Krissy Lindmark

Mistress of Ceremonies

Krissy Lindmark is our Empowered to Hope Mistress of Ceremonies. Krissy lives in Hartland and works at their family-owned garage door company. She and her husband Joe are raising three teenagers, including one who is studying at a Bible school in Colorado. Krissy loves teaching kids in Sunday school and taking long walks on her country road so she can stop and talk to her neighbors. Her greatest joys are hearing laughter and sharing the love of Christ her Savior.

Steph Seefeldt

Worship Leader

Stephanie Seefeldt lives in suburban Milwaukee. She has traveled around the world to lead God’s people in worship, but her passion is to help equip the local church to reflect God’s glory to a world in need. Stephanie delights in the best of worship music from every generation, and utilizes all of those styles as she helps people engage with the Lord as they sing. She serves as organist and choirmaster at her church, where her husband, Scott, is pastor. Scott and Steph have four children, one daughter in law, and one darling grandson.

Jen Boucher

Large Group Speaker

Jen is a Jesus-loving, homeschooling, history nerd. She lives in Burlington with her husband of 26 years. They have 7 children, one daughter-in-law, and one son-in-law. As a lifelong learner, she fills her free time reading books about God or history, and studying the Bible. Whether as a one-on-one mentor, or in groups, she enjoys encouraging moms to love their children and husbands well. As a member of CrossWay Community Church for the past 14 years, Jen has taught Preschool Sunday classes, women’s Bible studies, and classes in the homeschool co-op. Jen’s love language is great books and good coffee. 

Hope Grounded - Session 1

Before we get to the theme verse for our retreat that tells us that the Holy Spirit empowers us to hope, Jen will walk us through Romans 15:4-12 to see how the Scriptures of the Old Testament are hope-filled, life-giving words for all of us.

Shari Langusch

Large Group Speaker

I am an occasional speaker on Jesus and His Word, sometimes writer and always learner whose heart belongs to Christ. I have worked in media. ministry and insurance, plus other creative endeavors—all of which God graciously, surprisingly continues to use. I am wife to a funny, loving, God-following husband and mother of an only child who is now a one-year-wed Oklahoma ranch wife. My “nest” is still full of my much-loved piano students, and one small furry named Fiona May. I am grateful for this year of delving deep to better understand the one and only Living Hope and to share some of those encounters with you at Empowered to Hope.

Hope-Wired - Session 2

From meeting a heart-broken people at the rivers of Babylon to the search for a mystery waterfall in the far, far East, this session will travel through Scripture, the past and the present to arrive at the source for our place in Hope’s story today. 

Abigail Wallace

Large Group Speaker

Abigail is a student and teacher of God’s Word, and the author of MEEK NOT WEAK. She’s a questioner, encourager, and spiritual strength trainer who runs on sufficient grace and strong coffee, in that order. Abigail works as an SLP three days a week and lives with her husband, teenage son, and an attack cat named Boo near Burlington. She enjoys fast walks, deep talks, old books, and sunsets of all sorts. 

Hope Groans - Session 3

Groaning and hope. This side of heaven, they go together like chili and cheese, like football and fall, like lock and key. In this session, Abigail unpacks Romans 8:18-25 to show that the Christian life is a life of both eager waiting and inward groaning. No matter where you are in your journey, you’ll be encouraged to discover how our living hope shapes us into pure, patient, and prepared pilgrims—pilgrims who groan.

Amy Bahr

The Goodness of Hope in Christ

Amy has been a follower of Jesus for over 25 years who loves her husband, four incredible kids, and coonhound, Maisy. (Dogs over cats, everytime! 😆) They have lived in Burlington for over 10 years. Amy’s passion for social justice is motivated by Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Trish Cervenka

Hope in Laughter, Hope in Tears

Meet Trish. She is a 44-year-old single woman who does not have a cat. (Not that there's anything wrong with cats.) She does have an electrolysis business in Delavan, and enjoys creating music, hiking, and spending time with her nieces and nephews. 

Trish will be leading one of our breakout sessions. Hers will be about how to hope when life doesn't go the way you thought it would. 

One of Trish's favorite verses is Psalm 9:1-2, "I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High."

Ingrid Hanson Popp

GPS for Caregivers: Getting From Overwhelmed, to Hopeful

Ingrid has added author and presenter alongside her more well-known work as classical pianist and piano teacher. She lives with her talented, supportive and good-humored husband David. They love worship, movies (often- quoted!!), good books and Mini-Coopers! Her life verse of Galatians 2.20 guides and comforts: “...and the life I now live…I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.”

Rachel Knapp

Hope When You’re Hopelessly Flawed

Meet Rachel Knapp! She's one of our Empowered to Hope breakout speakers. You might see Rachel biking the avenues of Burlington with her husband. She’s also known to disappear from her grown-up life to immerse herself in the imaginative worlds she creates through writing and art. 

One of Rachel's favorite verses is Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

Lisa Longoria

Mustard Seed Hope

Lisa has been married 28 years and is a homeschooling mom of four. She enjoys hiking, traveling and a good book by a warm fire. The first Bible verse that made her cry was Mark 6:34: “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”

Amy Ramirez

Guiding Your Children in Faith: Trusting God's Plan and Resting in Hope

Amy enjoys hanging out with friends, bargain shopping, and swimming in her pool on sunny, summer days with her kids. She lives in Genoa City with her husband and three children. She is a pastor’s wife and homeschool mom. One of her favorite Bible verses is Galatians 2:20,  “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Val Strueder

Hope That Empowers Us to Remain Calm

Introducing Val, one of our Empowered breakout speakers. Val is 36, wife to Ryan, mom to Grayson, and dog mom to Pebbles (and if we’re really counting, chicken mom to several hens with too many names to list here). Her favorite things are spending time with her family and friends, and writing whenever she has time. She'll share "Hope that Empowers Us to Remain Calm."

One of Val's current go-to Bible verses is Psalm 91:2, "This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust him."

Gere Wissell

Hope in the Hard: When There's No Way Around, Only Through

Gere's faves are glamping and gabbing with girlfriends. But her most treasured moments are gleaning from God’s Word. She and her husband wander from Walworth to Lake Delton, WI. Gere wants to be open hearted to whatever God brings each day. One of her favorite verses is Proverbs 19:21, “Many are the plans in a man’s heart but the counsel of the Lord will stand.”