Connections 2025 Speakers
Michael is a Licensed Professional Counselor, spiritual director, speaker, and CEO at Restoring the Soul, an intensive counseling ministry in Lakewood, Colorado. Michael is an author of two books including Sacred Attachment: Escaping Spiritual Exhaustion and Trusting In Divine Love, and Surfing for God: Discovering the Divine Desire Beneath Sexual Struggle. Having experienced the restoring touch of God in a deeply broken life and marriage, Michael’s passion is to help people create deeper connections with God, themselves, and others.
In addition to leading Restoring the Soul and equipping Christian organizations around the world is the host of the Restoring the Soul podcast. He holds an MA in Biblical Counseling from Colorado Christian University and an MA in counseling psychology from the University of Denver. Michael lives with his wife Julianne in the foothills of Colorado where he enjoys the Rocky Mountains and a host of other outdoor activities with friends and family.
Alexis Abernethy is a Clinical Psychologist and Professor of Psychology in the School of Psychology & Marriage and Family Therapy at Fuller Theological Seminary. In 2021 she was named Chief Academic officer at Fuller. Prior to that she served as the Chief of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She graduated from Howard University with a BS in Psychology. She received her MA and PhD from the University of California, Berkeley.
Her primary research interest is the intersection between spirituality and health. Dr. Abernethy’s Spirituality and Health Lab includes three research teams: Experience of Spirituality and Health-Related Outcomes; Spirituality, Cancer, and Health Disparities; and Spirituality, Culture, and Eating Disturbance. She is the Principal Investigator of the Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services-Fuller Theological Seminary Research Collaborative.
Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of National Community Church (NCC) in Washington, D.C.
One church in multiple locations, NCC owns and operates Ebenezers Coffeehouse, the Miracle Theatre, the DC Dream Center and Capital Turnaround. Mark holds a doctor of ministry degree from Regent University and is the New York Times bestselling author of 24 books. His newest books include A Million Little Miracles and The Best Worst Day Ever, the third children’s book he’s written with his daughter, Summer. He and his wife reside in Washington, D.C.
Jill Phillips Gullahorn is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who has been recording albums and performing for over 25 years. She is also a licensed marriage and family therapist who enjoys working in her private practice and teaching at a wide range of events across the country. She has been married to her husband, musician Andy Gullahorn, for 26 years and has three children ages 23, 20, and 17. In her free time she loves reading, hiking with friends and family, cooking and hosting, and visiting the Outer Banks of North Carolina.
Christine Labrum is a seasoned spiritual director, retreat leader, and artist. Her art creates a pathway for engaging God’s love and tenacious pursuit of our hearts. The images, emerging from prayer, engagement with Scripture, and our life’s journey with God, have resulted in three devotional books Journey to Become, Divine Hands, and Encounter, and a personal retreat guidebook, Come.
Christine facilitates intentional space to engage with God and listen to His voice, both individually and in community. She offers retreats, contemplative gatherings, and spiritual direction.
Christine has a Bachelor of Arts in art from Messiah University, a Master of Divinity from Biblical Seminary, and a certificate in spiritual direction training from Kairos: School of Spiritual Formation. Christine, her husband, and their two young adult daughters live in Pennsylvania.
Curt Thompson, MD, is a board certified psychiatrist, author, speaker, and co-host of The Being Known Podcast. He has been in private practice for over 30 years in Falls Church, Virginia, graduated from Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, and completed his psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital.
Curt strives to help patients develop flourishing lives by telling their stories more truly, in order to become more deeply known, for the purpose of creating beauty and goodness in the world. With conviction and humor, he trains clinicians and speaks at workshops, retreats and conferences, integrating neuroscience, human relationships and Christian faith. He and his wife, Phyllis, are the parents of two adult children and live in Northern Virginia.