RETREAT SPEAKERS
Brave Enough
Danni Synot
Danni is the Founder and CEO of Australian Charity Brave Enough, but you may also know her familiar voice as the host of Brave Conversations Podcast alongside her cohost Tom Mann on AccessMore (EMF/KLOVE)
Her passion for Brave Conversations and helping others came after her own journey of healing with Jesus after experiencing challenges and traumas including abandonment by her father, abuse, addiction, the loss of a baby, ministry burnout, depression and debilitating anxiety disorder.
Danni knows that healing is possible, that everybody has a story and every story matters. Her passion is to help others be brave enough to get unstuck and emerge stronger, encouraging us all to live out our God-given purpose and help the next person up.
In the land down under, Danni is a mentor-coach and qualified counselor, and the author of the book and study series ‘Every Heart’s Cry’. She has had diverse ministry experiences over two decades, working in various capacities, including as an outreach pastor, assistant pastor, counselor, chaplain, and community center manager.
As a dynamic preacher, speaker, television, and radio presenter, she has worked for and been featured on several international networks, with preaching and presenting experiences, in 15 countries around the globe. Her previous television ministry adventures include the multi-award-winning ‘Beyond the Search’ documentary series, The ‘Epic’ documentary series, News Anchor on 'Record Infocus -Christian News & Current Affairs', 'Recovery Road' and 'Brave to Go'. Danni also worked on radio for several years, including her nationally syndicated radio show across Australia, ‘Big Brave Life.
Home in Australia, Danni lives with her husband Mark who is a Dementia Support Specialist. They share three grown children, Hannah, Adam and Logan and their fur-baby pups Princess & Benji. To relax Danni enjoys deep conversations by the beach, making faith-inspired gifts & jewellery, laughing out loud, the odd cheeky prank, eating ice-cream and sipping on an almond chai latte.
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EXPLORE MORE OF DANNI HERE:
Warrior Woman
Valerie Ellery
Valerie has dedicated more than 34 years to education in churches and schools in various roles as a Women's Ministry Director, Mentor/Coach, National Board-Certified Teacher, Curriculum and Training Specialist,
International Educational Consultant, and Best-Selling Author.
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Valerie has authored a plethora of resources to impact the hearts and souls of those who read them, including Equipping the Warrior Woman: Strategies to Awaken Your Purpose, Strength, and Confidence challenging women to get dressed with their armor on to fight strong. She has helped develop content for church discipleship programs and even authored Ten Bible Story Big Books and student readers for schools with guiding questions, vocabulary, and "retell it" cards.
Her educational books Creating Strategic Readers, Sustaining Strategic Readers, and Literacy Strong All Year Long have been used internationally in classrooms and universities to inspire educators to motivate and engage today's "whole" learners. In addition, she crafted a Language and Culture Curriculum for Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball to impact the "whole player" body, soul, and spirit.
She also co-authored two secondary curricula in the area of self-worth and human trafficking Bodies Are Not Commodities by A21 and ShineHope, published by Hillsong, impacting 37 Nations and reaching millions. Under the leadership of Christine Caine (A21.org), Valerie served as A21's Global Human Trafficking Education and Curriculum Specialist, authoring A21's K-12 Human Trafficking Education Curriculum to help safeguard students and abolish this injustice. In this field, she also served as the 1st ever Florida Department of Education's Human Trafficking K-12 Education Specialist.
Valerie lives in Bradenton, Florida, with her husband Gregg, who is an Executive Pastor at Bayside Community Church. Together, they have four adult children and five beautiful grandchildren! Whether in church or educational venues, Valerie loves traveling the globe to inspire, encourage, and transform lives to be confident in who they are, dedicated to seeking their purpose, and determined to be dressed for battle and fight from a place of victory!
GUEST PANELIST
The Praying Pickler
Stephanie Travis
Stephanie’s professional journey from a graduate of Florida State University to a seasoned educator spans over a decade, during which she has guided and inspired numerous athletes and students.
Beyond the classroom, Stephanie is a dedicated fitness enthusiast, serving as a personal trainer, wholeness coach, and the driving force behind Groundswell surf school, enriching the lives of elementary-aged children through summer surf sessions.
However, Stephanie's impact extends far beyond the waves. With a fervent commitment to wellness, she tirelessly advocates for human trafficking prevention education, sharing her insights and strategies globally, from Texas to South Africa.
Driven by her passion for coaching, Stephanie founded the "Praying Pickler" community, where pickleball enthusiasts gather to explore the spiritual connections between their sport and the teachings of the Bible.
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Stephanie Travis, a native of the East Coast of Florida, has nurtured a profound passion for sports, the ocean, and exploration since her early years. Now residing in Bradenton with her husband Jay and their two children.
In her leisure time, Stephanie finds solace in fishing, surfing, and bonding with her family over sports activities, embodying the values of vitality, compassion, and adventure.