Dr. J. R. Miller earned a BS in architectural engineering from Pennsylvania State University, an MDiv from Oral Roberts University, an MASR from Southern California Seminary, a DMin from Biola University, and a ThM and PhD in ethics from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has taught in higher education for more than a decade and has worked in pastoral ministry for over 20 years. He has authored multiple books on leadership, church history, and biblical theology. Outside of academics, Miller has over twenty years of experience in pastoral ministry. He currently disciples college students through the ministry Ratio Christi. He also helps Christians apply the truth and love of the gospel of Jesus Christ to the most challenging social issues of our day through his nonprofit called the Center for Cultural Apologetics. His podcast, educational videos, sermons, and blog archives can be accessed for free at http://www.morethancake.org. Joe and his wife Suzanne live in San Diego, CA, with their three sons.
I was ordained and entered the full-time ministry at the age of 19 and would go on at the age of 21 to plant and pastor my first church in southern California in 1980. That would be the beginning of a 30-year career of pastoring in five different churches, three of which my wife and I planted.
Ellen and I have been married for 42 years, we have five adult children and 13 grandchildren. I graduated with honors from William Jessup University with a degree in Theology and Christian Leadership. In 2006 I retired from pastoring and launched my nonprofit organization ‘Small Church Pastor’, which provides coaching, consulting, resources, and encouragement for pastors of all size churches, but I specialize in small churches.
I have been a full-time pastoral coach for the past 15 years. In addition to this I moderate a large Facebook group for pastors of small churches that numbers 4,900. I am also the author of five books, and I write regularly for my blog and a newsletter that I send out weekly.
Neil Cole is the founder and executive director of Church Multiplication Associates & CMAResources, which has helped start hundreds of churches in thirty-five states and thirty nations. He is seen by many to be one of the key founders of what is known as the organic or simple-church movement. One of the key training components of this expanding movement is the Organic Church Planter’s Greenhouse – Story 1 and Story 2 Trainings. Read More About Neil Cole At His Author Page
Martin Buehlmann is married to Georgia. They have planted Vineyard Bern, a mother church to over 100 churches and are presently planting a Vineyard in Berlin. Martin and Georgia are leading the Vineyards in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and are engaged in the global expansion of the Vineyard movement.
Read More About Martin Buehlmann At His Author Page
Steve Pike is the founding director of the Church Multiplication Network and led church planting for the Assemblies of God. Recently, he left the Assemblies of God leadership and became the founding director of the Urban Islands Project, a forerunner of city-focused church planting strategy. Read More About Steve Pike At His Author Page
Marcus is an 18-year veteran in leadership and organizational coaching. He has coached hundreds of leaders and entrepreneurs — motivating and mentoring CEOs, presidents, and business owners to increase their leadership impact and grow profitability through peer-to-peer collaboration and one-to-one coaching.
Marcus teaches Vision Casting for Hope International University, is certified in Life Planning and Strategic Planning through the Paterson Center, and coaches many leaders in the for-profit and non-profit arena.
He is the co-author of “Better Together: Networks and Church Planting” and “Church Planting from the Ground Up.” Both works are applicable in non-profit and for-profit sectors and focus on building effective, reproducible and scalable processes and teams. He is currently the Northern California of Sacramento Chair of Convene™.
In his spare time, Marcus enjoys woodworking, fly fishing, and marathon running.
Ralph is the founding pastor of both Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach, California, and Hope Chapel Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Beginning with just 12 people in 1971, the fruit of this ministry now spans over 700 churches around the world. Many of the churches run several generations deep as each succeeding pastor raises disciples, releasing them to the harvest.
Ralph travels extensively, teaching pastors and church leaders the biblical models for healing the nations, spreading the Gospel and church planting.
Dave Olson is director of the American Church Research Project and director of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church. He is a graduate of Crown College and Bethel Seminary. He has pastored, planted, and supervised churches in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, and California. Read More About Dave Olson At His Author Page
Ben Arment is the founder of a wide variety of leadership, ministry, and spiritual growth events, including The Whiteboard Sessions, a one-day conference about ideas in ministry featuring seven influential leaders; STORY, two days of creative exploration for ministry; and Dream Year, a 12-month process designed to help you bring your God-given dream to life. Read More About Ben Arment At His Author Page