Team
Nathaniel Binion | Director of Hyphen | Contact
In 2004, under the direction of then Youth President Chuck Carr and later Martin Gantt, Nathaniel started a Young Adult ministry in the Missouri district called Vantage. They held their first event at the 2005 Missouri Youth Convention. Nathaniel Binion was a Student Pastor and Outreach Pastor in St. Louis, Missouri until Spring 2008. Most recently, Nathaniel and Regina have started Kerygma, a downtown church under David Bernard in Austin, Texas (a city in which 40% of the population are between the ages of 18 and 30).
Kristin Keller | Hyphen Administrator | Contact
Kristin is the Hyphen Administrator. She serves as {ymi} A Young Adult Ministry Leader, Assistant Director of Arts and Music Ministry and Promotions Director at New Life Christian Center in Lancaster, Ohio. She also serves as the Ohio District Youth Division Music Coordinator and the Ohio All State Youth Choir Director.
In 2005, Kristin graduated from Indiana Bible College with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts and Music and in 2007 she graduated from Liberty University with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a specialization in International Business. Currently, Kristin is pursuing a Doctor of Worship Studies Degree at the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies.
If you were to sum up Kristin, you could include ~ worship leader ~ runner ~ vintage junky ~ closet nerd ~ student ~ writer ~ designer ~ & a hyphen!
Shawn Stickler | Regional Director, Canada | Contact
Shawn Stickler is the Hyphen regional director for Canada. He and his wife Stephanie have fulfiled the role of Associate Pastor, at First Pentecostal Church in Belleville, Ontario since 2002. Shawn is the Ontario District Youth President, and a member of the college board of directors for Northeast Christian College.
Shawn grew up in Delaware and received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 1998, from the University of Delaware. He has been working in student ministry for 15 years serving as a youth pastor, sectional youth leader, district promotions director and youth president. During his tenure as Youth President, the Ontario district youth team began an event for young adults called Breakaway, and added sessions and ministry to young adults as part of its events.
Shawn preaches and teaches regularly at First Pentecostal Church, and has been privileged to speak at youth events throughout Canada and the United States. In addition to spending time with his wife and their three daughters, he enjoys boating and fishing.
Micah Wisdom | Regional Director, Southwest | Contact
Micah is the pastor of the United Pentecostal Church in Wagoner, Oklahoma. He has been privileged to speak at camps, conferences and retreats throughout various states. He has organized young adult functions on local, sectional and district levels. While serving as District Youth Secretary, he was an integral part of getting a district wide 20-somethings retreat started in Oklahoma.
Akil Thompson | Regional Director, East | Contact
Akil Thompson is a writer, worship leader, pastor and co-founder of Tomorrow Starts Now (a not-for-profit (501-c3) organization that synergizes efforts, resources, and immensely talented people; so that people from all walks of life may realize their futures today.) Akil writes frequently about balancing work and life, as well as the delicate art of managing your finances.
Born in Richmond, Virginia, after a successful corporate banking career guiding businesses that generate $15 million in annual revenue, Akil decided to pursue his God-given call into full-time ministry. Over the years Akil has amassed almost 13 years of ministerial experience and in 1998, Akil’s life became truly BIGGER, BETTER, LOUDER & STRONGER than ever before! He met the love of his life, Sarah! Since, and in true God style, they have empowered and inspired thousands of people to change their worlds for God.
Whether its at the university level, a youth camp, or Sr. Executives of a Fortune 100 company, Akil has the ability to inspire and instill a sense of urgency that will compel you to fulfill your wildest dreams. In addition to his efforts to prepare this generation and the next, Akil has addressed people from all walks of life. What began as a commitment to helping individuals experience the transforming power of Jesus Christ has grown as Akil is called upon by individuals from every walk of life.
Brandon Miraflor | Regional Director, West | Contact
Brandon is currently an evangelist and was the youth pastor at Christian Life Center in Stockton, California for six years. An alumnus of Christian Life College (Stockton, California), he carries a total of thirteen years in youth ministry experience. Not only has he served at the local level of student ministry, but also as a sectional and district official.
Drew Powell | Web Administrator | Contact
Drew has a heart to serve the church. His official titles are College Pastor and Administrator. His less official titles include boyfriend, friend, singer, songwriter, budgets pastor, and aspiring hiker. He has served in domestic mission work in various capacities, and his passion is to mobilize the church to action.Joel Gray | Regional Director, NorthCentral | Contact
Joel and Erin Gray met at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where they were both students. Joel graduated with a BS in Chemistry, and now works as a forensic scientist for the Illinois State Police. They have been happily married for thirteen years, and have two kids, Noah and Zuriel. They have served in youth ministry since 1998 and Joel has been an Illinois Sectional Youth Director since 2006. In July of 2008, their lives came full circle, as they had the honor of being elected Pastors of the Apostolic Life Church in Carbondale, Illinois. In addition to being the Hyphen Midwest Regional Director, Joel also runs the Hyphen ministry at SIUC, and has begun hosting young adult services at his church.
Erin Gray | Marketing Director | Contact
Erin Gray has been creating print designs for over 13 years, both professionally and personally for corporate companies and churches. She specializes in marketing campaigns and high-end print pieces. In addition to her corporate work, she also finds time to create art; focusing mostly on painting and mixed media.
Erin turned her life over to Jesus when she was 18, and she harbors a special place in her heart for young adults. She and her husband were in youth ministry for over 10 years and for the last several years have been pastoring in Carbondale, Illinois.
She is the mother of two amazing people—Noah and Zuriel, and the wife of an innovative thinker—Joel.
Sarah Holland | Regional Director, NorthCentral | Contact
Sarah worked for Impact Student Ministries for nearly ten years as assistant to the student pastor and Michigan youth president, leadership coordinator, and teacher, before taking over as the young adult director at The Apostolic Church in Auburn Hills, Michigan.
Sarah has a BA in English and Secondary Education and an MA in English from Oakland University. By day she is a high school English & history teacher and a college English professor at Baker College and Northwood University.
Ryan Mitchell | Young Adult Liaison | Contact
Ryan has been involved in many different facets of youth and young adult ministry for 11 years. He was appointed Campus Ministry Sectional Coordinator and Special Events Coordinator for his district in 2003 and has devoted himself to this ministry in his home state of Indiana. Ryan is one of the original architects of the Hyphen Ministry and hit the ground running by coordinating the nation’s first statewide Hyphen event in August of 2009. He has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Business School of Indiana University and has plans to further his education in the near future.
Ryan is a fan and often participant in many different team and individual sports. He enjoys music, art, architecture and travel. Scuba diving, snow skiing, hunting and fishing are a few of his favorite ways to escape from reality.
Darin Sargent | Regional Director, West | Contact
Darin Sargent is a Pastor, author, motivational speaker and founder of ThumbUp Foundation (a non-profit established to provide motivational programs, specifically for those with physical handicaps). Being born with a physical handicap gives Darin a unique perspective that inspires those around him.
Darin evangelized for six years and has pastored for twelve years. He is an in-demand motivational speaker and preacher, preaching camps and conferences worldwide. He served as Director of Promotions and Youth Secretary for the Western District Youth Department of UPCI; Sunday School Director for SoCal District of UPCI; has served on various Youth Boards, and has been a champion for youth and young adults for over 20 years.
Darin and Duana, the love of his life, have been married for 18 years and have three wonderful children. They currently pastor North Point Worship Center, a thriving, dynamic church, in Escondido, California.
Travis Worthington | Regional Director, Southeast | Contact
Travis Worthington is the founding and Lead Pastor of NoVa Church in the best city in the world, Arlington, VA. A chronic enthusiast for the work of God, he is passionate about leading people to fulfill their purpose and fully please God. Trav continues to serves as the Virginia District Youth Secretary.
Incepted in 2009, he pioneered and leads a monthly conference call, Inspire, that equips and impacts Youth Workers by interviewing the best Youth Workers across the movement. By traveling and speaking in 31 of the 50 states he has become a “self-proclaimed” pizza & coffee connoisseur. In addition, he is an avid reader, bible study facilitator and blogger.
Trav has been happily married to his better half, Amber, since 2008 and they reside in Washington, DC, Metro.
