At Authentic Intimacy, we see and hear from so many Christians in every stage of life who are hurt, struggling, and confused when it comes to their sexuality. You are not alone!

• Why doesn’t God take away my unwanted sexual desires?
• What does it look like to stand on truth but not be judgmental?
• Where is God in the wake of my trauma?

Join Dr. Juli Slattery, Jackie Hill Perry, and other powerful speakers to learn how knowing Jesus really does change everything, including how we navigate sexuality.

This conference is an opportunity to know God better and walk with clarity, confidence, and conviction as a man or woman with a heart surrendered to God.

Whether you are personally struggling or wonder how to encourage others with the love of Christ, this is a conference you don’t want to miss.

Dr. Juli Slattery is a clinical psychologist, author, speaker and the president/co-founder of Authentic Intimacy. Juli earned her college degree at Wheaton College, an MA in psychology from Biola University, and an MS and a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from Florida Institute of Technology.

From 2008-2012, Dr. Slattery served at Focus on the Family writing, teaching, and co-hosting the Focus on the Family Broadcast. In 2012, she left Focus on the Family to start Authentic Intimacy, a ministry devoted to reclaiming God’s design for sexuality. In 2020, Juli launched SexualDiscipleship.com, a platform designed to help Christian leaders navigate sexual issues and questions with gospel-centered truth.

Juli is the author of twelve books and host of the weekly podcast “Java with Juli.” Juli and her husband Mike are the parents of 3 sons; they live in Akron, Ohio.

Jackie Hill Perry is an author, bible teacher, and hip-hop artist. Since becoming a Christian, she has been compelled to use her speaking and teaching gifts to share the light of the gospel of God as authentically as she can. She is the author of Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been, Holier Than Thou, and Upon Waking Devotional. At home, she is a wife to Preston and Mommy to Eden, Autumn, Sage, and August.

Brad Rhoads has been married to his wife Marilyn since 1996. They have five children, four girls and a boy. Brad graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Furman University and played on the varsity tennis team. He graduated Order of the Coif (top 10%) from the University of Kentucky College of Law and practiced as a full-time attorney for over 20 years. Marilyn graduated with a B.A. in Psychology from Lipscomb University, completed her Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern Indiana, and counseled at Counseling Associates before leaving the practice to be home with her children. Brad has been Lay Pastor of Marriage at his local church since 2010. Together, Brad and Marilyn lead marriage retreats and 20-week marriage intensives, author coaching materials, provide leadership development training, and lead marriage coaching groups. They consider it a privilege to share the overwhelming good news of Jesus Christ through the context of Grace Marriage.

Troy, MDiv, is the co-founder and CEO of the HopeQuest Ministry Group and has over 30 years of ministry experience, including six years as an IMB missionary in Kenya and 15 years as Director of Restoration Ministries at First Baptist Church of Woodstock. Troy’s personal struggle with addiction and own journey of recovery have enabled him to minister to others with authenticity and grace, providing hope that freedom is possible. 

Melissa is the spouse-supporting therapist for the Trek Residential Treatment program at HopeQuest, as well as a counselor at FBC Woodstock’s counseling center. Passionate about spiritual community, healthy marriages, and intimacy with God, Melissa regularly facilitates small groups and teaches and speaks on these topics in order to help the Body of Christ grow relationally with God and each other. 

Melissa and Troy have been married for 33 years and recently began their 24th year in recovery. They have dedicated their lives to encouraging, enabling, and equipping the body of Christ to live out Galatians 6:1—”Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently.”

Born and raised in the Netherlands, Laurence studied dentistry at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. While in college, he met The Navigators and became involved as a student leader. After graduation, Laurence served on staff with the Dutch Navigators in different leadership positions. He moved to the US in January 2017 to be part of the missions department of the US Navigators. After leading the training and development for young missionaries, he is now the director of iEDGE. iEDGE is a program that sends out teams of young adults into the nations to do cross-cultural discipleship ministry (www.iedge.org). Laurence is an international speaker and consultant on the topic of sexuality and resides in Colorado Springs.

Chelsey is a wife to her park ranger husband and mother to 3 lovely daughters. Settling on the plains of Iowa, their family is discovering how to live slow and steady in the USA after years of living abroad. Today Chelsey works with the Navigators to provide soul care for their overseas mission staff and leads Monastic Motherhood, a space for women to reimagine the soul of motherhood.

James is an alumnus of Malone University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. James enjoys long conversations, finely curated playlists, and giving hell a really hard time in Akron!