"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Confirmed Keynote Speakers for HOPE2021 ONLINE
Andrew Comiskey, M.Div., Founder of Desert Stream Ministries
Honestly, Andrew loves doing Living Waters groups more than anything. Participating in healing the sexually and relationally broken renews him; after over 33 years, he wants to do nothing else. He founded Desert Stream Ministries in 1980 while serving on staff at the Vineyard West Los Angeles. Annette and Andrew were engaged to be married that year, which also marked the start of their first healing group in West Hollywood. That one group evolved into the in-depth Living Waters program. These groups now flourish on every continent. God likes them because they help people grow to love Him and each other with integrity.
Their family grew to six and they moved Desert Stream to the Vineyard Anaheim, the ‘mother’ church of that vital healing movement, and home of its founder John Wimber. They then moved from Southern California to Kansas City, Missouri in 2005 to serve alongside Mike Bickle at IHOP. Both the Vineyard and IHOP richly blessed and built them up, even as they imparted our healing offerings there. Recently, Andrew confirmed his love for the Catholic Church by becoming a member. He now serves as an active lay minister at St. Thomas More’s Parish where he loves to do Living Waters! He loves the whole church, and is grateful that Living Waters helps prepare her to become a united and pure bride.
Andrew's delight in healing others grows out of an ongoing commitment to overcome homosexuality and to love his wife and kids as a substantially whole man. He is the author of Pursuing Sexual Wholeness (Creation House), Strength in Weakness (IVP), Naked Surrender: Coming Home to Our True Sexuality (IVP) and the recently revised Living Waters healing program. Andrew wants to keep helping Christians become who they are: good gifts to God and to one another. Andrew had served on the founding board of Restored Hope Network and then as Chair of the Restored Hope Board of Directors for 5 subsequent years.
Dr. Nancy Heche
"This is the beginning of a beautiful love story," Nancy wrote in her diary after meeting Don Heche, the man she was to marry. Five children and 25 years of marriage later, it seemed as if they were the perfect family. Then Don was diagnosed with AIDS--the shocking discovery of his homosexual secret was only the beginning of loss and heartache.
Shortly after Don's death, their 18-year-old son, Nathan, died in a car crash and Nancy fell into years of personal darkness. Eventually, as she was drawn into a long journey of growth and healing, her youngest daughter, Anne, began a very public lesbian love affair.
Despite Nancy's life circumstances, she held on to what she knew of God's promises from Scripture and is discovering how to look at people and the world with God's perspective through eyes full of love and blessing. Her inspiring story of faith and courage will offer hope to anyone who has ever been on the brink of despair, or wondered how to respond with love to someone in a same-sex relationship.
Dr. Nancy Heche is a popular Bible study teacher, author, and speaker. She holds a masters and doctorate degree in pastoral counseling.
She is the author of The Truth Comes Out, a book describing lessons learned through losing her husband to AIDS after discovering his secret involvement in homosexual activity and the involvement of her daughter in a high profile lesbian relationship.
Through all her trials, Nancy has relied on God's grace and strength to help her through. She slipped from time to time, and made mistakes, but she always came back to Jesus. Dr. Heche lives in Southern California. She has also co-authored with Joe Dallas The Complete Christian Guide to Homosexuality, published by Harvest House in 2009.
Alex McFarland, founder of Truth for a New Generation
Alex McFarland serves on the Restored Hope Board of Reference As a Christian apologist, author, evangelist, religion and culture analyst, and advocate for biblical truth, Alex McFarland speaks worldwide. He has preached in over 2,000 churches throughout North America and numerous more internationally. He also speaks at Christian events, conferences, debates, and other venues to teach biblical truths and preach the gospel.
Alex is a frequent spokesperson on Fox News, and has been interviewed by other media outlets including, Billy Graham’s Decision radio , Focus On The Family radio, NPR’s All Things Considered, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chuck Colson’s Breakpoint broadcast, BBC, CBN, La Vie (France), and CBS, FOX, NBC, CSPAN, and SRN. He is a contributing writer in print and electronic media, including LA Times, Boston Herald, Christianity Today, Charisma, Billy Graham’s Decision Magazine, and more.
Alex is the only evangelist to have preached in all 50 states in only 50 days. His “Tour Of Truth” crusade swept across America with 64 evangelistic services from which came many decisions to receive Jesus and by which many Christians were equipped and encouraged.
Alex was the third president of Southern Evangelical Seminary and College, located in Charlotte, NC, from 2001 until 2005 and under his leadership the school experienced unprecedented growth. Prior, Alex had served as Focus On The Family’s first Director of Teen Apologetics. He has served as the Director of Apologetics and Christian Worldview at North Greenville University (SC).
Alex’s greatest passion is growing the Body of Christ and instructing Christians on how to stand strong in the face of ever-diminishing morals, ethics, and values. In the early 1990s, Alex pioneered the Truth for a New Generation Conference designed to equip teens and adults to know what they believe and defend their faith. The conferences continue to be held yearly and feature well-known and respected speakers such as Josh McDowell, Ravi Zacharias, Lee Strobel, Eric Metaxas, Todd Starnes, Joni Eareckson Tada, Will Graham, and many others.
Andre Van Mol, MD
André Van Mol, MD is a board-certified family physician in full-time practice in California. His education included the University of Southern California, the Medical College of Wisconsin, Charleston Naval Hospital, and the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute.
Dr. Van Mol co-chairs both the American College of Pediatricians’ Committee on Adolescent Sexuality and the Christian Medical & Dental Associations Sexual & Gender Identity Task Force.
Dr. Van Mol writes and speaks for the CMDA on issues of bioethical and Christian concern, has been extensively published in professional and general literature, and has been interviewed frequently over the years by numerous news services, publications, and programs across the media spectrum. He also advises legislators and teams across the country and overseas on legislation regarding sexuality and gender identity.
Dr. Van Mol works with Alliance Defending Freedom in a coalition of professionals advising on policy matters addressing sexual orientation and gender identity,and has served as amicus/friend of court in federal appellate and SCOTUS cases. Dr. Van Mol advises the Global Medical Research Institute and serves on the boards of Bethel Church of Redding and Moral Revolution. He and his wife Evelyn —both former U.S. Naval officers—have two sons and two daughters, the latter of whom were among their nine foster children.
HOPE2021 ONLINE Registration is open.
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Media
Audio or video recording and any form of media interview are not permitted unless expressly pre-approved and in the manner approved in writing by the Restored Hope Network Board of Directors. Under no circumstances shall attendees be solicited for interviews prior to, during, or after the conference. To request permission for interviews, contact info@restoredhopenetwork.org. However, individual registrants attending the conference are permitted to record portions of the conference (on the stage or workshop teachings) for their own non-commercial purposes.
Failure to abide by this Media Code of Conduct is grounds for immediate dismissal from the online conference. Anyone who is dismissed for violation of the Media Code of Conduct will not be eligible for refunds. Commercial use of media is prohibited unless previously approved in writing by the Restored Hope Network Board of Directors and may result in civil or criminal penalties governed by laws of the State of Missouri. Attendance at the Restored Hope Network event is an agreement to these policies.