Dr. Leslie Parker Barnes is a native of Akron, Ohio. She graduated from Akron Public Schools and continued her education at Bowling Green State University. After receiving an Associate Degree in Applied Business she furthered her education at the McCreary Center for Black Religious Studies receiving a diploma in Black Religious Studies. She then went on to obtain a Master of Divinity degree from Ashland Theological Seminary and received her Doctorate in Worship from the Robert Webber Institute for Worship Studies in June of 2017.
Leslie Parker Barnes, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Excellence Performing Arts Workshop, has been with YEPAW since 1990, encouraging youth, through the arts, to pursue lifestyles of excellence. In 2006, she was the recipient of The Akron Beacon Journal's Extraordinary Woman Crystal Award in recognition of her service to youth. She is a graduate of the 2008 class of Leadership Akron. In 2010, she was recognized by the Women's Endowment Fund for her extraordinary commitment to social justice through her service to thousands of youth. In 2012 she received the Margaret Clark Morgan Impact Award for Imagination in her service with youth. In 2014 she received the Harold K. Stubbs Humanitarian Award for Social Action.
Dr. Barnes is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and serves as the Minister of Praise & Worship Arts at Arlington Church of God in Akron. Leslie is married to Ted Barnes and they have four children, Rochelle, Rachel, Theo, Kimberly and a grandson, Trey Immanuel Barnes.
Pastor Mitch Burch has served in full-time Christian ministry for 46 years. He has served churches in Kentucky, Washington, Ohio, and West Virginia, and he has served as the State Pastor of West Virginia Ministries. His preaching ministry has traveled to every state and on five of the seven continents of the world. He served with the Slingshot Group as a Senior Leadership Ministry Coach and as Church Health Coach. He is certified in the following areas of ministry: Strategic Leadership, Stewardship Development/Fundraising, and Church Health Assessment. His passion for the Word of God and the proclamation of the Gospel is contagious and powerful. He is a graduate of International University and Seminary with postgraduate studies at Asbury Theological Seminary and Southern Theological Seminary.
Currently he serves as Senior Pastor of the Buffalo Church of God and as State Pastor of WV Ministries and as an At-Large Evangelist in the Church of God.
He and his wife Missy live in Buffalo, West Virginia, and have three adult children and five grandchildren.
Chad Harlan is currently the Lead Worship Pastor overseeing the multi-campus worship ministry of the First Church of God in St. Joseph, Michigan and has been serving there since January of 2012. Previously, he served the First Church of God in Marion, IL for 7 years as Worship and Visitation Pastor. He along with his wife, Tracey were both ordained in the Church of God in July of 2005 and have had the pleasure of being on staff together. They have been blessed with three grown children who are also musically inclined. Chad has been serving the Church of God in worship ministry for over 20 years.
Chad has played the piano for over 40 years and has been a studio session musician and has had the opportunity to share the stage with various Country and Southern Gospel artists. God has allowed Chad to minister through camp meetings and conferences throughout the United States each year. In 2020, Chad developed the Worship Leader Roundtable affinity group for the Church of God nationally which helps to disciple and encourage worship leaders throughout the Movement. Chad enjoys building relationships with and leading people into a meaningful time of worship. Because of his love of coaching people, Chad launched his own coaching business, Team Powered Coaching in 2023. In his spare time, Chad enjoys working outdoors and driving classic cars.
Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin is a world-class performer, songwriter and worship leader, whose music has taken her around the globe. Her soulful, eclectic sound combines a rich tapestry of influences, including her classical and jazz training, and a broad spectrum of experiences in gospel, pop, and country music.
Sarah has released six original studio albums, the most recent of which is a collection of lullabies and love songs, entitled Rêverie. Her interpretations of classics breathe fresh life into time-honored favorites, and her original songs express both the depth of her musical gift and a soulful honesty that sets her apart as a rare treasure to Central Indiana and the world.
An Indiana native and Anderson University graduate, Sarah’s voice can be heard on local and national commercials and radio jingles for brands like New Balance, the Indianapolis Colts, Cedar Point Theme Park, and many more. She has been featured on two Emmy Award-winning TV shows: Artrageous with Nate, and Cook and Belle’s Playhouse. She has collaborated and performed with Grammy Award-winning artists Bill and Gloria Gaither, Sandi Patty, Kurt Elling, as well as The Wright Brothers, Josh Kaufman, Alanna Story, Jon McLaughlin, Cook & Belle, Jennie Devoe and countless others.
She regularly performs across Greater Indianapolis, and was featured most recently as special guest with the Carmel Symphony Orchestra at The Palladium and also with the Indianapolis Children’s Choir. She packs out the Jazz Kitchen during her annual Christmas concert series. Also a highly respected worship leader, Sarah currently serves at Grace Church in Noblesville, Indiana.
Sarah is the co-host/founder of the Momnesia Podcast which serves to preserve the hilarious, mundane and heartbreaking stories of motherhood. Currently wrapping up season two, Momnesia has been charting on Apple, Spotify and other streaming services since its launch.
In 2001, Sarah married her college sweetheart, Jeff McLaughlin, who is a music educator at Westfield High School and highly respected performer. The McLaughlins have put down their roots in Noblesville where they reside with their five children.
Children’s Director, First Church of God, St. Joseph
Pastor, Hope Crossing, Sterling Heights
Associate Pastor, North Avenue Church of God, Battle Creek
Pastor of Discipleship, Community Church of God, Ypsilanti
Pastor, NorthernLight Church of Cadillac, Cadillac
Youth Pastor, Hope Community, Niles
Pastor, Burlington Church of God
Pastor, Fresh Start Community Church, West Branch
You may register more than one pastor/person at a time. For the hotel, select the number of rooms needed. If staying more than night, be sure to double the number of rooms to make sure you are paying $140.00 per night, per room stay.
The attendee(s) name(s) may be typed in the notes once you select a 1 or more with individual.
Please call 517-393-7020 with any questions you have.
Registration Fees:
Individual - $110.00
Spouse - $30.00
Hotels:
Crowne Plaza Lansing: $140.00/night
The rooms at the Crowne Plaza Lansing are full.
Quality Suites: $105.00/night
King rooms still available at Quality Suites.
Schedule
Friday - November 1
8:30 a.m.
Registration (Royale Lobby)
Coffee, juice, pastries
9:00
Worship - Rev. Chard Harlan
Message - Rev. Dr. Leslie Parker Barnes
(Ballrooms A, B, C, D, and E)
10:45 a.m.
- Pastor’s Wives Tea in
Reo Room
- Pastor’s Husbands Coffee
Hotel Restaurant
10:45 a.m.
Call to Order First Business Session-Chuck Nebus, Chair
12:00 p.m.
Recess until 8:30 a.m. Saturday
12:15 Lunch
Sponsored by Servant Solutions- Jim O'Bold and Mark Senseman
2:00 p.m.
Worship - Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin
Message - Rev. Mitchell Burch
(Ballrooms A, B, C, D, and E)
3:30 p.m. Break
7:00 p.m.
Worship - Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin
Message - Rev. Dr. Leslie Parker Barnes
(Ballrooms A, B, C, D, and E)
After Service: Dessert Time Meet and Greet Fellowship
Saturday - November 2
8:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast (Ballrooms A, B, C, D, and E)
8:30 a.m.
Second Business Session
Call to Order – Chuck Nebus Chair
9:45 a.m.
Adjourn Business Session-
Chuck Nebus, Chair
10:00 a.m.
Worship - Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin
Message - Rev. Mitchell Burch
11:45 a.m.
Dismissal
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All Rights Reserved.