Steubenville Week 1: Meet our Speaking Team

Chris Padgett – Host

Chris is a popular speaker, musician, and author who has traveled around the world for over 20 years giving concerts, talks, parish missions and retreats to all ages about the love and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. He currently teaches with Catholic Distance University. He and his wife, Linda, began a nonprofit ministry to encourage, equip, and empower families and marriages. The Padgetts live in Central New York in a nine sided home with a donkey, goats, chickens, and too many rabbits. To learn more about Chris, check out www.chrispadgett.com.

Josh Blakesly – Worship Leader

Josh has led music for over 20 years at various events, churches, festivals, and conferences including Steubenville Conferences. In addition to touring, songwriting, and producing, Josh serves as the music ministry coordinator at St. Anthony of Padua in The Woodlands, Texas. To learn more about Josh, check out www.joshblakeslymusic.com.

Fr. Mike Schmitz – Clergy

Fr. Mike is the director of Youth and Youth Adult Ministry for the Diocese of Duluth as well as the chaplain for the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Fr. Mike attended Saint Paul Seminary and was ordained in 2003. He offers weekly homilies on iTunes and bulldogCatholic.org, and he hosts the popular podcast “Bible in a Year” from Ascension Presents. Check him out on Twitter at @frmikeschmitz.

Chika Anyanwu – Speaker

Chika is an international Catholic evangelist, youth and young adult minister, the author of “My Encounter: How I Met Jesus in Prayer,” and the Director of Formation and Events for Vagabond Missions. Chika is a part of a beautiful Nigerian family, loves her coffee black, and desires sainthood for us all. To learn more about Chika, check out www.chika.church.

Joel Stepanek – Speaker

Joel is a Catholic speaker and author who has traveled across the world speaking to groups of all sizes, ages, and vocations. In addition to ministry at Life Teen, he serves as adjunct faculty for Franciscan University of Steubenville. He is an avid Crossfitter and enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time with his wife and kids. To learn more about Joel, check out www.joelstepanek.com.

Katie Hartfield – Speaker

Katie has served as a youth minister, speaker, and author. She spends her days with her husband and four children, while still getting to travel to speak about Jesus. To learn about Katie and her book, check out www.womaninlove.org.