Partial List of SPEAKERS
Jack Eason
Jack has worked in itinerant ministry as a worship leader and speaker for over 20 years. He has spent time as a songwriter as well as producing a nationally syndicated radio and television show. Currently Jack serves as the Executive Director of The Crossover Group. When he's not leading in conferences, he helps other non profit organizations raise money. He's a big advocate for ministries that work in third world countries and has helped raise millions of dollars to see orphans rescued in places like Haiti and Africa. He and his wife Lynette and their 2 children live in Spartanburg, SC.
Dave Thomas
Dave is passionate about seeing those who are thinking about ministry leadership be given the tools and resources they need to step out into a great future. He knows that emerging leaders have a lot of questions and is determined to help them find the answers they are seeking . Dave has served in many staff positions and currently is serving as the Senior Pastor of Buffat Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN. Dave desires to see students and emerging leaders given the tools to pursue God's calling on their lives. He and his wife Carrie live with their children in Knoxville, TN including 2 that they adopted from Africa.
Steve Crouse
Steve has worked with students in ministry for 40 years. He has served a variety of churches leading student ministry and providing worship leadership. Since 1991, Steve has served as the Vice President of the Campus Ministries at North Greenville University. Steve is passionate about encouraging, mentoring, and nurturing the next generation of student leaders as they pursue God's call for their lives.
KERRY JACKSON-Artist
Kerry was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi. Kerry came to know Jesus as his Lord and Savior at the age of nine. Early in his childhood he discovered a passion for art.
Kerry is also President of Drawing to the Rock Ministries, Inc. This ministry promotes the use of visual art in worship. Kerry and Twyla travel all over the world communicating the gospel through live drawing and painting.
SCOTT KINDIG
Scott Kindig has been working in student ministry and mentoring for many years. As a lead minister at the Georgia Baptist Convention Youth Department, he equipped many students and enabled many leaders to mentor and coach students. Now as the Chief of Staff at a growing church in the Atlanta, GA area, he is doing more of the same.
Dean Herman has been a student pastor and loves students. Now the pastor of 5 Point Fellowship in Easley, SC ( a church he planted), he is seeing God do some awesome things. He knows the joy of stepping out in faith and following God. You will be inspired to rely on faith in your journey of ministry leadership just from hearing his story!
TRACY TURNER
Tracy serves at Rocky Creek Church in Greenville and loves students. He really desires to see them follow God's call on their lives. He has worked as a Campus Minister on the college campus and speaks for a lot of camps/conferences.
LINDA GILDEN
Linda Gilden loves to share a great story and help you share your great stories. A frequent radio and television guest, Linda’s words of encouragement help you grasp the tools you need to make your writing and publishing dreams come true.
A wife, mother of three, mother-in-law of two, and grandmother of four children and two dogs, Linda has many wonderful sources for writing and speaking material. Her greatest joy is spending time with her family.
LYNETE EASON
Lynette won the prestigous Inspirational Readers Choice Contest in 2011 with her novel Too Close to Home. The sequel, Don't Look Back was a Carol Award finalist, also in 2011. A KILLER AMONG US finalled in the Inspirational Readers Choice contest for 2012. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARS was on the CBA bestseller list for the months of March and April 2013, taking the #8 spot in April.
Some of Lynette's favorite authors who influenced her writing include, Brandilyn Collins, Dee Henderson, Shirlee McCoy, Karen Kingsbury, Robert Liparulo, Terri Blackstock and Deborah Raney.
Lynette thanks God for giving her the talent and desire to spin stories that bring readers to the edge of their seat, but most importantly, to the throne of Christ.
SALLY HAMRICK has been growing in her faith all through high school and college. She can share some practical tips for girls on how to be all God's called you to be. She just returned from serving the Lord in Mozambique working with precious kids. You will be encouraged with her stories and get inspiration for being the godly woman God is calling you to be.
MARSHALL SHANNON has more than thirty years of ministry leadership experience with eighteen years as senior pastor of a growing church. He led his church through five building programs and two relocations as the congregation grew. He was also involved in training young men for the ministry, assisting church planters, and directing mission endeavors. From 2003 to 2011 he was focused on guiding ministry leaders through their building programs. During that time he was privileged to be in hundreds of churches all over the country.
Ministry Design Concepts was started out of the burden created by the connection with these hundreds of pastors and hearing their frustrations and lack of resources to meet those frustrations. Ministry Design Concept's mission is to provide reliable resources to meet the challenges of every day ministry.
