LA Speaker Bio’s

L.A. friday Pre-summit Speakers

At the young age of 5 Gabriel gave his life to Jesus. A little boy who was surrounded by brokenness began to have an insatiable desire to preach. Back then, stuffed animals were the perfect audience. At the age of 13 Gabriel was called into ministry and called out of poverty, gangs and violence. To date Gabriel has ministered in 25 different countries across four continents. His heart burns to lead a new generation to fall in love with Jesus and live their lives with God’s word as their source of truth. Gabriel has the ability to articulate and inspire people to action. He is passionate about recognizing and releasing people in their gifting and calling and through intentional discipleship help them to be rightly placed in their Kingdom assignment. Ministry, for Gabriel, is done alongside his wife of 13 years and as a family with their 3 children.

Chris has been the Lead Pastor of Foothill Church in Glendora, California since 2006, an 80-year-old church that has seen great change and growth by God’s grace in this time. Chris’s passion is preaching, teaching and leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ, rooted in the gospel. Chris has been happily married to Michelle for 28 years and is the father to four of his favorite people in the world: Gabbie, Tucker, Berkeley and Gracie.

Abe Cho is the Senior Director of Training for City to City New York and North America. Previously, he was a pastor at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in NYC for 14 years. The last six of those years he served as the Senior Pastor of Redeemer East Side where he led a staff of 30 full-time and part-time staff. In 2021, he stepped down from leading in this more structured, hierarchical context to leading in the far more decentralized, movemental context of City to City North America where he has had to learn an entirely new set of leadership instincts. He is married with four children which is, itself, yet another entirely different set of leadership challenges

Born and raised in the city of Los Angeles, DK is the son of immigrant parents from South Korea and is a lifelong fan of all LA sports teams. DK serves on the executive team at Mariners Church as the Lead Worship Pastor and provides leadership over all weekend experience teams across the 7 locations in Southern California. Among his responsibilities is the joy of serving alongside young worship leaders and witnessing God’s work in and through each person.

DK loves going on dates with his wife of over 17 years, Sadie, stays active by playing basketball and enjoys conversations with friends around a fire pit. As for title, perhaps “A worship leader manifesto” — open to other titles!

Pastor Mark, a Miami native born to Cuban immigrants, has a remarkable story of transformation and redemption. His father was a former drug dealer, but after giving his life to Christ, Mark and his father started a ministry preaching on the streets of Miami and helping drug addicts find freedom in Jesus. Mark himself felt a call to ministry at the young age of 10 and has dedicated his life to spreading God’s love and serving those in need. He is married to his high school sweetheart Leilani and they have three children. With a passion for working with marginalized communities, Mark founded LOVE+UNLTD with the vision of spreading God’s love and compassion throughout Miami, especially to those who are most in need.

L.A. SATURDAY Speakers

Tommy “Urban D.” Kyllonen has been in ministry for over 25 years at Crossover Church in Tampa, Florida. He has been the lead pastor for over 20 years. Under his leadership the church has seen incredible growth. This multi-ethnic, multi-generational, multi-class church has become a model. As they grew, they relocated into a 43,000-square foot retail building that was a former Toys R’ Us in Tampa’s Uptown District. Outreach Magazine recognized Crossover as one of America’s Most Innovative Churches. Crossover has also been featured in USA Today, Newsweek, CBS News, BET News, and several regional media outlets. Urban D. is an internationally known hip-hop artist who has released nine full-length albums and several remix projects (www.urband.org).  Tommy has authored six books. His most acclaimed book “Love Our City” is a 30-day devotional format for churches and small groups to go through together. The video series is available on Right Now Media. It also includes a community service project aspect. His church has used this to reach thousands of new people. They created a leaders box kit that gives churches all the tools to launch Love Our City. There are hundreds of churches that have joined the Love Our City Movement. Tommy is also the publisher of S.O.U.LMAG Magazine, which has produced 29 issues. Tommy has a passion to help other leaders win. He founded the Flavor Fest Urban Leadership Conference, which has trained over 5,000 leaders. His coaching network has trained over 100 urban pastors and church planters. He serves as the chairman of the Uptown Tampa Innovation District board. He lives in Tampa, Florida with his wife Lucy and his two daughters Deyana and Sophia.

Over the course of his career, Larry Acosta founded the Hispanic Ministry Center, Urban YouthWorkers Institute (UYWI) and KIDWORKS, a community development corporation that reaches and educates at-risk youth in Central Santa Ana, which he co-founded with his wife Jayme. Under Larry’s leadership, UYWI grew from a local, Southern California ministry, to a national urban leadership development organization- training next gen. ethnic pastors and leaders in over 32 cities across the U.S. Larry is currently the Executive Director and Lead Catalyst for City to City Los Angeles. His vision is to see 100 multiethnic, Gospel centered churches planted or re-planted throughout Southern California by 2026. After graduating from Biola University and Talbot School of Theology, Larry completed his doctorate in Leadership Development at Fuller Theological Seminary. He also serves on the boards of Kingdomworks SDG and Azusa Pacific University. Larry is married to his lovely wife Jayme of 31 years, and they have four young adult children that they are crazy about…most days- Brock, Karis, Malia and Diego.

Dr. Larry Walkemeyer serves with his wife, Deb, as Strategic Catalyst for Multiplication for Free Methodist USA encouraging the multiplication of disciples, leaders and churches nationally. He is part of the Executive Leadership Team of the Free Methodist USA.

He is also Global Pastor for Light & Life Church, Long Beach, CA., a multiplying, multi-ethnic church he and Deb led for the past 31 years. During their tenure the church grew dynamically, and planted churches both nationally and globally.

As Director of Equipping and Spiritual Engagement for Exponential (the world’s largest church planting resource group), Larry seeks to influence the church of Jesus toward multiplication. Holding a doctorate in church leadership and as the author/co-author of ten books, Larry speaks and consults frequently across the USA. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Asbury Seminary, co-launching a D.Min. in Church Multiplication.

Azusa Pacific University, from which Larry holds a Doctorate of Ministry, has recognized Larry with the Centennial Award, naming him one of the most influential graduates in its history. Larry serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees for Azusa Pacific University.

Larry and Dr. Deb Walkemeyer have been married since 1978. They write and speak frequently on marriage, ministry, and leadership. They have two amazing adult daughters. Larry enjoys biking, working out, snow skiing, waterskiing, boating and traveling.

Darnel M. Butler is the current Worship & Creative Arts Pastor of Crossover Church in Tampa, FL where he has served since October 2017. Darnel is an accomplished musician and songwriter and has written & published over 100 praise and worship songs. Some of which have been recorded and performed in different areas around the nation. His musical resume includes opening for and working with Tamela Mann, Kierra Sheard, Donnie McClurkin, Clint Brown, Martha Munizzi, LaRue Howard, Todd Galberth, and more. He recently released “The DMB Project:LIVE” featuring some of the nation’s premier worship leaders and songs written by Darnel Butler. In 2013, Darnel launched his personal music ministry, “The DMB Project.” His ministry focuses on delivering high passionate praise and pure worship to churches and conferences all over the country. He travels nationwide teaching on effective praise and worship by providing workshops and nights of worship to communities everywhere.

L.A. friday Pre-summit Speakers

L.A. SATURDAY Speakers

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