Dr. Chris Kouba serves as the lead pastor of United City Church. Gifted with a unique ability to bring God’s timeless Word to real, everyday life, Pastor Chris brings more than two decades of ministry and dynamic leadership experience to effectively reach the least, the last, and the lost to a redemptive relationship with Jesus Christ.

Chris is known for his passion, directness, and uncanny ability to ‘coach’ people into action. He enthusiastically equips the church to live on mission outside of the Sunday experience, taking their next step to becoming disciple-making disciples who are ambassadors for Jesus Christ.

A native to Houston, Texas, Chris graduated from Baylor University. He received his Master’s of Divinity from Dallas Theological Seminary and his doctorate from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chris and his wife, Hillary, have four children: Katelyn, Mackenzie, Hudson, and Griffin. Their combined commitment to strengthening families to raise the next generation of Christian leaders begins in their home and moves outward as they champion other families in the community to do the same. Before serving at United City Church, Chris began his ministry and leadership at Prestonwood Baptist Church, where he served for over 17 years. In addition to his role as lead pastor at United City Church, Chris currently serves as a board member for Houston Christian University and as an adjunct professor for Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Jimmy Scroggins is the Lead Pastor of Family Church in South Florida, where he has served since July 2008. He and his wife, Kristin, have 8 children and 4 grandchildren – James (Reilly, James VI, Wyatt), Daniel (Mary-Madison, Willow Kate, TBD), Jeremiah, Isaac, Stephen, Anna Kate, Mary Claire and Caleb. Under Jimmy’s leadership, Family Church has grown to a network of neighborhood churches across three counties and in four languages. Family Church is passionate about building families by helping them discover and pursue God’s design while carrying out their vision of taking the gospel to every person in neighborhood in South Florida. Jimmy is the author of Full Circle Parenting and Turning Everyday Conversations into Gospel Conversations and hosts the Church for the Rest of Us podcast at familychurchnetwork.com. He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Dr. Scroggins teaches as a visiting professor at both Southern and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminaries.

Dr. Kathy Koch (pronounced “cook”) is the Founder and President of Celebrate Kids, Inc., based in Fort Worth, TX, and a cofounder of Ignite the Family, based in Alpharetta, GA. She has influenced thousands of parents, teachers, and children in 30 countries through keynote messages, seminars, chapels, and other events. She is proud to be represented by the Ambassador Speakers Bureau of Nashville, TN. She is a featured speaker for the Great Homeschool Conventions, on the faculty of Summit Ministries, and a frequent presenter for Care Net, Axis, and other organizations. She speaks regularly at schools, churches, and pregnancy resource centers.

Dr. Kathy’s practical, relevant, and results-oriented concepts and engaging, honoring, and humorous speaking style draw enthusiastic raves from children, teens, parents, and educators. They leave her events armed with new beliefs, attitudes, practical tools, and increased hope to build healthy relationships and increase success in family, life, and school.

She is also a popular guest on Focus on the Family radio and other radio talk-shows. Because of listeners’ reactions and feedback, her broadcasts about the 8 great smarts made the top ten shows of the year on Focus on the Family in both 2014 and 2016. Kirk Cameron chose her as the technology expert to interview in his 2018 movie, Connect: Real Help for Parenting Kids in a Social Media World. She has authored six books including Screens and Teens and 8 Great Smarts. Her newest book, Start with the Heart: How to Motivate Your Kids to Be Compassionate, Responsible, and Brave (even when you’re not around) was published by Moody in March.

Dr. Kathy earned a Ph.D. in reading and educational psychology from Purdue University. She was a tenured associate professor of education at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, a teacher of second graders, a middle school coach, and a school board member before becoming a full-time conference and keynote speaker in 1991. She has loved Jesus for years and her faith and desire to serve and glorify God is the foundation of her ministry.

Gregg Matte was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and trusted Christ as his Savior at the age of 16. Since then, God has done a tremendous work in him and through him. In 1989, as a Texas A&M sophomore, Gregg and his roommates started a small Bible study named Breakaway in their apartment. Under Gregg’s leadership, Breakaway exploded, reaching thousands of students each week.

In 2004, God called Gregg to become the pastor of Houston’s First Baptist Church. Today, this great church has grown tremendously and is impacting the world as never before. Gregg holds a marketing degree from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is an author of numerous books, the latest being a Christmas devotional, “Salvation Has Come.” Most importantly, Gregg is married to Kelly and is a father of two: Greyson and Valerie.

Ben Mandrell President and Chief Executive Officer Ben Mandrell was elected the 10th president of Lifeway Christian Resources on June 28, 2019. As president and CEO, Mandrell provides vision and strategic leadership to the nonprofit organization headquartered in Brentwood, Tennessee. Prior to joining Lifeway, he pastored churches in Colorado and Tennessee.

Mandrell graduated from Anderson University in 1998. He also holds a Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Union University in Jackson, Tennessee.

Mandrell and his wife, Lynley, have been married since 2001. The couple has four children: Ava, Max, Miles and Jack.

Mike Weaver’s desire to hear and follow the call on his life has led to a fascinating journey as a husband, father, and lead singer of Big Daddy Weave. Big Daddy Weave, known for their songs “Redeemed,” “My Story,” “The Lion and The Lamb,” “The Only Name (Yours Will Be)” and many more, have now been appearing across the country for over nineteen years.

While Big Daddy Weave continues their work as one of the top radio and touring artists in Christian music, simultaneously, Mike follows the part of his journey that leads to even more intimate settings as a solo worship leader. Mike’s heart is to worship with the family of the Lord in whatever setting it may be.

Dr. Jarrett Stephens serves as Senior Pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Northwest Houston. Since coming to Champion Forest in January of 2021, he has led the church to establish a residency program that trains and equips seminary students who are called to ministry. He also founded CF Connect, a ministry designed to help connect pastors to the church, to one another and to church planters from across the country for resourcing and encouragement.

Jarrett also serves on the boards of BridgeBuilders, Dallas Baptist University and the North American Mission Board – which clearly point to his passions of sharing the life-transforming message of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world, to serving the least of these in the inner cities, to raising up the next generation of Christian leaders, to equipping churches to be on mission.

A native of Louisiana, Jarrett graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., with a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and psychology. He received his master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006 and his doctorate of ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary in January 2012.

Jarrett is the author of two books, including his newest book, The Always God: He Hasn’t Changed and You Are Not Forgotten. Addressing this chaotic season we find ourselves in, and for any difficult days, Jarrett brings a message of hope about a God who never changes. His debut book, The Mountains Are Calling: Making the Climb for a Clearer View of God and Ourselves, was released in August 2018. In his book, Jarrett takes readers to 10 mountaintop moments in the Bible where people had encounters with God. Through these experiences, God revealed His truth and brought His people closer to Him.

Jarrett and his wife, Debbie, have four daughters, Riley, Kelsey, Cameron and Landry.

Sandra Peoples (M. Div, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is one of the leading voices in the special-needs community. She is the author of three books, including her most recent release, Unexpected Blessings: The Joys and Possibilities of Life in a Special-Needs Family. Sandra is currently a PhD student at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the area of family ministry with an emphasis on inclusion for special needs families.

Sandra serves the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention as their special-needs ministry consultant, helping churches around the state start and strengthen their disability ministries. She is also an adjunct professor in Liberty University’s School of Divinity, teaching classes in the area of disability ministry. Sandra is a monthly cohost for Key Ministry: The Podcast, where she shares her perspective on family aspects of disability ministry and inclusion. She and her friend Tiffany Crow also host All Access, a yearly conference held in February in the Houston area for ministry leaders and volunteers.

Ann Parnell grew up in a pastor’s home, has been married to her high school sweetheart for 60 years, has 2 children, 6 grandkids, 3 great grandchildren. She lived life in ministry to children and families for 46 years, and continues loving senior adults who made an impact on her life. She spreads joy & laughter wherever she goes.

Ryan Fontenot is the Founder and Lead Communicator for R.A.G.E. Ministries. R.A.G.E. (Reaching A Generation Endangered) exists to PROCLAIM the gospel of Jesus and to PREPARE the next generation to do the same. Since 2003, Ryan has spoken to hundreds of thousands across North America and around the globe. With a gift of passionate and creative preaching, God is using Ryan to point this generation to Jesus and equip them to reach others. Ryan lives in Fort Worth, Texas and is married to his high-school sweetheart, Heather. Together they have three children: Elyn, Inly, and Tru.