We are thrilled to welcome a slate of gifted speakers to General Assembly 2026 from across the Brethren in Christ U.S. family. The speakers will include Pastor Filiberto Zapata, Bishop Aner Morejon, Bishop Heather Beaty, and National Director Alan Robinson.
They will preach during the evening plenary worship sessions, open to all regardless of registration. The schedule is as follows:
- Friday, July 24 – Aner Morejon
- Saturday, July 25 – Heather Beaty
- Sunday, July 26 – Filiberto Zapata
- Monday, July 27 – Alan Robinson
We hope you will join us in person or via livestream for these speakers each evening starting at 7:30 Eastern.
Learn more about our speakers in their bios below:
Filiberto Zapata
Pastor Filiberto is the lead pastor of Aliento De Vida in Salina, Kansas, where he faithfully serves alongside his wife, Pastora Margarita Zapata. With a deep passion for sharing the gospel and strengthening the Hispanic community, Filiberto has dedicated his ministry to preaching the word of God, discipling believers, and helping individuals and families grow in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
As a passionate church planter, Filiberto has been instrumental in expanding ministry beyond Salina. While continuing to lead Aliento De Vida (Salina), he successfully planted a church in Lyons, Kansas, and is currently helping establish a new church work in McPherson, Kansas. His heart for ministry is centered on reaching communities with the hope of the Gospel and creating places where people can encounter the love and transforming power of Jesus Christ.
Known for his commitment to prayer, biblical teaching, and community outreach, Filiberto has worked to build welcoming church environments where people from all walks of life can find hope, restoration, and spiritual growth. His desire is to see lives transformed, families strengthened, and communities impacted through the message of Christ.
Aner Morejon
Bishop Aner has served as bishop of the Southeast Conference since 2012. At an early age, Aner was introduced to Christ through his parents — both pastors in the Church of the Nazarene in Havana, Cuba. Baptized at 12, he was called to ministry at 18. After working as the youth pastor for a church in Camaguey, Cuba, he returned to Havana to finish his studies at Seminario Teológico Nazareno Cubano (Nazarene Theological Seminary) where he graduated in 1989. Aner continued serving the church in different national roles until his departure to the U.S. in 1990.
A year after moving to the U.S., Aner joined a BIC ministry that grew to become Maranatha BIC (now known as Iglesia Rescate) in Hialeah, Fla. For 21 years, Aner served as senior pastor at Maranatha BIC.
Aner wants to see a Church come together to make the name of Jesus known. He wants pastors to recognize that life is meant to be lived in community and that together we can do more for the Kingdom. An influential leader in Miami’s faith community, Aner has served on the board of directors for the Greater Miami Ministers Association and is part of an interdenominational pastors’ prayer group in South Florida.
This will be Aner’s last General Assembly as bishop as he is set to retire at the end of July 2026. Jose F. Rodriguez will assume leadership of the Southeast Conference at the beginning of August.
Aner and his wife Vivian live in Miami, Florida, and have been married for over 45 years. They have two adult children and four grandchildren. Aner loves soccer, and fishing, and enjoys time outdoors in his RV with his family, especially the grandchildren.
Heather Beaty
Bishop Heather has served as bishop of the Susquehanna Conference since 2022. She was born and raised in the BIC. Growing up, she attended Ashland BIC in Ohio where both of her parents pastored. Her formative years were influenced by the many students and teachers of Ashland Theological Seminary who were actively involved with the church. She graduated from Messiah College (now Messiah University) in 1999 with a degree in education and shortly thereafter married Bob Beaty.
Over the past twenty years of ministry, Heather has served in congregations across the U.S. She was the children’s director at Zion BIC Church in Abilene, Kans. and the pastor of family ministries at Solid Ground BIC Church in Alta Loma, Calif. She has held several leadership roles at the national level of the denomination, including serving on the Commission for World Missions and the Awaken Leadership Team. Most recently, she was the regional administrator of the Susquehanna Conference, leading the Bishop Leadership Team before stepping into the role of Bishop.
Heather and Bob live in Dillsburg, Pa.; their two children attend university in Ohio. In her free time, Heather enjoys traveling with her family, being outdoors, cooking, and reading with a good cup of coffee. She is passionate about local congregations and supporting them in their unique ministry settings.
Alan Robinson
Alan has served as national director of Brethren in Christ U.S. since 2013.
Born and raised in Northern Ireland, Alan came to personal faith at a young age and discerned a call to pastoral ministry, going on to serve as a church planter and pastor across the United Kingdom. Along the way, he received a bachelor’s degree from Nazarene Theological College of Manchester University in 1993 and a master’s degree in applied theology from the University of Oxford in 1997.
Following his graduation from the University of Oxford, Alan and his family moved to the U.S. while he pursued a doctor of ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. It was during this time that he first heard of the Brethren in Christ. In 1999, Alan became senior pastor of Carlisle (Pa.) BIC (now The Meeting House – Carlisle).
Alan has been involved in BIC Church life in many ways, including as chair of the Commission on Ministry and Doctrine, chair and faculty member of Equipping for Ministry, assistant moderator for the Susquehanna Conference, and representative to the National Association of Evangelicals. In addition to his doctorate from Asbury Seminary, he also earned his Ph.D. in administration and leadership from Indiana University of Pennsylvania in 2012.
Alan lives in Dillsburg, Pa., with his wife, Sharon. They have two adult daughters and five grandchildren. Other than ministry, Alan’s main passion is soccer, having refereed and officiated at the college level for more than 20 years.
