Extravaganza 2022 Tracks

LEADERSHIP IN YOUR FIRST FEW YEARS: Jason Bryan Santos

Jason Santos is associate pastor of youth mission and ministry at University Presbyterian Church, Seattle, Washington. While a doctoral student at Princeton Seminary he mentored seminary students on youth ministry and Christian education, taught youth ministry courses, and spoke regularly to young people, youth workers, and pastors across the country. He was awarded the Timothy Scholar Fellowship for Research of Youth & Culture. Jason has worked in hands-on ministry at churches in London, Chicago, and Bonn, Germany. He is the author of A Community Called Taizé A Story of Prayer, Worship and Reconciliation.

Skills for Volunteers: Dennis "Tiger" McLuen

Tiger McLuen is the Executive Director of Youth Ministry Consultants. Tiger has a unique perspective on leadership as he has served in the church, was an instructor at two seminaries, led Youth Leadership for 29 years and is a nationally known speaker and teacher. He is also the author of a couple of book and some articles – but mostly he’s a youth leader who loves being in a room full of people who care about the next generation. Tiger and Sue have been married for 42 years and have 4 grown children. The addition of 9 grandchildren has been a huge part of God’s blessing!! When Tiger isn’t speaking or coaching—you can find him working around the house, riding his motorcycle, boating/skiing, sneaking out to a matinee movie or eating healthy food at a variety of fast food places.

Mental Health and Ministry: Joy Hensel

Joy Hensel, MA, LADC, ADC-MN, is from Duluth Minnesota. Joy attended graduate school at Luther Seminary and the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Joy’s background in youth and family ministry includes eight years in congregations, and as the Program Director at Voyageurs Lutheran Ministry. Joy has worked as an outpatient chemical dependency counselor in a dual diagnosis program for adolescents. Currently, she is working as the grant program consultant for the youth ministry and mental health initiative with the Northeastern Minnesota Synod ELCA, is an Adult Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and a full-time parent. She enjoys opportunities to speak, teach and be a resource to congregations.

Leadership: A Systems Approach:  Aqueelah Ligonde

Rev. Aqueelah Ligonde, an ordained PCUSA clergywoman, is an enthusiastic speaker, preacher, and leader with a passion for today’s generation of youth, women, and leaders. She has worked with organizations such as Princeton Seminary Institute For Youth Ministry, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Urban Youth Workers Institute, and Youth Specialties. She has written various blog posts, articles, and devotionals. Her writing can also be found in the book InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry, a book on the power of intergenerational relationships. She also co-hosts a monthly podcast called The Sustainable Ministry Show.

Aqueelah holds a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. For over a decade, Aqueelah served as the Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens NY. Currently, she is a Staff Consultant with Ministry Architects, a coach with Ministry Incubators, and Transitional Pastor at Far Rockaway Presbyterian Church. She is also pursuing a Doctor of Ministry from Louisville Theological Seminary. She and her husband live in Long Island, NY.

Essential in Lutheran Theology: Rolf Jacobson

Rolf Jacobson, Professor of Old Testament and the Alvin N. Rogness Chair of Scripture, Theology, and Ministry, joined the Luther Seminary faculty in 2003. Prior to that, he served on the faculty of Augsburg University and as Associate Pastor of Como Park Lutheran Church (St. Paul, Minnesota). Known for his humor and faithful biblical interpretation, Jacobson is an indemand preacher and teacher. With Craig Koester, he developed and supports the Narrative Lectionary. He enjoys collaborating with other teachers and pastors. His collaborative projects include The Book of Psalms (NICOT; with Beth Tanner and Nancy deClaissé-Walford), Invitation to the Psalms (with Karl Jacobson), Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms (with five fellow Luther Seminary graduates), and Crazy Book: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Biblical Terms(with Hans Wiersma and Karl Jacobon). He is also the author of The Homebrewed Christianity Guide to the Old Testament: Israel’s In-Your-Face, Holy God. His scholarly interests include the Psalms, prophets, biblical theology, biblical narrative, and preaching the Old Testament. His voice can be heard on two weekly preaching podcasts, “Sermon Brainwave” and “The Narrative Lectionary,” as well as singing the high lonesome with a Lutheran bluegrass band, “The Fleshpots of Egypt.” A survivor childhood cancer, he is a double, above-the-knee amputee, who generally wears a bicycle and a smile. He lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with his beloved wife Amy, their children Ingrid and Gunnar, and a cat who thinks he is a dog. He is a loyal friend, lifelong sufferer of Minnesota sports, and committed board-game geek. Jacobson earned a B.A. from the University of St. Thomas, an M.Div. from Luther Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Digital Ministry: Sophia Kristina R. Agtarap

Sophia Agtarap came to the Divinity School staff in 2017, having worked at the University of Washington in advising and recruitment and retention, and most recently The United Methodist Church's Communications Agency. Her graduate studies include Communication and Digital Media (University of Washington) and Theology (Seattle Pacific Seminary). A transplant from Seattle (via Southern California and Iowa), she lives with her spouse, newborn, and three dogs. She enjoys food and travel, and even more so when they are done in tandem.

Sophia is a deaconess in The United Methodist Church--a lay order whose call is to engage the world through a full-time vocation in ministries of love, justice, and service. She provides leadership for Moral Movement Tennessee, a grassroots organization building a multiracial, intergenerational, interfaith, anti-poverty, pro-justice moral movement in Tennessee, as well as The United Methodist Women.