After working as a full time speaker for 10 years, Laurie currently serves as Pastor of Small groups and Discipleship at Ocean Hills Covenant Church in Santa Barbara (www.oceanhills.org). She continues to speak at youth conferences, women's conferences, colleges and churches around the country.

Laurie is a graduate of Fuller Theological Seminary, and the author of several books for youth and youth workers, including: "Help, I'm a Small Group Leader," "Studies on the Go: John," and "Small Group Q's." She is the Chief Editor of the series of books "Studies on the Go" and is currently working on a new book in the series, to be released through Zondervan Publishers.

Laurie has been on the speaking staff of Youth Specialties, and her ministry spans the range of youth, college students and adults. The word most often used to describe her is "real". While Laurie uses personal stories and humorous illustrations to engage her listeners, she is most of all interested in what it means to be a real Christian in a real world- and encouraging others to do the same.