SAVE THE DATE
Save the date – February 23-26, 2026 for the next CLF gathering.
Location: Christian Retreat Conference Center, Bradenton, FL
Click to view or download the conference invitation letter
Click to view or download the conference invitation/reminder letter
Click to view or download the latest conference schedule
When you are ready, please visit our online registration & housing request form by visiting the Conference 2026 registration page
Speaker Biographies
Rev. David Wells, has served as General Superintendent of The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada since 2008, leading a fellowship of 1,200 churches, 3,700 ministers and global workers in 50+ nations. He is vice-chair of the Pentecostal World Fellowship and chair of PWF’s Christian Unity Commission, and also president of the Pentecostal and Charismatic Churches of North America. David also serves on the executive of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship. He holds degrees from Vanguard College and Briercrest Seminary, along with honorary doctorates from McMaster Divinity College and Briercrest. He also has been a multi-Games chaplain for Olympic, Pan Am, Commonwealth and Invictus Games and in 2025 received the King Charles Coronation Medal for fostering dignity across faiths. He and his wife, Susan, live in Burlington, Ontario, and have been blessed with their three children and eight grandchildren.
Rev. Dr. David Moore, is a theologian and pastor who focuses on Pentecostal/ charismatic theology, Christian leadership, and missional spirituality. He holds multiple doctoral degrees and blends his academic training with extensive pastoral experience, which he believes is a unique and valuable combination. His areas of special interest include the history and theology of the modern Pentecostal/charismatic movements, pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit), the Jesus People Movement, and missional leadership. Dr. Moore’s work is deeply rooted in the history of Spirit-empowered Christianity. In his ministry, he is known for merging Pentecostal renewal theology with practical pastoral leadership while emphasizing the active role of the Holy Spirit, fostering reconciliation and unity, and engaging in mission. He is a respected figure in the field, with numerous contributions to theological literature and encyclopedias. His ministry and scholarship are driven by a passion for forming leaders who will have a significant impact on both the church and the wider culture, equipping them to carry on the Holy Spirit’s work in the modern world.
Gordon “Gordy” DeMarais, is a Catholic lay leader, evangelist, and teacher whose life has been dedicated to the renewal of the Church through the formation of communities of missionary disciples. He is best known as the founder and President Emeritus of Saint Paul’s Outreach (SPO), launched in 1985 at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Under his leadership, SPO grew from a small campus initiative into a nationwide movement training hundreds of full-time missionaries each year who evangelize and form thousands of students and young adults to become mature disciples of Jesus Christ. Gordy is also a founder and long-term leader in Christ the Redeemer, a lay charismatic community in St. Paul, MN and has been instrumental in the development of new lay Catholic communities around the United States. His vision is articulated in a book he co-authored, “Called to Christian Joy and Maturity: Forming Missionary Disciples.” At the heart of Gordy’s vocation is his family. He and his wife, Teresa, have six adult children and 12 grandchildren. They have raised their children in the life of mission, and together their children and spouses have already given more than sixty years of full-time missionary service. His legacy is a passionate call to restore apostolic life in the Church, raising up missionary disciples who boldly proclaim the Gospel and form Spirit-filled communities for the “new evangelization.”
Dr. John Gresham, is a retired seminary professor and theologian with a unique spiritual journey that led him from the Jesus movement and Pentecostal churches to the Roman Catholic Church. He holds a B.A. and M.A. from Wheaton College and a Ph.D. from Baylor University, as well as a certificate in spiritual direction from the Alleluia School of Spiritual Direction. After being baptized in the Holy Spirit as a teenager, he transitioned through various Christian traditions before entering full communion with the Catholic Church in 1996. This personal pilgrimage informs his teaching and ministry, which blends academic rigor with a charismatic spirituality. In his ministry, Dr. Gresham remains active in ecumenical dialogue and the Catholic Charismatic Renewal. He serves on the board of Pentecost Today USA, leads the Diocese of Venice Catholic Charismatic Commission, and is involved in local parish ministry, including emceeing a monthly charismatic prayer meeting. He also provides spiritual direction, underscoring his commitment to the practical application of theology in people’s lives. His work aims to bridge theological scholarship with the lived experience of faith and spiritual renewal.
Mrs. Jane Guenther, is a prominent Catholic educator and spiritual leader dedicated to the spiritual renewal and formation of the faithful. As the Director of the Catholic Renewal Center for the Archdiocese of St. Louis, she plays a vital role in helping clergy, religious, and laypeople grow in their relationship with God. Her ministry is rooted in the principles of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, which emphasizes the personal experience of the Holy Spirit and the use of spiritual gifts for the building up of the Church. Guenther’s work is driven by a vision of the Church as a unified body living out God’s plan. By helping individuals and communities realize their spiritual potential, she contributes to the broader mission of the New Evangelization. Her leadership at the Catholic Renewal Center makes her a key figure in the St. Louis Archdiocese’s efforts to foster a culture of discipleship and mission, demonstrating how charismatic spirituality can be effectively integrated into the mainstream of Catholic life.
Elena Sala is a celibate missionary from Brazil affiliated with the Shalom Catholic Community. Her life is a testament to integrating a consecrated life with professional and social engagement. In addition to her full-time missionary work, she has cultivated a career as a skincare specialist and is actively involved in entrepreneurial groups in Rio de Janeiro. A significant part of her ministry is her active involvement with the Somos Um (We Are One) ministry in Rio. This ministry is a key player in ecumenical work in Latin America, focusing on promoting unity among different Christian denominations. Elena’s participation in this ministry demonstrates her commitment to Christian unity and dialogue beyond the confines of the Catholic Church. Her life and ministry model a contemporary approach to evangelization. She inspires others to live a life of faith that is both deeply rooted in a spiritual tradition and actively engaged in the world. Her example shows that a missionary can use every facet of life to serve God and foster unity among His people.
Dr. Mayara Amaral Pazeto is an Evangelical Christian theologian who is dedicated to ecumenical dialogue and promoting unity among different Christian traditions. Through her participation in various forums and conferences, she actively seeks to build bridges of understanding and cooperation between Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Roman Catholics with a deep commitment to shared spiritual and theological efforts. Mayara emphasizes a broader vision of unity inspired by the Holy Spirit and grounded in a common devotion to the Gospel. She supports and contributes to initiatives that bring Christians together through shared prayer, theological discussion, and a unified witness to the world. Ultimately, Dr. Pazeto’s work aims to help Christians overcome historical divisions and recognize their shared identity in Christ. By fostering mutual respect and collaboration, she demonstrates a practical and profound commitment to ecumenism, working toward a future where Christian communities can more effectively fulfill their shared mission to the world.
Adriana Gonzalez, co-founder of “Flourish Your Faith Ministries,” is dedicated to promoting Christian unity and sanctification through ecumenical dialogue and shared prayer. She is also the co-founder of Misión Floresco, a medical and spiritual mission to a very poor community in Guatemala. Adriana was raised in a Catholic family that was very involved in the Charismatic Renewal. Her personal faith journey inspires her mission to bring Catholics and Protestants together. She and Dr. David Cole co-host the “That They May Be One” podcast, which fosters unity by featuring diverse Christian voices. Adriana also hosts the Flourish Your Faith podcast, which shares deep spiritual conversations with Christian leaders to “flourish our faith!” Her ministry highlights the power of the Holy Spirit to transform lives and unite the Body of Christ. Through conferences, media, and her work on projects like the docudrama That They May Be One, Adriana seeks to strengthen the collective witness of the Body of Christ in the world.
Scott Kelso, is the General Overseer of the 5 Points Greater Columbus Apostolic Network; which is an alliance of churches and ministries gathered to see the Kingdom of God established and maintained in the greater Columbus Area. He is also a previous past president of the board of Aldersgate Renewal Ministries in Goodlettsville, TN and currently serves on the Advisory Council. Scott has also been invited to sit with the Global Council of Empower 21, a worldwide coalition of leaders who are working through unifying the Church to see the entire world evangelized by 2033, the 2000th Birthday of the Church.
Scott serves as the Chairman of the Charismatic Leaders Fellowship, which is a national group of leaders comprising denominational, non-denominational and Catholic fellowships who meet once a year, by invitation, in a retreat setting.
In 2006, Scott authored his first book, Ice on Fire, published by Thomas Nelson Publishers.
David Cole is a Pentecostal minister, ordained with Open Bible Churches. He serves the Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches of North America as chair of their Christian Unity Commission, and also serves on the steering committee of the International Catholic-Pentecostal Dialogue as Pentecostal co-secretary. He is a cohost, along with Adriana Gonzalez of Flourish Your Faith Ministries, of a podcast entitled “That They May Be One.” He currently serves The King’s University in Southlake, TX as Professor of Historical Theology. He and his wife Julie live in Texas and are proud parents of four and grandparents of ten.