Keynote Speakers

The Meaning Full Life

Pastor Ben Sadler - Spiritual Keynote Speaker

About the Presenter

Pastor Ben Sadler is the author of The Meaning Full Life, a Lutheran pastor, counselor-in-training, and keynote speaker. Since 2010, he has helped churches, schools, and Christian organizations discover lasting meaning through biblical truth, psychology, and practical wisdom.

Ben serves at Victory of the Lamb Lutheran Church in Wisconsin and lives with his wife, Emily, and their three children.

Keynote Overview

God created us to be purpose-driven, meaning-making people.

We long to believe that our work, relationships, sacrifices, and even our suffering are not random or wasted. We were created to ask 'Why?' When we lose sight of meaning, discouragement, exhaustion, and burnout often follow.

Christian educators understand this tension well. Most entered the classroom because they wanted to make a lasting difference in students' lives. Yet the daily demands of teaching can slowly erode the joy that first inspired their calling.

The Meaning Full Life is an inspiring and practical keynote that helps educators rediscover the deeper purpose behind their work. Drawing from Scripture, psychology, and the Meaning Full Life framework, Pastor Ben Sadler invites teachers to see every school day through the lens of God's greater story—equipping them with practical habits for living and teaching with renewed purpose, lasting resilience, and eternal hope.

Participants Will...

• Rediscover the eternal significance of Christian education.

• Understand why meaning is one of the strongest foundations for resilience.

• Develop practical habits that cultivate purpose and joy in everyday life.

• Learn how an eternal perspective transforms everyday teaching.

• Leave renewed, encouraged, and equipped for another year of faithful service.

What Participants Will Experience

Through engaging storytelling, biblical teaching, contemporary psychology, and guided reflection, participants will discover:

• Why every human heart longs for meaning.

• Four practical pathways to living a Meaning Full Life.

• How ordinary moments in the classroom become opportunities for eternal impact.

• Practical tools they can begin using immediately in both their personal and professional lives.

Each participant will receive:

• Meaning Full Life Assessment

• Meaningful Day Planner

• Meaning-Centered Decision-Making Tool

Mental Health Keynote

Dr. Ben Kohls - Educational Keynote Speaker

About the Presenter

Dr. Kohls has served as a clinical mental-health counselor since 2007. After completing his master’s degree at MSU–Mankato, he began his career counseling at-risk youth in a residential program in Florida, then served in community mental-health roles in both Florida and South Dakota.

He earned his Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision from the University of South Dakota, while continuing clinical work in outpatient, day-treatment, and inpatient settings with Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. During that time, he also taught as an adjunct professor at both USD and South Dakota State University.

Dr. Kohls returned to Mankato in 2018. In addition to teaching at Bethany Lutheran College, he maintains a counseling practice and supervises clinicians in the field. His career reflects a commitment to integrating faith, ethics, and professional excellence in counseling and higher education.

Dr. Kohls is passionate about counselor education and enjoys working with individuals at every stage of professional development—from counselors-in-training to experienced clinicians. He views learning as a lifelong process, with growth opportunities in every setting. His teaching and research emphasize integrating a Christian worldview with evidence-based, faith-informed counseling methods. His professional identity as a counselor educator is shaped by his work as a clinical mental-health counselor, researcher, public speaker, and clinical supervisor. 

Keynote Overview

Dr. Kohls is eager to share his knowledge with us about issues surrounding mental health.  The first hour will focus on "mental health literacy," and the second hour will focus on roles, responsibilities, and the scope of what teachers can do.