2025 Conference Speakers
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Katrina Bitar
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Katrina Bitar has served in youth and young adult ministry for over 25 years. She received a Masters of Arts in Theology from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2009, after which she served as the Director of the YES Program of FOCUS North America for 15 years. She currently serves as the Director of Operations for FOCUS North America, a role she will fill through September 2025. Katrina served as the Camp Director at Camp St. Nicholas in Frazier Park, CA from 2003-2021 and the Parish Youth Director in Phoenix, AZ from 2001-2007. She also served OCF as the West Coast College Conference Advisor. Through all her ministry roles, Katrina has engaged youth and young adults in exploring who they are in Christ and finding their unique gifts and calling. Although Katrina is often traveling, she loves her home in Oklahoma City where she enjoys a healthy lifestyle that includes cooking and movement. She is grateful to help create formative opportunities that equip youth and young adults to serve each person as the Image of Christ.
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Daniel Bein
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Daniel Bein is a Coptic Orthodox Christian and attended St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he obtained the M.Div. (Master’s of Divinity), which introduced him to the field of chaplaincy. He has worked as a chaplain in several settings, including a children's hospital in TX, a local prison in NY, a parish community in NJ, and as a Hospice Chaplain since 2021. He is currently in the final stages of completing a Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling while working at a community-based practice in NJ. At the Coptic Orthodox Church of St. Mark in Jersey City, Daniel serves as a reader and a servant in the 7th Grade, College, and Graduate ministries. In his spare time, Daniel and his wife like to read, exercise, hike, travel, and visit coffee shops, museums, and old churches
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Father John Parker
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Fr John Parker was born in Camp LeJeune, NC, to devout Christian parents. Raised in Virginia, he graduated The College of William and Mary, majoring in Spanish and minoring in German. There he met his dear wife of 30+ years, Matushka Jeanette. With their two sons, Zach and Sebastian, the Parkers headed to Ambridge, PA, where Fr John earned his MDiv at Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry--and where the Parkers discovered the Orthodox Faith. After a short tenure as an Episcopal Priest on Sullivan's Island, SC, the Parkers became Orthodox Christians at Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Mt Pleasant, SC, the parish Fr John eventually pastored for 15 years, after earning his MTh at St Vladimir's Seminary. During that remarkable season of ministry and parish growth, Fr John guided the building of their iconic church, and simultaneously served as Chair of the Department of Evangelization of the Orthodox Church in America. Earning his DMin (SVS) focusing on adult Catechesis in 2018, Fr John was called to serve as the Dean of St Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary that fall. He has just begun the 8th year of his ministry at the Seminary. Fr John is proud of his wife, Matushka Jeanette, who serves the sick as a Nurse Practitioner, as well as the wives of Seminarians, as head of the St Nonna Sisterhood---and equally of sons Zach and Sebastian, their wives Nina and Ava, and the grandchildren John, Anna Brett, and Karina. Fr John is passionate about serving the Lord Jesus Christ through evangelism, basic discipleship, stewardship, and servant hood. He enjoys playing his metallic-pink electric guitar and surfing when he can find an ocean.