Mainstage Speaker : CHIP TAYLOR

Chip Taylor is a captivating speaker with a contagious love for Jesus and a huge heart for young people.  He is passionate about empowering leaders, caring for hurting students, and impacting the world.

Chip enjoys sports, coaching, wood working and date nights with his wife. He is agraduate of MACU and a 25-year veteran in student ministry, currently serving as the Student Pastor at McDowell Church. He is also the Director of the Intern Academy, a non-profit building a pipeline of leaders through a network of ministry internships. He is the proud father of Leah and Caleb and resides in Fountain Hills, AZ with his wife Lori.

Breakout Speakers

AUSTIN FURMAN
Austin Furman grew up in Punxsutawney, PA where he attended the First Church of God with Mike Hammer as one of his Youth Pastors. He and his wife have a daughter, Sullivan, and twin boys, Baron and Westin. Austin has been the Student Ministry Director at Tri County Church for four years. He loves spending time with his students in Velocity. He loves all Pittsburgh sports and he’s a huge superhero movie nerd, in case you see this red-bearded man and want a conversation idea.
LYNDE MCCAULEY
Lynde McCauley has always had a wild heart for Jesus and the outdoors. Growing up in the New Bethlehem First Church of God, she has held the position of youth director for 7 years and church secretary for 5 years. Lynde loves everything outdoors (except amphibians and reptiles) including kayaking, hunting, hiking and laying down looking up at God’s masterpiece of a sky. Lynde is an animal mom to two doodle dogs, two pigmy goats, barn cat and a goldfish. She loves to spend all her free time with her amazing husband Andrew, exploring God’s creation. Through the years God has taught Lynde that there is more to life than the hustle and bustle. Having grown up attending Thirst as a teen, Lynde is so excited to share this experience with everyone!
KENTRELL SKEENS
Kentrell currently resides in the metropolitan area of Columbus.  Since the age of 16, Kentrell knew he would have a career in communications. After giving his heart to the lord, his greatest passion became to communicate the gospel of Jesus Christ in a powerful and compelling way. Kentrell is a dynamic speaker and spoken word artist who blends these 2 skill sets together so that he can convey the love of Jesus in an awe inspiring way. Kentrell’s secret hobby is that he loves to do Disney jigsaw puzzles, he literally has a room in his home dedicated to puzzling. So if you enjoy doing puzzles then this is your guy to talk to!
ASHLEY TRIMMER
Ashley grew up in Mechanicsburg, PA. She has 5 brothers, 1 sister and 21 nieces and nephews. For the past 13 years, she has served at Whitehall Camp in many different roles; currently as the Program Director. She also has served as a volunteer youth leader at her church (shout out to North Main students)! She's excited to share with you and honored to be a part of the ministry God is doing through THIRST!
CLIFF FORBES
Cliff Forbes was born and raised in NWPA, where he now serves as the Lead Pastor at New Beginnings Church of God in Meadville. He and his high school sweet heart, Erin, have seven kiddos, yes... seven. 19 years ago, Cliff began his ministry at New Beginnings as the youth pastor and has always had a passion to see young people thrive in the church and in their home.
DAVID J HARDIE
Pastor David J Hardie is a youth ministry veteran having been in frontline ministry for over 15 years.  He has counseled students (and leaders) who were at the very brink of taking their lives.  He has traveled the country as a youth evangelist, bringing hope to some of the darkest places.   
MIKE HAMMER
Mike Hammer is a guy who does some things and loves Jesus.