Ancient Semitic Languages" from Jewish Theological Seminary. During these eight years, Suzy has served in leadership at various Trinity Grace Church plants and has been involved in teaching Christians about the Jewish roots of their faith (both in the US and abroad). Suzy preaches on a monthly basis and is in the process of writing her first book and co-authoring a children's Bible curriculum.

Psalm 25:3a

Christine Lee received her M.Div and Th.M at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and currently serves as the Assistant Rector at All Angels' Church in Harlem. Before joining All Angels', Christine served as a missionary in Bangkok, as a camous minister with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at Columbia University, and as a community organizer for Habitat for Humanity – NYC, engaging the faith community in building homes for low-income families and advocating for more affordable housing.

Psalm 9:18

Native Philadelphian Carolyn Giles currently lives and serves the Brooklyn community of East New York as an Area Director for Young Life. Prior to joining Young Life staff, Carolyn enjoyed a twenty-year theater arts teaching career. Most recently, she served as Department Chair of Theater and Middle School Theater Director at The Berkeley Carroll School in Brooklyn, NY. She currently facilitates theater arts training in underserved middle schools and high schools in East New York.

Isaiah 42:4

Fay Sardjono (J.D.) serves as Restore NYC's Director of External Affairs. Restore NYC’s mission is to end sex trafficking in New York and restore the well-being and independence of foreign-national survivors. Before joining Restore in 2011, Fay practiced corporate litigation at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy and Cohen Tauber Spievack & Wagner in New York. Fay also worked for the U.S. District Court, Central District of California as a staff attorney.

1 Peter 3:15

Sheeba Philip serves as the Vice President of Global Marketing and Public Relations for International Justice Mission (IJM). Prior to joining IJM in 2013, she spent ten years in brand management at both Mondelēz International and Kraft Foods. In 2011, she assumed the role of Global Marketing Director for the World’s #1 Cookie, Oreo, a $2 billion brand present in over 100 countries. Sheeba holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A from the Harvard Business School. She attends the Redeemer Arlington Church in Northern Virginia and is passionate about prayer ministry.

Psalm 103:2-5

Melissa Tamplin Harrison is a bilingual broadcast journalist with more than 15 years of on-air television experience, working as a news anchor and reporter in six markets - including WNBC-TV in NYC and WFAA-TV in Dallas. She is also a freelance writer for ABC's World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer. Melissa leads PURE, a women's ministry connecting dynamic women leaders to initiate spiritual transformation. She is currently completing her first non-fiction book about her personal journey through grief and traumatic loss.

Romans 4:18

Stacy (Gomez) Clemons was born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn in NYC. She and her husband are planting a church with Trinity Grace Church in Crown Heights. They have four boys and have been married for eleven years. During that time, she has supported her husband in different ministry opportunities in FL, CA, PA, RI, and now NY. Stacy is a first generation college graduate. She has an undergraduate degree in Speech Communications and a Master's Degree in Higher Education. She is eager to share her story and journey of faith and hope with you.

Psalm 42:5

Mayra Lopez-Humphreys (MSW and PhD) is a native New Yorker, professor, and pastor with over 18 years of engagement in building bridges of peace and justice across culture, religion, economic, and racial boundaries. The role of bridging divides has vividly expressed itself in her role as an associate professor at Nyack College; here she has taught social work courses in diversity and social justice. Mayra is also the associate pastor at Metro Hope Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church that meets in Harlem.

2 Corinthians 3:12

As Founding Vice President of The Impact Movement Inc., Rebecca Guillory Gilmer focuses her efforts on seeing this generation of African Americans fulfill their destiny as a reflection of the redemptive power of Jesus Christ. Rebecca has served as trustee on various Boards including The Winter Park Health Foundation, The Synergy Women’s Network and The Beautiful Project.

Ephesians 4:2-6

Liza Louw has been involved in church planting and church leadership in South Africa, Brazil, and Madagascar, as well as the United States, for the last 17 years. She is part of the third generation of pastors in her family and God has given her the opportunity to speak in countries all over the world. Liza and her husband moved to New York City in 2011 with their 3 children and are now based at Trinity Grace Church in Brooklyn -- developing leaders and church planters who passionately love The Lord and the city.

Hebrews 11:13-16

Julie Herrera-Maxwell's passion is for every woman to know God, discover their purpose and develop a life of maturity and delivery.Julie was born in the city of La Paz, Bolivia. At the age of 15, God met her and changed the course of her life completely. Julie is an ordained minister by Ekklesia USA, and currently serves as an associate pastor of Tabernáculo Internacional in West Palm Beach, FL. She is the author of several books, and a dynamic international speaker. She also co-directs the television show Confidencias entre Amigas.

Zephaniah 3:17

Carrie Walker loves Jesus, people, diversity, and the freedom of the gospel. She has worked with Cru (formerly known as Campus Crusade for Christ) for 25 years. Carrie got to watch Jesus change lives among the Buckeyes of Ohio State, and later she helped give leadership nationally to the campus ministry of Cru. She is delighted to now live in NYC where she gets to help millennials thrive in the city and be all that God made them to be.

Psalm 27:14

Caitie Sangalis is from Colorado and earned her BA in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics from The King's College NYC. She is a freelance editor, event planner, and writer. Prior to embarking on her freelance career, Caitie worked at Q as the content editor. As an INTJ, Caitie is passionate about trauma, books, buzzfeed, and kickboxing. To de-stress, Caitie likes to organize and write lists. She lives in Long Island City with her husband Ted and their son Augustine and many neatly arranged piles of lists.

Isaiah 40:30-31

Onleilove Alston (M.Div and M.SW) was born and raised in East New York. Having experienced poverty, foster care, and homelessness first hand, she has developed a compassion for people fueled by her passion for justice, and knows that the gospel is truly “good news to the poor.” Currently, she is a Faith Community Organizer at Faith in New York and a member of The Poverty Initiative at Union Theological Seminary which is building a movement to end poverty led by the poor.