Ramon Presson

RAMON PRESSON, PhD, a licensed marriage & family therapist, has been in practice for 30 years and is the founder of LifeChange Counseling and Marriage Center of Franklin. He is a newspaper columnist; and with a dozen books in print he is the most published practicing therapist in Tennessee. He is a charter member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. From 1989 to 2004 Presson served as an assistant pastor in large churches in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Ramon has had the unique privilege to serve on staff with and later co-author several books with Dr. Gary Chapman. He is currently co-authoring the teen edition of When Will My Life Not Suck? Authentic Hope for the Disillusioned with his 17-year-old son, Cameron. Ramon and his wife, Dorne, have been married for 28 years, have two sons, and live outside Nashville. He can be reached at ramonpresson@gmail.com.

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09.14.2023

Glenna Marshall Memorizing Scripture Guide

08.22.2023

Paul Enns

DR. PAUL ENNS has served as Minister, Biblical Training & Leadership Development at Idlewild Baptist Church since July 1995. He attended Dallas Theological Seminary, obtaining his Th.D. (Bible Exposition) in 1979. In addition to his teaching position at DTS, Dr. Enns also held positions at: Luther Rice Seminary, Talbot Theological Seminary, and Word of Life Institute. He was instrumental in establishing the Tampa Bay Extension of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and currently is Professor of Systematic Theology and Director.Dr. Enns has served as Scholar in Residence for the Lockman Foundation, since 1989, as editor and translator of the New American Standard Bible.An accomplished author, Dr. Enns has written twelve books including The Moody Handbook of Theology (Third Edition); Approaching God: Daily Reflections for Growing Christians; Matthew, Mark, Luke, John Gospel Commentary; Heaven Revealed and Everything Happens for a Reason. Dr. Enns enjoyed 45+ years with his beloved wife Helen before her homegoing to heaven in 2005. He resides in the Tampa area and has two sons.

Jennifer Thomas

JENNIFER M. THOMAS, Ph.D., is a motivational speaker specializing in the five love languages and communication. She is a business consultant and psychologist. She recently gave a TEDx talk on the two essentials for healthy relationships. Hint: They involve a love tank and forgiveness. She is co-author (with Gary Chapman) of When Sorry Isn't Enough and The Five Languages of Apology. Her books have been translated into fifteen foreign languages and sold hundres of thousands of copies around the world. Jennifer has a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Maryland, as well as a BA in Psychology and Religion from the University of Virginia. Visit her website at www.drjenthomas.com to take a free apology profile and register for her enewsletter.

Soong-Chan Rah

Soong-Chan Rah is Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL. He is the author of The Next Evangelicalism (IVP Books, 2009). Prior to coming to North Park, Soong-Chan was the founding and senior pastor of Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, a multi-ethnic, urban church in Cambridge, MA. Soong-Chan has a B.A. from Columbia University, a M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Harvard University, and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell. Soong-Chan serves on the boards of Sojourners, the Christian Community Development Association, World Vision, and the Catalyst Leadership Center. He lives in Chicago with his wife Sue, a special educator and his two children, Annah and Elijah.

J. Brian Tucker

Aaron Coe

AARON COE serves as the Vice President of Mobilization and Marketing of the North American Mission Board, providing leadership in mobilizing churches and missionaries to plant churches.Aaron, a native of Louisville, KY., served from 2003 to 2010 as a church planting missionary where he worked with New Hope New York, an organization that planted 38 churches in the years after 9/11. From this experience, he became the lead pastor/church planter at Gallery Church in 2006. He also has played a role in raising leaders, partners and resources for many new churches, including the Gallery Church.In 2009, he became executive director of “SendNYC,” the impetus for what has become Send North America – NAMB’s church planting initiative.Aaron has a Bachelor of Science from Middle Tennessee State University and a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Carmen, have four children, Ezra James, Danielle, Joshua, and Harper.

Quina Aragon

QUINA ARAGON is an author, editor, and spoken word artist residing in Orlando, FL, with her husband and daughter. They are members of New Creation Fellowship. She is the author of the children's book trilogy, Love Made, Love Gave, and Love Can, which poetically retells Scripture's story through a Trinitarian lens of love. She is also the author of Love Has a Story: 100 Meditations on the Enduring Love of God, which invites you to explore God’s love as it has existed and moved throughout (and before) time, and how it intends to transform your own life story. This book, which can be read as one story or in 100 bite-sized pieces, features over 40 of Quina's personal poems, tracing God's love through her own life story. It is biblical theology, meets personal story work, meets your local coffee shop poet. Love Has a Story is available wherever books are sold. You can find Quina at her website QuinaAragon.com.

D. Bruce Lockerbie

D. BRUCE LOCKERBIE is founder and Chairman of PAIDEIA, Inc., Stony Brook, New York, a comprehensive consulting firm serving Christian schools, colleges, seminaries, and other worthy causes. An educator for sixty years, including thirty-four years at the Stony Brook School, he is author, co-author, and editor of more than forty books, including A Passion for Learning, published by Moody Publishers in 1996. He is a frequent lecturer on topics relating to a biblical worldview of our culture, family life, education, the arts, and the role of the church. A former world class runner, he is now a struggling left-handed golfer.

James S. Bell, Jr.

JAMES STUART BELL is the owner of Whitestone Communications, a literary development agency. James has past editorial leadership experience with a number of publishers. He has received inside and cover credit for over one hundred print and audio volumes which he has compiled. He currently lives in West Chicago with his wife, Margaret.

David Augsburger

DAVID AUGSBURGER (B.A., Eastern Mennonite College; B.D., Eastern Mennonite Seminary; Ph.D., School of Theology at Claremont), who has taught at Fuller since 1990, is professor of pastoral care and counseling in the School of Theology. The author of 20 books in pastoral counseling, marriage, conflict and human relations, David's titles include Dissident Discipleship: A Spirituality of Self-Surrender, and Love of God and Love of Neighbor. David lives in California.

St Augustine

AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO (354-430) was one of the foremost philosopher-theologians of early Christianity and the leading figure in the church of North Africa. He became bishop of Hippo in 396 and held that position until his death. Before becoming a Christian, Augustine lived a very secular life. His mother Monica prayed for him diligently and at age 32, during a trip to Milan, Augustine heard the preaching of St. Ambrose, was convicted by the Holy Spirit, and became a Christian. His numerous written works, the most important of which are his Confessions and City of God, shaped the practice of biblical exegesis and helped lay the foundation for much of medieval and modern Christian thought.

Stephen B. Bell

STEVE and VALERIE BELL have been married and in ministry together for over 30 years. Steve is currently an executive vice-president of the Willow Creek Association. Valerie travels widely as a conference speaker, making frequent guest appearances on radio and television. Valerie is the author of seven books, and co-author with her husband of three books: Made to be Loved and Faith-Shaped Kids, and Real Survivors. Steve and Valerie live in Wheaton, Illinois; they have two grown sons.

Joyce Vollmer Brown

JOYCE BROWN has worked in public relations, advertising and commercial writing. She now uses abilities she developed in those careers to communicate spiritual truths in a fast-paced, captivating style. Joyce is the author of Courageous Christians, Snapshots of Heaven and You Go! Graduate. She has been interviewed on Prime Time America, Midday Connection, A New Day for America and hundreds of radio stations across the country.Joyce lives in Omaha, Nebraska with her husband, David, and their two sons.

Valerie Bell

STEVE and VALERIE BELL have been married and in ministry together for over 30 years. Steve is currently an executive vice-president of the Willow Creek Association. Valerie travels widely as a conference speaker, making frequent guest appearances on radio and television. Valerie is the author of seven books, and co-author with her husband of three books: Made to be Loved and Faith-Shaped Kids, and Real Survivors. Steve and Valerie live in Wheaton, Illinois; they have two grown sons.