Laurel Bunker – keynote speaker
For over 30 years Laurel Bunker has been a leader in fields of non-profit management, higher education, church and para church ministry. Laurel’s mission is to impact the lives of men and women through empowered teaching, training, mentoring and leadership development that builds character and advances organizational change.
Laurel has held key positions in national organizations including Young Life, the YMCA, the Jeremiah Program, PULSE and the Council on Christian Colleges and Universities. She spent 14 years as a campus pastor and university administrator, until 2021, when she left to pursue and launch her LLC, The Boncouer Collaborative.
Laurel is a sought-after conference speaker, writer and preacher, teaching extensively at colleges, universities, conferences and organizations at the national and international level
Laurel and her husband Joshua, make their home in the Twin Cities with their two college-aged daughters, Naomi and Camile.
⇢ Learn more about Lauren
Jennifer Duncan – Conference Host
Jennifer is English professor at Georgia State University’s Perimeter College specializing in composition and literature. She also serves as Curriculum Director on the Executive Leadership Team for Rise Up!, a free after-school character development program for elementary aged children currently ministering in 22 public schools in the Metro Atlanta area. Jennifer is married to Jason, a pastor at Mount Paran North Church, and together they’re raising Jack and Lucy to be awesome humans!
Jennifer grew up in a large family who believed that children are at the heart of God’s kingdom plan. Together with aunts, uncles, and cousins, they traveled around South Carolina conducting VBS, camps, and holiday programs which is where Jennifer got comfortable doing ANYTHING on a stage. She now combines the excitement of God’s word with her professional training in literature to craft high-energy presentations that teach children about God’s unconditional love!
Jennifer attended Emmanuel College, The University of South Carolina, and The University of Tennessee, where she earned multiple degrees in English and literature. She is returning for her second year as Bloom Conference Host.
Savannah Ogle – Conference Worship Leader
Savannah serves as the Assistant Worship Pastor at Mount Paran North. She graduated from Lee University in 2019 with a degree in Music & Worship and has been leading worship since she was in high school. Savannah fell in love with the Word and presence of God at an early age. She has a passion for helping people encounter Holy Spirit in a deep way, and her love for creativity and songwriting continues to inspire her as a musician and disciple of Jesus. If you’ve met Savannah, you know she loves to jump and shout while worshiping, but her favorite moments are when the whisper of Holy Spirit feels so close, and the whole room is standing in reverence of the majesty of God. It’s those moments that always bring Savannah back to why she does what she does.
BREAKOUT SPEAKERS
Jamie Clayton – Bible Study Fellowship Teaching Leader
Whether she’s teaching God’s word to women or engaging with her 4 kids as a “stay-at-home” mom, Jamie Clayton’s mission is to know God and make Him known. Through the international ministry of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF), Jamie is privileged to lead women to discover the life-changing truth of who God is and how he is specifically calling them to follow him through the in-depth study of His Word. Outside of ministry, Jamie loves traveling with her family and exploring history through reading.
Dr. Cantice Green – Professor / Author
Cantice Greene has been writing for audiences since she was a teenager writing fiction stories for her closest girlfriends. When she was still in college, her script, “Rose’s Decision” won a Reader’s Digest award. After studying writing in college, her stage play, The Art of Losing, was performed at Kennesaw State University and Spelman College. She’s written numerous vignettes for churches and Christian conferences. Her topics are usually women focused, as is her academic collection Teaching Women’s Studies in Conservative Environments. Her most recent publication is “Giving God My Best in College,” a 7-day devotional on Youversion. Currently, she is editing the compelling book, College Prep for Christians, co-written with her son Joshua that shares stories of setbacks and triumphs in college and valuable spiritual discipline strategies for Christian students to thrive. Cantice’s unique blend of storytelling, faith, and academic insight makes her a captivating author to explore.
Michelle Harrell – Speaker / Founder of Glorious Marriage Revolution
Michelle Harrell is a God-ordained speaker, teacher, and writer who loves Jesus with everything in her. She is the Founder of Glorious Marriage Revolution ministry based in Acworth, Ga. You can find her teachings online and see her in person at various events throughout the year. She speaks with conviction and makes the Word come to life for all those who listen. Michelle was born in Alabama and has lived in Georgia since she was 7. She has been married to Brian for 33 glorious years and they have 2 adult boys, Mack and Charlie. She loves her family fiercely. Michelle is the author of the book, “I Am Ezer – The Glory of a Woman”. Michelle’s goal and vision is to equip women everywhere with the knowledge that they were created by God with a unique glory. She desires to see an army of women rise up to fight the REAL enemy for themselves, their marriages, their children, and everyone in their influence all for the glory of God!
Hope Harvard – Speaker / Founder of Hope Beauty
Hope Harvard founded Hope Beauty with one mission: to encourage women to glorify God in all that they do – including makeup. To Hope, it’s about more than just makeup, it’s about your heart too.
Hope began her career in the West Wing of the White House working for President Trump. The South Carolina native graduated from Clemson University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Ministry Studies from Lee University. She served in the Trump Administration in the Department of Homeland Security Office of Public Affairs, White House Communications Office, and White House Office of Legislative Affairs.
Most recently, Hope served as Special Assistant to South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster and is currently serving as Director of Marketing for The Conservateur, an online publication for the fashion-forward conservative woman.
Her favorite memory is cheering on the Clemson Tigers in the 2018 College National Football Championship. To top that off, she returned to the famous playoff off game the following year to watch the Tigers play, this time on Air Force 1 with President Trump.
Hope has a passion for encouraging others and there is no better confidence boost than the Word – and a little bit of makeup.
Katia Koch – Speaker / Bible Teacher
Katia Koch is a respected Bible teacher with a heart for the Portuguese speaking community. A longtime leader of small groups and classes, her monthly home meetings and online Bible studies captivate those who attend. Katia brings her passion for God, His word, and her community to every session she leads.
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