Tyrone Barnette

Tyrone Barnette is the founding pastor of Peace Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia. For three decades he has led this church to implement innovative outreach projects that have transformed the surrounding community. He travels nationally and internationally coaching leaders to impact their world with the Gospel. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University and is completing a DMin from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Tabitha have three grown children and one granddaughter.

T. J. Betts

T. J. Betts serves as professor of Old Testament interpretation at Southern Seminary. He is a native of Ohio, and before joining Southern’s faculty, he pastored churches in Ohio and Indiana for over fourteen years altogether. Today he is a frequent preacher and teacher. He has authored Ezekiel the Priest: A Custodian of Tora, Amos: An Ordinary Man with an Extraordinary Message, Nehemiah: A Pastoral & Exegetical Commentary, and 40 Days in Psalms 1-50. Along with other publications, he writes for Lifeway’s Explore the Bible and is a regular contributor to the men’s devotional, Stand Firm. He received his B.S from Wright State University and his M.Div. and Ph.D. from Southern Seminary. Dr. Betts and his wife Ann enjoy their children and grandchildren as they reside in southern Indiana.

William F. Cook, III

Dr. William F. Cook III is professor of New Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Before his position at Southern, he was associate professor of New Testament and chair of the theology division at Florida Baptist Theological College. He is the author of several books including a commentary entitled, John: Jesus Christ is God. He is the co-author of Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture: A Biblical, Theological, and Practical Approach. Cook is the editor of the series, 40 Days in the Word and author of the volume on Mark. Since 2001, he has served as the Lead Pastor at The Ninth and O Baptist Church in Louisville.

Mike Harland

Mike Harland has been a passionate student of worship ministry for more than 40 years. As a worship pastor, songwriter, publishing executive, author, teacher, and singer, Mike has dedicated his life to understanding biblical principles of worship and how those principles translate to local church ministries. Mike has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delta State University, a Masters of Church Music from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Divinity from Blue Mountain Christian University. In his leisure time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Jacki King

Jacki C. King is a respected and popular Bible teacher, conference speaker, and ministry leader. She has a passion for seeing women fall in love with Jesus and His Word while challenging them to be on mission in their homes, workplaces, and communities. Jacki is a native Texan who now lives in Central Arkansas with her husband Josh, who is a Lead Pastor, along with their three boys. Jacki holds a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and Ministry to Women from Criswell College and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Matt McCraw

Matt McCraw is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Bartow, Florida. Matt has served in a variety of local church roles, including student ministry, missions, and pastoral ministry. Matt has a bachelor’s degree from Boyce College and a doctorate in education from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He enjoys the outdoors, reading, and spending time with his wife and kids. 

Kevin Mills

Kevin Mills is lead pastor of Northway Church. He is a graduate of Mercer University and Samford University, with an earned master’s degree in theology. He and his wife, along with their four children, live in Macon, Georgia.

Sam Rainer

Sam Rainer serves as president of Church Answers and is a co-founder of Rainer Publishing. He is also lead pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Bradenton, Florida. He writes, teaches, speaks, and consults on a variety of church health issues. Sam co-hosts the popular podcasts Rainer on Leadership and EST.church.

Thom Rainer

Thom S. Rainer is the founder and CEO of Church Answers. With nearly forty years of ministry experience, Thom has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of the local church and its leaders. He has been a pastor of four churches and interim pastor of ten churches, as well as a bestselling author, popular speaker, professor, and dean. He is a 1977 graduate of the University of Alabama and earned his MDiv and PhD degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Rainer has written numerous books, including three that ranked as number one bestsellers: I Am a Church Member, Autopsy of a Deceased Church, and Simple Church. He and his wife live in Nashville.

Brad Waggoner

Brad Waggoner has served in a variety of ministry positions, including local church ministry, church planting, as a dean at an institution of higher education, and as a vice president at a major Christian resources ministry. Brad currently oversees consulting for Church Answers, and Church Answers Central, a forum for pastors and church leaders. He is the author of The Shape of Faith to Come and The Discipleship Pathway Assessment. Brad and his wife Patti reside in Franklin, Tennessee, and they have two adult sons and three grandchildren.

Richmond Wandera

Dr. Richmond Wandera holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Leadership from Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary (PA) and has a background in theology from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. His work focuses specifically on surfacing new understandings in leadership development within disrupted environments. His favorite place to do research is in his backyard which opens to a community garden to which he frequently walks during his reading breaks to share light moments with local farmers who have become friends to him.

Dr. Wandera also serves as Founder and President of Pastors Discipleship Network – a ministry which has become known for equipping pastors, raising healthy churches, restoring broken churches, and helping Christian leaders in the marketplace find their niche and impact. Richmond also serves as senior pastor of New Life Church in Kampala City, Uganda and is married to his high school sweetheart, Rosette. They have two daughters, Precious and Renee, and make their home in Namugongo, Uganda.