Conference Speakers

General Session Speaker: Pastor Elwin Ahu

New Hope Oahu Honolulu Campus Pastor
Pastor Elwin Ahu resigned as a Circuit Court judge, and is now serving as an executive pastor at New Hope Oahu's biggest campus, New Hope Honolulu as Pastor Wayne Cordeiro's most trusted pastor.

General Session Speaker: Pastor Talo Sataraka

New Hope International Fellowship Tokyo Senior Pastor
Pastor Talo Sataraka came to Japan 25 years ago as a missionary, and served as a youth pastor and worship ministry director for 13 years.  Pastor Talo flew back to Hawaii for a year, and came back to Tokyo in November of 1999 to start New Hope Church.  After the opening in 2000, 4 more churches were planted.  Today Pastor Talo oversees the missions of Japan and Asia as as the director of New Hope International Asia.

Breakout Session Speaker: Pastor Rod Shimabukuro

New Hope Oahu Equipping Director
Through his ministry for more than 25 years, Pastor Rod lead the kids, youth, college students, local evangelism, missions, discipleship, small groups, worship and art, and also serves as an adviser and supporter for many church planters.  He trains and guides the leaders and volunteers into ministry.

Breakout Session Speaker: Pastor Guy Higashi

Pastor Guy Higashi is President of Pacific Rim Christian College currently the President of Pacific RimChristian College in Honolulu Hawaii. His work and ministry experience includes Director of Continuing Education at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, Administrative Director for Tommy Walker, Integrity and Maranatha songwriter, Senior Pastor of New Hope Pearl Community and on the management team with Wayne Cordeiro of New Hope Christian Fellowship. Guy’s corporate experience includes IBM and Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Guy has a Masters degree in Worship, Theology and Arts and is currently working on his doctoral studies in Ethnomusicology (June 2010), researching the Ukulele’s rich history and its use as a means of bringing all people groups and cultures together in unity. He has organized worship conferences and mission projects around the world. His passion is to equip pastors and leaders with resources for Kingdom purposes, especially in the areas of worship and the arts.

Breakout Session Speaker: Lori Higashi

Lori Higashi is currently the Director of Enrollment Management at Pacific Rim Christian College. Her work and ministry experience included Residential Life at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, and Administrative Assistant to the President & CEO of The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu, Hawaii. She was very involved in leadership with the Student Wives fellowship at Fuller Seminary and personally mentored by Kathleen Hart, wife of Dr. Archibald Hart (Christian Psychologist). She loves mentoring and empowering young adult women. Along with her husband they minister to couples for pre-marital and marriage counseling.

Breakout Session Speaker: TATAE

TATAE is from Sapporo Hokkaido.  She started ballet at the age of six.  When she turned twelve, she moved to Hawaii and started hula, sign dance, jazz dance and hip hop.  While in Hawaii TATAE appeared in KONISHIKI's promotional video and danced as a back dancer for many gospel singers and groups such as Jaci Valasqus, Natalie Grant, Avalon, 4Him, Point of Grace, Na Leo.  She also performed at Disney World in Florida and Disney Land in Tokyo.  She came back to Japan at the age of 20 and now serves as an instructor at Hearts In Motion Sapporo while working as a dancer at different venues.  She learned ballet from Yoshiko Hisatomi, hula from Lanu Tilton, Sign dance from Colleen Nomura and Donnalei Gaison, jazz dance from Kathy Izumi and hip hop dance from Marcelo Pacleb.

Breakout Session Speaker: Tommy Walker

Tommy is a worship leader at Christian Assembly in Los Angeles.  He has written over 100 sings that are being sung in churches around the world, including "He Knows My Name," "Only A God Like You," "That's Why We Praise Him," and "Mourning Into Dancing."  For the last decade, Tommy has traveled internationally, holding worship concerts and outreaches in places where people are in great need.

Breakout Session Speaker: Linda McCrary

When Linda was 12, the McCrarys sang with contemporary Gospel greats like Andrae Crouch and Mylon LeFevre.  Eventually, tey were invited to move to California and serve as youth leaders at a church in Hollywood.  Within a few years, the McCrarys had a major recording with Capitol Records, which featured the No.1 hit, "You," with Stevie Wonder.  Linda has back-up vocals for secular artists, including Michael Jackson, Elton John and Diana Ross.  Linda is part of the Billy Graham Crusade worship team, Tommy Walker, the Wynans and many more.