Main Pavilion Speakers

Mark Finley

Pastor Mark Finley is the former host and director of It Is Written. He was the first Seventh-day Adventist pastor to do a satellite evangelistic series. He has written over 74 published books. During his lifetime, Finley presented more than 150 evangelistic meeting series in over 70 countries, making him a key figure in evangelism. Today, Pastor Finley and Teenie continue their ministry at the Living Hope School of Evangelism Training Centre in Haymarket, Virginia.

Ernestine Finley

Ernestine “Teenie” Finley has a passion for sharing the principles of a positive, healthy lifestyle. She has inspired thousands of health-conscious individuals to improve their quality of life, reduce their risk of disease, and increase their longevity through her books, TV appearances, and seminars. Teenie is known worldwide for teaching natural lifestyle cooking.

Artur Stele

Artur A. Stele was elected as a general vice president for the Seventh-day Adventist world church at the 2010 General Conference Session in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on January 30, 1961, in Kaskelen, a city in southern Kazakhstan. He graduated from Almaty Medical College in Kazakhstan in 1979 with a degree in pharmacy and served in the Soviet military from 1979 to 1981. In 1986, Stele received a bachelor’s degree in theology from Fridensau University in Germany. That same year, Stele married Galina, the first woman to graduate from Andrews University with a doctoral degree in ministry. The couple has a son named Alexander and a grandson named Leonard. Stele earned his master’s degree and doctorate in theology from Andrews University in 1993 and 1996, respectively. Stele’s denominational service includes time spent as a pastor, academic dean, president of Zaokski Theological Seminary, and president of the Euro-Asia Division. Stele is fluent in Russian, German, and English.

Galina Stele

Born in Russia, Galina Stele has served the church in various capacities, including as a professor of theology at Zaoksky Theological Seminary (Russia); coordinator and general editor of Shepherdess and Living Church for the Euro-Asia Division; and director of the Euro-Asia Division’s Institute of Missiology. In 1996, she was the first woman to graduate with a Doctor of Ministry (DMin) from Andrews University. A widely published author, Stele joined the Office of Archives, Statistics, and Research in 2012 as the Research and Program Evaluation Assistant and became Research and Evaluation Manager in early 2016.

Brad Thorp

Pastor Thorp was born and raised here in British Columbia, in the town of Oliver in the South Okanagan. He is a BC boy! After his education at Burman University, Walla Walla University, and Newbold College in England, Pastor Thorp began his ministry in Kelowna. Through the years, he has served in the USA, Europe, and our world headquarters near Washington, DC. He conducted evangelistic series in the Metro Vancouver area, and in 1982, at Oakridge Church in Vancouver, he and his wife Kandus were married. Pastor and Mrs. Thorp are most well known as the founders of the Hope Channel TV network and have travelled globally for the development of Hope Channel International. Today, there are 80 channels on the Hope Channel network. Pastor and Mrs. Thorp have a deep passion in their hearts for mission and evangelism. Pastor Thorp had retired in 2020, but in September 2022, the BC Conference Board of Directors elected him as our new conference president, and he is now serving full time as our church leader here in BC. The Thorps have three sons, three beautiful daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.

Paul Llewellyn

Paul Llewellyn hails from the lovely island of Prince Edward Island (PEI). He grew up in a military household and saw God slowly bring his whole family to know Jesus. Paul started serving the church in the field of education and then moved into teaching Bible classes and serving as a chaplain. Eventually, he moved into pastoral ministry and then into administration. God has always led in an amazing way, as his wife and he has learned to trust in His leading. No matter where God plants them, they know that God will never leave or give up on them.

Randy Robinson

Randy was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area as a fourth-generation Seventh-day Adventist. He attended Adventist elementary schools in the San Francisco Bay Area, attended Monterey Bay Academy, and then earned a bachelor’s degree from Pacific Union College. Directly out of college, Randy was employed as a business intern by the Nevada-Utah Conference. From there, he has served as treasurer of the Illinois Conference, Oregon Conference, Southern Union Conference, and, until just recently, the North American Division. All told, he has served in church treasury employment since 1983.
Randy was ordained to the gospel ministry in 2000 and has held or participated in several evangelistic series domestically and abroad. He loves evangelism and is passionate about doing all he can to bring people to a saving knowledge of our Saviour. He also enjoys the outdoors and building live-edge furniture. Randy married his college sweetheart in June of 1983, Denise Halenz. Together, they have two sons, Jason and Brandon, and two wonderful daughters-in-law, Susie and Amanda.

Teresa Ferreira

Teresa Ferreira currently serves in the Philanthropy and Marketing department at ADRA Canada. She comes from a diverse leadership background within the Adventist Church, including education and conference administration. Teresa sees the Adventist faith as a legacy of truth seekers committed Christ-followers, and Advent Hope messengers. The passion for keeping the young and old in our church and spiritually on fire for an absolute God of love in a world that triumphs over compromise is woven into every detail of who she is and what she represents. She considers her ministry to God to be the lifeblood of her very soul and challenges people to hold fast to Psalm 16:8 and “not be moved.” Very simply, we all must be committed to the remnant cause of service so that others may know our Jesus through the lens of being His hands and feet! Teresa says, “For a truly meaningful experience, coming alongside ADRA Canada in our humanitarian efforts will only strengthen the gospel cause of Jesus’ example through partnering with each other in the name of justice, compassion, and love so all may live as God intended.”

Cedric Vine

Dr. Cedric Vine is Associate Professor of New Testament at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, Andrews University, Michigan. He holds a PhD from the University of Sheffield, UK, and wrote his dissertation on the Gospel of Matthew. His most recent publication is Jesus and the Nations: Discipleship and Mission in the Gospel of Matthew (Eugene, Oreg.: Pickwick, 2022). Before coming to Andrews University, Dr. Vine taught in the Department of Theological Studies at Newbold College (2008–2015). He has also served as a pastor in the north of England for nine years. He is married to Tserha, originally from Ethiopia, and is the father of two sons, John (17) and Mark (16).

Cindy Tutsch

Cindy Tutsch, DMin, most recently served until retirement as an Associate Director of the Ellen G. White Estate at the General Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists in Silver Spring, MD. Her position included promoting enthusiasm and understanding for Ellen White across generations. She has been a featured speaker at universities, convocations, Weeks of Prayer, camp meetings, and pastor-teacher training events in 61 countries in all thirteen divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist church. She has been involved in youth ministry, teaching, and evangelism for 45 years as a pastor, Bible teacher, lay ministries coordinator, television host, literature-evangelism leader, and conference youth director. She is the author of four books, including Ellen White on Leadership: Guidance for Those Who Influence Others, and scores of articles in Adventist publications. She and her husband, Ulrich, especially enjoy outdoor recreation with their children and grandchildren.