Janet is a graphic designer and a founder of Rings & Coffee, LLC. She is passionate about jewelry design, uplifting others, ASL alliteration, and of course, the gospel. She is currently living in Maryland with her husband and their precious toddler. She still dreams of moving to Charleston, SC to be close to her family and open a coffee shop. One day!

After moving over 30 times in her life including living on a fishing boat at one point, Renca currently hails from Nebraska. She is currently a full-time doctoral student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL). Renca is adamant on the idea of how we should celebrate each other in life rather than comparing because when we compare, we miss the opportunities of recognizing the unique parts about ourselves that God has designed and knitted inside of us. While there are many questions we have about life, but there is no question about how real God’s love is for us. Renca enjoys expressing her humor through videos which you can see on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok under the name reallyrenca. She loves signing songs, traveling the world, meeting new people, and dark chocolate, but most of all, she loves Jesus.

Ashley teaches the basics of sign language on Instagram, @signedwithheart. She’s passionate about helping improve the communications between the hearing and the Deaf, and also about reaching hearing parents of deaf children and encouraging them to learn sign language to communicate with their deaf child. She’s also passionate about sharing about God because He has changed her life. Ashley wants others to come to know God and experience His goodness too.

Belinda McCleese was raised by her both Deaf parents in Virginia. As an ’86 graduate of Gallaudet University and ’87 graduate of Deaf International Bible College, she pursued her MA degrees in Psychology Counseling and Pastoral Counseling at Trinity College of Graduate Studies. She currently serves as a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist / Deaf Service Coordinator in Orange County, CA. Now, she serves as Spiritual Care Mentor of National Deaf Culture Fellowship of A/G. As Director, she remains committed to fulfilling Vineyard Deaf Ministries’ mission statement: empowering potential leadership to embrace Christ’s vital life flowing through them into the community. She enjoys the awe of Nature and always has a soft spot in her heart for furry, four-pawed pals.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Ann Lynn (Smith) Parker attended Maryland School for the Deaf and graduated from Gallaudet University in 1998. ​When Ann Lynn met Jesus through a friend and accepted salvation in 1997, she knew she found an Everlasting Friend! She has extensive ministry experiences ranging from planning local church events to teaching small groups. Over the years, Ann Lynn has continued to preach and lead praise/worship at several Women’s Retreats.

As a California resident since 2007 and not missing the snow, Ann Lynn is an engaged member of the Bay Area Deaf community. Married to Pastor James, she has three blessed daughters and two dogs. Ann Lynn works as a Community Education Program Manager for a Deaf social services agency. In her spare time, she enjoys building up her event decorating business, ​Day to Rejoice Weddings & Events​, which is based on Psalm 118:24.

Pastor / Dr. Karen Bregman, DMin, M.S., B.A.

Karen enjoys quality time with two amazing adult sons, a daughter-in-law, and a sweet Chocolate Labrador/Pit Bull, “Ellie,” as the ‘lights’ of her life. At the end of her college freshman year in 1986, Karen accepted Jesus as her Savior. Afterward, Karen learned her decision caused a painful, bitter division between her parents’ beliefs; they disowned her for several years. God’s faithfulness sustained Karen through 38 years of incredible journeys and unexpected miracles.

Since 2017, Karen serves as Commissioned Pastor with Rock Church Deaf Ministry and Pastoral Support Team. Karen completed mission trips to a Deaf school in Mexico, provided leadership training to Deaf Christian Leaders and Pastors in Cuba. In 2021, Karen completed her Doctor of Ministry studies from Bethel Seminary in San Diego/St. Paul. Karen coordinated a Deaf Pastors Cohort for her doctorate project that produced essential research findings toward improving Deaf pastoral self-care.

Since 1993, Karen has served with the Deaf community as Leader of various organizations: Co-Founder/President of San Diego Chapter DWU. In 2006, Karen served as NAD’s Chair of the Diversity Strategic Team to create initiatives to improve their efforts to become diverse-friendly and establish the standard of diversity within the American Deaf community. Since 1997, Karen serves with NADC as a Board member (President, 2004-2014, Past President, 2014–present).

Tanya Polstra serves as the Executive Director of Silent Blessings Deaf Ministries. Her passion is teaching the ASL communities about the Deaf worldview, sign languages, and the intersections of theology and the Deaf. She brings a distinctly Deaf perspective to show how sign language scripture speaks to all of life. Tanya encourages ASL communities who embrace sign languages to become aware that they are a part of a movement that God is orchestrating to fulfill His command in Matthew 28, to make disciples.

She holds an MA in Disabilities Studies with an emphasis on policy and advocacy in ministry from California Baptist University in Riverside, California. She was in a discipleship training program spanning four years with courses such as Grasping God’s Word, Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, and Deafhood 101, and is currently in Vineyard Deaf Ministries’ 2-year inner Transformation Program under Belinda McCleese. She has given workshops on Deaf-centricity and ethics from both the Deaf and interpreter perspectives at community colleges, churches, and conferences.

Tanya and her husband have been married for 10 years. They have three children (2016, 2018, 2020), they live in Indianapolis, Indiana. She loves to read books about leadership, missions, and trauma healing. She has run 24 half marathons and 2 full marathons and looks forward to training again this Fall.

Donna Valverde is an introvert who does a hodge-podge of tasks in her roles as an administrative assistant and deaf interpreter. With a background in deaf education, advocacy and project management, she uses her organizational and bilingual language skills to uplift the deaf people she serves. Donna’s way of walking with Jesus is summed up in 1 Thessalonians 4:11a: “and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands..” It fits with God’s calling for her life: to serve at home, work and in the local church. There are a few times when Donna is not quiet: during worship, when she has to take a stand, and when God is the topic of a conversation. Her favorite thing about God is that He is a loving, no nonsense Dad who saves her from depression and continually leads her to repentance. Feet firmly planted on His truth, Donna remains #unmoved and hopes to inspire others to stay firm in Christ.

Crystal (Kelley) Schwartz, prayer warrior and motivation coach, loves to remind herself and others that “God is good, God is great…and greater are WE that have Christ within us, than we who go against God’s grace.” Crystal has enjoyed the privilege of working as a performer, sign language educator, deaf interpreter, author and family involvement specialist for over 30 years. Working as an independent contractor brings great opportunities that she considers blessings from God, but they also bring great challenges. What does it mean to be a Christian today in 2021; balancing a productive life that includes distractions and still connect with God at the same time? What does it mean to be a Christian in a world where the majority are against God? How do we become one with God, and represent God if we are not fully armored? Colossians 3:12-15 is the answer Crystal continues to impart daily as she navigates through many different roles in her life. Distractions are everywhere, it is essential to stay focused and continue to represent the Good News that God is Love and that goodness comes from God. At this year’s DWC conference, Crystal is excited to receive this time with you to share testimonies along with tips on how to stay on God’s battlefield with a heart full of grace which promises us victory in the end. Crystal will also take this time to pray together for our strength to keep going and will also share an excerpt from one of her poems, “Blessed Victory.”

Laura was born and raised in Texas until God called her and her husband to Virginia in 2019 where her husband serves as the Pastor at Deaf Mission of RIchmond’s First Baptist Church. Laura has over 28 years of experience in education and currently works as a Deaf and Hard of Hearing teacher with Richmond Public Schools and an adjunct faculty member at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College for the Interpreter Training Program. In her spare time (which is very rare), she works as an Independent Consultant with Pampered Chef. She is currently a student at Liberty University working on her Ed.D degree in Educational Leadership. Laura is very involved in the ministry alongside her husband, Dirk and has the greatest desire for deaf women to have an intimate relationship with God and to become women after God’s own heart. Laura has two college-aged children – Dakota (21) and Lexi (19). Her primary ministry is being a wife and a mother and her favorite verse is Joshua 24:15 – As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.

Born in Dallas and raised in East Texas, Lexi is now enjoying the East Coast life in the DMV area as she navigates her second year of college life at Gallaudet University with a double major in History and Government with a minor in English. She plans to either teach or become a lawyer with the goal of focusing on advocacy for bilingualism and Deaf education. Whenever she isn’t studying or working, you can easily find her cuddled up under a fuzzy blanket with a cup of creamer and a splash of coffee reading a new novel while checking out her favorite Christian artist Lauren Daigle’s songs.