Session 1
The Extras Make all the Difference

Session 2
The Wow Factor for VBS

Session 3
Combining Montessori Methods and Bible Stories for Fantastic Lessons

Session 4
What to Do with Two-Year-Olds

Becky Koehler is a 23-year veteran public school teacher. Becky has taught high school English, 4th and 5th grade reading and social studies, and is no the librarian at Parsons Elementary School in Lubbock. Becky has a Bachelor's degree in English from Lubbock Christian University, a Master's degree in Administration and Supervision from the University of West Georgia, and a Library Science certification from Texas A&M Commerce. Becky has taught Bible class for the two-year-olds, pre-kindergarten, and kindergarten for over twenty years. She has also taught pre-k in VBS and loves to make her classes an interactive, unforgettable experience. Becky has one son, Saban, who will be a senior this year. He plays on the Varsity football team and has gained a love for teaching young children in Bible classes also.

Dr. Kay Shepard is a 23-year music education veteran. She has taught music for 23 years at Bayless Elementary School in Lubbock. She loves being a Bayless Plainsman and enjoys teaching her students to love and appreciate music. She has conducted countless musical programs with all her students from pre-K to 5th grade and always does an amazing job. Kay graduated from Lubbock Christian University with a degree in music education. She then earned her Master's in Administration and Supervision from LCU. Finally, she earned her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from Texas Tech University. Kay has written the curriculum for the 2-year-old class which she teaches at Sunset Church of Christ. She has taught in the children's Bible department at Sunset since 1997. She has numerous interactive Bible lessons for VBS and has directed the children's chorus for Leadership Training for Christ. Kay and her husband Johnny have two boys. Collin is going into the 7th grade, and Grant will be in the 4th grade. Both are avid musicians.

"There are few things better than watching children marvel at the glorious workings of God as revealed in the pages of Scripture. My first teaching experience was when I was 17 years old. I did not have a clue what I was doing, but I was not deterred since I knew I wanted to succeed at teaching kids all about God. Fast-forward 50 years, and here I am sharing experience and ideas garnered since that first feeble teaching effort."

Carter Shuman is the husband of Trish Shuman and father of Amelia (8) and Brighten (6). He is a graduate of the LCU Smith College of Biblical Studies where he received a Bachelors of Science in Youth and Family Ministry. He has been a youth minister for 12 years, the last 8 of which he has spent at South Plains Church of Christ in Lubbock. Carter has a passion for developing a love for God in students as they navigate through adolescence and into adulthood. He is currently pursuing his masters in Christian Ministry at LCU. He is also the proud owner of two delightful golden retrievers.

A native of Dripping Springs, Texas, John has served as an evangelist, teacher, preacher and minister of the gospel for over 30 years. He and his wife Carla are working with Bear Valley Bible Institute International, and serve as the directors of Bible Passages, a ministry dedicated to training preachers, equipping the saints, defending the faith, and guiding souls to Jesus. They reside both in Denver and Dripping Springs, Texas. Prior to his work with Bible Passages, John served as the pulpit minister for the Dripping Springs church of Christ, an instructor at the Southwest School of Bible Studies in Austin, and as a campus minister and director of the Bible chair at the University church of Christ in San Marcos, Texas. He is a certified public school teacher and a graduate of Southwest Texas State University, where he earned both a B.S. in Education and a Masters in Education degree in the department of Counseling and Psychological Services. He has also done postgraduate work at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, Jerusalem University, Austin Graduate School of Theology, and Abilene Christian University where he was enrolled in the Master of Arts in Religious Studies program. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member of the Austin Graduate School of Theology teaching college accredited Bible classes in the Dripping Springs community. John also serves on the advisory board of World Video Bible School, and completed 9 years of service as a school board trustee for the Dripping Springs Independent School District. He has worked extensively in educational programs of the church and has many years of experience in assisting and directing youth church and leadership camps. He is the narrator and author of both the book and video, Searching For Truth, and served from 2005 through 2008 as a co-editor of the monthly periodical The Gospel Journal. John is also the narrator and instructor of Learning to Use the Greek New Testament, a thorough study of New Testament Greek presented in 35 lessons on 13 DVDs.  John’s most recent endeavor includes his directorship of the Bible Land Passages Project as well as serving as one of the script writers and narrators of the Bible Land Passages documentaries, and the Connections: Exploring Faith and Fact videos. He and his wife Carla are also the directors of Bible Land Passage Tours, Expeditions, and Studies. Carla is the author of the blog, Walking Where Jesus Walked and The Scripture Writing Project. Since 1986 John has preached in Gospel Meetings in over eighteen states, and has conducted or participated in yearly campaigns to various foreign countries including Jamaica, Tobago, Malaysia, and Singapore.  John and Carla have three sons, Jordan (daughter-in-law, Erin), Jacob (daughter-in-law, Alyssa), and Micah (daughter-in-law. Courtney), and four grandchildren.

Dr. Holly Catterton Allen is professor of Christian ministries and family science at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. She teaches undergraduate courses such as Family Ministry and Nurturing Spiritual Development in Children. Her areas of interest are children’s spiritual formation and intergenerational ministry; from 2015-2021, she chaired two biennial international, cross-denominational conferences: InterGenerate and the Children’s Spirituality Summit. Dr. Allen has previously taught at John Brown University, Biola University, and Abilene Christian University.

Dr. Allen’s most recent book is Forming Resilient Children: The Role of Spiritual Formation for Healthy Development (InterVarsity, 2021). She also edited InterGenerate: Transforming Churches through Intergenerational Ministry (ACU Press, 2018). She is the co-author of Intergenerational Christian Formation: Bringing the Whole Church Together in Ministry, Community, and Worship (InterVarsity Press, 2012). Her first book, Nurturing Children’s Spirituality: Christian Perspectives and Best Practices (Cascade), an edited volume, was released in 2008. Dr. Allen has published articles in journals such as Christian Education Journal, Lutheran Education, Lifelong Faith, and Christian Scholar’s Review as well as in Christianity Today; she has also authored chapters in twenty books.

Beverly Ross, M.A., LPC-S, is the Founder and Executive Director for Wise County Christian Counseling. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor.  Beverly is a certified facilitator in the life-changing curriculum based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown.  She uses these curricula in individual counseling and with groups.  She is experienced in helping marriages and families experience connection and reconciliation. She provides individual counseling for issues such as depression, anxiety and grief support.

Beverly is a sought-after speaker, frequently conducting workshops about finding and experiencing Light when the way gets dark and about learning to walk in freedom.

In September, 2018, Beverly opened Jenny’s Hope, a grief center for children and their families, in honor of her daughter, Jenny Bizaillion. Jenny loved children! Jenny’s favorite word was Hope. She would love this ministry to help young people and their families walk out their path of pain and suffering. Jenny’s Hope also provides grief support for adults, including couples following a stillbirth.

In September, 2020, Beverly and her oldest son, Josh, co-authored a book, Scarred Hope: A Mother and Son Learn to Carry Grief and Live with Joy. 

Beverly received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Stephen F. Austin University and completed a Master’s Degree in Counseling from Amberton University in November, 2001.

Beverly and Rick (her husband) have three adult children and five precious grandchildren.  Jenny, their daughter, died in February, 2010.  Since then, Hope has been an intentional focus of her counseling ministry. Romans 15:13 is quoted at the end of every event at WCCC.  She is clinging to Hope, Joy and Peace.