Founder/Primary Teacher
Rich Villodas is the Brooklyn-born lead pastor of New Life Fellowship, a large, multiracial church with more than seventy-five countries represented in Elmhurst, Queens. He is also a key speaker for Emotionally Healthy Discipleship—a movement that has touched hundreds of thousands of people. Rich graduated with a BA in pastoral ministry and theology from Nyack College. He went on to complete his master of divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary. His award-winning book, The Deeply Formed Life, was released in September 2020. He and his wife, Rosie, have two beautiful children and reside in Queens.
Director
Andres Valenzuela was born in Quito, Ecuador and grew up in Kenya and Mexico. He holds a Master of Organizational Leadership from Nyack College. Andres has held various leadership positions at Nyack College over a span of 20 years and owns a wedding and family photography business in the NY metro area. He’s an avid traveler and a fanatic of all things futbol and tennis. He’s been married to Kim since 2009 and they have 2 fantastic girls, Ana Sofia and Neomi.
Emily P. Freeman is the New York Times bestselling author of six books, including How to Walk into a Room: The Art of Knowing When to Stay and When to Walk Away. She received her masters in Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership from Friends University where she also serves as a residency lecturer. As a spiritual director, her most important work is to help create soul space and offer spiritual companionship and discernment for anyone struggling with decision fatigue. Her nationally ranked podcast, The Next Right Thing, has more than 28 million downloads and she regularly offers perspective and clarity through her weekly newsletter, The Soul Minimalist. Living in North Carolina, Emily is a glad partner to her husband John and together they have three children: two in college and one in high school. Learn more about Emily’s work at emilypfreeman.com
John Williams is the Executive Director of The Center for Restorative Justice, a recently established nonprofit that emerged from his leadership as Director of the Fellowship Center for Racial Reconciliation at Fellowship Monrovia Church. With nearly 30 years of dedicated work in peacemaking and racial reconciliation, John is passionate about equipping individuals and groups through coaching, consulting, and training.
Drawing on his extensive experience, John helps communities deepen their understanding of multiculturalism and racial reconciliation. He is a skilled facilitator and trainer, guiding transformative conversations that foster healing and justice. In addition, he leads multiethnic civil rights tours, encouraging participants to engage more deeply with people, places, and the past.
John practiced law for 23 years, specializing in civil litigation, mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and conflict facilitation. He is a graduate of UC Berkeley and USC Law School. In addition to his legal career, he served as an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific University and Life Pacific College, where he taught courses on race, reconciliation, and ministry.
Curt Thompson, MD, is a board certified psychiatrist, author, speaker, and co-host of The Being Known Podcast. He has been in private practice for over 30 years in Falls Church, Virginia, graduated from Wright State University’s Boonshoft School of Medicine, and completed his psychiatric residency at Temple University Hospital. He strives to help patients develop flourishing lives by telling their stories more truly, in order to become more deeply known, for the purpose of creating beauty and goodness in the world. With conviction and humor, he trains clinicians and speaks at workshops, retreats and conferences, integrating neuroscience, human relationships and Christian faith. He and his wife Phyllis are the parents of two adult children and live in Northern Virginia. You can find out more about Curt at curtthompsonmd.com.
Wesley Hill is an Episcopal priest and Associate Professor of New Testament at Western Theological Seminary. He has spoken and lectured at numerous Christian colleges and seminaries in the U.S. and internationally. He is the author of Washed and Waiting: Reflections on Christian Faithfulness and Homosexuality, Paul and the Trinity: Persons, Relations, and the Pauline Letters, Spiritual Friendship: Finding Love in the Church as a Celibate Gay Christian, and The Lord’s Prayer: A Guide to Praying to Our Father.A contributing editor for Comment magazine, he writes regularly for Christianity Today, The Living Church, and other publications.
Director
Director
