Our Speakers
Dr. Steve Grcevich
President of Key Ministries
Stephen Grcevich, MD (pronounced GER-suh-vich) is an accomplished physician who has balanced an active clinical practice in child and adolescent psychiatry with teaching, research, and ministry. His observations that families served by his practice with “hidden disabilities” – emotional, behavioral, developmental or neurologic conditions lacking outwardly apparent physical symptoms – were significantly less likely than other families in the area to be actively involved in a local church led to the development of Key Ministry.
Dr. Grcevich as the President of Key Ministry. Key Ministry promotes meaningful connection between churches and families of kids with disabilities for the purpose of making disciples of Jesus Christ. He is the principal author of Church4EveryChild, ranked #4 among the Top 100 children’s ministry blogs in 2015 by Ministry-To-Children.com. He was recognized by Sharecare as one of the top ten online influencers (#7) in children’s mental health in 2013. He is frequently invited to speak at national/international ministry conferences on topics pertaining to children, mental health and spiritual development.
Dr. Grcevich is a 1986 graduate of the combined BS/MD program at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED), trained at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and Case Western Reserve University and has extensive research experience evaluating medications prescribed to children and teens for ADHD, anxiety, and depression. He has been a presenter at over 35 national and international medical conferences and is a past recipient of the Exemplary Psychiatrist Award from the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). He maintains faculty appointments at both NEOMED and Case Western Reserve University and has served in numerous volunteer capacities for the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Colleen Swindoll Thompson
Insight for Living, Director of Reframing Ministries
In 1993, I received a degree in Communication with a double minor in Education and Psychology. I began to pursue graduate work at Dallas Theological Seminary in 1999. That goal was set aside when my third child was diagnosed with complicated, lifelong disabilities. The change in direction offered me the opportunity to be an “at home” student and to learn from a diverse number of educators. I continue to read heavily on such topics as neurobiology, medication management, linguistics (sign language and lipreading due to my younger son’s language challenges), life-skill development, coping strategies, therapeutic approaches for a sound body and mind, emotional regulation, marriage and family connection, chaos and crisis management, and the dynamics of soul transformation through Jesus Christ my Lord.
By God’s grace, I am married to my best friend, Toban, who is loving, accepting, and oh so forgiving. Together we have five children, all of whom have or have had disabling challenges. Blending families meant blending pets as well. We have three dogs and one caged dinosaur (I’m told it’s really a gecko), and we’ve had our share of birds, rabbits, ferrets, and hamsters. We are a fun-loving bunch of rascals currently residing in the North Dallas area.
Dr. Brian Lubberstedt
Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Brian Lubberstedt, MD, received his bachelor's degree from Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1999, and attended the University of Nebraska Medical Center where he received his doctor of medicine in 2003. Dr. Lubberstedt completed a five-year residency in general psychiatry and fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry through the Creighton University / Nebraska Medical Center program in 2008.
Upon completion of his fellowship, Dr. Lubberstedt worked at Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, a Christian residential treatment center focusing on the needs of highly emotionally-disturbed youth. He returned to the Omaha area in 2010, and is currently in private practice at Psychiatric Services P.C. He treats a variety of age ranges, and has a special interest in children, ADHD, and anxiety. He enjoys referrals from many of the Christian counselors in the Omaha area. Dr. Lubberstedt considers himself a lifelong learner and teacher, and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In addition to sitting on the Fresh Hope board, he is also active with the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, as well as the Christian Medical Dental Association.
Pastor Brad Hoefs
Founder of Fresh Hope
Pastor Brad Hoefs is the senior pastor of Community of
Grace church in Elkhorn, Nebraska. Pastor Brad graduated
from Concordia University in Seward, Nebraska with a
bachelor’s degree in communications in 1979. He also
graduated from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri
with a Masters of Divinity in 1985. Rev. Hoefs was diagnosed
in 1995 as suering from Bipolar Disorder as a result of
experiencing the very painful side of undiagnosed manic
behavior. In return he and his family experienced the pain
and hurt that churches and Christians can cause because of
a lack of understanding and unwillingness to understand.
It is out of this experience that Pastor Brad and Community of
Grace have started Fresh Hope, which is a network of
Christ-centered support groups for those who suffer from
mood disorders as well as their loved ones.