Elgie “Bubba” Justice begin serving as the Missions Coordinator on July 1, 2021. In his capacity as the Missions Coordinator, he gives leadership to VUSA Missions. He oversees mobilization, training, partnership development and coordinating US activity with other Vineyard movements. He also serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Vineyard USA.
In his capacity as CFO, Bubba supports the National Director, Jay Pathak, by overseeing all phases of VUSA finances which includes Vineyard Resources, Vineyard Worship and Lilly Grants. From 2017 until 2021 Bubba served as the National Coordinator for VUSA. Prior to working with VUSA, Bubba was the senior pastor of the Inverness Vineyard Church (IVC) for 23 years and before that worked in the financial world as a C.P.A., a financial manager, and chief financial officer. Bubba and his wife Melany live in Houston, TX, and have two married daughters.
David Ruis, along with his wife Anita, have been the National Directors of Vineyard Canada since 2014. As a team David and Anita are also known to be effective church planters and seasoned pastors having established churches in Canada and the US, within the Vineyard family of churches. David has also been instrumental in seeing Vineyard communities established in Nepal and India.
Much of the Ruises’ focus has been in indigenous settings, working with people experiencing poverty and subsequent marginalization. Both David and Anita have significant experience facilitating leadership development and on the creative side David is known for fostering originality in song-writing and the arts in various cultural settings. The Ruises currently reside in Kelowna, BC. In their down time they love to be creative and hang with their grandkids.
Ranjo joined the Vineyard in 2013. Although originally from India, he is a card-carrying “third culture kid,” having spent multiple stints in India and the US. He is passionate about equipping worship leaders, building multiethnic communities, and creating “safe spaces” where people encounter God and operate in their gifting. Ranjo served as a worship pastor in India before returning to the US in 2008 to pursue an M.Div. in worship studies at Asbury Theological Seminary (ATS).
He has since served as Associate Pastor at GCF Vineyard in Wilmore, KY, and is on the core team for Vineyard USA’s AAPI association. He is also pursuing a Ph.D. in Asian American studies at ATS. His research interests include Asian American Identity and theology, worship, ethnodoxology, and missiology. Ranjo and his wife, Aletha, have five beautiful daughters. They love hosting people, singing, sharing stories, laughing, and eating all kinds of ethnic food, especially spicy food.
Rafael (Ray) Maldonado Jr. began in ministry in 1978, planting a church in 1983. He was the senior pastor for two Chicago churches for over 28 years. He has earned a Master’s and Doctorate of Ministry. Ray has been involved in missions for over 16 years. He leads the VM Cuba partnerships and was recently appointed as VM Coordinator for the Caribbean Region. Ray and his wife Teresa have 5 children and 10 grandchildren and now reside in Florida.
As the Director of the award-winning Multiply Group, Vicki collaborates with a range of private, public, and third sector organisations both nationally and internationally to help them excel in communicating more effectively and achieving goals. This is done through coaching, training, conflict resolution, and meditation.
She also leads Coventry Vineyard with Nick, where they are passionate about making disciples who make disciples.
For nearly ten years, Nick has coordinated Missions for Vineyard Churches UK & Ireland. In this role, Nick encourages and equips local vineyard churches as they engage in cross-cultural missions. He acts as a ‘bridge-builder’ connecting churches and collaborating with those committed to building for God’s Kingdom around the World. Along with Vicki, he has led Coventry Vineyard, UK, for the past 27 years, empowering disciples to ‘make disciples’ in their local neighbourhoods and communities.
Andy Park is grateful for five decades of knowing God and sharing the gift of worship at home and abroad. He has served as a Vineyard worship pastor in several churches in Canada and the United States. He recorded many songs with Vineyard Worship and continues to write and record worship songs. Andy has travelled to many countries to share the gift of worship and has authored 3 books. His first book was: To Know You More, Cultivating the Heart of the Worship Leader. His other two book titles are: Living in Humility, and The Worship Journey: Fully Alive in the Circle of Love. Originally from Los Angeles, Andy lives with his family in Surrey, Canada.
Judith has been part of the Vineyard movement since 1985 and currently serves as CoLead Pastor of the Seattle Vineyard alongside her husband, John. They are also Area Leaders for Alaska, Guam, and Hawaii. Together, they have helped plant three Vineyard churches in Hawaii and Washington and have been in pastoral ministry for over thirty years, including thirteen years at a Kansas Vineyard church before returning to Washington in 2019. Judith also serves on the Vineyard AAPI Association Advisory Board and the Vineyard Women’s Association Leadership Team. Born in the Philippines and raised in Hawaii, Judith brings a diverse multicultural perspective to ministry. She remains actively engaged globally through Seattle Vineyard’s partnership with the Philippines via Vineyard USA Missions. Judith is passionate about spiritual formation, building community, training worship teams and leaders, and empowering the next generation. She enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband, spending time with their three entertaining adult children, relaxing on the beach, savoring good coffee, and reading whenever she gets the chance.
Bright
Song
Our theme for the 2025 Vineyard Kids National Conference is Melody and Harmony: Bright Song. We feel the beat of heaven and earth marking us… It can’t stop, it won’t stop… it’s ever expanding from this age to the one to come. This song will be heard and His name will be made famous, in every city, every school, every home, every culture from generation to generation.
We are his harmony and the future is bright.
Schedule / Drop-Off & Pick-Up
The kids program runs concurrent with all seven adult main sessions. Please note there is NO KIDS PROGRAMMING for any role-based meetup, after parties or the Night of Worship on Wednesday evening.
Drop-off begins 15 minutes before each session. Please make sure to sign your child IN EVERY TIME you drop them off.
Pick-up begins immediately after each session. Please pick up your child within 10 minutes of the session ending. If you are participating in ministry time, please assign an adult to pick up your child. Please make sure to sign your child OUT EVERY TIME you pick them up.
When you arrive at the conference, your first stop will be the Main Conference Check-In table. You will receive all your kid specific information at the Check-In table. Check-In volunteers will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.
Elementary (1st-6th Grade)
Our theme days this year are based off some awesome musical genres. Are you ready for it? Pack your cowboy hats, bell bottoms, and iced out chains for …(drumroll, please)…
- Tuesday: Honky Tonk Tuesday
- Wednesday: Rap & Rock
- Thursday: Totally Disco
We can’t wait to see what awesome outfits you come up with!
Early Childhood (6 months – Kindergarten)
We look forward to having your littles in the early childhood wing upstairs where we will be discovering God’s ‘Bright Song’ as we find treasures through the life of Joseph!
Worship, puppets, crafts, games, bouncy house, Bible stories and all-around fun.
Some things to note:
- Please sign your child IN and OUT at their classroom every time you drop them off or pick them up.
- Your child will receive a sticker name tag for every session. The name tags will be kept in the classroom. Please place your child’s name tag on their back after signing them in for the session.
- If your child needs you during the session, you will be contacted by text message. Please make sure you leave your cell phone on vibrate so we can get ahold of you easily.
- For kids 3 years old and under- please send bottles, sippy cups and any other items your child might need.
- Please note that Vineyard Kids Volunteers and staff will not be responsible for changing diapers.
Questions
Feel free to reach out to the Vineyard Kids Team at kidsconference@vineyardusa.org with any questions or concerns you might have.
Safety & Security
Our outstanding kids conference volunteer team is screened, specifically trained, and background checked. Access to the kids’ conference is limited to approved staff and volunteers, and parents must show their parent pickup pass to collect their child.
This year, you only need to stop at one table—hallelujah! At the conference check-in table, you’ll be able to check in your teen and pick up a Youth FAQ Sheet. Everything else your teen needs will be handed out at the first youth meeting on Monday night.
Schedule
Each meeting includes games, worship, teaching, and prayer ministry. Teens will be assigned Color Teams on Monday night and earn points throughout the week during Color War Games—winners get a prize!
Each meeting includes games, worship, teaching, and prayer ministry. Teens will be assigned Color Teams on Monday night and earn points throughout the week during Color War Games—winners get a prize!
Meeting Breakdown
- Monday Night, Tuesday & Thursday Afternoons:
- Color Game → Worship → Teaching → Prayer Ministry
- Tuesday & Thursday Mornings:
- Color Game → Worship → Teaching → Crews (small group discussions)
Speaker Lineup
- Monday PM – Keirstyn Worden (Vineyard Church of Central Illinois)
- Tuesday AM – Christina Lowery (Vineyard USA)
- Tuesday PM – Santos Chapparo (Vineyard Columbus)
- Thursday AM – Matt Stoudt (Vineyard Church of Holly Springs)
- Thursday PM – Clay Harrington (Vineyard Cincinnati)
Escape Day on Wednesday
We’re heading to Kings Island for a full day of sun and fun! Please send your teen with:
- Bathing suit under clothes (for bus ride)
- Change of clothes & towel
- Water bottle & sunscreen
- Water-friendly shoes (water socks – highly recommended, flip-flops, water shoes)
- Optional spending money
- Lunch is provided as a catered meal, including:
- Hamburgers, chicken tenders, garden salad, mac & cheese, ice cream sandwiches, kettle chips, cookies, and soft drinks
Escape Day Wednesday Schedule
- 9:00 AM – Drop-off at Vineyard Cincinnati Church
- Go to the Youth area (Student Union) and check in
- 9:15 AM – Buses arrive
- 9:30 AM – Depart for Kings Island
- 4:15 PM – Leave Kings Island
- 5:00 PM – Return to Vineyard Cincinnati Church
Supervision
- High schoolers may explore the park in groups of 4+ with scheduled check-ins.
- Middle schoolers will be in similar groups with a dedicated adult.
Contact Info
If you have further questions, please feel free to reach out to our conference lead:
Matt Stoudt
matt@vineyardyouthusa.com
(215) 275-0053
For more information on what Vineyard Youth is doing to support youth ministry: vineyardyouthusa.com
Our Prayer & Expectation
We believe this week can be a spiritual milestone in your teen’s life. Many of us point to gatherings like this as pivotal moments in our walk with Jesus. We’re praying the same will be true for your teen—and we’re honored to be part of it.
Role-Based Meetups
Monday, 2:00 PM
Tuesday, 7:00 AM
Tuesday, 12:00 PM
Tuesday, 12:00 PM
Tuesday, 1:00 PM
Tuesday, 6:30 PM
Tuesday, 7:00 PM
Tuesday, 7:30 PM
Tuesday, 9:30 PM
Wednesday, 7:00 AM
Wednesday, 12:00 PM
Wednesday, 12:00 PM
Wednesday, 1:00 PM
Wednesday, 1:00 PM
Wednesday, 1:00 PM
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Thursday, 12:30 PM
Thursday, 12:30 PM
Thursday, 1:00 PM
Thursday, 1:00 PM
After Parties & Hangouts
Monday, 3:00 PM
Monday, 9:30 PM
Wednesday, 5:30 PM
Wednesday, 6:00 PM
Wednesday, 6:00 PM
Sponsors
Harmony
