Alan Shlemon
Alan Shlemon is a public speaker and author for Stand to Reason, an organization that trains Christians to share their convictions in a persuasive, yet gracious and friendly way. Alan has a unique ability to make complex issues accessible to anyone and is known for teaching on some of the most controversial issues of our time like abortion, evolution, homosexuality, bioethics, and Islam. He has been a guest on both TV and radio and has spoken to thousands of adults and students across the country at churches, conferences, and college campuses. Alan received his master’s degree in apologetics from Biola University.
Alisa Childers
Alisa Childers is the author of Another Gospel? A book in which she describes the years-long journey she took as she wrestled with questions that struck at the core of the Christian faith and found the truth. She is a wife, mom, author, podcaster, blogger, and speaker. She was a member of the award-winning CCM recording group ZOEgirl. She is currently a respected speaker at apologetics and Christian worldview conferences, as well as the host of her popular YouTube channel. Alisa’s story was featured in the documentary, American Gospel: Christ Crucified. She has been published at the Gospel Coalition, Crosswalk, the Stream, For Every Mom, Decision Magazine, and the Christian Post. You can connect with Alisa online at alisachilders.com.
Alycia Wood
Alycia Wood graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College with a degree in Criminal Justice and from Marygrove College with a Master’s in Social Justice. She spent two years as a Fellow with RZIM in New England. Alycia’s speaking background is quite diverse. From universities (such as MIT, UCONN, Harvard, University of Massachusetts, Boston University, Dartmouth College, and Brown University), to retreats, from conferences to men’s and women’s prisons, Alycia has addressed major issues surrounding faith to diverse audiences.
Additionally, she has traveled to countries such as Haiti, Honduras, the Dominican Republic, and Jamaica, volunteering at soup kitchens and orphanages as her passions for “showing Christ” extends beyond her local environment.
In her spare time, Alycia enjoys music and is a lover of all things football and hockey.
Andrew Peterson
Recording artist, songwriter, producer, filmmaker, publisher and award-winning author of The Wingfeather Saga, Andrew Peterson is also founder and president of The Rabbit Room, which has published thirty books to date and fosters community and spiritual formation through music, story and art. Recently launching the film and TV production company, Shining Isle Productions, to produce an animated film based on his bestselling books, his The Warden and the Wolf King (2014) won Children’s Book of the Year in 2015 from WORLD Magazine.
Known for songs like “Dancing In The Minefields,” “Be Kind To Yourself,” “Is He Worthy,” “Don’t You Want To Thank Someone,” “The Silence Of God,” “Nothing To Say,” “You’ll Find Your Way” and more, Peterson has also been named “one of the foremost singer/songwriters around” and has received multiple “best album of the year” nods from critics along with three Dove Award nominations.
Drawing capacity crowds at venues around the world, including numerous sold-out events at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, his annual Christmas tour celebrates its 20th anniversary this season with an all-new recording of his bestselling album, Behold the Lamb of God.
Married for 24 years to his wife Jamie, with whom he has three children, Andrew keeps bees, builds dry stack stone walls, gardens, draws and sleeps in his spare time.
Andrew T. Walker
Andrew T. Walker, Ph.D., is Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Apologetics at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an Associate Dean in the School of Theology and the Executive Director of the Carl F. H. Henry Institute for Evangelical Engagement at Southern Seminary. He is a Fellow in Christian Political Thought at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and serves as the Managing Editor of WORLD Opinions.
He is the author of the award-winning God and the Transgender Debate, co-author of Marriage Is: How Marriage Transforms Society and Cultivates Human Flourishing, and much more. His most recent publication is Social Conservatism for the Common Good: A Protestant Engagement with Robert P. George.
Walker researches and writes about the intersection of Christian ethics, public theology, and the common good. His academic research interests include natural law theory, human dignity, family stability, church-state studies, and social conservatism. His analysis has been cited in such outlets at The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and many others. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Southwest Baptist University. He received his Master of Divinity, Master of Theology, and Doctor of Philosophy in Christian Ethics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.
Brett Kunkle
BRETT KUNKLE is the founder and president of MAVEN, a movement to equip the next generation to know truth, pursue goodness and create beauty. He has more than 25 years of experience working with junior high, high school, and college students.
Brett has developed a groundbreaking approach to mission trips, creating a one-of-a-kind experience that immerses participants in real-life engagement in apologetics, theology, worldview, and evangelism in Berkeley, California, and Salt Lake City, Utah.
In addition, Brett is a Teaching Fellow at the Impact 360 Institute. He was an associate editor for the Apologetics Study Bible for Students and co-authored A Practical Guide to Culture: Helping the Next Generation Navigate Today’s World. He received his Master’s degree in philosophy of religion and ethics from Talbot School of Theology. Brett lives with his wife and kids in Southern California.
Charlie Kirk
Charlie Kirk is the Founder and President of Turning Point USA, the largest and fastest growing conservative youth activist organization in the country with over 250,000 student members, over 450 full and part-time staff, and a presence on over 2,000 high school and college campuses nationwide. In 2020, Charlie also served as the Chairman of Students for Trump, which activated hundreds of thousands of new college voters on over 350 campuses in battleground states. His social media reaches over 100 million people per month and according to Axios, he is one of the “top 10 most engaged” Twitter handles in the world. A New York Times and Amazon best-selling author of “The MAGA Doctrine: The Only Ideas that Will Win the Future,” Charlie is also the host of “The Charlie Kirk Show” podcast, which regularly ranks among the top-10 news shows on Apple podcast charts. As of October 2020, Charlie took his podcast to broadcast, and became the host of the new, nationally syndicated daily radio show on the Salem Radio Network live from 12 – 3 PM ET.
Chris Brooks
Chris Brooks is the senior pastor of Evangel Ministries, a thriving 1600-member church in the heart of Detroit. He also serves as campus dean of Moody Theological Seminary in Plymouth, Mich. A popular Detroit radio host since 2005, Chris is author of Kingdom Dreaming and Urban Apologetics. He graduated from Michigan State University with a BA in Finance, completed his MA in Christian Apologetics at Biola University, and graduated from the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He and his wife, Yodit, are the proud parents of Christopher, Zewditu, Cameron, Judah and Sophia.
Dan Lewis
Dan Lewis is the Executive Director of The River Foundation, the giving arm of First Southern Family of Companies. Dan has a BS in Economics and Business Administration from Ursinus College, a Masters of Divinity from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Missiology with a focus on Emerging Missional Leadership Development from Asbury Theological Seminary. Prior to joining the River Foundation in 2008, Dan had a 21 year career with Young Life in NJ, FL and KY. Dan is also an adjunct professor at Asbury University at the Howard Dayton School of Business and an affiliate professor at Asbury Seminary in the Christian Leadership Department. He spends a lot of his free time coaching young missional leaders throughout central Kentucky and resourcing them through his website www.next2lead.com.
Dan is from South Jersey originally, lived in Florida for 9 years as well, but has reached Colonel Status after living in Kentucky for 15 years! He and Mary, an RN at the University of Kentucky Hospital, have been married for 26 years, live in Wilmore, KY, and have two adult children, Bonnie and James.
Daniel Ritchie
Daniel Ritchie is a speaker and author that has a passion for helping people see hope that comes from outside their circumstances. Born without arms, Daniel has lived a life of overcoming obstacles while finding his worth and hope in the work of Jesus.
As a speaker, Daniel speaks to 250,000 people annually through a variety of venues like public schools, colleges, seminaries, churches, corporations and professional sports teams. Daniel’s writing has been featured on For the Church, Fox News, Church Leaders, Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition. He is the author of two books: My Affliction For His Glory and Endure.
Daniel Spanjer
Daniel Spanjer graduated from Nyack College with a BA in History and from Reformed Theological Seminary (Orlando) with a MA Theology. In April, 2016, he successfully defended his dissertation at the University at Albany, SUNY: “An Intellectual Biography of Lyman Beecher”. He has taught at Nyack College, University at Albany, and is currently the Chair of the Arts and Science Department and Professor of History at Lancaster Bible College. He also serves the college as the director of the Alcuin Society, a scholarly organization that serves campus faculty. Dr. Spanjer has published several essays for the new Encyclopedia of Christianity in the United States, multiple articles for LBC’s Echo magazine, a chapter for a festschrift dedicated to Byron Borger, and is developing a book for Square Halo Books on the history of the Western Church. Dan is a pilot and has worked as a mechanic, commercial fisherman, grant administrator and golf course greens keeper. He is married to Tara Spanjer and they have three daughters: Meghan, Emily, and Katelyn.
David Galvan
David has been speaking, training and facilitating conversations about whole-person health for nearly 15 years. In that time, David has personally spoken to over 35,000 students along the front range of Colorado and across the country. His extensive experience with students played a key role in his co-production of two evidence-informed presentations that focus on healthy relationships and the issue of teen mental health awareness and suicide prevention. He is an engaging and dynamic speaker, who has spoken to a variety of communities through countless workshops & seminars. David is a certified trainer in ACEs, QPR, and both Youth & Teen Mental Health First Aid – where he has trained over 1,500 individuals. He is also a Director/Trainer with Soul Shop, a faith based initiative that equips the faith community to minister to those that have been impacted by suicide. David is personally and professionally dedicated to the mission that every person should have access to help, healing and hope.
Derek McCoy
Rev. Derek McCoy is a transformational executive leader and organizational consultant with years of experience in business and non-profit sectors. As a media commentator, urban-renewal activist, and leader of coalition efforts, he leads efforts to advance and encourage solutions, and partnerships.
Derek is currently leading efforts to launch the Urban Leadership Alliance, which provides a platform for leaders across all age groups to be educated and create solutions in their respective communities and cultures. He has been instrumental in conducting educational summits with pastors, community leaders, and citizens.
Most recently, McCoy has served as the Executive Vice President for The Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE), which works to fight poverty and restore dignity through the message of faith, freedom, and personal responsibility. McCoy has an extensive background in policy, political strategy, and advocacy on vital cultural issues, including race, poverty, life, marriage, and religion.
Rev. McCoy has served as the President of the Maryland Family Alliance, SVP for the High Impact Leadership Coalition, Coalitions Director, and Outreach Director on crucial initiatives and issue campaigns. He has been a consistent voice of championing issues of justice and righteousness in our nation.
Rev. McCoy serves on the board of Directors for the Pregnancy Clinic in Annapolis, Heartbeat International, and Summit Ministries.
He has been featured on NBC, CBS, FOX, ABC, NPR, FOX Business, EWTN, Gospel Today, and Family News in Focus, WYPR, KKLA, WAVA, EWTN, KQED, and KJLH, Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, New American Media, LA Sentinel, and The Washington Times, and The Wall Street Journal.
Rev. McCoy served our great nation in the United States Army In Reserve. He has also held management positions and has received regional and national awards from Fortune 500 companies.
He has been married for 32 years to his wife, Cathy, and they have three incredible children. Two are Summit graduates.
Dr. Brian Miller
Dr. Brian Miller is Research Coordinator for the Center for Science and Culture at Discovery Institute. He holds a B.S. in physics with a minor in engineering from MIT and a Ph.D. in physics from Duke University. He speaks internationally on the topics of intelligent design and the impact of worldviews on society, and helps manage the ID 3.0 Research Program, having been a primary organizer of the Conference on Engineering in the Life Sciences (CELS). He also has consulted on organizational development and strategic planning, and he is a technical consultant for TheStartup, a virtual incubator dedicated to bringing innovation to the marketplace. He has contributed to multiple books and journals covering the debate over intelligent design, including The Mystery of Life’s Origin: The Continuing Controversy, The Comprehensive Guide to Science and Faith, and Inference Review. He is a regular contributor to Evolution News & Science Today, and the ID the Future Podcast.
Dr. Christopher Yuan
Dr. Christopher Yuan is a highly sought-after expert whose book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel, was named 2020 Book of the Year for social issues by Outreach Magazine. Dr. Yuan casts a compelling vision of not identifying with our sexuality but embracing Christ and living out Holy Sexuality, which shatters the secular paradigms of gay and straight.
Dr. Yuan graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005 and received a master’s degree in biblical exegesis in 2007 and a doctorate of ministry in 2014. He taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for 12 years, and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents.
Christopher has also produced The Holy Sexuality Project video series for parents and their teens. It is a first-of-its-kind resource to help parents and grandparents to empower their teens to understand, embrace, and celebrate biblical sexuality.
Dr. Matt Jones
Dr. Matt Jones came to know Christ at the age of eight on a porch swing in Mattoon, IL. After moving to Tennessee and realizing in youth group that people can know the Triune God in a way that impacted life, Matt went to Bryan College to earn a degree in Christian Education so that he could teach others, that by God’s grace, each one could know God personally and practically.
After meeting his wife of almost 25 years, Cathy and Matt worked in youth and college ministry. Their time in college ministry clarified that they were called to minister at the university level. Eventually, Matt and Cat moved to Dallas, TX to pursue the completion of his Master of Theology degree at Dallas Theological Seminary focusing in New Testament Studies. In 2006, Matt accepted a position as an advisor in the Life Directions Center at Colorado Christian University. In addition to advising, Matt taught as an affiliate from 2007-2016 at Colorado Christian University.
In 2016, Matt moved into the School of Theology to teach full-time as an Assistant Professor of New Testament Studies. Then in 2017, Dr. Jones completed his Ph.D. in Theological Studies at Regent University focusing on the Gospel of Matthew. He currently teaches New and Old Testaments, Interpreting the Bible, World Religions, Synoptic Gospels, and Communication for Ministry for the traditional undergraduate program.
Matt and Cathy have been involved in college ministry for 20 years and enjoy having students in their home, no matter how small the space. Helping us with our college ministry are our three incredible kids, Hannah (17) and Tyler (15), and Mackenzie (13).
Dustin Jizmejian
Dustin Jizmejian is the Director of Content and Student Services. Starting in 2003, Dustin has been working on Summit’s Summer Staff while pursuing an undergraduate degree from Biola University and a graduate degree from Denver Seminary. After graduation from Seminary, Dustin took a position at Philadelphia Biblical University as a Resident Director, only to be called back by Summit Ministries to direct the Semester program in 2011. In 2017, Dustin accepted a change in position at Summit to Director of Programs and recently Director of Content. Dustin also speaks on topics ranging from God’s Will, The Christian Worldview, Christian Community, Leadership, The Worldview of Work, and Pornography. He is currently seeking an additional Masters in Leadership, Theology, and Society from Regent College in Vancouver, Canada. Dustin and his wife Ruthann have been married for ten years and have five children, Rafferty, Cosette, Briar, Trask, and Land. They call Colorado Springs their home.
Francis J. Beckwith
Francis J. Beckwith is Professor of Philosophy & Church-State Studies, and Associate Director of the Graduate Program in Philosophy, Baylor University, as well as the 2016-2017 Visiting Professor in Conservative Thought & Policy at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A graduate of Fordham University (Ph.D. and M.A., philosophy) and the Washington University School of Law, St. Louis (Master of Juridical Studies), he is the author of many books including Taking Rites Seriously: Law, Politics, and the Reasonableness of Faith (Cambridge University Press, 2015), Politics For Christians: Statecraft As Soulcraft (InterVarsity Press, 2010), Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice (Cambridge University Press, 2007), and (with Greg Koukl) Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air (Baker Book House, 1998). He has held full-time faculty appointments at Princeton University (2002-2003 Visiting Fellow in the James Madison Program) and the University of Notre Dame (2008-2009 Mary Ann Remick Senior Visiting Fellow in the Notre Dame Center for Ethics & Culture).
Frank Turek
Dr. Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author or coauthor of four books: Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct, and Legislating Morality. As the President of CrossExamined.org, Frank presents powerful and entertaining evidence for Christianity at churches, high schools and at secular college campuses that often begin hostile to his message. He has also debated several prominent atheists including Christopher Hitchens and David Silverman, president of American Atheists.
Frank hosts an hour-long TV program each week called I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist that is broadcast Wednesday nights on DirecTV Channel 378 (the NRB Network). His radio program called CrossExamined with Frank Turek airs on 186 stations every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. eastern and is available continuously on the free CrossExamined App.
Frank is widely featured guest in the media as a leading apologetics expert and cultural commentator. He has appeared on hundreds of radio programs and many top TV programs including: The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Faith Under Fire, and Politically Incorrect. He also writes a column for Townhall.com and several other sites.
A former aviator in the US Navy, Frank has a master’s degree from the George Washington University and a doctorate from Southern Evangelical Seminary. He and his wife, Stephanie, are blessed with three grown sons.
Gary Hartenburg
Dr. Gary Hartenburg was born in Ypsilanti, Michigan, and earned his BA in biblical studies and theology from Moody Bible Institute, his MA in philosophy of religion and ethics from Biola University, and his PhD in philosophy from the University of California, Irvine. He specializes in ancient philosophy, ethics, and philosophy of religion. He currently teaches in and serves as the director of the Honors College at Houston Baptist University in Houston, Texas, where he lives with his wife and children. He is a lifelong Detroit Tigers fan.
Glenn Sunshine
Glenn Sunshine is a former Professor of History at Central Connecticut State University and a Senior Faculty Member of the Colson Fellows. An award-winning author, Glenn has published books, articles and book chapters on history, theology, and culture, online and on both sides of the Atlantic. His book Why You Think the Way You Do: The Story of Western Worldviews from Rome to Home (Zondervan, 2009) received the 2006 Acton Institute Book Grant.
Haley McNamara
Haley McNamara (formerly Halverson) is the Director of the International Centre on Sexual Exploitation in the UK, and a Vice President at the U.S.-based National Center on Sexual Exploitation. She leads international efforts and joint campaigns to improve policies and education among global governing bodies, citizenry, and corporations regarding the full web of sexual exploitation issues. Her advocacy work has contributed to policy improvements in social media, online advertising, retail, and hotel industries. She has advocated at the United Nations, led international coalition campaigns, presented to Danish, Croatian, and Rwandan government officials, and more.
She is a former member of the Washington DC Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Child Abuse and Neglect. This Committee advises DC Mayor Muriel Bowser on the multi-faceted continuum of the District of Columbia’s child welfare services, including prevention, early intervention, treatment, and sources of permanency.
Haley regularly speaks and writes on topics including child sexual abuse, sex trafficking, prostitution, sexual objectification, the exploitation of males, and more. She has presented before officials at the United Nations, as well as at several national symposia before influencers from the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Croatian government officials. She has provided training to Arlington County Child & Family Services on social media grooming, recruitment, and advertising for sex trafficking. She has a Master of Arts in Government from Johns Hopkins University where she received honors for her thesis regarding the online commercial sexual exploitation marketplace.
J. Warner Wallace
J. Warner Wallace is a cold case homicide detective, adjunct professor of apologetics at Biola University, popular national speaker, and author of Cold-Case Christianity, God’s Crime Scene, and ALIVE.
His professional investigative work has been featured repeatedly on Dateline, FOX News, and Court TV. J. Warner’s professional investigative work has received national recognition; he’s been awarded the Police and Fire Medal of Valor “Sustained Superiority” Award, and the 2015 California Peace Officers Association COPSWEST Award for Cold-Case Investigation of the Year
J. Warner also continues to appear as an expert in a number of crime-based television series and is featured in God’s Not Dead 2. He’s part of a three-generation law enforcement family and has a Master’s Degree in Theological Studies from Golden Gate Seminary.
Jason Jimenez
Jason Jimenez is the founder and president of STAND STRONG Ministries, a non-profit organization specializing in equipping churches, Christian leaders, and parents with a biblical worldview. He is a pastor, apologist and is the best-selling author of Challenging Conversations, Abandoned Faith, and The Bible’s Answers to 100 of Life’s Biggest Questions. Jason travels and speaks in churches and at conferences all over the United States. He and his wife, Celia, have four children and live in Charlotte, NC.
Jay W. Richards
Jay W. Richards, Ph.D., is an Assistant Research Professor in the School of Business and Economics at The Catholic University of America, Executive Editor of The Stream and a Senior Fellow at the Discovery Institute.
Richards is author of many books including the New York Times bestsellers Infiltrated (2013) and Indivisible (2012). He is also the author of Money, Greed, and God, winner of a 2010 Templeton Enterprise Award; and co-author of The Privileged Planet with astronomer Guillermo Gonzalez. His most recent book, co-authored with Jonathan Witt, is The Hobbit Party: The Vision of Freedom that J.R.R. Tolkien Got and the West Forgot.
Richards’ articles and essays have been published in The Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Washington Post, Forbes, Fox News, National Review Online, Investor’s Business Daily, Washington Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Huffington Post, The Federalist, The American Spectator, The Daily Caller, The Imaginative Conservative, and many other publications. His topics range from culture, economics, and public policy to natural science, technology, and the environment.
Jeff Myers
Dr. Jeff Myers is president of Summit Ministries. As an educator and entrepreneur, Dr. Myers has become one of America’s most respected authorities on youth leadership development. Focus on the Family founder James Dobson referred to him as “a very gifted and inspirational leader.” Evangelist Josh McDowell called him “a man who is 100% sold out to preparing the next generation to reflect the character of Christ in the culture.” Through his speaking engagements and media appearances, Dr. Myers has become a fresh voice offering humor and insight from a Christian worldview. He is the author of 16 books, including Understanding the Faith, Understanding the Times, and Understanding the Culture textbooks which are studied by tens of thousands of students. Dr. Myers holds a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Denver. He continues to engage college students and adult learners by serving as a trustee of Colorado Christian University and through a Signature Leadership Course offered by Unbound, that offers project-based education as an alternative to traditional higher education. Jeff and his wife Stephanie and their family live in Colorado.
Jeff Ventrella
Jeffery J. Ventrella, J.D., Ph.D.: Dr. Ventrella received the B.M.E. degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Northern Colorado where he specialized in trumpet performance. He then attended law school and received the Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He received the Doctorate of Philosophy in Church and State Studies from Whitefield Theological Seminary. Dr. Ventrella regularly lectures in churches, campuses, and conferences throughout the United States and has lectured on six continents.
Serving Alliance Defending Freedom as Senior Counsel and Senior Vice President of Training, Dr. Ventrella oversees the design and implementation of the Blackstone Legal Fellowship, the Collegiate Academy, and the international Areté Academy programs. He currently serves as a Research Fellow and on an ad hoc graduate thesis committee for the Department of Philosophy and Constitutional Law for the University of the Free State, South Africa. Dr. Ventrella is also a Distinguished Fellow of Law and Culture for the Center for Cultural Leadership and a Fellow with the Ezra Institute for Contemporary Christianity. The truthXchange appointed him Senior Fellow in 2014. He also engages the culture through formal debate, media interviews, and serves as an “approved speaker” for The Federalist Society and has been appointed to the Executive Committee for the society’s Religious Practice Group.
His book, The Cathedral Builder: Pursuing Cultural Beauty (2007) is part of Alliance Defending Freedom’s Blackstone Core Curriculum Project, which he also edits. He is the author of numerous monographs and has contributed to or edited nine books.
Dr. Ventrella and his wife, Heather, have four grown sons and one young daughter.
John Stonestreet
John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center. He’s a sought-after speaker and author on areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education and apologetics. John is the daily voice of Breakpoint, the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture founded by the late Chuck Colson. He has co-authored five books including A Practical Guide to Culture and Restoring All Things. Before coming to the Colson Center in 2010, John served in various leadership capacities with Summit Ministries and was on the biblical studies faculty at Bryan College (TN). John is an ordained deacon in the Anglican Diocese of All Nations (Anglican Church of North America). He and his wife, Sarah, have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.
Jon Noyes
Jonathan has worked as a speaker with Stand to Reason since 2019. A former atheist, Jonathan used to think belief in God was unwarranted and irresponsible. Then, after examining the evidence for Christianity he was faced with the fact that Jesus is who He says He is and the Christian worldview tells the true story of reality. Since then Jon has been passionate about engaging the culture with honest, well thought-out reasons why people should trust the Christian worldview. Jon has developed a series of passionate talks to do just that.
In 2013 Jonathan earned a master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University, graduating with honors. Jon brings a unique perspective to his audiences and the Stand to Reason team, having more than ten years’ experience in the legal field and serving more than five as a pastor in his local church. Jon also serves on the board of directors for Life Without Limbs and at Beacon Hill Classical Academy, where he teaches discipleship.
Jordan Lorence
Jordan Lorence, Esq., serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom. His work encompasses a broad range of litigation, with a primary focus on defending the First Amendment freedoms of public university students and professors. Before officially joining the organization in 2001, Lorence was a productive allied attorney for many years, actively involved in significant litigation for Alliance Defending Freedom.
Lorence argued before the U.S. Supreme Court in the precedent-setting Southworth v. Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System case in 1999, challenging the university’s requirement that forced unwilling students to contribute to campus activist groups. He led the challenge to New York City’s ban on private worship services in vacant public schools in the long-running Bronx Household of Faith v. Board of Education of the City of New York. Lorence has also defended the right of conscience in several marriage-related cases, including Elane Photography v. Willock at the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Lorence earned a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1980 and received a B.A. in journalism from Stanford University in 1977. He is admitted to the bar in Minnesota, Virginia, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Supreme Court, and multiple federal appellate and district courts.
Josh Bales
Josh Bales is equal parts singer/songwriter, pastor, and private practice mental health therapist. He holds an M.Div. and M.A. in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary, as well as a Certificate in Anglican Studies from Nashotah House Theological Seminary. Originally from Chattanooga, TN Josh now resides in Orlando, FL. Josh’s music has gained a following of fans from all walks of life after recording four diverse albums and touring for more than 15 years. In 2006 Josh released “Underneath The Armor” (Only The Sinner, A Hymn For All The World, Ten Thousand Places). In 2012 Josh’s fans funded “Count The Stars,” an album recorded with multi-award winning producer, Ed Cash. In 2014 Josh released a Christmas album, “The Holly & The Ivy.” And in 2015, in addition to “Somehow I Knew,” Josh issued a collection of hymns and sacred songs called “The Birds Their Carols Raise.” Josh currently serves as Canon Priest at the Cathedral Church of Saint Luke in Orlando and is working on a second collection of hymns.
Kasey Leander
Kasey Leander is the program manager for Summit Georgia. He holds a BA in History and PPE (Politics, Philosophy and Economics) from Taylor University, and a Certificate in Theological Studies from Oxford University. After completing his study at Oxford, Kasey spoke on apologetics topics at universities across the country, engaging seekers and skeptics on the tough questions of faith, culture and worldview . As a writer for The Colson Center for Christian Worldview, he helped draft a daily commentary on the news, culture, and technology.
Kathy Koch
Dr. Kathy Koch (pronounced cook), is leading a charge to celebrate kids the way Jesus did and still does. She is the Founder and CEO of Celebrate Kids, a ministry based in Fort Worth, TX, dedicated to inspiring parents, grandparents, and those who work with children, teens, and young adults to nurture them to develop a convinced identity in Jesus Christ.
Dr. Kathy is an author of 7 books; sought after speaker at conventions, universities, schools, churches, and pregnancy resource centers; and podcaster who addresses today’s challenges with practical, faith-integrated strategies. She especially inspires children and adults to thrive in their identity. She earned a PhD in reading and educational psychology from Purdue University and is a former professor, teacher, coach, and school board member.
Dr. Kathy’s insights have garnered recognition in documentary films, notably by Kirk Cameron, and her articulate discussions are frequently featured on platforms like Focus on the Family, Moody Radio, and the American Association of Christian Counselors, further solidifying recognition as a thought leader in child development and faith formation for kids.
Ken Turner
After 10 years as Bible professor at Bryan College, Dr. Ken Turner is beginning a new position at Toccoa Falls College in northeast Georgia. His Ph.D. is in Old Testament Theology (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary). He has written several books and articles, and is currently writing a commentary on Habakkuk and a Christian-based curriculum on creation & evolution. He’s been married for 15 years and has 5 children.
Lucas Miles
Lucas Miles is a trusted voice in the American church who has consistently addressed some of the most challenging topics in theology, politics, and culture. He is the host of Faithwire’s The Lucas Miles Show and a cohost of The Church Boys podcast, where he has interviewed some of the biggest names in media such as Mario Lopez, Jim Cavaziel, Kathie Lee Gifford, Candace Bure, and Sean Hannity. Lucas and his work have been featured in books and on TV and radio programs, as well as syndicated in articles across both political and religious news outlets, such as The Blaze, Faithwire, Fox News, CBN, Bible Gateway, and The Christian Post. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed book Good God: The One We Want to Believe In but Are Afraid to Embrace.
An ordained pastor with over twenty years of ministry experience, Lucas has been involved in dozens of church planting efforts in the US and in remote locations in Latin America, East Africa, and Asia, not least of which is his local ministry, Nfluence Church, where he and his wife, Krissy, have been serving since planting the church in 2004. Lucas had the honor of receiving an invitation to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C., in both 2018 and 2020, as well as an invitation as a US delegate to the 2018 Ukrainian National Christian Thanksgiving Celebration.
Additionally, Lucas is known for his work in Hollywood producing films and offering confidential pastoral support to many up-and-coming and established actors and artists. He has directed and produced several nationally released films, including Rodeo Girl, Crowning Jules, and The Penitent Thief, as well as consulted on dozens of entertainment and literary projects. His work has been featured on Netflix, Showtime, Fox, Redbox, Sony, and Pure Flix.
Lucas is a sought-after speaker at colleges, conferences, and churches on topics such as theology, Christian living, politics, and media. Whether he is preaching through the book of Romans or discussing trends in media and culture, Lucas’ heart for the gospel, philosophical prowess, and love of people always shines through, making him a perfect keynote speaker or lecturer for meetings of all sizes.
Lucas and his wife, Krissy, have been married since 2001 and reside in Granger, Indiana with their Doberman, Kenya.
Mark Mittelberg
Mark Mittelberg is a bestselling author, international speaker, and the Executive Director of the Lee Strobel Center for Evangelism and Applied Apologetics at Colorado Christian University, which offers accredited online BA and MA degrees, as well as lower-priced certificate courses (see: StrobelCenter.com).
Mark recently released his all-new book and training course, Contagious Faith: Discover Your Natural Style for Sharing Jesus with Others. Before that he was the primary author of the Becoming a Contagious Christian training course (with Lee Strobel). This course was translated into more than twenty languages and helped nearly two million people around the world share Christ in natural ways. He also wrote the leadership-oriented book, Becoming a Contagious Church, which presents an innovative blueprint for church-based evangelism, as well as several books on apologetics, including The Questions Christians Hope No One Will Ask (With Answers).
Mark was the first evangelism director at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, as well as Executive Vice President of the Willow Creek Association. He teaches for Summit Ministries in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and is the main U.S. evangelism trainer for the Luis Palau Association. He writes and speaks from Denver, where he and his wife Heidi live (they have two Summit-trained children, Emma Jean and Matthew, both serving in ministry roles).
Mary Jo Sharp
A former atheist who came to faith, Mary Jo Sharp has experienced two worlds of American culture: the post-Christian culture of the Pacific Northwest and the evangelical culture of the Bible Belt. She first encountered apologetics in her own spiritual search while seeking answers. Mary Jo is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University and the founder and director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She has been featured in Christianity Today’s cover story “The Unexpected Defenders” and is an international speaker on apologetics, focusing on love and logic to uncover truth.
She serves on faculty with Summit Ministries Student Conferences and is a published author with Kregel Publications, B&H Publications, and Zondervan.
Mary Jo is the author of the top-selling Bible study, “Why Do You Believe That?” as well as Living in Truth with LifeWay Christian Resources. She recently released her book Why I Still Believe. A clear communicator with a heart for people, Mary Jo finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior.
Mary Jo is also the founder of Confident Christianity, a Christian apologetics ministry that addresses the hard questions of Christianity through research, writing, training, and debate.
She lives with her husband and family in Portland, Oregon.
Matt Heard
Matt Heard is the President of Thrive Fully Alive, Inc. and Founder of THRIVE – a speaking, teaching, coaching, and writing ministry that focuses on engaging and equipping people to flourish as fully alive human beings to God’s glory in every arena of their life, journey, vocation, and culture.
Matt is a graduate of Wheaton College and Reformed Theological Seminary, and also studied Pre-Law at Samford University and with Francis Schaeffer at L’Abri Fellowship in Huemoz, Switzerland. He is a conference speaker, consultant, and coach to various ministries and leaders. He is the author of Life with a Capital L: Embracing Your God-Given Humanity and is a Bible teacher for Key Life Network, the nationally syndicated radio program and podcast with Steve Brown.
He is Chairman of the Board of Directors of International Arts Movement and IAM Culture Care alongside artist Makoto Fujimura, serves on the Board of Overseers of Restoration Church in Denver, and is on the Board of Reference for Summit Ministries. Previously, Matt has served as the Lead Pastor of Northland Church in Orlando; the President of The Gathering USA; and the Senior Pastor of Woodmen Valley Chapel in Colorado Springs.
Matt and his wife, Arlene, are the grateful parents of three adult sons, two daughters-in-law, and two grandsons. They divide their time between Colorado Springs and Orlando.
For more information, refer to ThriveFullyAlive.com, MattHeard.com, and LifeWithACapitalL.com.
Matthew Lee Anderson
Matthew Lee Anderson is the Founder and Lead Writer at Mere Orthodoxy. He is the author of Earthen Vessels: Why our Bodies Matter to our Faith and The End of our Exploring: A Book about Questioning and the Confidence of Faith. He is also the author of a number of articles and essays away from Mere Orthodoxy, of which there is a selection below.
Anderson is currently pursuing a D.Phil. in Christian Ethics from Oxford University, having received his M.Phil. in 2014. He is also a Perpetual Member of Biola University’s Torrey Honors Institute. He invites you to follow him on Twitter or Facebook.
Megan Almon
Megan Almon, a former University of Georgia gymnast, was a part of UGA’s 2002 SEC Championship team. She worked as an award-winning journalist until 2008 when she decided to pursue a career speaking and teaching about Christian apologetics — especially in the area of bioethics. She began working with Life Training Institute in 2009 and was awarded an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Biola University in 2011. In 2023 she joined the speaking team at Apologetics, Inc. (formerly the C.S. Lewis Society). Megan and her husband, Tripp — Director of Summit Ministries Gap Year — have been married since 2003 and have two children, Neely and Rogan. Megan enjoys spending time with her family at home in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and is still known to practice handstands in her kitchen. She has spoken to high school-and-college assemblies and classrooms, youth organizations, women’s groups, pregnancy resource centers, congregations, and legislators across the nation on multiple topics including pro-life apologetics, bioethics, and beauty.
Mike Sherrard
Mike Sherrard (B.A. Religion, M.Div. Apologetics, D. Min. Ethics in progress) has been equipping young adults to defend the Christian faith for nearly 20 years. He is the lead pastor of Crosspoint Community Church, the former director of Ratio Christi College Prep, and the author of Relational Apologetics. He is currently under contract to write You Matter: How the World’s Quest for Meaning is Meaningless Without God (Baker, Spring 2021). Mike and his family live in Peachtree City, Ga.
Mike has a B.A. in Religion and a Masters of Divinity with a concentration in Apologetics from Luther Rice Seminary and is currently doing post-grad work in the area of New Testament Ethics.
Mike has a passion for equipping Christians with the knowledge necessary to love God deeply, defend their hope in Him faithfully, and engage culture effectively.
Monique Duson
Monique Duson founded the Center for Biblical Unity with Krista Bontrager. Their sisterhood in the Lord is the cornerstone of this ministry.
Monique has a background in social service and children’s ministry. She has worked with a diverse array of under-served communities.
Monique worked as a Missionary to South Africa for over four years, serving children and teachers impacted by drugs, violence, and trauma.
She spent two decades advocating for Critical Race Theory (CRT), but through a series of events, began to clearly see the contradictions of CRT with the historic Christian worldview. Monique is now convinced that CRT is not the best way to achieve racial unity and actively speaks out against the use of CRT within the church. Her mission is to promote a vision for racial healing based on the historic Christian worldview.
Monique has appeared on shows such as Relatable (with Allie Beth Stuckey), the Alisa Childers podcast, and Breakpoint (with John Stonestreet). Monique has a BA in Sociology from Biola University. She is working on a MA in Theology.
Paul Copan
Paul Copan (Ph.D. Philosophy, Marquette University) is the Pledger Family Chair of Philosophy & Ethics at Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL), and he teaches in the MA Philosophy of Religion program. He has twice been a visiting scholar at Oxford University and has served as president of the Evangelical Philosophical Society. He speaks on university campuses and conferences. He is author or editor of nearly fifty books. These include Is God a Moral Monster?, Is God a Vindictive Bully? True for You, But Not for Me, When God Goes to Starbucks, The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas, An Introduction to Biblical Ethics, A Little Book for New Philosophers, and The Zondervan Dictionary of Christianity and Science. He is part of the team of scholars behind the online Worldview Bulletin (www.worldviewbulletin.substack.com/).
Paul and his wife, Jacqueline, have six children, and they reside in West Palm Beach, Florida. His website is www.paulcopan.com.
Paul Nelson
Paul A. Nelson studied evolutionary theory and the philosophy of science at the University of Chicago, where he received his Ph.D. in 1998, with a dissertation examining Darwin’s theory of universal common descent. Since that time, he has been a Senior Fellow of the Discovery Institute and from 2004 to the present an Adjunct Professor in the Master of Arts Program in Science & Religion at Biola University. Nelson’s scholarly articles have appeared in journals such as Biology & Philosophy, Zygon, Rhetoric and Public Affairs, and BioComplexity, and book chapters in the anthologies Next Generation Systematics (Cambridge University Press, 2016) Mere Creation (InterVarsity Press), Signs of Intelligence (Brazos Press), Intelligent Design Creationism and Its Critics (MIT Press), and Darwin, Design, and Public Education (Michigan State University Press). He is a member of the Society for Developmental Biology (SDB) and the International Society for the History, Philosophy, and Social Studies of Biology (ISHPSSB).
Rachel Csutoros
Rachel Csutoros serves as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where she is a member of the Center for Conscience Initiatives.
Csutoros joined ADF in 2019 as a First Year Lawyer Fellow in ADF’s new fellowship program. During the program, Csutoros drafted public comments, researched ongoing litigation, and offered other support, rotating between four ADF teams: the Life Team, the Legislative Advocacy Team, the Center for Christian Ministries, and the Center for Conscience Initiatives. Csutoros was hired to legal counsel on ADF’s Conscience Team in 2020, where she focuses on protecting the conscience rights of individuals being unjustly forced to compromise their beliefs under threat of heavy fines and punishment.
Csutoros earned her J.D. from William and Mary Law School in 2019. She obtained her B.A., in political science, from the University of Florida in 2015.
Csutoros is a member of the Massachusetts bar.
Scott Klusendorf
Scott Klusendorf is President of Life Training Institute where he equips pro-life advocates to make a persuasive case for life.
He has taught pro-life apologetics at the graduate level at Biola University and Trinity Law School, and lectured at over 80 colleges and universities including Stanford, Berkeley, UCLA, USC, Johns Hopkins, MIT, and the U.S. Air Force Academy — to name a few.
Scott’s debate opponents have included Nadine Strossen (former President of the ACLU), attorney Edward Tabash (of the Council for Secular Humanism), attorney Kathryn Kolbert (who argued for abortion rights at the Supreme Court), and Katherine Kneer (President of Planned Parenthood California).
Nationally, he’s been featured on syndicated shows such as Focus on the Family, Truths that Transform, Issues Etc, and Faith Under Fire. He is the host of the television series, “Life is Best.” Scott is the author of The Case for Life: Equipping Christians to Engage the Culture (Crossway, 2009).
Scott is a graduate of UCLA and holds a Master’s degree in Christian Apologetics from Biola University.
At the practical level, Scott helps non-profit organizations raise money to assist women facing unplanned pregnancies.
He and his wife Stephanie have been married since 1985 and have four children.
Sean McDowell
Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Assistant Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University.
Sean still teaches one high school Bible class, which helps give him exceptional insight into the prevailing culture so he can impart his observations poignantly to fellow educators, pastors, and parents alike. In 2008 he received the Educator of the Year award for San Juan Capistrano, California. The Association of Christian Schools International awarded Exemplary Status to his apologetics training. Sean is listed among the top 100 apologists. He graduated summa cum laude from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double Master’s degree in Theology and Philosophy. He earned a Ph.D. in Apologetics and Worldview Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014.
Traveling throughout the United States and abroad, Sean speaks at camps, churches, schools, universities, and conferences. He has spoken for organizations including Focus on the Family, the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Cru, Youth Specialties, Hume Lake Christian Camps, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Association of Christian Schools International.
Sean is the author, co-author, or editor of over seventeen books including Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage, with John Stonestreet, Is God Just a Human Invention? with Jonathan Morrow, and Understanding Intelligent Design along with William A. Dembski. Sean has also written multiple books with his father, Josh McDowell, including The Beauty of Intolerance, The Unshakable Truth, and More Than A Carpenter. Sean is the General Editor for Apologetics for a New Generation and The Apologetics Study Bible for Students. He has also written for YouthWorker Journal, Decision Magazine, and the Christian Research Journal. Follow the dialogue with Sean as he blogs regularly at seanmcdowell.org.
In April, 2000, Sean married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie. They have three children and live in San Juan Capistrano, California. Sean played college basketball at Biola University and was the captain his senior year on a team that went 30-7.
Tim Barnett
Tim is a dynamic speaker who provides a perfect blend of expertise and humor in each talk. Using easy-to-follow and visually engaging presentations, Tim trains Christians to think clearly about what they believe and why they believe it. Tim’s passion and energy will help motivate you and your group to love God with all your mind.
Before joining the Stand to Reason speaking team, Tim founded an apologetics-based speaking ministry. Through his speaking, he has been able to help make a powerful impact defending and contending for the faith both in church settings as well as on the university stage. He has also had the opportunity to speak at numerous ACSI conferences, Power to Change events, the Apologetics Canada conference, and the National Conference on Christian Apologetics.
Tim has worked as a professional teacher since 2008, employed in both the private and public sector.
Tim has bachelor’s degrees in physics and education from York University and the University of Ontario, respectively. He is currently working on his master’s degree in philosophy from Southern Evangelical Seminary.
Tim lives with his wife and three children in Ontario, Canada.
Travis C. Barham
Travis C. Barham, Esq., serves as legal counsel for Alliance Defending Freedom, where he plays a key role with the ADF Center for Academic Freedom.
Since joining Alliance Defending Freedom in 2006, Barham has focused his legal efforts on preserving and reclaiming religious freedom and freedom of speech for students and faculty at universities throughout the country. His work has been instrumental in securing several strategic appellate court victories. For example, in Adams v. Trustees of the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit ruled that public universities cannot discriminate or retaliate against Christian and conservative professors in promotion decisions. In Badger Catholic v. Walsh, the 7th Circuit ensured that public universities must grant religious student organizations equal access when distributing student activity fee funding. And in DeJohn v. Temple University, the 3rd Circuit eliminated an unconstitutional speech code that restricted Christian and conservative students from speaking freely on campus.
Barham earned his J.D. in 2006 from Washington and Lee University School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude. Before graduating from law school, he completed the Alliance Defending Freedom leadership development program to become a Blackstone Fellow in 2004. He is a member of the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court; the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 4th, 7th, and 11th Circuits; and in the states of Georgia and Arizona. He is also admitted to federal district courts in Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin.
Tripp Almon
Tripp Almon relocated to the great state of Colorado with his wife, Megan, and their kids, Neely and Rogan, from the little town of Newnan, Georgia — just south of Atlanta. Tripp’s passion for educating students in the areas of Christian theology, worldview, and apologetics grew in large part from growing up in a Christian home and then struggling profoundly with the tidal wave of cultural ideas that engulfed him as he entered a secular university. Thankfully, his experience taught him that Christianity not only stands in the marketplace of ideas — it soars. Since then, he and Megan, an apologist and speaker with Life Training Institute, have sought to cultivate environments where students feel the freedom to ask big questions and are encouraged to pursue real answers. Before joining Summit, Tripp, a former elite gymnast, coached gymnastics for over two decades and served as a pastor for 10 years. He and his family love the outdoors and adventure sports, particularly off-road motorcycling. Tripp is also a rally car co-driver with Almon Brothers Racing Team — 2017 champions of the NASA Rally Atlantic Cup Series.
Director of Summit Gap Year
Warren Cole Smith
Warren Cole Smith is Vice President-Mission Advancement for the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. Before joining the Colson Center, he was Vice President of WORLD News Group, publisher of WORLD Magazine as well as the producer of the nationally syndicated program The World and Everything In It. Warren hosts his own weekly program called Listening In, a long-form interview program heard by thousands of subscribers each week. Before transitioning to a career in ministry, Warren spent more than 15 years in the corporate world, including seven years as the Marketing Director for a major division of PricewaterhouseCoopers, the global accounting and consulting firm. Warren honed his story-telling skills by writing outdoor and adventure stories — both fiction and non-fiction — for such magazines as Alaska, High Country, High Adventure, and Sports Afield. He has written, co-written, or edited more than 10 books, including Restoring All Things: God’s Audacious Plan To Change The World Through Everyday People (with John Stonestreet, 2015), Prodigal Press: Confronting The Anti-Christian Bias of the American News Media (with Marvin Olasky, 2013), and A Lover’s Quarrel with the Evangelical Church (2009). A series of articles he did on AIDS won the Evangelical Press Association’s top prize for feature reporting in 2004. During his time as publisher and editor of The Charlotte World, that paper won more awards from the Evangelical Press Association than any other paper, including twice being named “Newspaper of the Year.” His education includes a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in English, both from the University of Georgia. He and his wife Missy have been married for 33 years, and they have four children. His oldest daughter graduated from Grove City College. His oldest son graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and is a captain in the U.S. Air Force. Another son is a junior at The King’s College in New York City. Warren and Missy and their youngest daughter live in Charlotte, N.C.