| Dr. Jim Denison - Worship Leader | Dr. Jim Denison is the Theologian-in-Residence for the BGCT and the founding president of the Center for Informed Faith. Dr. Denison is the former Pastor for Teaching at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously, he pastored churches in Atlanta, GA, Midland, TX, and Mansfield, TX. |
| David Apple - Keynote Monday |
David Apple is an Adult Ministry Specialist at Lifeway Christian Resources, Nashville, TN. David develops and leads training events across the country that help leaders of adults strengthen their Kingdom assignment. Beginning in 1997, David was responsible for working with Bobby Welch and Doug Williams in developing the strategy that is now known as FAITH. Originally from Greensboro, NC, David is married to Karen. They are proud parents of Ben and Christine. David is a graduate of Gardner-Webb University in North Carolina and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth and has served as Minister of Education in North Carolina churches and as Pastor in Tennessee and Kentucky. |
| Dr. Norman Blackaby - Keynote Monday | Dr. Norman Blackaby is a professor in the Gary Cook School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University. Previously, he has served as senior pastor at two churches and for six years as Vice President of Blackaby Ministries International. Experiencing Prayer with Jesus: The Power of His Presence and Example is the latest book he co-authored with his dad, Henry Blackaby. His passion is for individuals to be aligned with God and discover freedom from methods and formulas and allow God to unfold his purpose in step-by-step reformation process. Norman is a graduate of Hardin Simmons and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth with a Ph.D. in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology. He is married to Dana, and they have three children, Emily, Douglas, and Anne. |
| Dr. Michael Lindsay - Keynote Tuesday | Dr. D. Michael Lindsay is assistant professor of sociology at Rice University where he is also the faculty associate of Leadership Rice and director of the Center on Race, Religion and Urban Life. He is also a Rice Scholar at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy. Lindsay has been honored by two international scholarly societies--the International Sociological Association and the International Leadership Association--as well as the Society for the Scientific Study of Religion and the Association for the Sociology of Religion. A sociologist by training, Lindsay's research is published in the leading scholarly journals of sociology, religion, and American studies. Lindsay served for several years as the consultant for religion and culture to the George H. Gallup International Institute. Lindsay and George Gallup, Jr., co-authored two books and appeared frequently in the national media and on the lecture circuit discussing matters surrounding faith and culture. Lindsay is married to Rebecca Ward Lindsay, and they are the proud parents of Elizabeth. |
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Cindy Burden - Sculptor during Banquet |
Cindy Burden is a sculptor and will be sharing her art and testimony of how God works in her life. She states, "I am a sculptor because I am called and my art is my way of thanking and glorifying God, who has created us for a wonderful and high purpose. The daily working of a piece (if only spraying to keep it wet until I can finish it) is reflective of the daily working of God that goes on in my own life. To leave a piece uncovered and untouched is to allow it to harden and never reach completion. My art is like breathing to me. I must do it." She and David have been married for 33 years, and they live in Burleson, Texas. |