Tony Evans

Dr. Tony Evans is one of the country’s most respected leaders in evangelical circles. He is a Pastor, best-selling author and frequent speaker at Bible conferences, crusades and seminars throughout the nation.

Dr. Evans has served as the Senior Pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship for over 35 years, witnessing its growth from ten people in 1976 to now over 9,000 congregants with 100 plus ministries.

Dr. Evans also serves as president of The Urban Alternative, a national ministry that seeks to bring about spiritual renewal in America through the church. His daily radio broadcast, The Alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, can be heard on more than 500 stations throughout the United States and in more than 40 countries. Dr. Evans has authored over 50 books including Oneness Embraced, The Kingdom Agenda, Marriage Matters and The Battle is the Lord’s. Dr. Evans served as chaplain for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, and continues to serve as chaplain for the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, a ministry he has done for over 30 years.

Dr. Tony Evans is married to Lois, his wife and ministry partner of 40 years. They are the proud parents of four: Chrystal, Priscilla, Anthony, Jr., and Jonathan as well as proud grandparents of ten: Kariss, Jessica, Jackson, Jesse, Jr., Jerry Jr., Kanaan, Jude, Joel, Kelsey and Jonathan, II.

Steve Stroope

Steve Stroope is Lead Pastor of Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas. He was called to pastor Lake Pointe shortly after its founding. Under his leadership, weekend average attendance has grown from 53 at its inception to over 11,000 today. Steve provides coaching to partnership churches and pioneer missionaries in Africa, Australia, New Zealand, China, Cuba, Russia, Mexico, France, South Africa, and North America. He is a sought-after speaker, both nationally and internationally. Steve graduated from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, Texas, with a B.A. in Psychology and received the Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He has co-authored two books, Money Matters in the Church and It Starts at Home. His newest book, Tribal Church, was released in early 2012. He and Marsha have two grown daughters, three grandsons and one granddaughter.

Lauren Chandler

Lauren Chandler is a singer/songwriter, homeschooling mom and wife to Matt Chandler, Pastor of Highland Village’s The Village Church.

This small-town girl from Longview met her now-husband at a youth camp; he was a visiting college-age preacher and she was a college freshman. Matt later became a family friend and the two began dating while both attending Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. The pair married and relocated to Dallas, where Matt accepted a pastoral position at The Village Church. It’s here, in Highland Village, that the Chandlers have “started a whole new life together,” says Lauren, who discovered her first pregnancy at about the same time Matt joined the church. Now, three kids later (Audrey, 6, Reid, 4, and Norah, 5 months), the busy mom lends a hand in church business and other interesting affairs—like singing/songwriting and (part-time) homeschooling her oldest daughter.

Ed Newton

Ed Newton was raised in a deaf world. The only child of two deaf parents, Ed was the voice in the silence for his parents Ron and Libby Newton. Through difficult circumstances and major hardships Ed was radically saved in high school. It was through the spoken word of others and the written Word of God that clarified a call to ministry as a senior in high school. God began to show forth His sovereign will in leading Ed to Clearwater Christian College to gain a Bible education, while affording the opportunity to play college basketball for four years. Ed continued his education journey by receiving a Master’s degree in Religious Education from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, TN and a Doctorate of Ministry in Pulpit Communication and Expository Preaching from Trinity Theological Seminary in Newburg, IN.

Prior to surrendering to a call to a faith based itinerant evangelism ministry, Ed has served the local church in multiple positions such as Youth Minister, Recreation Pastor, as well as Minister of Outreach and Single Adults. Currently, Ed serves in a support role as Staff Evangelist at Faith Baptist Church in Bartlett, TN.

God has uniquely gifted Ed with an ability to connect with various age groups, personally and corporately. His communication style can be summarized as “passion with content” while seeking to inspire people to be passionate, dedicated followers of Christ. He and his wife, (college sweetheart) Stephanie, and their four children, London, Lola, Liv, and Lawson reside in Lakeland, TN.

Education B.S. Church Ministries – Clearwater Christian College Clearwater Fl. Masters in Religious Education – Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary Memphis TN. Master of Divinity – Trinity Theological Seminary Newburgh IN. D. Min. in Pulpit Communication & Expository Preaching – Trinity Theological Seminary Newburgh IN.

Doug Miller

Doug Miller is the Pastor of Southeast Baptist in Muskogee, Oklahoma. He is married to the former Angela Bateman of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Doug and Angie both grew up in Oklahoma pastor’s homes. Doug was saved at the age of six and surrendered to ministry at age of fifteen at Kiamichi Baptist Assembly. During his 31 years of ministry, he has served as pastor to six Oklahoma Baptist churches and evangelist in numerous meetings. He is a graduate of Eastern Oklahoma State College, Northeastern State University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Kevin Clarkson

Kevin Clarkson is the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church of Moore, Oklahoma. Clarkson earned his Ph. D. in preaching from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1990. He has served as a Falls Creek preacher and speaker at numerous summer camps all over Oklahoma. Clarkson is also known for being an instructor at Oklahoma Baptist University as well as Associational Committee member and Convention member. He and his wife, Cherie, have seven children and two grandchildren.

Roc Collins

Pastor Roc Collins is a sought after revival and conference speaker because of his heart for the local church and his passion to make disciples of all nations. He has served on the Board and preached at numerous Baptist state conventions and at pastors’ conferences. Collins has pastored Indian Springs Baptist Church in Kingsport, Tennesee since 2005. In addition to over twenty years of pastoral experience, in 2000, Collins earned a Ph. D. in preaching from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Jeralyn, have two sons.

Roger Spradlin

Oklahoma native, Spradlin has been the Pastor of Valley Baptist Church in Bakersfield, California since 1983. Under his leadership the church has grown from less than 100 to over 7000 members. Valley’s weekly television broadcast, “Today’s Walk” is available in more than 100 million households worldwide.

He holds a B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University and a Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies from Criswell College. He also earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.

Dr. Spradlin has served as the President of the California Southern Baptist Convention as well as in many other denomination positions. Most recently he served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Roger and his wife, Ginger, have 3 children: Matthew, serving as a Pastor in Clovis, California, he recently earned his Ph. D. through The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Andrew, currently serving at Valley Baptist Church as the Minister of Education; and daughter, Faith, whose husband, Brian, serves as Associate Pastor in Clovis, California, with Matthew.

Bob Bender

Bob Bender has been the Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church in Black Forest, Colorado since 2003. During this time his congregation has tripled in growth in worship attendance and Sunday school attendance. Bender was Colorado’s 2011 leader in total number of baptisms and increased giving through the state’s Cooperative Program. Several new ministries have been implemented under his leadership including FAITH Evangelism, Navigator 2:7 discipleship and many more. Bender served as Pastor of First Baptist Church in Ada, Oklahoma for 13 years. During the course of his ministry, he baptized over 600 people and began new ministries that were highly effective to people in Oklahoma. His support of the Colorado-Oklahoma partnership has been profitable to Baptists across the mid-western part of the United States. Over the last 40 years Bender has faithfully served at various churches, colleges, Associations and Conventions, including the Southern Baptist Convention. Most recently, Bob was named as Stewardship Consultant and Task Force Chairman for the Colorado Baptist General Convention. Bender received a B.A. from Oklahoma Baptist University in 1971 and went on to earn his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1987. Bob and his wife, Beverly, have three grown children and eight grandchildren.