IMMERSED IN THE PRESENCE
2026 SPEAKERS

Randy Morgan & Johnny Layton
Bishop, Apostle
Bishop Randy Morgan and Apostle Johnny Layton- Morgan, married since 1993, are the founders of New Covenant Church of Atlanta and overseers of The Covenant Network. Their heart is revival—seeing lives transformed, leaders raised up, and the Holy Spirit poured out on all people.

Samuel Kader
Pastor
Currently he pastors New Life Community Gospel Church in New Port Richey, Florida, a Covenant Network church, and is founder and president of S.K. Ministry Inc. He began actively pastoring in 1980, as the founding pastor of Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Since that time, he has pastored 4 other churches, including the Community Gospel Church in Dayton, Ohio which he founded in 1986 and pastored for 30 years. For several years Pastor Kader’s sermons reached out to the greater Dayton metropolitan area through a televised program called Eunique Perspectives of Hope which are now on YouTube (The Hope Tapes). Pastor Kader has written several articles for both the gay press, and the gay Christian press, has appeared as a featured guest speaker at many regional and national conferences, and has traveled internationally. He held revivals for numerous churches and has spoken on many college campuses. Known for his thought-provoking insights and teachings, Reverend Kader delivers informative spiritual lessons with a sense of humor. With years of study and decades of pastoring experience he is uniquely qualified to report on the various moves of God up to and including the current move of God among the LGBTQ (+) community. Samuel currently resides in Florida with his spouse Jerry, their dogs Duke, Dory, Dodi, and Dolly.

Shelly Planellas
Apostle
Apostle Shelly Planellas, “Warrior Girl”, is an ordained minister with the Covenant Network. She and her wife are the co-founders of New Covenant Church NOLA. She received her calling to serve her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a very young age. There has always been a desire within her heart to see ALL people saved, delivered, and set free in every aspect of their lives. This aspiration is seen throughout her professional life journey. She holds a Master of Social Work degree and is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW). She is also an instructor at Delgado Community NOLA, where she teaches College and Career Success Skills. Finally, she is a Licensed Massage Therapist of over 23 years. Her motto is to treat a person’s whole; “Mind, Body and Soul”. She is committed to Kingdom and community building. Her mission is to, “equip the next generation of Kingdom builders and community leaders with a spiritual arsenal to increase God’s territory here on earth.” She is blessed and forever thankful for her wife, co-founder, co-pastor and friend, Pastor Tanzanika.

Aimee Simpierre
Pastor
Aimée (eh-MAY) Simpierre (sim-PYAIR) is a worshiper of her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. In 2023, Aimée answered God’s call to start New Song Church Affirming Christian Ministry, a member of the Covenant Network of Churches. She and her wife Myriam Simpierre, pastor this small community in Harlem, NYC focused on liberating worship and forming mature disciples of Christ. Aimée started in ministry while a teenager serving as her choir's assistant chaplain. She has since served as a worship leader, choir director, Bible teacher, and Acting Pastor at an independent LGBTQ-founded ministry in Brooklyn. Aimée and Myriam have been married for 24 years. They have a daughter and son aged 13 and 8.

Brian Grizzle
Evangelist
Brian is a native of Georgia. I grew up in The Pentecostal Church where at a young age I developed a deep love for God, Church and People. I have been blessed to serve in ministry for most of my life. I became a member of New Covenant Church of Atlanta in 2002. I have had the privilege of preaching at the Immersed Conferences many times. God has blessed me with a wonder husband. Carlos and I have made a commitment to serve God together. My statement of faith: We trust in and worship only one true living God, I proclaim that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the good news to all people. I believe Jesus was fully human and fully God. I believe Acts 2:38 is a foundational message to The New Testament church when Peter instructs the crowd at Pentecost to "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins," promising that they would then "receive the gift of the Holy Ghost" He adds, "For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. I believe the gift of speaking in tongues is the evidence of being filled with the Holy Ghost. I believe we should desire to live a holy life, I believe that the word of God Is true and we should apply the principals of the bible to our everyday lives. We must develop a deep loving relationship with our savior. I believe we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25 and let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)Thank you Covenant Network for receiving me again as one of this year’s Immersed Conference speakers. I love and appreciate you all.

Eric Hull
Pastor
Eric Hull was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, where he first heard the Gospel preached at the Methodist Church he grew up in. Although he believed in God, it wasn’t until a life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ in 1987 that he came to know Him and the power of His resurrection. Being delivered from depression and hopelessness, he now exhorts believers to live a life of love, joy, and peace that is available to them in Christ. He has answered the call to prepare the way of the Lord in this generation through a ministry of prayer, preaching, and teaching specifically focused on New Covenant truth. In 2008, Eric became the senior pastor of Gathering Place Worship Center in Austin, TX, where he served until 2019. Since then, he has planted New Covenant Church of Austin as part of the Apostolic Community of Covenant Network. Each year the church hosts a prayer conference where every believer is encouraged to embrace that they are part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation called to watch and pray. Pastor Eric is married to Keith Swink, his partner of 18 years. Together they have three boys, Mason, Tommy, and Joshua who have brought so much happiness to their lives.

Mike Whited
Apostle
Some 10 years after coming out and leaving 30 years in ministry Mike would meet the man who he would marry and they began a search for an affirming, Spirit-filled church. In their journey they eventually found themselves at New Covenant Atlanta where Mike would receive confirmation of his call to return to ministry. Mike preached his first sermon at New Covenant Atlanta shortly after that and would be ordained an apostle later that same year at the next Immersed Conference. After ordination Mike and his spouse Dan, who was ordained a five-fold teacher in 2025, spent the next 11+ years traveling to most of the network churches preaching and teaching. He supports a number of the network pastors and spends much of his week in conversation with them. Mike has also developed a three year curriculum for leadership development and has conducted this with several of the network churches. The two have a shared vision of a retreat and teaching center that will serve the network and the LGBTQIA+ community. He and Dan look forward to many years to come in serving the kingdom and LGBTQIA revival.

Helen Ornelas-McIntyre
Prophetic Dance Minister
Prophetic dance minister, leader, instructor and mentor over 25 years. A graduate of Eagles International Training Institute, an accredited school of the arts in courses of Dance, Pageantry, School of Prophecy.
In 2021 through the prophetic voice of the Lord, AbunDanz N Grace was established; a creative worship tools and dance/movement foundational training for ministry of the arts. The Creator has created His image in me, hallelujah! Presently a member of New Covenant Church NOLA with Apostle Shelly Planellas & Prophetic Pastor Tanzanika as overseers and covering.
It is my goal to serve as a biblical visual demonstrator to the sights of the Father’s heart and Word through movement. This is a time where the dance and movement ministers are called to arise higher in preparation for the church becoming the “Dancing Bride” (Revelations 19:7) as we wait for the return of our King.
We are YHWH’s servants sent as the extension of Jesus to set the captives free, to be healed, saved and delivered. I pray that the Lord would use the dance/movement/flag bearing ministries that are within to speak prophetically through us as we declare praise, worship and humble adoration to the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Elifalet Morales Taboada
Pastor
THE IMMERSED CONFERENCE
ADMINISTRATION

Dawn McClary
Immersed Coordinator
Pastor Dawn McClary, born in Atlanta Ga then raise in Orlando Florida, moved back to Atlanta in 2009. In 2014 She found the new loves of her life, God and Christie McClary. Dawn was raised to believe in God and to be a “good Christian”, little did she know what that meant until she found New Covenant Church of Atlanta. From the moment she walked into NCCA she felt at home and at peace with God in her life. Dawn was ordained as a Pastor in November of 2025, changing her life forever. Dawn is a wife to Christie, a dog mom to Adah and Femi, a Mortgage Underwriter with Truist, and a child of God. She has a passion for being a Good Person, Loving, Kind and Compassionate to the world around her maters.
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Tanzanika Ruffin
Immersed Overseer

Talia Gardner
Children's Church
Talia is honored to be leading the Kids Ablaze and Ignite Camps for a 3rd year! “I carry a deep passion for serving and equipping the next generation. My heart is to create an atmosphere where young people can truly encounter God and be boldly stewarded into His presence with confidence, identity, and purpose. I believe this generation is called to burn brightly, and I am honored to help steward them into all God has for their lives. I’m also incredibly blessed to serve alongside my amazing wife, Prophet Carla, Together, we are committed to pouring into these young hearts, guiding them spiritually, and believing for a powerful move of God in their lives.


