Danielle Ebben
Danielle “Dani” Ebben is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Substance Abuse Counselor, born and raised in Wisconsin. She has worked in the mental health field since 2018, with extensive experience supporting teenagers and young people. Dani is the owner of Seeds of Hope Therapy and is passionate about helping students take meaningful steps toward healing and hope. As a lifelong wheelchair user with Spina Bifida, she is also a public speaker and disability advocate, committed to making mental health care more accessible and inclusive. Outside of work, Dani enjoys farmers markets, coffee shops, Disney movies, and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Christian Eggers
Christian Eggers is on staff at Blackhawk Church and serves as a volunteer leader with Student Ministries. In her role at Blackhawk, she works with the Brader Way and Spiritual Formation teams to create opportunities for intergenerational connection and leads Blackhawk’s Young Adult Ministry. Christian is passionate about helping people of all ages connect with God, with one another, and with the life of the church.

Josiah Gould
Josiah Gould is the Pastor of Middle School Ministries at Constance Free Church in Andover, Minnesota. He holds an M.Div. in Applied Theology from the University of Northwestern – St. Paul and has spent nearly eight years serving middle school students and young adults. Josiah is passionate about helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith, and share the hope they’ve found.

Micah Howard
Micah Howard is the Director of High School Ministry at Blackhawk Church. Originally from Philadelphia, he has lived in Wisconsin for the past eight years and holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Micah is passionate about helping students understand the story of the Bible and experience the love and freedom of Jesus. In his free time, you can find him playing strategy games, riding his ebike, or cuddling with his four cats.

Amber Janssen
Amber Janssen is a history teacher and basketball and softball coach at Vel Phillips Memorial High School in Madison. With 16 years of teaching experience, she is passionate about coming alongside teens and advocating for them. Amber has attended Blackhawk Church since 2001 and enjoys hosting in the Gospel Fusion venue.

Katie Kenig
Katie Kenig has been part of Blackhawk’s Middle School Ministry for the past 18 years in a variety of roles, including volunteer, intern, staff, and curriculum writer. She is passionate about supporting young teenagers, helping them grow in their faith, and encouraging volunteers as the ministry continues to grow. Outside of ministry, Katie enjoys the Bible Project, singing, snowboarding, and cheering on her two kids at their activities.

Tiffany Malloy
Tiffany Malloy serves as the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Ministry Strategy at Blackhawk Church, where she leads the expression of spiritual growth across the Blackhawk community. She is passionate about encouraging and equipping people to grow in their life with God as they lead and influence others. Tiffany and her husband, Jake, have four tweens and teens, and have called Madison home since 2013. In her free time, she enjoys reading, running, and ice cream.

Alicia Penning
Alicia Penning serves as the Associate Director of Care at Blackhawk Church. She holds a Master’s in Biblical Studies from Reformed Theological Seminary and spent 24 years in campus ministry before joining Blackhawk’s staff. Alicia is passionate about helping people experience God’s love and presence in every season of life. She and her husband, Adam, have three kids, and outside of work you’ll often find her cheering at her kids’ activities, reading, or enjoying time outside.

Marcio Sierra Jr.
Marcio Sierra Jr. was born and raised in Honduras and moved to the United States as a teenager. He holds a Master of Divinity from Regent University and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree from Global Awakening Theological Seminary. Marcio serves as the lead pastor of Lighthouse Church in Madison and is married to Tia. They have two children, Marcio and Isabela.

Peter Vang
Peter Vang is a second-generation Hmong American. He serves as an associate site pastor at Blackhawk Church and leads the Asian American Student Ministry. He is passionate about laughing too loudly, all things food, geeky Bible conversations, and helping students experience Jesus’ love and sweetness.

Compassion in the Chaos: Caring for Students When the World Feels Like Too Much
Danielle Ebben
Every generation has faced crisis, but today’s students are growing up with constant access to news and information. Anxiety, stress, and uncertainty are part of their daily experience, and many come into our ministries carrying heavy stories from home, school, and the world around them. In this session, we’ll explore how to support students from diverse backgrounds without trying to fix everything they’re facing. Students don’t always need answers, but they do need trusted adults who can sit with them in the chaos and offer calm, compassion, and presence.

Sexuality and Spiritual Formation: Preparing for Conversations with Our Students
Christian Eggers & Peter Vang
Whether planned or not, conversations about sexuality will come up with students. Jesus desires to invite each student to image him with their sexuality, and as leaders, we all bring our own thoughts & experiences into these moments. This session offers a thoughtful dialogue that weaves together theological foundations, adolescent development, and practical guidance, and explores how to embody God’s goodness and grace as we engage these conversations.

Sabbath Rest: Finding Peace in the Presence of God
Marcio Sierra Jr.
In ministry, especially youth ministry, it’s easy to stay busy doing the work of the Kingdom while slowly drifting from the presence of the King. Many leaders run at a nonstop pace, believing rest means stepping away from action or stopping work altogether. But true Sabbath rest is not about the absence of activity. It’s about the presence of peace in your body, soul, mind, and spirit. In this breakout, we’ll explore a deeper, biblical understanding of Sabbath rest and why it’s essential for healthy, sustainable ministry. We’ll look at Sabbath not as a burden but as a gift from God that restores peace, renews identity, and invites us back into wholeness.

Bridging the Gap: Navigating Unbundled Faith With Students
Micah Howard
Every generation relates to faith differently. While generational labels were originally created as a marketing tool, they’ve become a helpful way to distinguish the different needs and experiences of students today. Many Gen Z and Gen Alpha students are responding to uncertainty by distancing themselves from institutional religion and practicing what researchers call “unbundled faith.” In this breakout, we’ll explore what unbundled faith looks like, the challenges it presents for student ministry, and how leaders can thoughtfully walk alongside students as they wrestle with uncertainty.

The Chaos Is Real: Classroom Management Wisdom for Ministry Leaders
Amber Janssen
We love Jesus. We love students. We want to see them grow. Then ministry happens, and behaviors throw us for a look. This session offers practical wisdom for navigating real-life ministry environments. We’ll talk about when to address behavior, when to adjust expectations, and when to channel energy in a new direction. You’ll leave with practical tools you can use to help you persevere in leading these environments for years to come.
use these tools.

YLC Book Discussion: 10 to 25 by David Yeager
Katie Kenig
Join us for our first-ever YLC book discussion. You are encouraged to read the first few chapters of 10 to 25 in advance. While the book focuses on adolescent brain development, it ultimately challenges our mindset as leaders working with people in lower power dynamics. You may find many parallels between how God interacts with humanity, especially in the stories of Jesus, the apostles, and the early church. In this breakout, we’ll review key ideas and discuss how these insights can shape student ministry, parenting, teaching, and other leadership contexts. Topics will include transparency, purpose, belonging, and collaborative problem-solving, with time to identify where we can use these tools in our ministries.

Sexuality and Spiritual Formation: Preparing for Conversations With Our Students
Christian Eggers & Peter Vang
Whether planned or not, conversations about sexuality will come up with students. Jesus desires to invite each student to image him with their sexuality, and as leaders, we all bring our own thoughts & experiences into these moments. This session offers a thoughtful dialogue that weaves together theological foundations, adolescent development, and practical guidance, and explores how to embody God’s goodness and grace as we engage these conversations.

Sabbath Rest: Finding Peace in the Presence of God
Marcio Sierra Jr.
In ministry, especially youth ministry, it’s easy to stay busy doing the work of the Kingdom while slowly drifting from the presence of the King. Many leaders run at a nonstop pace, believing rest means stepping away from action or stopping work altogether. But true Sabbath rest is not about the absence of activity. It’s about the presence of peace in your body, soul, mind, and spirit. In this breakout, we’ll explore a deeper, biblical understanding of Sabbath rest and why it’s essential for healthy, sustainable ministry. We’ll look at Sabbath not as a burden but as a gift from God that restores peace, renews identity, and invites us back into wholeness.

Vibe Check: how healthy is your team culture?
Tiffany Malloy
Every team has a vibe—how people communicate, support each other, and work together makes all the difference for students. In this session, we’ll assess the health of your team’s vibe, discuss common challenges (miscommunication, unclear expectations, different schedules, conflict styles, and more), and share practical tools to navigate sticky moments. You’ll leave ready to build a team culture where leaders feel supported, students thrive, and everyone shows up with grace.

The Chaos Is Real: Classroom Management Wisdom for Ministry Leaders
Amber Janssen
We love Jesus. We love students. We want to see them grow. Then ministry happens, and behaviors throw us for a loop. This session offers practical wisdom for navigating real-life ministry environments. We’ll discuss when to address behavior, when to adjust expectations, and when to channel energy in a new direction. You’ll leave with practical tools you can use to help you persevere in leading these environments for years to come.

Adolescents and Discipleship: How to Mentor Well
Josiah Gould
Students want to be led by leaders who are authentic. Whether they can put it into words or not, they crave examples of leaders who are growing deeply in their own faith to learn what it means to follow Jesus. In this session, we will discuss how to model spiritual growth for students in ways that show students the experiential nature of faith, the exciting realities of life-long discipleship, and equip them for the work of ministry as they grow.