ROOTED 2025
WORSHIP SPEAKERS
Rev. Nelson Cowan, Ph.D.
Director, Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University
​Rev. Nelson Cowan (PhD, Boston University) is the director of the Center for Worship and the Arts at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. A worship leader, liturgical theologian, and ordained elder in The United Methodist Church, he also teaches worship and church history at Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Drew Theological School, and Wesley Theological Seminary.
Rev. Pastor Nicholas Lee
Senior / Lead Pastor at Harvest UMC in Bradenton, FL
​Nicholas Lee is a native of the Midwest. He spent most of his life in Oklahoma (Go Pokes) and moved his family to Florida 5 years ago. Nicholas has been married to Laura for 18 years, and they have four children together. Nick’s passion for ministry is helping to shape our collective theology, which in turn informs our worldview. He currently serves as Lead Pastor at Harvest United Methodist Church in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
Heather Pancoast
Co-Director of the Gator Wesley Foundation
Heather Pancoast has over 20 years of ministry experience with college aged-students and currently serves as one of the Directors at the Gator Wesley Campus Ministry along with her husband Joel. They have been serving students in Gainesville since 2016. Prior to that, Heather was the Assistant Director at the Warren Willis UM Camp in Florida for 14 years. Heather has her Master’s in Clinical Social Work and is passionate about walking alongside students as they navigate the transitions of life, faith, vocation, and calling. Heather and Joel have two awesome daughters, Elliot who is 18 and Norah who is 17, and two furry children, Moose and Sammi. She loves camping, watching her girls play soccer and any Gator sports.
Rev. Emily Hotho
Gulf Central District Superintendent for the Florida Annual Conference of the UMC
Rev. Emily Hotho has been an ordained elder in the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church for 20 years. She has served as Associate Pastor at Christ UMC in Fort Lauderdale, Associate Director of Clergy Excellence, Senior Pastor of Skycrest UMC in Clearwater, and the Gulf Central District Superintendent. Emily went to college at Southern Methodist University, majoring in Music and Religious Studies, and has an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. Emily is married to Mat and has three sons - Liam (16), Evan (14), and Jackson (7). She enjoys reading, travel, CrossFit, and playing music of all kinds.
Rev. Michael LeBlanc
Sr. Pastor at Shephard's Community UMC in Lakeland, FL
He was born in Boston but was raised in Polk County. Michael served in youth ministry for ten years and is a graduate of Iliff School of Theology. He is passionate about people and helping them know Jesus. Michael believes the church is how the world will change and he can’t wait to see it happen.
Michael is married to Amanda and they have a 7 year old named Annabelle who loves art and swimming.