Dr. Alaine Pakkala has spent nearly thirty years ministering to hurting people. Her understanding of those who are the most shattered – those with dissociative issues – has allowed her to prepare resources to train others. Her passion and sense of humor have mixed together to create insights into how to best come alongside these wounded ones.

For over 20 years Chris has been testing, creating and practicing brain-based solutions to make relationships work. While Chris is highly motivated to develop practical resources, Chris enjoys spending time with Jen and their two sons, Matthew and Andrew. The Coursey’s enthusiastically pass on the skills they missed growing up to their sons.

In addition to building joy on the home front, Chris spends most of his time teaching, training, developing materials, fostering relationships, exercising and equipping God’s people to mature, so they live according to their faith and values.

Chris is a published author with seven books in print including his latest, Transforming Fellowship: 19 Brain Skills That Build Joyful Community which is now translated into Korean. Chris travels the world equipping couples, ministry leaders, and churches in relational brain skills.

Chris earned a B.A. in Sociology from Eastern Illinois University and then started working as a counselor working with children and families with severe trauma. Chris completed his Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from a Messianic Jewish Yeshiva called MBI, or Messianic Bible Institute, out of Virginia. Chris is also an ordained minister.

Melissa Finger is the founder and executive director of the Trauma Healing Center in Kansas City. In addition, she has worked as a biblical counselor for more than a decade assisting clients both locally and internationally as they heal from complex trauma. Melissa has a masters degree in Marriage and Family Counseling, has written three books on healing from trauma, and has spoken at dozens of events and workshops across the country. Her heart is to share God’s perspective of trauma and His plan of healing for every individual!

Dr. Jim Wilder (Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, and M.A. Theology, Fuller Theological Seminary) has been training leaders and counselors for over 27 years on five continents. He is the author of multiple books with a strong focus on maturing and relationship skills for leaders. His coauthored book Living From the Heart Jesus Gave You has sold over 100,000 copies and is printed in eleven languages. Wilder has published numerous articles and developed four sets of video and relational leadership training called THRIVE.

He is the founder and chief neurotheologian of Life Model Works, a nonprofit working at the intersection of brain science and theology that is building contagiously healthy Christian communities through equipping existing networks with the skills to thrive. Dr. Wilder has extensive counseling experience and has served as a guest lecturer at Fuller Seminary, Biola, Talbot Seminary, Point Loma University, Montreat College, Tyndale Seminary and elsewhere.

Juni Felix is the author of the new book “You Are Worth the Work: Moving Forward from Trauma to Faith.” She is a member of the Stanford Behavior Design Lab Teaching Team, a C.S. Lewis Institute Fellow, speaker, podcast and radio host. As a Tiny Habits® Coach who has long used the method to help others to transform lives and relationships with God, Juni has gone on to be a leader in the church, and through her speaking, broadcasting, and podcasting ministries, an encourager to people around the world.

Marcus Warner has served as president of Deeper Walk International since 2006. Marcus earned three degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School – M.Div., Th.M. Old Testament, and D.Min. He has written numerous books and spoken for both ministry and corporate groups across the country and around the world. A Bible teacher at heart, Marcus has taught Old Testament and Theology at the junior high, high school, college, and seminary levels. His passion is taking complex topics and making them practical and accessible for everyone.