Speakers

Dennis Rainey

Dennis Rainey is the President and CEO of FamilyLife, a subsidiary of Campus Crusade for Christ. Since the organization began in 1976, Dennis’ leadership has enabled FamilyLife to grow into a dynamic and vital ministry that offers families blueprints for living godly lives. Dennis has authored or co-authored more than two dozen books including the best selling Moments Together for Couples and Staying Close. He has also received two Golden Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. Dennis serves as the senior editor of the HomeBuilders Couples Series® which has sold over 2.5 million copies and has been translated into 47 languages. A powerful and effective communicator, Dennis can be heard daily as co-host of the nationally syndicated radio program FamilyLife Today®. For his work in radio, Dennis was the recipient of the National Religious Broadcasters Radio Program of the Year Award twice. Dennis serves on the Board of Directors of FamilyLife and Dallas Theological Seminary. Dennis has spoken at numerous Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaways across the United States and internationally, but also for Promise Keepers events, YPO University, Fellowship Forum and at FamilyLife’s I Still Do® and Rekindling the Romance® events. He has testified on family issues before Congress and has appeared on numerous radio and television programs. Dennis earned a degree in business administration from the University of Arkansas and a master’s degree in Biblical studies from Dallas Theological Seminary. He also holds an honorary doctorate from Trinity Evangelical University and Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Dennis and Barbara have been married since 1972 and love laughing with their six children and seventeen grandchildren. In his spare time, Dennis enjoys helping Barbara in her garden, reading great books, and pursuing his passions for hunting and fishing.

www.familylife.com

Bryan Loritts

Bryan is the Lead Pastor of Fellowship Memphis Church, a multicultural church ministering to the urban Memphis community. Bryan has a Master’s Degree in Theology and is currently working on his PhD. In addition to serving the community of Memphis, Bryan’s ministry takes him across the country as he speaks to thousands annually at churches, conferences, and retreats. He is the author of God on Paper and his new book A Cross Shaped Gospel. He was also a contributing author for the book entitled Great Preaching. Bryan was recently voted as one of the top thirty emerging Christian leaders in the country by Outreach magazine. Bryan is married to Korie, and is the father of three sons: Quentin, Myles, and Jaden. You can follow Bryan on twitter: @bcloritts.

www.fellowshipmemphis.org

Kennon Vaughan

Kennon Vaughan is the Founder and Executive Director of Downline Ministries in Memphis, TN. Downline is a ministry committed to the restoration of Biblical disciple-making in and through the local church. Kennon’s hope is that Downline, working hand in hand with the church, would be catalytic in strengthening the church to equip and unleash an army of Christ-followers to more effectively make disciples, and thus awaken a Gospel movement which exalts Christ among all nations. Kennon has earned a Masters in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry in Evangelism and Discipleship from Gordon Conwell Seminary. In addition to leading Downline Ministries and teaching weekly at the Downline Institute in Memphis, Kennon serves as an itinerant Bible and Discipleship teacher where he speaks to tens of thousands of people across the country and all over the world each year. While preaching the message of the cross to men and women of every culture and generation is Kennon’s central passion, he also relishes the opportunity to train church and lay leaders everywhere in how to live out the Great Commission lifestyle both modeled and mandated by Christ. Kennon resides in Memphis where he cherishes being married to his beautiful bride Kathryn and the opportunity to raise three young warriors: Caleb, Luke, and Jonathan.

www.downlineministries.com

Ronnie Stevens

Ronnie Collier Stevens is a native of Atlanta, Georgia, and a graduate of the University of Georgia and Dallas Theological Seminary. He pastored churches in Munich, Moscow, and Memphis before moving to Hungary in 2003. He and his wife Jane have three grown children, all in Memphis at the moment and two grandchildren. Ronnie is Pastor of Danube International Church in Budapest and serves on the staff of Entrust. He ministers to students and pastors in Eastern Europe and the Mid-East. Heroes: CH Spurgeon, J.Gresham Machen, CS Lewis, Jim Elliot, Helen Roseveare, Winston Churchill and Puddleglum the Marshwiggle. Favorite Secular Author: PG Wodehouse Favorite Author (all categories): CS Lewis. Favorite Book: ‘Faith and Life’ by BB Warfield. Favorite Quote: ‘Man is that point in the cosmos which responds to the goodness of God with gratitude.’ John Calvin
Life Verse: JOHN 12:24.

www.danubechurch.org

Trip Lee

William Lee Barefield III, better known as Trip Lee, was born and raised in Dallas, TX. As a young boy, Trip Lee had dreams of being a professional athlete or famous rapper, and he began to hone his lyrical skills at the age of 12. “I rapped about random stuff…how hot I was, how many girls I could pull,” Trip says. But upon giving his life to Christ, at age 14, his focus changed from fortune, fame, and women to serving and ministering the Gospel. He had an immense desire to learn and teach the Word of God, so he became a leader in his youth group, and preached his first sermon at age 17. In 2004, Trip met Lecrae at a concert; months later, after talking and building with each other, Lecrae began to disciple him. Trip signed with Reach Records, and his debut album, “If They Only Knew,” hit stores nationwide a few days after his high school graduation. Since his first album release, Trip has traveled the world doing concerts for thousands of listeners. His Christ-centered hip-hop message has also built a platform for him among churches and other Christian organizations, which has led to numerous opportunities to preach and teach at conferences and other events. Trip recently took a short break from music to complete a pastoral internship at Capitol Hill Baptist church. He plans to eventually pursue pastoral ministry full time. For now, Trip resides in Washington DC with his wife and is working on his fourth studio album. He is a member of Capitol Baptist Church and when he is not traveling proclaiming the gospel through music and teaching, he enjoys serving his church in whatever way he can.

Trip’s Blog

JB Selecman

Dr. James Selecman is not your typical layman. He received his dental degree and completed his pediatric dental residency from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 2004, joined a practice in 2007, and as of 2009 became a partner in that practice. Dr. Selecman, called “JB” by those who know him, believes he was saved while serving on a short term mission trip with Christian Medical and Dental Association in El Salvador. Shortly after, JB’s desire to understand the Bible grew and so he went through the DownLine Institute in order to plunge deeper into the depths of God’s Word. As an alumnus of the DownLine Institute, JB has had the opportunity to train pastors and lay leaders across the globe in Bible, Disciple-making, and Biblical Manhood. A uniquely gifted and dynamic speaker, Selecman raises the bar for the marketplace leader who desires to follow Jesus. JB is a loving husband and father of three, a published author, and an active member of the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. JB currently leads teams of students from DownLine Ministries and Fellowship Bible Church, often working in partnership with the Christian Medical and Dental Association, to Latin America and East Asia each year to bring Bible and Discipleship training to leaders in those contexts. He meets weekly to disciple men and desires to see disciple making restored to the Body of Christ both here in America and around the world.

www.dentistjustforkids.com
 

Ron Surgeon

Ronald Surgeon is an A/C repairman for Carrier Technologies, and a teaching elder for Christ the Rock.  In 2006 Roy “Soup” Campbell began to disciple him for world impact. Since then he has discipled in West TN State Prison, trained pastors, laymen and church staff in the process of being and building world visionary/reproductive disciples, nationally and globally, within Africa, South America, Central America, and Asia. The men that he has trained locally have multiplicative impact through discipling Hindu converts, they have trained families overseas via Skype, won to Christ and discipled groups of co-workers, and discipled in the Hispanic flea market.