Monday
Pastor Nathan Olson
Pastor Nathan Olson lives on a hobby farm in Shakopee, MN with his wife and 4 kids. He enjoys sports, disc golf, saunas, hunting and fishing, camping, building or fixing things, board games and video games, dodgeball or nerf battles with his kids, tending to the orchard or garden on their farm, and hanging out with their golden lab. He loves adventures and traveling and he has been to 28 countries!
Why you are excited about speaking at FLY 2025? I have a passion for youth encountering Jesus through the proclaimed Word of God! There is nothing more transformative than dwelling with Jesus in His Word. This upcoming generation is a powerful force for the kingdom of God and it is exciting to be part of the process of equipping and training the next generation!
Tuesday
Matthew Monseth
Matthew Monseth is a salesman for American Family Insurance. He lives in Plymouth, MN where he is a Dorm Assistant at the Free Lutheran Bible College. He enjoys
basketball, reading, collecting postcards, and writing music.
Why you are excited about speaking at FLY 2025? I'm excited and honored to share how you can pass from depression to joy, selfish pleasure to selfless purpose, graveyard to resurrection, hell-bound captives to heaven in-dwelt sons and daughters of the cosmic King of the universe.
wednesday
Pastor Scott Stroud
Scott Stroud is the lead pastor at Elim Lutheran Church in Lake Stevens, WA. He enjoys golf, mini golf, hitting golf balls on the range, golfing with my wife, Mary, and watching golf on TV.
Why you are excited about speaking at FLY 2025? I am excited to speak at FLY because I remember how impactful these kinds of events were on me when I was young. It was at a camp in Chetek, Wisconsin that I dedicated my life to preaching after an evening speaker challenged us to consider full-time ministry. Similar to the Mount of Transfiguration, Jesus uses events like FLY to give us vision and direction that we need for the valleys in life. Plus, as a pastor that preaches to 85 people on a Sunday morning, it’s pretty amazing to preach in front of 2000 students.
Thursday
Pastor Eric Westlake
Eric Westlake grew up as an unbeliever, hyper-active, and with a speech impediment. God saved him, gave him a purpose, and allows him to preach and pastor a growing church in Zumbrota Minnesota. He has been a licensed pastor for the past 20 years and also owns and operates a commercial tile installation business. He and his wife have been married for over 38 years and are currently enjoying their children and grandchildren. He and his wife enjoy traveling where they go hiking and biking in different areas as they deliver his wife’s art work around the country.
Why you are excited about speaking at FLY 2025? I am excited to be at FLY 2025, I have been able to attend most of the conventions since 1991 beginning as a youth worker in Tucson Arizona. I have seen God work in many lives including my own though FLY and am excited to see what He does in 2025.
Friday
Pastor Ben Sollie
Ben Sollie is the lead Pastor at Hope Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. He enjoys playing and watching sports (basketball, football, pickle ball, disc golf); running; reading; and drinking GOOD coffee.
Why you are excited about speaking at FLY 2025? I believe God is at work in some very real and powerful ways in the lives of our students. I see God raising up a generation that is hungry for His presence, committed to following Jesus and sharing the Gospel with those who don’t know Him. I’m honored and excited to be able to encourage our students in God’s Word as we consider the promise Jesus gave us, “Behold, I am with you." (Matthew 28:19:20).
Pastor Andy Coyle
Andy Coyle serves as director of AFLC Home Missions. Before serving with Home Missions, he helped plant Shiloh Free Lutheran Church in Rapid City, SD, and pastored there for 10 years. He previously served as a full-time missionary in Ukraine from 2011 to 2015, and in pastoral ministry from 2008 to 2011. Pastor Andy and his wife, Monica, are grateful for their six children and love doing life and ministry together.
Pastor Jason Holt
Jason Holt serves as the AFLC’s presidential ministry associate. Previously, he served as the AFLC’s director of Youth Ministries for more than 15 years and has seen the Lord Jesus work through His Word in countless lives at FLY. He is eager to participate as the panel facilitator for a morning workshop. Jason and his wife, Jennifer, have five adult children and four grandkids. He loves to talk Minnesota sports, discuss the truths of Jesus, and drink quality root beer.
Tiger McLuen
Tiger McLuen has been actively involved in youth and family ministry for more than 50 years. He has been a youth pastor, an instructor of youth and family ministry at both Bethel and Luther seminaries, and a volunteer with teenagers. Last year, he was the interim director of student ministries at his home church in Lindstrom, MN, to test the theory that you aren’t too old to still be in youth ministry! He is a nationally known speaker, author, and consultant who loves to talk to any group of adults who care about the next generation.
Keith Ferrin
Keith Ferrin is a speaker, author, and word-for-word biblical storyteller who strives to help people realize that the living Word of God is a reality – not a phrase. He holds to the idea that people can believe the Bible is not only true and applicable, but also fun, engaging, and enjoyable.
After six years as a youth and worship pastor, Keith began speaking and writing full-time. He is the author of more than a dozen books, including How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible, Like Ice Cream (The Scoop on Helping the Next Generation Fall In Love with God’s Word), and the Scripture Journey series of Bible studies for groups.
Shama Mrema
Shama Mrema is an African-born American-raised homeschool graduate, middle child, and former pastor’s kid who loves entertaining people! After taking the internet by storm in 2018 with his viral song “Veggie Tales Remix,” he has been a consistent entertainer on screens and stages. After the success of “Veggie Tales Remix,” TBN created a spin-off show based on the song for Yippee TV. Shama starred and co-wrote the music for the show. Shama has amassed over 400 thousand followers and over half a million views across all platforms. Shama has been married to Grace since September 2018, and they have three kids: Ezra, Zoey, and Lucy.
321 Improv
321 Improv creates a unique, interactive comedy experience unlike any you’ve been part of before. 321 Improv instantly turns audience suggestions into hilarious scenes that will bring tears to your eyes, a pain to your side, and will make your face ache with laughter! Carl Crispin (Boca Raton, FL) started 321 Improv in 2004 and has been traveling and performing improvisational comedy full-time for 18 years. Joining wits with Mike Domeny (Manchester, NH) and Jeremy Schofield (Oklahoma City, OK), 321 Improv brings a level of energy that makes the show completely unpredictable. They’ve performed all over the world, bringing true joy and laughter to almost a million people. No two shows are ever alike!
Cade Thompson
Cade Thompson is an energetic and soulful Contemporary Christian music artist with a sound that appeals to believers and mainstream pop audiences alike. Cade’s effortless style promotes his personal musical influences, which draw heavily from the church. Cade has an admirable ability to transform his thoughts and faith into a powerful collection of melodies and lyrics that inspire people of all ages to step into all that God has for them. Cade’s debut album, Bigger Story, was released in September 2021 and paved the way for his sophomore album, Empty Room, which was released in April 2023. This project hosts 12 powerful tracks, including Cade’s current radio single “Good God,” which follows his massively successful “Arms of Jesus” that racked up sixteen million streams to date.