Main Pavilion Speakers
Erton Carlos Köhler, MA, DMin. Candidate
Erton Carlos Köhler was born in Brazil and grew up as a pastor’s kid, feeling called to ministry from an early age. He served as a district pastor for five years and dedicated twelve years to Youth Ministries at the local conference, union, and division levels. At age 38, Pastor Köhler became the youngest president of the South American Division, a position he held for nearly fifteen years. In 2021, he was elected Executive Secretary of the General Conference, and as of July 2025 he serves as President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.
Pastor Köhler’s priorities include unity, mission, and maintaining a clear, gospel‑centered focus for the global church. He calls both leaders and members to boldness in sharing the message of Jesus’ love–“Grounded in the Bible, Focused on the Mission.”
He is married to Adriene Marques Köhler, a nurse. They have two adult children: Mariana, a psychology student, and Matheus, a district pastor in Brazil, who is married to Geovanna, an attorney.
Pastor Ty Gibson
Pastor Ty Gibson is a prominent speaker, writer, and co‑director of Light Bearers, an independent media and literature ministry based in Collegedale, Tennessee. A passionate and engaging communicator, he teaches on a wide range of biblical and theological topics with a central emphasis on God’s unfailing love as the unifying theme of Scripture.
His teaching ministry highlights:
- The character of God
- The love of God as the foundation of Christian faith
- Clear and accessible explanations of deep theological concepts
Ty’s global ministry includes live events, media productions, and extensive written resources. He is the author of eight best‑selling books focusing on theology, God’s character, and practical Christian living.
He and his wife, Sue, have three adult children and two grandsons.
Oleg Kostyuk, PhD
Dr. Oleg Kostyuk is a pastor, biblical scholar, chaplain, and professor who serves as Assistant to the President for Mission at AdventHealth University. His ministry and academic work focus on helping people encounter God through Scripture, theological reflection, and attentive pastoral presence.
Dr. Kostyuk integrates rigorous scholarship with lived faith, inviting others to discern God’s activity in both sacred texts and everyday life.
Before joining AdventHealth University in 2020, he served as an adjunct professor at Andrews University, hosted programs for Hope Channel, and worked in various pastoral and ministry roles. He is a published author and an active member of both the Society of Biblical Literature and the Adventist Society for Religious Studies.
He holds:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Theology from Zaoksky Theological Seminary (Russia)
- A Master’s degree in Theology from the University of Wales
- A Doctorate in Religion from Andrews University
Dr. Kostyuk is married to Julia Kostyuk, RN, MSN/FNP, an AdventHealth University graduate. They have two daughters.
Michael Ryan, Ed.D.
Dr. Michael Ryan is a veteran leader in the Seventh‑day Adventist Church with more than sixteen years of missionary service in the Far East and extensive experience in global church administration. He served for twelve years as a Vice President of the General Conference and has held key leadership roles including Director of Global Mission, General Field Secretary, and Assistant to the President.
Pastor Ryan is widely recognized for his leadership in Global Mission, especially his strategic work in the 10/40 Window, where he emphasized planning, collaboration, and a unified global approach to outreach.
He holds a Doctor of Education degree and has served on the board of the Adventist Accrediting Association. As a strong advocate for Adventist education, evangelism, and faith‑based scholarship, he has also been actively involved with the Faith and Science Council and has contributed significantly to the world church’s I Will Go strategic plan.
Pastor Ryan has been married 57 years to his wife Jeanie RN, MSN/FNP. Their daughter Gina is a MD Radiologist and daughter Heidi a RN. Their granddaughter is in her second year at Southern Adventist University.
Dr. Ryan will present a powerful multimedia recitation drawn entirely from Scripture, proclaiming the same urgent themes discovered by the early Adventist pioneers—those deep biblical messages that launched a movement to bring hope and warning to the world.