PALCON 2024
Point Loma Nazarene University ∙ San Diego, CA
Monday - Wednesday ∙ July 22-24, 2024
SPEAKERS
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TARA THOMAS SMITH, is co-lead pastor with her husband Brett at Crossroads Nazarene Church in Chandler, Arizona. Tara's past ministry ventures have ranged from teaching a semester at Melanesia Nazarene Bible College to speaking at the United Nations (Geneva) on the subject of human trafficking. She also spent time directing a Crisis Pregnancy Center in Illinois. Her pastoral and preaching ministry have developed across the country in Tennessee, Indiana, California, and Arizona. She currently serves on the Arizona District Advisory Board and as the Southwest USA representative to the Nazarene Women Clergy Council. She received a B.A. from religious studies and political science at Olivet Nazarene University, and an M.Div from Nazarene Theological Seminary. She and Brett have two nearly-grown children, Miles and Macey.
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TIM GAINES, serves as associate professor of religion at Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, where he teaches theology and ethics, directs the Center for Wesleyan-Holiness Formation, and directs the Master of Arts program in theology and biblical studies. Prior to his time in Nashville, he served churches in Kansas City, Chicago, and California in various pastoral capacities. He presently serves as a pastor at Trevecca Community Church and is a frequent speaker at camps, churches, and conferences. Tim earned his PhD at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, and is the author of several books, including Walking the Theological Life: Discovering Method for Theology in the Lives of Biblical Characters (IVP, 2023) and Christian Ethics (The Foundry, 2021). He's married to Shawna, dad to Callen and Evalynne, and takes every opportunity to run the trails of Music City. You can find more resources at timothyrgaines.com.
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DREA CANALES originally from Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from the Graduate School of Psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary. She also holds an M.A. in Family Studies with an emphasis in Children at Risk, an M.A. in Intercultural Studies, and an M.A. in Psychology from Fuller. As a clinician Dr. Canales has worked extensively with clients from diverse backgrounds in higher education programs, hospitals, community-based clinics, and cancer treatment centers. Currently, Drea works as a clinician at Relate Therapy Center working with couples and individuals in both Spanish and English with a focus on complex trauma, systemic factors, cultural context, and relational growth. She has also been in pastoral leadership for the last 18 years among the Latina community in the greater Los Angeles area. Presently, she is in pastoral leadership at La Fuente Ministries in Pasadena. As an Affiliate faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary, she has taught courses in both the School of Psychology and Marriage and Family Therapy and the School of Mission and Theology. Her research expertise is in the areas of resilience, trauma, complicated grief processes, and spiritual and cultural integration.
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CHRISTIAN SARMIENTO is a general superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene, elected in June 2023 by the 40th General Assembly of the denomination. At the time of his election, he was in his 18th year as Director of the South America Region. Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Christian and is wife, Margit, were among the first members of the Church of the Nazarene in that country, and he became the denomination’s first pastor in Colombia in 1976. He was active in pastoral ministry in Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Guatemala. He served as district superintendent of the Ecuador Sierra Norte District and as Regional Education Coordinator in South America, the former MAC region (Mexico and Central America, now Mesoamerica), and the Caribbean Region. He also served as rector of Bolivia Nazarene Seminary, the Cono Sur Nazarene Seminary in Argentina, and El Seminario Teológico Sudamericano in Quito, Ecuador.
Christian received a Bachelor of Arts degree from MidAmerica Nazarene University in 1980 and a Master of Divinity at Nazarene Theological Seminary in 1984. MidAmerica Nazarene University conferred a Doctor of Divinity degree upon him in 2001. He earned a Doctor of Education in leadership and professional practice at Trevecca Nazarene University in 2019. He served on a variety of denominational boards over the course of his ministry.
Christian served as associate editor of the ten volume Spanish edition of the Beacon Bible Commentary,and other Spanish-language ministerial texts, editor of the Conquista Juvenil (Spanish youth periodical), El Sendero de la Verdad (adult Spanish Sunday School periodical), and the Spanish Preacher’s Magazine. He has also published numerous articles and book chapters, and authored several books: Visitas Con Lucas; Training of Altar Workers; Devotionals in Luke; To Be Like Him, Devotionals in Philippians ;and The Perspective of the Eagle, Devotionals in the Gospel of John (4 vols.) Christian’s teaching and preaching are widely known, and he is a sought-after speaker for pastor’s retreats and events throughout Latin America. Christian and Margit have three children, Monica, Christina, and Steven, and five grandchildren, Elijah, Charly, Jonah, Gracyn, and Abigail.
Worship Leader
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GEORGE WILLIAMSON, serves as Director of Worship Arts at Point Loma Nazarene University, helping students develop both artistic excellence and sound theology vital for effective worship leading. He has served in the local church for 20+ years and leads worship in PLNU’s chapel gathering.
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SHAWNA SONGER GAINES, is a follower of Jesus, lover of books, runner of mediocre ability (at best), fan of gluten-free bakeries, wife of a hilarious pastor/theologian, mother of marvelously dramatic children, pastor of a uniquely diverse and intergenerational congregation, author of some books and Bible studies, and neighbor in the curiously creative city of Nashville. She currently serves as the lead pastor at Trevecca Community Church of the Nazarene, a congregation in the heart of Nashville, on the campus of Trevecca Nazarene University. Shawna and her husband, Tim, have a passion for learning from and pouring into the next generation of leaders in the church. She earned her B.A. from Point Loma Nazarene University, M.Div. from Nazarene Theological Seminary, and D.Min. from Lipscomb University.
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MARCOS CANALES, an immigrant from Costa Rica with Peruvian parents, has been pastoring among the Latina community of Los Angeles for almost two decades. He has also worked in the areas of community-based youth development, immigration advocacy, leadership coaching and theological education. Marcos is pastor of La Fuente Ministries: a bilingual, intercultural, and intergenerational congregation in the city of Pasadena, CA. He received his Master’s of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and his most recent publication includes a co-authored book entitled Las Casas on Faithful Witness. This work highlights key historical and theological writings from Bartolomé de Las Casas, the first community organizer and priest during Spanish colonial times who advocated for the dignity and defense of indigenous peoples in the Americas. One of his greatest passions is to integrate Christian discipleship, social justice, and Latina theology.
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STAN REEDER, served as a youth pastor and lead pastor of growing churches in Canada and the United States for 25 years before serving for 11 years in the role of Superintendent for the Oregon Pacific District Church of the Nazarene. In 2020 Stan was elected as the Church of the Nazarene’s Regional Director for USA/Canada. He has a doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary with an emphasis in Strategic Planning. Stan enjoys hockey, rock climbing, and backpacking. His wife Janet recently retired as Vice President of Patient Care Services for a national healthcare provider. Stan and Janet have two grown sons, a wonderful daughter-in-law, and one beautiful granddaughter.