COUNSELING CONFERENCE
January 16-17, 2026
at LIVING WATERS FELLOWSHIP
FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 | 6:30pm - 9:00pm
SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 | 9:00am - 2:00pm
Living Waters Counseling's Annual Conference is an invaluable resource for those who want to bring God's help and hope to Central Iowa. Whether you are seeking guidance as a counselor or simply want to gain confidence in your relationships, don't miss out on the biblical wisdom from our epic lineup of speakers.
Is this a conference for anyone or just for counselors? YES! This conference has wisdom for everyone– counselor or “non-counselor.” Living Waters Counseling's Annual Conference is an invaluable resource for those who want to bring God's help and hope to Central Iowa, regardless of counseling certifications.
Don't miss out on the chance to purchase the 2026 counseling conference t-shirt when you register!
MAIN SPEAKERS
JOSH DAGGETT
I grew up in a Christian home but was not a Christian. I came to Christ dramatically at the age of 17 years old, through a series of events that exposed my fear of death and worship of self. Since Jesus became my Lord and Savior, He has led me into ministry and I love communicating God's Word to people. I serve as lead and preaching pastor at Living Waters. I help lead the church through my primary gifts which are preaching and evangelism.
Session preview: Explore the transformative power of prayer as a primary weapon in the ongoing spiritual battle around us. Get equipped to stand firm in the advance of the Kingdom of God as we dig into God's Word and discover practical strategies to engage in spiritual warfare through fervent prayer.
PAUL SEYMOUR
Paul Seymour is the Pastor of Music and Counseling at Saylorville Church in Des Moines, IA, where he has served for the past 13 years. He is passionate about worshipping the Lord through music and through walking alongside other fellow strugglers and sharing how God has helped and continues to help him through the valleys of life. Paul and his wife Stephanie have five children and one poodle, with whom he enjoys food, music, board games, and family vacations to the beach.
Session preview: Voices in the Valley - Do you counsel those with fears, depression and various hurts? Me too. Do you experience the same things to one degree or another? Me too. Let's take a look into the scriptures about how God speaks into the low points of our lives and ministries and how we can be stronger as a result.
STEPHEN MOORE
Stephen and his wife Ellen have been married and ministering together for 20 years. They have five children, Samuel, Benjamin, Jeriah, Isaiah, and Emma. Before moving to Huxley to plant the 7th church in the Engage Network, Stephen pastored two other rural Iowa churches for a total of 17 years. Stephen and Ellen are passionate about reaching their community in order to reach their world and desire to plant and lead Ballard Creek Church to do the same.
Session preview: The Word of God speaks is a powerful statement; the God of the universe is talking! The Word of God speaks is also a personal statement; the God of the universe is talking to you and me!
BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS
CHAD & NATALY DE CLEENE
Session: Family Foundation
God established the family and His Word is the foundation to building and establishing a healthy family.
About Chad & Nataly: Chad and Nataly have been married for 21 years and have six children (Ezra 20, Judah 18, Justus 16, Eve 14, Selah 12 and Hadassah 4). Chad works full time at Wells Fargo and serves as a teaching elder at Living Waters Fellowship. Nataly homeschools their 3 youngest and serves in the music and kids ministries at Living Waters.
CHUCK DE CLEENE
Session: Asking the Right Questions
Get past the confusion and vague spiritual jargon. Discover some good questions to help determine where someone is spiritually.
About Chuck: Chuck was saved in the Air Force. After finishing his Air Force tour of duty, he pursued a Bible college education, ultimately receiving a Master of Divinity degree. He has served as the pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Carroll, Iowa and was a missionary in Equador from 1993-1998 until he was forced to return home due to family health issues. Chuck was the Pastor of Evangelism at Saylorville Church from 2007 to 2019 until he was sent to the Engage Network’s fifth church plant, New City Church in Ankeny, Iowa.
DIANNE DE CLEENE
Session: Where is God in This Problem?
When a problem arises, for most of my life, my first thought was not about God. It was usually some form of, "How did this happen? Whose fault is it?" and, "How do I fix it?" I had to learn that my Sovereign God was not surprised by this situation, and that He was right there in the midst of it with me. In this session, we will look at some of the attributes of God found in Scripture to help us, as followers of Christ, remember God first - that He with us, He does care, and this problem is not a surprise to Him! (This session is for ladies only)
About Dianne: I have been married to my husband, Chuck, for 50 years, and God has given us the privilege to serve Him in churches, on the mission field, in Bible colleges and back to church ministry, first at Saylorville Church and now at New City Church where Chuck serves as Pastor of Evangelism and I am Director of Counseling Ministries under the leadership of Pastor Adam Beecher.
BEN FUNKHOUSER
Session: Teaching Others to Kill Sin
Many people can easily identify the sin in their lives that needs to change, but they don't know how to put sin to death in their everyday lives. Learn how to teach what the Bible says about killing sin and how to apply it in life.
About Ben: Ben serves as the Executive Director of The Refuge and as the Counseling and Admin Pastor at Redeemer Church. Ben has been married to his wife, Holly, for 16 years. They have 3 kids: Emma, Anderson, and Dawson. In his spare time, Ben likes to spend time with his family, watch the Cyclones, watch TV, read, or sleep.
DAVE HEISTERKAMP
Session: Satan's 12-Step Program
We will unmask Satan's time-tested program, which Satan meant to subtly, but surely, enslave you with out-of-control behaviors and the goal to eventually destroy your life.
About Dave: Originally from Breda, Iowa, Dave has spent the past two decades serving as Lead Pastor at Lakeside Fellowship in Polk City. Married for 42 years, he and his wife, Deb, are blessed with five married children and sixteen grandchildren. Guided by the personal motto, “I am attempting to live my life as a thank you back to God for His mercy and kindness to me,” he brings heartfelt purpose to both ministry and family life. When not serving his congregation, he finds joy in the outdoors—especially golfing, fishing, and bowhunting.
DEB HEISTERKAMP
Session: The Truth About Anxiety
How God uses the struggle of anxiety for our good. "When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (This session is for ladies only)
About Deb: I grew up in New York and trusted Christ as my Savior at 8 years of age. During my college years, I met Dave and God grew my faith as I shared my faith and convictions with Him. We were married in 1983. God walked my husband and I through some difficult years regarding the health of two of our children. We experienced God’s faithfulness to strengthen and sustain us, and our faith grew stronger. We have been married 42 years, have five children (five more via marriage), and sixteen grandchildren. I have a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and have furthered my education in Biblical Counseling. I enjoy coming alongside other women and “comforting those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
JULIE MCDANIEL
Session: Chasing Pleasure: Is Life only about Sex?
Sex is not a neglected topic in God’s Word. We will discuss how the Bible addresses sex and how it practically and specifically applies to our lives as women today. (This session is for ladies only)
About Julie: I am an IABC certified Biblical counselor and have been counseling with Living Waters Fellowship Counseling for over seven years. I am also the Children’s Ministry Director at Living Waters Fellowship. I have been married to my husband, Cameron, for 17 years and we have four children.
ABE & JESSIE MILLER
Session: Beyond the Curriculum: Walking the Marriage Journey
We will spend time looking at biblical truths that we have learned through pre-marriage counseling, recent marriage curriculum that we have gone through with couples and our own marriage.
About Abe & Jessie: Abe and Jessie have been in the Des Moines community for over two decades with 23 years of ministry experience on staff at Saylorville Church. Abe and Jessie recently joined the staff at Eden Church on the north side of Des Moines where Abe is on staff and Jessie is weekly counseling and encouraging women. They have five children, three of which are married and two that still live at home.
DAVE NEWELL
Session: The Church, The Addict and The Grace of God
Addiction is an epidemic in our world. Almost everyone knows someone who is
affected by addiction, so what do we do about it? What is the problem with addiction and what does the Bible say about it? We will discuss how to find the answers and explore addiction recovery within the church.
About Dave: Dave Newell is an ABWE Missionary who serves in the Des Moines area with Living Waters Fellowship. Dave is the Director of Gospel Centered Recovery (GCR) South. He also serves as the executive director of the GCR Restart Home, located on the south side of Des Moines. Dave advises, equips and helps pastors implement addiction recovery within the local church, using a Gospel-centered, Bible-based recovery ministry with an emphasis on reaching the lost with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.