Hamburger Menu White

Questions & Answers

1. Where is the nearest airport?

The nearest airports are Ravenna, Forli, Ancona or Federico Fellini International Airport, Rimini. However, flight options to these airports in late April may be limited depending on where you are travelling from.

Flights to Bologna or Venice are easily available. This gives the option of starting your trip early or extending after the conference to visit some delightful parts of Italy which are reasonably close, such as: Bologna (known as the culinary capital of Italy and the oldest university in the world); Florence (the birthplace of the Renaissance, known for its world-class art, architecture and historic monuments); San Marino (the world’s oldest surviving republic, with medieval architecture and towers on its iconic hilltop); Ravenna (with its early Christian and Byzantine mosaics and eight UNESCO World Heritage sites); and, of course, Venice which needs no explanation.

2. What options are there for transportation from the airport to the hotel?

It is possible to use public transportation or take a taxi from the airport, although cost will depend on which airport you use. Cervia train station is within walking distance of the hotel, or a 5 minute taxi ride.

From Bologna airport, you would need to take the Marconi Express which goes directly to Bologna Centrale station. This costs between €12,80 one way or 23,30 round trip and takes 7 minutes. Follow the signs in the airport to the Marconi Express. You can buy your tickets directly at the entrance.

A train from Bologna Centrale train station to Cervia-Milano Marittima station, which costs between: €10,80 – 20 and takes roughly 1.5 hours on a slower train. The Cervia station is walkable to the hotel or a taxi is a 3 minute ride.

It is very easy to buy train tickets in advance on the “Trenitalia” app on your phone! We recommend buying tickets on the app! You can even buy your Marconi Express ticket directly on the app. Type in Bologna Airport to Cervia-Milano-Marittima.

From the Venice Marco Polo Airport, the hotel is about a three hour drive. For those visiting Venice prior to the conference, you would need to depart from Venice Santa Lucia Train station to Cervia-Milano Marittima. A ticket costs between €16 – 25 depending on the train and takes about 4 hours or less.

Florence is a 2.5 hour car ride away. Those taking the train from Florence need to depart from Firenze S.M. Novella station to Cervia-Milano Marittima. Trains take from 2.5 to 4 hours depending on type of train and cost between €20 – 45.

Taxi: the hotel is walkable from the Cervia station. IF preferring a taxi, we recommend going with a group. It is only a 3 minute taxi ride and will cost 20 euros.

Driving/hiring a car is obviously also possible. The hotel does have parking which is free! You will need to give the front desk your license plate number.

Please note that you are responsible for all of your own travel arrangements.

3. Can I fill my reusable water bottle with water from the tap?

Yes, it is possible to bring your own reusable water bottle and fill it with water from the tap. If you are not comfortable with this, there are some supermarkets in the area where you can buy bottled water to fill your own reusable water bottle. Please note that we will not be providing water for delegates apart from that available during mealtimes and coffee breaks.

4. What is included in the price for the conference when staying at the hotel?

The price for the conference includes lodging, conference registration, and all coffee breaks and meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner) from afternoon coffee on Monday to breakfast on Thursday.

5. Can I attend the conference but not stay at the hotel?

Yes this is possible. If you arrange your own accommodation in the area, you can attend the entire conference as a day guest. The price for day guests includes conference registration, and all coffee breaks and meals (lunch and dinner) from dinner on Monday evening through dinner on Wednesday.

6. Can I stay extra nights at the hotel before or after the conference?

Via our doo booking system there is no option of arriving on Sunday 19th April or of staying on after the end of the conference except for speakers, planning team, MCE board members and those people who are taking part in the pre-conference event on Monday 20th April. Participants in the pre-conference event on Monday 20th April need to book an extra night via the doo booking system and they are expected to arrive on the Sunday. Keep in mind that dinner on Sunday 19th April is only available until 9.30pm. Breakfast and lunch is included for speakers, planning team and MCE board members on Monday 20th. Breakfast is included for those attending the pre-conference and coffee breaks/lunch will be provided at the event venue.

7. Can the hotel accommodate food allergies and dietary needs?

The hotel can accommodate many food allergies and dietary needs. Please indicate any food allergies and dietary requirements when booking so we can submit them to the hotel. If your wishes cannot be met, we will contact you to find a suitable solution. All meals will be served buffet-style.

8. Do mealtimes include alcohol, coffee and tea?

Mealtimes (apart from breakfast!) include red or white wine, and water. You can purchase other drinks for the hotel bar. Tea or coffee are provided at breakfast, but not at other mealtimes but may also be purchased from the bar.

9. What is the cancellation policy?

Any conference participant who cancels their own booking, for whatever reason, prior to 17th January 2026 will forfeit the non-refundable booking fee of €25. Any conference participant who cancels their own booking, for whatever reason, between 17th January and 17th February 2026 will forfeit 50% of their full conference fee, unless we can give their place to someone on the waiting list. Any conference participant who cancels their own booking, for whatever reason, on or after 18th February 2026 will forfeit 100% of their full conference fee, unless we can give their place to someone on the waiting list.

10. How do I make a reservation or payment for the conference?

All reservations must be made online through our booking system doo Booking. After selecting the ticket(s) and entering the personal details, and optional different invoice details, you will be forwarded to the payment method selection page. You can choose ‘Bank transfer’ or ‘PayPal / credit card / direct debit’.

Bank transfer: After the booking you will receive an email with your request for
payment that contains all information and bank details for the bank transfer. When payment has been received you will receive another email that confirms your registration. If you selected this method during the early bird rate period, make sure you complete the bank transfer within one week after 16th January 2026.

PayPal / credit card / debit card: This payment process takes place in a separate window. If you do not have a PayPal account, you can enter your email address and continue to pay as a guest, using a debit or credit card. If you want to use a company card, make sure you have added the card holder’s name and company address in the invoice details. After your payment, you will be redirected back to the doo Booking page automatically. In case this should not work, please use the return option on the PayPal page. If you are repeatedly unable to complete the payment via the offered methods, please email Renate Hauer (email to events@aem.de) to see what alternative option we can offer.

11. In which hotel will the conference or the pre-conference event take place?

The EMCC 2026 will take place at Hotel Club Dante on the seafront in Cervia. Address: Viale Milazzo 81, Ang. Lungomare Grazia Deledda, 48015 Cervia RA. Italy.

12. What time does the conference start and end?

The opening session begins at 16.45pm. The final session finishes at 11.15am. We have kept the evenings after dinner meeting-free to allow plenty of time for networking, socialising or rest.

Please have a look at the draft Timetable EMCC 2026.

13. Hotel Wellness Centre

The hotel has a wellness centre including an indoor pool, Finnish sauna, ice cave, and relaxation zones with loungers, as well as an outdoor pool (which will be cold in April!). There is an additional cost of €15 per person for 1hour. Bathrobes can also be rented at €4 per person.

14. A few more practical tips

  • Hair dryers are available in the hotel rooms
  • Internet is available, there is an open network, on all floors of the hotel. Don’texpect the internet to be fast.
  • All bedding and towels are provided in the hotel room.
  • Irons are available at the front desk of the hotel.
  • Don’t forget to bring your personal water bottle, you can drink water from the tap.
  • Please check if you need a travel adapter for any electric devices you might bring.
  • Italy uses Euros.

If you have any remaining questions after ready our Q&A, please feel free to
contact us at emcc@membercare.eu

Alex Galloway

Dr. Alex Galloway is a Clinical Psychologist providing training and counseling to cross-cultural workers in high risk areas. He serves with SentWell.org, a multidisciplinary team of therapists, spiritual directors, coaches and pastors living in community in Southern Spain to serve workers in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Alex has specialized interest in trauma, sexuality, and the holistic care of God’s people. He enjoys encouraging, equipping, and empowering those who minister on the “front lines.” He is married to Amy and has three grown daughters.

Francesco Abortivi

Francesco is a counselor and board member of the ACC (Association of Christian Counselors). He served for more than 10 years as the vice president of Joni and Friends Italia (disabilities) and was a co-founder of Project Archippo (seminars for training Christians). He has been collaborating for more than 20 years with the Evangelici.net portal and leads a small church in the province of Parma, Italy. After 30 years of experience in the world of business communication he now works full time as the international mission director of Adventive Cross Cultural Initiatives (Canada/USA). He is passionate about church unity, evangelism, and teaches on the growth and spiritual healing of believers.  He is married with two children grown.

Anna Hampton

Anna grew up as a farm girl in the Midwest and felt called to work overseas as a young teen. By her mid-twenties, she was in full-time work leading teenagers all over the world.
In 1996, she began a long-distance courtship with Neal across three continents, and after marrying in 1999, they began raising their family in Afghanistan in 2000. For the past fifteen years, she and her husband have served with Barnabas International in pastoral care and as risk specialists, focusing on those serving in the most dangerous places of the world. When they can, the enjoy spending time with six young adults – their three adult children and their wonderful spouses.

Anna shares God’s Word interwoven with personal experiences from living and working for a decade in war-torn Afghanistan and from almost thirty years of global ministry experiences traveling in almost seventy countries. She writes with realism and depth from her own trials of facing overwhelming obstacles with faith and joy while also living in extremist environments for almost two decades while raising three young children.

She is the author of Facing Danger: A Guide Through Risk (2nd Ed, WCP 2024), Facing Fear: The Journey to Mature Courage in Risk and Persecution (2023), and presently writing Facing Persecution: The Ethics and Spirituality of Loving Your Enemies. She contributed to the 2-day Risk Assessment and Management (RAM) Training that Neal wrote based on Facing Danger, which they have facilitated globally and has been translated into multiple languages.
Anna holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership (Bethel University), and a Doctor of Religious Studies (Trinity Theological Seminary). She writes at https://theologyofrisk.com/ and @theology.of.risk.

Neal Hampton

Neal is a lifelong student, practitioner, and trainer in shepherd leadership and life development. He has worked with numerous field leaders across multiple sectors in the for-profit, non-profit, para-church, and educational worlds. CRU, Mission Aviation Fellowship, United States Armed Forces, YWAM, Network of International Christian Schools, SIL, IMB, WEC, Frontiers, International Assistance Mission, Avant, and Reach Global are just a few of the more than 70 organizations he has served.
Neal studied at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois.

He has over 15 years of experience serving in the Persian and Turkic regions of the world as a humanitarian aid worker and team leader. In 2010, he and his wife, Anna, joined Barnabas International, and they founded RETHRIVAL. Since then, he has devoted his life to training, equipping, and mentoring leaders working inside the challenging region of Central Asia. He wrote a two-day Risk Assessment and Management (RAM) Training based on Anna’s book, Facing Danger. This training is having a significant impact on the resiliency of missionaries around the world.
His mission is to train and inspire leaders to shepherd teams that produce a great impact. As a communicator and mentor, Neal has presented at conferences and events in Central Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. Among the wide variety of topics he addresses are shepherd leadership, leader development, developing interpersonal skills, leadership in high-risk environments, and critical incident debriefing. His audiences enjoy his honesty, authenticity, and sense of humor. His messages hit the head and the heart with practical steps that move the listener forward.

Rob Hay

Rob has worked in leadership and organisational development in both employed and consulting roles in public, private and third sector, as well as a diverse range of faith organisations. He has served as a missionary in Nepal, Principal of Redcliffe College, Commissioner for the World Council of Churches and on the Global Leadership Council of the WEA Mission Commission.

Rob’s current role at the time of writing is the Lead for the Bishop’s Leadership Development programme, Church of England. He is also Associate Professor of Christian Leadership, University of Birmingham, teaching on the MPA in Faith Leadership with the Edward Cadbury Centre; and is a Visiting Fellow, Bristol Business School. Rob has undertaken undergraduate and postgraduate studies in theology and missiology, and he holds a PhD in Leadership. He was lead editor of ‘Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention’ 2005. (Pasadena: William Carey).

Rob is also an Anglican priest and an experienced educator, academic, consultant, and leader of diverse teams. He is passionate about equipping leaders to live in the realities of the present, lead in the spaces of not-knowing, and to do so with conviction, and tentative certainty. He has advised, taught and consulted on leadership, staff care and wellbeing issues around the world.

He is happiest on a cycle ride or experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen (ask him about his recipe app!). He enjoys trying new food with friends from other cultures. And he is attempting to train Louie, a working cocker spaniel rescued at 4 years old.

Christian Quartier

He is married to Simone and is father of 3 adult TCK. He is passionate about strengthening, resourcing and empowering cross-cultural Workers and their families through debriefing, critical incident debriefing and brief counselling. Restoring a sense of peace (shalom and wholeness) in their lives when that peace has been disturbed or shattered is at the core his ministry. He is also active in membercare training and consultancy.

Scott Shaum

Scott Shaum‘s deep joy is living life with his wife, Beth, their three sons and wives, and three grandchildren. That and really good food shared amongst a bevy of friends; or in solitude with a stack of books. As Associate Director of Barnabas International (20 years) and an ordained pastor, the Father’s goodness in his life is reflected as a pastoral, companioning presence with other shepherd-leaders scattered globally and locally. A scary-tough decade resulted in authoring The Uninvited Companion: God’s Shaping Us in His Love Through Life’s Adversities. He has contributed to Trauma and Resilience (ed. Schaefer and Schaefer) and Tender Care (Barnabas Books). You can find his latest rambles at tendingscatteredwool.com.

Gary W.

Gary W. left the US in 1983, following a call from the Lord to serve overseas, and served as a tentmaker in France until 1988 and then in Switzerland where he lives now. As a professional, he worked full-time as a research chemist and in later years as an IT specialist. In terms of ministry, he has served mostly in pastoral settings with services of teaching, preaching, counseling, and inner healing. Since taking an early retirement in 2013, he has done short-term ministry trips in eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia. He joined OM in 2017 and has been doing pastoral care for workers in Asia through short visits and online. Gary is married to Beverly and they have five adult children.

Cathy Thompson

Cathy Thompson is a missionary kid with degrees in Physical Education, Anthropology, and Cross-Cultural Leadership. She has further studies in Ministry Leadership Development, Member Care, Conflict Management, Counseling, Child Safety and Forensic Investigation. Since 1992, Cathy has served with Pioneers as Team Leader in Hungary and since April 2009 as Area Leader for East Central Europe. Cathy also serves as Pioneers’ Child Safety Officer for Europe, as a member of several working groups on training and leadership development, and on the executive team of Shoulder to Shoulder. She is committed to seeing teams work well as they incorporate singles, couples and families into multicultural teams.

Charley Warner

Charley Warner has been involved in member care in Eurasia since 1992. He and his wife, Cheryl, serve with Barnabas International and live in Irpin, Ukraine. Charley is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

Suzy Grumelot

Suzy Grumelot has served with World Team in urban church planting in France for the past 35 years. In 2012, with French partners, an historic new church was birthed in central Paris. In addition to discipling women and overseeing Bible studies, Suzy is involved with training, networking, prayer, and mentoring of new believers and church planters. She serves on the executive team of Shoulder to Shoulder and is the co-author of Sacred Siblings: Valuing One Another for the Great Commission.

Amrei Wehmeyer

Amrei Wehmeyer has been working with DMG interpersonal and TEAM in Portugal since 1991. She is currently leading the Member Care Center ReCanto da Fonte in Lourinhã on the Silver Coast of Portugal. Amrei also serves on the board of Member Care Europe.

Barry Danylak

Barry Danylak is an international speaker, author, and pastor-theologian with expertise on topics related to singleness, marriage, sexuality, and family in the biblical and modern world. Barry serves as Executive Director of SEE Global, a ministry based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada that equips church leaders around the world. He is ordained and has served as a pastor for over 10 years with the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada. Barry holds a PhD in New Testament with the Divinity Faculty of the University of Cambridge and is author of Redeeming Singleness: How the Storyline of Scripture Affirms the Single Life, Singleness in God’s Redemptive Story, and a forthcoming book, Paul and Secular Singleness in 1 Corinthians 7, scheduled for release by Cambridge University Press in 2024.

Maria Techow

Maria Techow is a Clinical Psychologist in Denmark with a heart for mission. In her working life she is the head of department for Psychiatry & Existence, and Competence Unit for Expats at Center for Family Development. She has been working with mission organizations for more than 13 yeas, screening candidates for the mission fields, offering crisis counselling and online therapy and helping families in their re-entry process, among other initiatives leading TCK groups for years. She is the co-author of the book: GO! My personal guide and diary before, during and after moving abroad, an interactive book for TCKs. The book is as a starting point for conversations between children and their parents, for children’s groups, in schools and across cultures and border. She is the mother of four, a writer and a speaker in various Christian settings. Maria is also a board member of Member Care Europe.

Evi Rodemann

Evi Rodemann lives in Hamburg, Germany and works as a theologian and event manager. She engages in the international work of the Lausanne Movement and the Mission Commission of the World Evangelical Alliance as well as being the CEO of her own organisation LeadNow. Her focus is the younger leaders generation. She has a Master in European Mission and Intercultural Christianity and currently works on her PhD researching event impact. www.evirodemann.com, www.leadnow.center

Rafael Năstase

Rafael Năstase is a missionary who served with his wife Alice, seven years in Republic of Moldova, being involved with Operation Mobilisation (OM) in church planting, discipleship and mobilizing churches for missions. Returning in his home country, Romania, he stepped in the leadership position from 2007-2019 as National Director of OM. Now he coordinates the church relation department of OM in Romania and is the national member care facilitator. Rafael has a BA in Philosophy and Journalism and got a master in Theology at Baptist faculty. Being born in a Romani (Gypsy) family he is passionate working towards getting his doctorate in ecclesiology and ethnography at the University of Bucharest, researching on the role of the church in transforming Roma communities. Rafael also serves on the board of Member Care Europe.

Sonja Pichler

Sonja Pichler is a happy single, born originally in Germany and has been living in Switzerland since 2010. During her time in Switzerland, she finished her studies as a counsellor; currently she is responsible for Member Care in OM Switzerland. In the international setting of OM she is involved in the Face2Face courses, both German and English. For the AEM in Switzerland she ministers in the annual debriefing week for intercultural workers. Sonja also works for a local church and as a licensed counsellor, both part time. Her professional qualifications are Psycho-Social Counsellor, Trauma focused counselling, Supervision (in process). She simply loves to see people thrive in who they are and who they are becoming. Her recreational oasis she finds in reading, walking and journaling (Bullet point and Bible Art). Creativity is one of her big resources.

Mihai Lundell

Mihai Lundell has helped to form national member care networks in countries like Romania and Italy. He served for over 20 years as a missionary and country director for the mission One Challenge in Romania before he and his wife Tammy accepted a new challenge in Genova, Italy caring for and coming alongside local pastors and Christian leaders. As a member of the European Member Care Board, Mihai works to build Member Care awareness and networks in eastern and central European countries that are just beginning to understand the need for MC. He is passionate about building bridges between new and old generations and making sure the voices of Eastern Europe are heard and respected. He is a former investigative journalist for WCCO television in Minneapolis with a doctorate in missions from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN and a masters in child psychology, trauma and developmental disorders from the University of Minnesota. Currently he collaborates with the Gaslini Institute in Genoa Italy in child trauma counseling and serves as an advisor for the Association of Christian Counselors in Italy.

Sarah Hay

Sarah has a background in Human Resources, initially in the National Health Service in the UK. After training at Redcliffe College with her husband, her member care and cross-cultural mission experience began with a mission agency in Nepal.  On returning to the UK, she took time out to be a stay at home mum while their two boys were young.  She joined European Christian Mission Britain 16 years ago as the HR and Member Care Manager. She does HR for the British Mobilisation Team, interviews applicants for the field, helps to prepare new candidates, and provides member care for ECMB members (alongside field member care).  She also provides mentoring with ECMB’s FruitFULL programme. 

Sarah led and taught on the MA in Member Care at Redcliffe College, and then the MA in Staff Care and Wellbeing at All Nations Christian College for several years, where she remains a visiting lecturer. She is a board member of Member Care Europe and on the editorial team for Member Care Journal (see  https://globalmembercare.com/journal/ ).
Sarah was also an editor of ‘Worth Keeping: Global Perspectives on Best Practice in Missionary Retention’ 2005. (Pasadena: William Carey).

Last but by no means least, Sarah is married to Rob and has two sons, the eldest of whom has now graduated and the youngest is in his third year of university.  She sings in her local choral society, attempts to run regularly (but slowly) and loves to cross-stitch whilst watching golf on the TV!

Jonathan Ward

Jonathan Ward is involved in the Federation of Francophone Evangelical Missions and its member care network (www.resam.fr), and he serves at a retreat centre in France dedicated to caring for pastors and cross-cultural workers (www.pierresvivantes.org). He and his wife Rachel were raised on the mission fields of France and Angola respectively. They have three adult children. Jonathan also serves on the board of Member Care Europe.