Micah Fries

MICAH FRIES is the Senior Pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN. Micah is married to Tracy and they have two daughters, Grace and Kessed, and a son, Haddon. Prior to serving at Brainerd, he worked for LifeWay Christian Resources, served as a Senior Pastor in Missouri, as an international church planter in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and as a Youth Director in Dothan, AL. He holds a Master of Divinity, a Bachelor of Arts, and is currently a Ph.D. student, studying North American Missiology. He is the author of a commentary on Haggai and Zephaniah in the Christ-Centered Commentary Series. Micah, along with Dr. Keith Whitfield, contributed and co-edited Islam and North America.

Natalie Ford, PhD

DR. NATALIE FORD is a licensed professional counselor, author, and speaker passionate about helping others navigate grief, mental illness, and suffering. After experiencing suicide loss, she committed her life to prevention and postvention efforts, working to break the stigma associated with mental illness. She holds a PhD in Professional Counseling and teaches at Liberty University. Dr Ford also counsels in North Georgia and serves in ministry at her local church. Her story is one of faith, healing, and resilience—shared to bring hope to others. She has written multiple books, including Grace-Based Counseling and Seeking Answers, Finding Peace: Loving and Losing Someone to Mental Illness. You can learn more at www.drfordwrites.com.

Richard A. Fowler, EdD

DR. RICK FOWLER, son of missionary parents, has for over forty years served in a variety of capacities, including as pastor, licensed counselor, university professor of psychology and sociology, and head basketball coach. Dr. Fowler is currently a member of the graduate faculty of psychology/professional counseling at Truett McConnell University. In addition, he has been a frequent speaker at numerous seminars and Bible conferences across America and overseas. He is the author of thirteen books and has been a featured guest on FOCUS ON THE FAMILY and the 700 CLUB. Married for 52 years, he and his wife Jen have two children and eight grandchildren.

Jonathan Griffiths

JONATHAN GRIFFITHS serves as Lead Pastor at The Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa, Canada. He studied theology at the University of Oxford and holds a PhD in New Testament studies from the University of Cambridge. Jonathan is author of a number of books, including Hebrews and Divine Speech, Teaching 2 Timothy, and Preaching in the New Testament. He serves on the council of The Gospel Coalition Canada, is the Bible teacher for Encounter the Truth and Founder and Executive Director of the Timothy Trust. Jonathan is deeply committed to expository preaching and loves to train and mentor others in Word ministry. Jonathan and his wife, Gemma, have three children.

James Hilt

JAMES HILT (B.S., M.S., University of Wisconsin) is director of counseling for the "Chapel of the Air" and maintains a private practice for individual and marital counseling.

Will H Houghton

John Perkins

DR. JOHN M. PERKINS is the founder and president emeritus of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and co-founder of Christian Community Development Association. He has served in advisory roles under five U.S. presidents, is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement, and is an author and international speaker on issues of reconciliation, leadership, and community development. For his tireless work he has received 14 honorary doctorates from universities including: Virginia University of Lynchburg, Wheaton College, Gordon College, Huntington College, Geneva College, Spring Arbor University, North Park College, and Belhaven College. In 2004 he partnered with Seattle Pacific University to launch the campus-based John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training, and Community Development.