{"id":17982,"date":"2025-10-22T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-22T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/youth\/?p=17982"},"modified":"2025-10-17T15:58:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T19:58:36","slug":"meet-the-speakers-at-pilgrimage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nccumc.org\/youth\/2025\/10\/meet-the-speakers-at-pilgrimage\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet the Speakers at Pilgrimage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Meet the Speakers<\/a> at Pilgrimage 2025! Julia Royall Johnson, Mark Oestreicher, and Ismael Ruiz-Mill\u00e1n will serve as our keynote speakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Youth attending Camp Fun Day<\/a> on Saturday afternoon can join an informal Meet & Greet with the speakers!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Julia<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Julia Royall Johnson<\/strong> grew up at Centenary UMC in Smithfield, North Carolina, where she was confirmed in the seventh grade. Julia currently serves on the full-time team at Don Lee Camp and Retreat Center, a United Methodist-affiliated camp located on the coast of North Carolina.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"Mark<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Mark Oestreicher (Marko)<\/strong> has been involved in church ministry for over 40 years, particularly with teenagers and youth workers. Marko has authored or contributed to more than 80 books and is the founding partner at The Youth Cartel, providing coaching for church youth workers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Ismael Ruiz-Mill\u00e1n<\/strong> knows what it\u2019s like to live in the in-between\u2014between cultures, between questions, and between one season of life and the next. As the Executive Director of Connectional Ministries in the NC Conference of The UMC, Ismael works to support churches and leaders as they live into God\u2019s mission.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

We look forward to seeing you at the Rocky Mount Event Center<\/a> on November 7!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The Pilgrimage Team<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Meet the Speakers at Pilgrimage 2025! Julia Royall Johnson, Mark Oestreicher, and Ismael Ruiz-Mill\u00e1n will serve as our keynote speakers. 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