Cultivating a Listening Ear and Obstacles to Intimacy with Christ

Dr. Wanda Walborn served 23 years at Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary in various roles, including Director of Spiritual Formation and Professor. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Empower, a program that equips women in Bible, theology, and mentoring. Wanda authored Spiritual Journey: Can I Really Get Close to God? and its leader’s guide. Passionate about mentoring emerging leaders, she invests deeply in others' growth. In her free time, Wanda enjoys reading, being outdoors, walking, savoring good coffee, and spending time with family. Her life reflects a commitment to spiritual formation and empowering women in ministry.

Old Testament Survey

Marlinda is a cofounder and ministry leader at Christ Church with campuses in New Jersey. She promotes a passion for uniting people to God and people to people through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Marlinda was a faculty member at Alliance Theological Seminary in New York City and earned a D.Min. in Christian Leadership in the Global Context. She is also an author and a board member for the New York School of Urban Ministry and the Empower ministry training program for women.

Dealing with Grief and Anxiety

Lisa was one of the founding members of Empower and faithfully served in multiple roles throughout the years. Prayer and mentoring women were the heartbeat of her ministry. Alongside her husband, Mike, she dedicated over 40 years to pastoral ministry. For two decades, they served in New City, NY, at Risen King Alliance Church, where Lisa was on staff and led Growth Groups, Pastoral Care, and Leadership Development with grace and wisdom. She stepped away from ministry due to health challenges but remained a source of encouragement and faith. Lisa is lovingly remembered by her children, Joseph and Anna, and her grandchildren, Ali and Kai.

Sadly, Lisa passed away in May 2025, leaving a profound void in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. Her life was marked by unwavering faith, a deep commitment to prayer, and a passion for mentoring women in their walk with God. As one of the founding members of Empower, she poured her heart into building a community where women could grow in faith, leadership, and purpose. Lisa’s impact continues to shine through those she inspired and loved so well.

Role of the Holy Spirit

Dr. Ron Walborn served 24 years as Professor, Vice President, and Dean at Alliance Theological Seminary and Nyack College in New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. He holds degrees from Nyack College (B.A.), Alliance Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and Fuller Seminary (D.Min.). Ron has planted and pastored churches in Connecticut and California, authored one book, and contributed to various publications. He has spoken nationally and internationally at churches and conferences. Raised in a ministry family in Western Pennsylvania, Ron and his wife, Dr. Wanda Walborn, have four married adult children and five beautiful grandchildren.

Understanding Your Calling

Dr. Martin Sanders was a beloved mentor, professor, pastor, author, and speaker who spent over 30 years developing leaders locally and globally. He taught for 36 years—first at Canadian Theological Seminary, then 32 years at Alliance Theological Seminary in New York, where he directed the Doctor of Ministry program. With over 12 years of pastoral experience in North America and Australia, Martin also founded Global Leadership, Inc., empowering thousands of leaders worldwide. His legacy of wisdom, passion, and leadership lives on through those he mentored. Martin and his late wife were the proud parents of four children.

Sadly, Dr. Martin Sanders passed away in January of 2024. Just a few weeks before his passing, he recorded his teaching content for the EmpowerOne course. Martin championed women and championed Empower. We are honored to have the ability to continue to provide his teaching and wisdom to our students.

Addressing Conflict

Michelle Park holds a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Alliance University’s Graduate School of Counseling. She has a private practice in Queens, NY where she sees individuals, couples and families, while supervising marriage and family therapy interns and pre-licensed therapists. Michelle was an adjunct instructor for her alma mater. She often partners with her husband Sam, to minister to couples and individuals who are serving in ministry. They live in Queens, NY with their two daughters Sophia and Emma Jay and their adopted border-collie/pointer mix, Lady Paisley.

New Testament Survey

Amy F. Davis Abdallah, PhD, is a wife and mother who writes, teaches, preaches, leads, and mentors in the United States and abroad. She loves all expressions of beauty, mentors many, adventures in cities and on trails, and is a wife and the mama of two boys. Amy is founder and director of Woman: A Rite of Passage program. She authored The Book of Womanhood to empower women to be their true selves in the world. Meaning in the Moment: How Rituals Help Us Move Through Joy, Pain, and Everything in Between is her latest book.

Prayer and Intercession

Dr. Plunket is the Senior Pastor of Risen King Church in New City, NY. He was an adjunct professor in the Pastoral Ministry Department at Nyack College in Nyack, NY. Mike earned his Master of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi and his D.Min. at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY. Since his ordination in 1986, Mike has organized, helped start, and pastored five churches in Mexico City, Mexico and Atlanta, Georgia. He is also an instructor with College of Prayer International and has led prayer gatherings for ministry leaders in Uganda, Norway and Ecuador.

Theology of the Kingdom

Dr. Rob Reimer holds a B.A. in English from King’s College, an M.Div. from Alliance Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Preaching from Gordon-Conwell. He founded and pastored South Shore Community Church until 2017 and taught in the Doctor of Ministry program at Alliance Theological Seminary. Rob is the author of Soul Care, Deep Faith, River Dwellers, and Pathways to the King, with books sold worldwide. He speaks at conferences, churches, and seminaries across the U.S. and internationally. Rob and his wife, Jen, have four children—Danielle, Courtney, Darcy, and Craig—and one grandson, Caius.

Identifying & Healing Family Wounds

Sandy received her B.A. in Social Welfare at U.C. Berkeley and her M.A. in Religious Studies with an emphasis in Missions at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In 2002, she and her husband joined San Jose Christian Alliance Church as missionary candidates and now serve as senior leaders (with their four daughters). Since 2011, she has been the founding director of Gateway Preschool Academy. Sandy joined Empower in 2016 as the first live stream student. Her ministry passion is to develop and empower courageous leaders of all ages to be powerful ambassadors for Christ.

Professor: Community and Mission of the Church

Dr. Ingrid Davis is a Certified Leadership Coach. She has her B.S. in Education, an M.A. in Intercultural Studies, and a D.Min. in Global Leadership. As a former International Worker with the C&MA in Mali, West Africa, Ingrid has a heart to develop women who will be a part of God’s restoration project. She loves to see Empower women who are investing in themselves and their development – to be all that God has created them to be and to then turn around and invest in others.

Spiritual Gift

The Rev. Dr. Charles O. Galbreath is Senior Pastor of Alliance Tabernacle Church in Brooklyn, NY. He previously served as Associate Dean and Professor at Alliance Theological Seminary. In 2017, he was elected to the Board of Directors for The Christian and Missionary Alliance. Dr. Galbreath serves on multiple community boards in Brooklyn, including the Clergy Advisory Council for the FDNY. He earned degrees from Nyack College, Alliance Theological Seminary, Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Fordham University. Charles and his wife, Flobien, have three children: Charles Jr., Malia, and Grayson.