SPEAKERS
DR PRESTON SPRINKLE |HOST
Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He earned a Ph.D. in New Testament from Aberdeen University in Scotland (2007), and has taught theology at Cedarville University (OH), Nottingham University (U.K.), and Eternity Bible College (CA). But when he grows up, Preston’s dream is to move to a tropical island and become a professional surfer. Unfortunately, his surfing skills are sketchy at best.
Preston loves talking and writing about hot-button cultural and theological issues with thoughtfulness, honesty and grace. He is passionate about approaching topics that everyone wants to know about, but few are willing to talk honestly and graciously about. Topics like sexuality, gender, race, violence, patriotism, hell, politics, war, and what it means to follow a Jewish prophet-king who was executed for treason. He works hard to challenge himself and others to read the Bible with conviction and humility, while holding their predetermined beliefs loosely.
Find out more about Preston on his website: prestonsprinkle.com
REV. DR. EFREM SMITH | KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Rev. Dr. Efrem Smith is a pastor, consultant, internationally recognized speaker, and author. He is passionate about, racial righteousness, thriving churches, civic engagement, and community development. He also serves as a national catalyst for African American Church Development, Disciple Making, and Urban Empowerment Movements.
Dr. Smith was the founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, MN, He also co-founded and was President of The Sanctuary Community Development Corporation. Dr. Smith served as the Superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, providing leadership to 160 churches within California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Utah. He also served as the President and CEO of World Impact, an urban missions organization committed to empowering urban leaders and planting churches in under-resourced communities. Currently, Dr. Smith is the Co-Lead Pastor of Midtown Church, a thriving and multi-ethnic congregation in Sacramento, California. He is the President of Influential Global Ministries, which focuses on equipping leaders, strengthening churches, and missions in the African American, multiethnic, and urban context. He is also the Co-owner of Influential LLC, an organization committed to equipping faith leaders, executives, and the organizations they serve.
He is the author of Raising Up Young Heroes, The Hip Hop Church, Jump: Into A Life of Further and Higher, The Post-Black and Post-White Church, Killing Us Softly, and his latest book, Church for Everyone.
LATASHA MORRISON|KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Latasha Morrison is a distinguished author, renowned for her transformative work in fostering racial reconciliation and unity. As a New York Times best-selling author, she has captured the hearts and minds of readers worldwide with her powerful words and insightful perspectives. Her influential book, Be the Bridge, has become a beacon of hope, guiding individuals and communities towards a future free from racial division. AndLatasha Morrison is a distinguished author, renowned for her transformative work in fostering racial reconciliation and unity. As a New York her recently released book, Brown Faces, White Spaces continues that influence by looking at what it means to recognize and confess the truth about inequities in the system (preparation), commit ourselves to changing the system (dedication), and move into true freedom as a society (liberation).
She founded the nonprofit organization, Be the Bridge, in 2016 to empower people and culture toward racial healing, equity, and reconciliation. Through her work, Latasha Morrison continues to ignite conversations, challenge societal norms, and empower others to take action to increase racial literacy and pursue racial justice. Her commitment to fostering unity and dismantling racial barriers has made her a beacon of hope and an inspiration to all who aspire to create lasting change.
DR. SEAN MCDOWELL | KEYNOTE SPEAKER
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 Associate Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Talbot School of Theology, Biola University.
Sean taught high school Bible part-time and full-time for 21 years 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.
Sean is the author, co-author, or editor of over twenty books including End the Stalemate, Chasing Love, The Fate of the Apostles, So The Next Generation Will Know (with J. Warner Wallace), Evidence that Demands a Verdict (with Josh McDowell), 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 (with William A. Dembski). Sean is the General Editor for A New Kind of Apologist, Apologetics for a New Generation, Sharing the Good News with Mormons, and The Apologetics Study Bible for Students. Sean has one of the leading apologetics blogs, which can be read at seanmcdowell.org.
MARK YARHOUSE | KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Mark A. Yarhouse, Psy.D., is a clinical psychologist who specializes in conflicts tied to religious identity and sexual and gender identity. He assists people who are navigating the complex relationship between their sexual or gender identity and Christian faith. He is the Dr. Arthur P. Rech and Mrs. Jean May Rech Professor of Psychology at Wheaton College, where he runs the Sexual and Gender Identity (SGI) Institute.
Mark Yarhouse is an award-winning teacher and researcher and is the past recipient of the Gary Collins Award for Excellence in Christian Counseling. He was a past participant with the Ethics and Public Policy Center think tank in Washington, DC, and was named Senior Fellow with the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities to conduct a study of students navigating sexual identity concerns at Christian colleges and universities. He has been a consultant to the National Institute of Corrections to address issues facing sexual minorities in corrections, and he was part of a consensus panel from the American Psychological Association on sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts that convened to provide input to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) in Washington, DC.
Mark is currently the Chair of the task force on LGBT issues for Division 36 (Psychology of Religion and Spirituality) of the American Psychological Association. He was also invited to write the featured white paper on sexual identity for the Christ on Campus Initiative edited by Don A. Carson for The Gospel Coalition.
DR. GREG BOYD | BREAK OUT SESSION PRESENTER
Greg Boyd received his Ph. D. from Princeton Theological Seminary (1988), his M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (1982), and his B.A. from the University of Minnesota (1979). He was a professor of theology for 16 years at Bethel University (St. Paul, MN) where he received the Teaching Excellence Award and Campus Leadership Award. Greg is the founder and Senior Pastor of Woodland Hills Church (Maplewood, MN) and the President of Reknew Ministries (Reknew.org), and an adjunct Professor of Theology at Northern Seminary.
Greg is an internationally recognized theologian, preacher, teacher, apologist, and author. He has authored or co-authored twenty-two books, including his best-selling and award-winning Letters From a Skeptic, and his most recent books Crucifixion of the Warrior God and Cross Vision. Greg’s ministry has been featured on the front page of The New York Times, The Charlie Rose Show, CNN, National Public Radio, the BBC, and numerous other television and radio venues. His primary vision is to help the Church become the Kingdom of outrageously loving servants that God called it to be and to help non-believers discover the transforming power of Jesus Christ.
