43 minute read
Speakers and Musical Artists
SING! GLOBAL CONVERSATIONS
A series of vital interviews with thought leaders in the arts, music, and Christian culture
JOHN MACARTHUR – The Deity of Christ in a Pluralistic Age
Our age is defined by pluralism, relativism, and a rejection of truth. No wonder many believers struggle to understand and articulate the deity of Christ in conversations with friends, family, and neighbors. Yet we need not lose confidence: the Word of God equips us to take a bold stand for proclaiming and singing of Christ alone as the only hope for a lost world. This vital conversation will be invaluable to anyone seeking to share their faith with those who have challenging questions at this unique cultural moment.
John MacArthur is the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, as well as an author, conference speaker, chancellor of The Master’s University and Seminary, and featured teacher with the Grace to You media ministry.
KAREN PENCE – In Christ Alone: Personal Reflections on Christianity, Culture, and Arts Education
Karen Pence, as former Second Lady of the United States, holds a unique vantage point into culture both here in America and around the world through her service alongside former Vice President Mike Pence. Kristyn and Keith first met Karen and Mike just before Mike became Governor of Indiana, and they have always been inspired by the Pences’ love for the Lord as well as Karen’s passion for art therapy, creativity, and the power of beauty... and of course the fact that they’re Irish! In this conversation, we hear Karen’s reflections on the role of the arts for believers and society at large.
Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence, is a mother, educator, and award-winning watercolor artist. As Second Lady of the United States, Mrs. Pence worked to bring attention to art therapy and to the sacrifices made by military service members and their families. Mrs. Pence dedicated 25 years in the classroom as an elementary school teacher before becoming the First Lady of Indiana in 2013. As Second Lady of the United States, Mrs. Pence committed to raising awareness and educating the public about the mental health profession of art therapy in the United States and around the world. In October 2017, Mrs. Pence launched her art therapy initiative, Healing with the HeART. Mrs. Pence and Vice President Mike Pence have been married since 1985 and are proud parents of three adult children.
The last two years have seen many crippling scandals from Christian leaders. In this reflective conversation, we ask Mike Cosper, who created the Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast, how believers can recover from the devastation of these disappointments. We also chat about how to shepherd, care for, and encourage musicians at the local church level in light of the importance of character and humility.
Mike Cosper is a writer and podcaster. He’s the Director of Podcasting for Christianity Today, where he hosts The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and Cultivated: A Podcast about Faith and Work. He’s also the author of several books, including Recapturing the Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World (Intervarsity Press). His other books include Faith Among The Faithless (Thomas Nelson), Rhythms of Grace and The Stories We Tell (both published by Crossway). Mike also served as one of the founding pastors at Sojourn Church in Louisville, Kentucky, from which he launched Sojourn Music – a collective of musicians writing songs for the church. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife, Sarah, and their daughters Dorothy and Maggie.
JOHN RUTTER – A Vision for Choirs Today (Even During COVID!)
The last two years have been devastating for many of us who have been involved in choirs – adults, children, schools, churches, and communities. John Rutter, the most accomplished choral composer of the last 100 years, offered to share some of his thoughts on how choirs foster community and why we should prioritize choral music in our plans for the future, whatever your church or musical background. This talk is as vital for choir leaders as it is for choir members, and indeed as it is for others who are curious as to how choirs can become an integral part of their lives and ministries.
John Rutter was born in London and studied music at Clare College, Cambridge. He first came to notice as a composer during his student years; much of his early work consisted of church music and other choral pieces including Christmas carols. From 1975–79 he was Director of Music at his alma mater, Clare College, and directed the college chapel choir in various recordings and broadcasts. Since 1979 he has divided his time between composition and conducting. Today his compositions, including such concert-length works as Requiem, Magnificat, Mass of the Children, The Gift of Life, and Visions are performed around the world. His music has featured in a number of British royal occasions, including the two most recent royal weddings. He edits the Oxford Choral Classics series, and, with Sir David Willcocks, co-edited four volumes of Carols for Choirs. In 1983 he formed his own choir the Cambridge Singers, with whom he has made numerous recordings, and he appears regularly in several countries as guest conductor and choral ambassador. He holds a Lambeth Doctorate in Music, and in 2007 was awarded a CBE for services to music.
PHIL WICKHAM – Creativity, Hymns, and a Living Hope
Phil Wickham is arguably one of the most prolific worship songwriters over the last five years, with songs such as “Living Hope” serving contemporary churches as well as more conservative and traditional churches. In this conversation, Phil shares his compositional and creative process in ways that are deeply valuable to anyone who wants to write songs, as well as to those who simply appreciate beautiful hymns that enrich our devotion to Christ. Join us as we chat about why Phil’s favorite songs are those about the cross of Jesus.
Since his self-titled debut in 2006, Phil Wickham has emerged as a leader in the modern worship movement, penning countless songs sung in churches around the world including “This Is Amazing Grace” and “Living Hope.” His latest project, Hymn of Heaven, was written during a year when the family of God couldn’t physically gather in houses of worship around the world. “Hymn of Heaven is full of praise and thankfulness, just lifting up the name of Jesus and speaking what we really know the reality is even though we don’t see it,” he says. Wickham’s music has received hundreds of millions of streams across his catalog and platforms, with his discography including eight full-length projects, multiple Christmas releases, and a series of popular Singalong records that capture Wickham’s songs doing what they were always meant to do—giving people language to sing to God.
PLENARY SPEAKERS AND INTERVIEW GUESTS
(in order of appearance)
KEITH AND KRISTYN GETTY
Keith and Kristyn Getty have been at the forefront of writing modern hymns for the church. Their songs include “In Christ Alone,” “Christ Our Hope in Life and Death,” “My Worth Is Not in What I Own,” and “The Lord Is My Salvation.” They are the founding CEOs of the Getty Music Group and the Getty Music Foundation. They have been involved in The Village Chapel in Nashville, TN, for over ten years with their four daughters.
ALISTAIR BEGG
Alistair Begg is the Bible teacher on the daily program Truth For Life and serves as the senior pastor of Parkside Church near Cleveland, Ohio. Originally from Scotland, Alistair began pastoral ministry in 1975. He teaches directly from the text of the Bible and relies on the Spirit of God to do the work of God through the Word of God in the lives of those who listen. Alistair’s teaching reaches a global audience through radio, mobile, web, podcast, and social media communications. He has written several books and speaks at conferences around the world. Alistair is married to Susan, and they have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
VODDIE BAUCHAM (Appearing via video interview) Voddie Baucham wears many hats. He is a husband, father, former pastor, author, professor, conference speaker, and church planter. He currently serves as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia. Voddie’s area of emphasis is Cultural Apologetics. Whether teaching on classical apologetic issues like the validity and historicity of the Bible, or the resurrection of Christ; or teaching on biblical manhood/womanhood, marriage and family, he helps ordinary people understand the significance of thinking and living biblically in every area of life. Dr. Baucham holds degrees from Houston Baptist University, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, an honorary degree from Southern California Seminary, and additional post-graduate study at the University of Oxford, England. Voddie and his wife, Bridget have been married since 1989. They have nine children: Jasmine, Trey (Voddie, III), Elijah, Asher, Judah, Micah, Safya, Amos, and Simeon.
H. B. CHARLES, JR.
H.B. Charles, Jr. has been the pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Florida since 2008. He is married to his best friend, Crystal, and they are the proud parents of three children, H.B. Charles III, Natalie Marie and Hailey Breanne. He is author of numerous books, including On Pastoring: A Short Guide to Living, Leading, and Ministering as a Pastor and On Preaching: Personal & Pastoral Insights for the Preparation & Practice of Preaching.
Dane was called to Naperville Presbyterian Church in 2020 after being part of the church for 13 years along with his family: his college sweetheart, Stacey, and their five kids, Zach, Nate, Jeremiah, Chloe, and Ben. Dane is a graduate of Wheaton College (BA), Covenant Theological Seminary (MDiv, ThM), and Wheaton College Graduate School (PhD in New Testament). Prior to coming on staff, he worked for ten years in Christian publishing at Crossway in Wheaton. He is the author of several books such as Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers (2020), Edwards on the Christian Life: Alive to the Beauty of God (2014), and Defiant Grace: The Surprising Message and Mission of Jesus (2011). Dane’s life purpose is to glorify in the endless grace of God and to call others to join him there. It’s all about Jesus—and his unspeakable heart for sinners.
JOHN LENNOX
John Lennox is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at Oxford University (emeritus) and Associate Fellow of Said Business School at the university. He is an internationally renowned speaker and author on the interface of science, philosophy and religion. His most recent books include Where is God in a Coronavirus World?, Can Science Explain Everything?, Suffering Life’s Pain and 2084: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Humanity. Furthermore, in addition to over seventy published mathematical papers, he is the co–author of two research level texts in algebra in the Oxford Mathematical Monographs series. He has also publicly defended Christianity in many settings, including debating prominent atheists such as Richard Dawkins, Peter Singer and the late Christopher Hitchens.
PAUL DAVID TRIPP
Paul David Tripp is a pastor, event speaker, and best-selling and award-winning author, including New Morning Mercies: A Daily Gospel Devotional. Paul’s driving passion is to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life. He and his wife Luella have been married for 50 years and have four grown children.
JEREMY BEGBIE
Jeremy Begbie is Thomas A. Langford Distinguished Professor in Theology at Duke Divinity School, North Carolina, and founding Director of Duke Initiatives in Theology and the Arts. He teaches systematic theology, and he specializes in the interface between theology and the arts. His particular research interest is the interplay between music and theology. He is also Senior Member at Wolfson College, Cambridge, and an Affiliated Lecturer in the Faculty of Music at the University of Cambridge. He is author of a number of books, including A Peculiar Orthodoxy: Reflections on Theology and the Arts (Baker Academic), Redeeming Transcendence in the Arts: Bearing Witness to the Triune God (Eerdmans), Theology, Music and Time (CUP), Resounding Truth: Christian Wisdom in the World of Music (Baker), and Music, Modernity, and God (OUP). A professionally trained and active musician, Begbie has delivered performance-lectures across the world.
TRIP LEE
Trip Lee is a rapper, author, pastor, speaker, and thought leader. As a critically acclaimed hip hop artist, Trip Lee’s music has topped Billboard charts, the iTunes chart, and he has received Dove nominations and a Stellar Award. Since his first album release, Trip has traveled the world performing for thousands of listeners. His Christ-centered hip hop message has also built a platform among churches and other Christian organizations, which has led to numerous opportunities to preach and teach at conferences and other events.
PLENARY SPEAKERS AND INTERVIEW GUESTS
(in order of appearance)
JONI EARECKSON TADA
Joni Eareckson Tada, the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, is an international advocate for people with disabilities. Joni and Friends serves thousands of special-needs families through Family Retreat, and has delivered over 200,000 wheelchairs and Bibles to needy disabled persons in developing nations.
DAVID PLATT
David Platt is pastor of McLean Bible Church in Washington, D.C. and the founder of Radical (radical.net). He holds a Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has previously served as the president of the International Mission Board. He has contributed to several volumes in the CCEC series (Matthew, Galatians, 1&2 Timothy and Titus, and James) and is the author of Radical, Radical Together, Follow Me, Counter Culture, and Something Needs to Change.
DANNY AKIN
Dr. Akin is married to Charlotte Akin. They have been married since May 27, 1978. They have four sons who all currently serve in the ministry. He has 4 daughters-in-law and 14 grandchildren! Dr. Akin currently serves as the President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a Professor of Preaching and Theology. Dr. Akin and his wife Charlotte have traveled to Sudan, Turkey, Middle East, Kenya, Asia, Central Asia, Thailand, India and Paraguay serving our students and missionaries and helping share the gospel.
CONRAD MBEWE
Conrad Mbewe has served as pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church since 1987. He is a graduate of the University of Zambia, the Cape Town Baptist Seminary, and the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Missions. He is the founding Chancellor of the African Christian University. He is a blogger and an author. His latest book is God’s Design for the Church (Crossway, 2020). He is also the editor of the Reformation Zambia magazine. He is married to Felistas and they have 6 adult children, and 4 grandchildren.
MIGUEL NÚÑEZ
Dr. Miguel Nuñez is the senior pastor of the International Baptist Church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He is the author of Jesus: the Man that Challenged the World and Confronts Your Life; A Church After God’s Own Heart; and Servants for His Glory: Cultivating Christlikeness in a World of Performance.
Dr. Michael Young-Suk Oh is Global Executive Director/CEO of the Lausanne Movement. Michael is of Korean descent, born in America. Michael received his BA, MS, and PhD degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed an MDiv at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as well as an MA in Regional Studies, East Asia, at Harvard University. Michael, his wife Pearl, and their five children served as missionaries in Nagoya, Japan from 2004 to 2016. In 2007 he joined the Lausanne Board of Directors as its youngest member. He has served as Global Executive Director/CEO since March 2013.
JOHN PIPER
John Piper serves as founder and lead teacher at Desiring God and is chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary. For 33 years, Piper served as pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church. He has authored more than 50 books, and more than 30 years of his preaching and writing are available free of charge at desiringGod.org. Piper resides in the Minneapolis area with his wife of 51 years, and has five children and 14 grandchildren.
(in alphabetical order)
ISAAC ADAMS
Isaac Adams serves as a pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC. He is the founder of United? We Pray (uwepray.com), a ministry devoted to praying about racial strife—especially between Christians. He is also the author of the forthcoming book Talking about Race: Gospel Hope for Hard Conversations.
AFRICAN CHILDREN’S CHOIR
The African Children’s Choir and Music for Life is a Christian organization empowering African children trapped in the cycle of poverty to rise up and create positive, lasting change. Music for Life makes deep, long-term investments in children who go on to have an exponential impact on their families, communities and countries. Through our choirs, Music for Life harnesses the power of music to generate international awareness of its programs in Africa. Our focus on providing African children and youth with a quality education, leadership skills, mentoring and ongoing discipleship equips and prepares them to solve problems for themselves, their families, communities and countries. Since 1984, Music for Life has educated over 54,000 children and impacted hundreds of thousands of children through its relief programs.
PAM ANDREWS
Originally from Poplar Bluff, Missouri, Music has been a life-long activity for Pam Andrews. She has written and produced over 70 children’s choir musicals and has written over 700 songs for children working with various publishers in the Christian music field. She now has her own publishing company, Pam Andrews Music. Pam also serves as an adjunct professor at Welch College and teaches piano. Pam has been nominated for several Dove Awards for her children’s musicals and was recently chosen by the Grammy Foundation as Top Ten Music Teacher in the United States and Music Teacher of the Year by the Country Music Association. Pam is married to David Andrews and they have two children and four grandchildren. 49
(in alphabetical order)
TOMMY BAILEY
Tommy Bailey is an Associate Pastor and Director of Worship at The Village Chapel in Nashville, TN. He is also co-founder of Collision Media, a design and branding firm with a focus on churches and non-profits around the world. Tommy has served on multiple church leadership teams throughout the US and has a passion for serving the global church pastorally through congregational singing, songwriting and Bible teaching. Tommy holds a Masters in Theological Studies from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, MO.
JEFF BARNETT
Jeff Barnett is the Director of Worship Sales at Sweetwater. He has 25 years’ experience in worship technology as a live sound and recording engineer, system designer, installer, educator, and musician. Jeff works with thousands of churches and worship artists from all over the world, including Jesus Culture, David Crowder, Shane & Shane, and many more. Jeff enjoys working in his home studio and singing with his a cappella group, Smooth Edge 2. Jeff and his wife Brit are proud parents of six kids and are still trying to figure out where the youngest one’s left shoe is. (If you see it, please let him know.)
JOEL BEEKE
Dr. Joel R. Beeke is president and professor of systematic theology and homiletics at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, a pastor of the Heritage Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the author of many books, including A Puritan Theology: Doctrine for Life, Parenting by God’s Promises, and Sing a New Song: Recovering Psalm Singing for the Twenty-First Century.
HAROLD BEST
Harold M. Best is Emeritus Dean/Professor of Music of the Wheaton College Conservatory of Music. He is also a past president of the National Association of Schools of Music. He is the author of numerous articles on the relationship of Christianity to the fine arts, worship, issues in arts education, culture, and curriculum. His book Music Through the Eyes of Faith was published by Harper San Francisco in 1993. Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts was released by InterVarsity Press in 2003. He also contributed to Exploring the Worship Spectrum, published by InterVarsity in 2004. His latest book, Dumbfounded Praying, published by Wipf and Stock, was released in January, 2011. In his retirement years he continues to write and also speak at occasional conferences. He is a member of the Community Presbyterian Church, Post Falls, Idaho.
MATT BOSWELL
Matt Boswell is lead pastor of The Trails Church in North Texas and the President of Doxology & Theology. He is an author and hymnwriter, known for songs including “His Mercy is More” and “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery”. Boswell earned his MA in Christian Ministry, ThM in Biblical Spirituality, and PhD in Christian Worship from Southern Seminary. He lives in Texas with his wife and four kids.
Wayne Chen holds a Master of Divinity from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and pastored in Northern California before heading to the missions field. Wayne and his family moved to Papua New Guinea in 2009 and began living with an unreached tribal people group. From 2009 to 2017, they were involved in language and culture acquisition, bible translation and church planting. Wayne now serves as the director of Radius Asia. Radius is a training program for cross-cultural missionaries with heavy emphasis on language and cultural acquisition to proficiency, foundational Bible teaching, embracing suffering and hardship as tools of completing the Great Commission and planting mature churches with indigenous leadership. Wayne and his wife, Gail, have two daughters.
CITY ALIGHT
CityAlight is a music ministry from St. Paul’s Castle Hill Church in Sydney, Austrlia. The vision of CityAlight is to write songs with biblically rich lyrics and simple melodies for the Christian church to sing. Through songs such as “Grace” and “Yet not I, but through Christ in Me,” CityAlight have encouraged the global church to sing Christ-centered modern hymns.
NOEMÍ GUERRERO CUETO
Noemí Guerrero Cueto, MD, has a growing career in gynecology and obstetrics in the Dominican Republic. She has been a Christian by the grace of God for more than 30 years. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Bible counseling with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is married to Rogers Peralta, with whom she serves in the worship ministry of her local church, Iglesia Bautista Ozama, and together they have two children: Roger David and Noelia Zahara.
JON DUNCAN
Dr. Jon Duncan recently received a presidential appointment as Senior Professor of Worship and Church Music at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Prior to this he served as the Catalyst of Worship and Church Music at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board for over 19 years. Duncan previously served as Minister of Music in 2 churches in Oklahoma before accepting a post as Worship and Music Specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. He has led numerous conferences and served as the Chair of the Theology Committee for the new Baptist Hymnal 2008. He recently received the Lifetime Ministry Achievement Award from the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference. Duncan and his wife, Mary, have two daughters, Raechel and Jessica, and five grandchildren.
LIGON DUNCAN
Ligon Duncan is the Chancellor and CEO as well as the John E. Richards Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary, the largest ATS-accredited reformed seminary in the world. Every year, they prepare pastors and church leaders to serve in North America and around the globe. Ligon has written and edited several books on theology and pastoral ministry.
SHERIF FAHIM
Sherif A. Fahim is an Elder in the Evangelical church in Sidi Beshr Kebly, Alexandria, Egypt, and a lecturer of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Alexandria School of Theology (AST). He leads a reformed ministry in Egypt called El-Soora which aims to aid the Church in rediscovering and proclaiming the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ in the Arabic speaking world. Sherif is a graduate of Alexandria School of Theology (BTh), Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia (MAR), and Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan (ThM). He and his wife Marian have three daughters. 51
SOL FENNE
Sol lives in Gracemount, a housing scheme in Edinburgh, Scotland with his wife Carlie and their 3 children Hamish, Betsie and Tommy. They are part of a 20schemes team that planted Gracemount Community Church in Easter 2017 where Sol now serves as an elder. Sol also established 20schemes Music and now runs it in his role as music co-ordinator for 20schemes.
BILL & GLORIA GAITHER
Bill Gaither is a legendary songwriter, performer and producer whose work has stretched far beyond the confines of his small Indiana hometown. Bill met Gloria when they were both teaching school. They began collaborating to create some of gospel music’s most-loved standards including “Because He Lives,” “The King Is Coming,” and over 700 others. Bill and Gloria have collectively won seven Grammy Awards and more than 40 Dove Awards from The Gospel Music Association. Bill and Gloria operate their business from Alexandria, Indiana. They spend as much of their spare time as possible with their three grown kids and seven grandchildren.
CARLOS GARCIA
Carlos Garcia received a Bachelor of Music Education and a Master of Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the director of the music academy of Ozama Baptist Church in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Carlos is part of the national team of Art Education, responsible for the Dominican art curriculum for public schools. He co-hosts the radio show “More Than Music” alongside Rogers Peralta, a program for musicians, worship leaders, pastors, and the general public. He is married to Elizabeth Matos and together they live in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
OS GUINNESS
Os Guinness is an author and social critic. He has written or edited more than thirty books. Since moving to the United States in 1984, Os has been a Guest Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Studies, a Guest Scholar and Visiting Fellow at the Brookings Institution, and Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum. His latest book is The Magna Carta of Humanity: Sinai’s Revolutionary Faith and the Future of Freedom. He lives with his wife Jenny in the Washington DC area.
MALCOLM GUITE
Poet-Priest Malcolm Guite was Chaplain for 20 years at Girton College, Cambridge and remains Supernumerary Fellow. He teaches at the Faculty of Divinity at the University of Cambridge, and lectures widely in England and North America on Theology and Literature. His books include: Love, Remember (2017); Mariner, a spiritual biography of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (2017); Parable and Paradox (2016); The Singing Bowl (2013); Sounding the Seasons (2012); Theology and the Poetic Imagination (2010) and Faith Hope and Poetry (2006). Malcolm has edited two poetry anthologies for Lent and Advent: The Word in the Wilderness (2014) and Waiting on the Word (2015). After Prayer, Malcolm’s poetic response to George Herbert’s poem “Prayer,” was published in 2019. David’s Crown, Malcolm’s poetic response to all the Psalms, will be published in spring 2021. Malcolm has a particular interest in the imagination as a truth-bearing faculty and continues to reflect deeply on how poetry can stimulate and re-awaken our prayer life.
BOB KAUFLIN
Bob Kauflin is a pastor, songwriter, speaker, writer, and director of Sovereign Grace Music. He is the author of Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounters the Greatness of God and True Worshipers: Seeking What Matters to God, and blogs at Worshipmatters.com. He is passionately in love with his wife, Julie, father to six children, and Pop-Pop to an ever-growing number of grandchildren.
JORDAN KAUFLIN
Jordan Kauflin serves as worship pastor at Christ Covenant Church in Atlanta, GA. He is a songwriter whose hymns include “I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130)”, “Christ our Hope in Life and Death” and “All I Have Is Christ.” He is passionate about raising up the next generation of worship leaders and songwriters.
DAVID KIM
Violinist David Kim was named Concertmaster of the Philadelphia Orchestra in 1999. Each season, he performs and speaks at venues around the world. This is his fourth appearance at Sing! Global.
JONATHAN LEEMAN
Jonathan Leeman is the editorial director at 9Marks and teaches at a number of seminaries. He has written over a dozen books on the church as well as on the intersection of faith and politics, including How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics for a Divided Age. He serves as an elder at Cheverly Baptist Church in suburban Washington DC, where he lives with his wife and four daughters.
BOB LEPINE
Bob Lepine is best known to radio and podcast listeners as the long time co-host of FamilyLife Today® and as the on air announcer for Truth for Life with Alistair Begg. Bob is also the teaching pastor at Redeemer Community Church in Little Rock, Arkansas which he helped plant in 2008. He is the author of Love Like You Mean It: The Heart of a Marriage That Honors God (2020) and The Christian Husband (1999). He serves on the Board of Directors for National Religious Broadcasters and the Great Commission Collective. Bob and his wife Mary Ann have five children and nine grandchildren.
BLAIR LINNE
Blair Linne is a poet, Bible teacher, and author. She serves as the Director of Risen & Rooted women’s ministries at Risen Christ Fellowship in Philadelphia, PA, where her husband Shai is one of the founding pastors. She is the author of Finding My Father: How the Gospel Heals the Pain of Fatherlessness. Blair and Shai have three children.
SHAI LINNE
Shai Linne is a recording artist and author. He has put out numerous Christian hip-hop albums, including The Attributes of God and The Atonement. As an author, his first book, God Made Me and You, was published in 2018. His latest book is The New Reformation: Finding Hope in the Fight for Ethnic Unity. He also had the privilege of helping to plant Risen Christ Fellowship in September 2015 in his hometown of Philadelphia, PA. He is happily married to Blair and they have three children.
AUGUSTUS NICODEMUS LOPES
The Rev. Dr. Augustus Nicodemus Gomes Lopes, born in Paraíba, Brazil, is a Presbyterian minister, Calvinist theologian, writer and professor. He was Chancellor of Mackenzie Presbyterian University from 2003 to 2013. He is assistant pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Recife, vice-president of the Theological Education Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil and vice-president of the Presbyterian Church of Brazil. Dr. Lopes has authored over two dozen books and Bible commentaries. He is married to Minka Lopes and has four children.
JOANNE LUNN
Joanne Lunn studied at the Royal College of Music in London where she was awarded the prestigious Tagore Gold Medal. She is one of Britain’s leading Baroque sopranos, in great demand throughout Europe, the US and Asia and known and respected for her warm sound, impressive coloratura and attention to the words. Bach is a real love and joy for her in her career. She was part of the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage in the year 2000 with John Eliot Gardiner and now regularly works with groups such as Bach Collegium Japan, The Dunedin Consort, Tafelmusik and Concerto Copenhagen - with whom she recorded Bach’s St John Passion in April 2021. Other highlights of the 2020/21 season include a live-streamed performance of Messiah for the London Handel Festival, a recording of Bach cantatas with the Dunedin Consort and performances of Monteverdi Vespers with La Nuova Musica at the Brighton Festival.
DANA MASTERS
Dana Masters is a singer and performer best known for her work alongside renowned artist Van Morrison. She was born and raised in the deep south of the United States by family who ushered in and were deeply involved with the Civil Rights Movement of the ‘50s and ‘60s. After many years in the music industry, she met and fell in love with a Northern Irishman and decided to take a leap and make Ireland her home. There, she became deeply involved in the Irish jazz scene. Now, Dana is determined to pour all of the experience, passion, and creativity collected in the last 6 years of crafting music with Van Morrison into a unique project inviting the listener to not only hear, but to see behind the curtain of songwriting, producing, and arranging into the rebirth of an artist as she steps onto her own stage to tell her story in her own words.
DAVID MATHIS
David Mathis serves as a senior teacher and executive editor at Desiring God, and is a pastor at Cities Church in St. Paul. Mathis currently resides in Minneapolis with his wife and four children. His book, Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus Through the Spiritual Disciplines (Crossway, 2016), explains how the Word, prayer, and the local church form the matrix of God’s means of grace for every Christian in every season of life.
KEN MBUGUA
Kenneth Mbugua is the senior pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Nairobi, Kenya and is a council member of The Gospel Coalition Africa. He is the Managing Director of Ekklesia Africa which promotes biblical resources for building healthy churches. Ken is married to Arlette and they have two children.
SANDRA MCCRACKEN
Sandra McCracken’s prolific contributions as a songwriter, modern-day hymn writer, and record producer have brought grace and clarity to her soulful, folk-gospel sound. Whether in a theater or in a chapel, she is a dynamic performer who blurs the lines of what church music sounds like, captivating and inviting audiences to sing along. While many of her songs like “We Will Feast In The House Of Zion” and “Thy Mercy My God” have settled into regular rotation in Christian worship services internationally, she has also had songs recorded by All Sons And Daughters, ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Audrey Assad, A Rocha Compilation, Bifrost Arts, Caedmon’s Call and others. She is further a founding member of Indelible Grace Music and Rain For Roots (children’s music) and has been a guest writer for Art House America, She Reads Truth, The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, RELEVANT Magazine and more.
MATT MERKER
Matt Merker is director of creative resources and training for Getty Music. Matt has contributed to several modern hymns, including “He Will Hold Me Fast.” He is the author of Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God’s People. Matt and his wife, Erica, are members of Edgefield Church and live in Nashville, TN with their two children.
ROBERT MORGAN
Robert J. Morgan is the teaching pastor of The Donelson Fellowship in Nashville, Tennessee, where he has served for over 40 years. He is a best-selling, gold-Illuminations, and gold-medallion winning writer with more than 35 books in print and approximately 5 million copies in circulation in multiple languages. Rob has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. He speaks widely at churches, conferences, schools, and corporate events. Rob was also a homemaker and a caregiver for his late wife of 43 years, Katrina, who battled multiple sclerosis and passed away in November of 2019. He and Katrina have three daughters and sixteen grandchildren. In 2014, Rob was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from his alma mater, Columbia International University.
KENT MORRIS
Kent Morris is the Live Sound Market Manager for Sweetwater and a forty-year veteran of the live event arena. He has spent decades on the road with countless artists such as Paul Baloche and Israel Houghton. He’s overseen hundreds of AVL installations in every type of venue imaginable. An in-demand writer, Kent has penned thousands of industry articles for hundreds of print and online publications. He’s the live sound engineer for In Touch Ministries where he mixes each week for First Baptist Atlanta (Dr. Charles Stanley). Kent and his wife Melani are based in Georgia and have two adult sons.
TRILLIA NEWBELL
Trillia Newbell is the author of several books including A Great Cloud of Witnesses, Sacred Endurance, If God Is For Us, Fear and Faith, and the children’s books, Creative God, Colorful Us and God’s Very Good Idea. When she isn’t writing, she’s encouraging and supporting other writers as an Acquisitions Editor at Moody Publishers. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on instagram at @trillianewbell.
STEPHEN NICHOLS
Dr. Stephen J. Nichols is president of Reformation Bible College and chief academic officer of Ligonier Ministries. He earned his Ph.D. and M.A.R. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pa., as well as an M.A. in philosophy from West Chester University in West Chester, Pa. He hosts the podcasts 5 Minutes in Church History and Open Book. He has authored or edited over thirty books, including Beyond the 95 Theses, Jesus Made in America, and R.C. Sproul: A Life.
MATT PAPA
Matt Papa is a songwriter, worship leader, and author whose heart longs to see people from every corner of the world set ablaze by the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. His latest project, “Almost Home,” showcases over a new collection of songs co-written with frequent collaborator Matt Boswell.
ROGERS PERALTA
Rogers Peralta is a music educator with a Master’s degree in theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He’s been the worship leader and music director for Ozama Baptist Church since 2006 where he has developed important projects in the areas of music and art that have had global impact. He also co-hosts the radio show “”Más que Música”” (More than Music) with followers across the globe. He is married to Noemi Guerrero and together they have two children.
ANDREW PETERSON
Recording artist, songwriter, producer, filmmaker, publisher and award-winning author of The Wingfeather Saga series, Andrew Peterson is also host of the popular creative community known as The Rabbit Room and recently launched a film and TV production company, Shining Isle Productions.
KAREN SWALLOW PRIOR
Karen Swallow Prior, Ph. D., is Research Professor of English and Christianity and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the author of Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me (T. S. Poetry Press, 2012), Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More—Poet, Reformer, Abolitionist (Thomas Nelson, 2014), and On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books (Brazos 2018). She is co-editor of Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan 2019) and has contributed to numerous other books.
JONATHAN REA
Jonathan Rea leads the Choir Program at the Sing! Conference. He is director of New Irish Arts, whose choir and orchestra perform over 25 Gospel-centred events per year. Jonathan studied at Cambridge and appears frequently on the BBC as a conductor and a Christian speaker. He has been involved in local church music ministry for 4 decades and loves sharing practical insights to help congregations sing.
JUAN SANCHEZ
Since 2005, Juan has served as senior pastor of High Pointe Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. He graduated from the University of Florida with a BM in Music Education and holds an MDiv, a ThM, and a PhD in systematic theology from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Additionally, Juan serves as a council member of The Gospel Coalition, co-founder and president of Coalición, and assistant professor of Christian theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has authored numerous books, his most recent being The Leadership Formula: Develop the Next Generation of Leaders in the Church. Juan has been married to Jeanine since 1990, and they have five adult daughters.
KIM WOOD SANDUSKY
Kim Wood Sandusky is one of the most influential vocal performance coaches in the global music industry. Her client roster speaks of her success, such as her work with artists like Beyoncé Knowles, Francesca Battistelli, Toby Mac, Lauren Daigle, Kristyn Getty, Thompson Square, Lauren Alaina, and the list goes on. Kim has an intuitive gift and the expertise to handle artists’ vocal development and vocal issues with care. She formulated a progressive method called the “Kim Wood Sandusky Vocal Builder Technique”TM that meets and exceeds the standards of today’s competitive music industry.
ANDREW SCRIVEN
Andrew Scriven is the Director of House of Worship Marketing at Sweetwater. As a vocalist, musician, songwriter, graphic designer, and tech, Andrew has served in nearly every worship-related role within the church, both on stage and behind the scenes. During his time at Stonebriar Community Church (Chuck Swindoll) and Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Andrew discovered his unique passion for helping the local church adopt a tactical theology of worship. Today, he enjoys sharing practical tools and techniques to support the best outcomes for each individual church community. Based in Indiana, Andrew and his wife Ashton enjoy world travel and discovering great dining experiences.
SHANE AND SHANE
Shane and Shane are a contemporary worship music band known for popular praise and worship music. The band consists of Shane Barnard (vocals, acoustic guitar) and Shane Everett (vocals). They are based in Texas. Shane and Shane are the founders of The Worship Initiative, a training site for musicians and worship teams.
BEN SHIVE
Ben Shive is a producer, songwriter, arranger, and keyboardist. His longtime collaboration with singer-songwriter Andrew Peterson (Is He Worthy, Behold The Lamb Of God) is the cornerstone of a career spent in service of artists who advance the Kingdom of Jesus through beauty, honesty, and truth. As a producer, Ben has worked alongside Keith & Kristyn Getty, JJ Heller, The Gray Havens, Slugs & Bugs, Mercy Me, Colony House, Sandra McCracken, Dave Barnes, and many more. As an arranger and keyboardist, his credits include Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris Tomlin, and Ben Rector. Ben’s studio, the Beehive, is located in Nashville, Tennessee, where Ben lives with his wife and four children.
LAURA STORY
Laura Story is a Bible teacher, worship leader, singer/songwriter, and bestselling author. Her songs—which have won Grammys, Billboard Music Awards and Dove Awards—include “Blessings,” “Mighty to Save” and Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable.” “Blessings” was certified platinum in 2020 and inspired her first devotional book, What If Your Blessings Come Through Raindrops. Her second book, When God Doesn’t Fix It: Lessons You Never Wanted to Learn, Truths You Can’t Live Without, serves as a reminder that despite questions or circumstances, God is the ultimate author of our story. In 2019 she released a book, bible study series and new EP titled I Give Up; The Secret Joy of a Surrendered Life. This summer she released a brand book and bible study series titled So Long Normal; Living and Loving the Free Fall of Faith. Laura has a master’s degree of theological studies and a doctorate in worship studies. She has served as a worship leader at Perimeter Church in Atlanta since 2005, but her greatest joy is being a wife to Martin and mother to Josie, Ben, Griffin and Timothy.
KATIE SUTTON
A native of San Antonio, Texas, Katie Sutton has been a vocational children’s choir director for over 15 years. Working as a children’s music specialist and consultant for churches across Texas, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Georgia, Katie has served as a children’s choir director in productions with artists such as Travis Cottrell, Steve Green and Keith & Kristyn Getty and is a frequent speaker at conferences such as the Getty Music Worship Conference: Sing! and the Teach Them Diligently conferences. Katie resides in Fort Worth, TX, with husband, Josh, and their three children, Sophie, Zoe and Ethan. Follow her blog at bit.ly/comesingtogether for ideas and inspiration to instill a love of singing in your children!
JUBILANT SYKES
“Jubilant Sykes’ voice is extraordinary. He isn’t merely an outstanding singer, his voice is art at its highest expression.” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) Perhaps no vocalist of our time possesses a more exquisitely versatile instrument than the American baritone Jubilant Sykes. His unique talents have taken him to musical capitals across the globe. He has performed leading roles at such opera houses as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera and Deutschland Oper Berlin. His solo concerts have included performances in New York’s Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center Washington, D.C., Royal Albert Hall London and the Verona Amphitheater in Verona Italy. Among the orchestras which he has appeared as soloist are the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Symphony, BBC Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Orchestra de Paris. Mr. Sykes’ versatility has taken him to such venues as the Apollo Theatre, New Orleans Jazz Festival and the Hollywood Bowl. The Grammy nominated singer made his screen debut in the film “Freedom” with Cuba Gooding, Jr. and his stage debut as the lead in the original play “Breath and Imagination” by Daniel Beaty at the Hartford Stage directed by Darko Tresnjak.
JIM THOMAS
Jim Thomas is the Senior Pastor at The Village Chapel, Nashville, TN, celebrating 20 years as a worshiping community. Jim has the honor of being a local church pastor in a congregation overflowing with creatives in one of the fastest growing cities in North America. Jim and his wife of 43 years, Kim, share deep connections with Sing! Conference and Getty Music as the Gettys and about half the Getty band attend TVC.
KIM THOMAS
Kim Thomas is a celebrated painter, author and speaker. She and husband Jim Thomas co-founded The Village Chapel in Nashville, TN in 2001, where he serves as Sr. Pastor, and she as Curate.
CHRIS TOMLIN
It is estimated that 20-30 million people across the world sing one of Chris’ songs every week in church services in nearly every language. Time magazine heralded him as the “most often sung artist in the world” as his music has inspired and uplifted an entire generation of believers. Along the way, he’s scored 17 number one singles at radio, sold more than nine million albums, earned a Grammy, three Billboard Music Awards, 21 Dove Awards and became a two-time BMI Songwriter of the Year honoree. In 2016, he was named one of only four artists ever to receive the Sound Exchange Digital Radio Award for over 1 Billion digital radio streams, alongside Justin Timberlake, Pitbull and Garth Brooks. Chris is also the first Christian artist to reach the Billion streams threshold on Pandora and was presented with their BILLIONAIRE award. His tours have sold-out venues everywhere, including New York City’s Madison Square Garden, Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles, Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena and Red Rocks. Chris’ recent studio album, Chris Tomlin & Friends, debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Christian Albums Chart and contains a six-week #1 single “Who You Are To Me” feat. Lady A. This feat makes it Chris’ second longest running #1 after his 14-week run with “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies).” Chris Tomlin & Friends includes 13 tracks with some of country music’s biggest stars including Florida Georgia Line, who also executive produced the album, Lady A, Thomas Rhett, Russell Dickerson, Chris Lane, RaeLynn, Cassadee Pope and Brett Young in addition to Bear Rinehart of NEEDTOBREATHE, Blessing Offor and We The Kingdom. His latest Christmas EP, Miracle Of Love: Christmas Songs of Worship includes two new songs, “Miracle Of Love’’ and “All the World Awaits (Hosanna)” as well as songs from his 2019 Christmas Day: Christmas Songs of Worship EP and “Noel” featuring Lauren Daigle.
KEVIN TWIT
Rev. Kevin Twit is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and Covenant Theological Seminary, and is the RUF Campus Minister at Belmont University. In 1999 Kevin began Indelible Grace Music which has been at the heart of the movement to reset old hymn texts to new music. Kevin is also an adjunct Professor at Covenant Seminary and Belmont University. He is an avid book collector and lectures widely on topics of hymns and worship.
SERGIO VILLANUEVA
Sergio Villanueva is the campus pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo, the hispanic congregation of Wheaton Bible church in West Chicago, IL. A pastor, worship leader and songwriter, he leads Gracia+Verdad Music, a ministry aimed at providing new worship songs for the local church. A native of northern Mexico, he started leading worship at an early age. Over the years, he has collaborated writing or translating songs for several well-known ministries and worship projects. One of his greatest desires is to see creatives proclaiming the beauty of the glory of God through art and worship. He lives happily married to his wife Rosita and their two young adult children Gabriel and Daniel in the suburbs of Chicago.
KIRK WHALUM
Kirk Whalum is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and songwriter known for his collaborations with Barbara Streisand, Luther Vandross, Quincy Jones, and especially his solo on Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” He has recorded over 25 solo albums, including “For You” and the series “The Gospel According to Jazz.” An ordained minister, Kirk also hosts the podcast Bible in Your Ear. In addition to music and ministry, Kirk has a passion to educate young, aspiring musicians and is currently engaged as a music professor at Visible Music College in his hometown of Memphis, TN.
JEFF WILLIAMS
Colonel Jeffrey N. Williams served 27 years in the U.S. Army and continues to work in our Nation’s space program. An astronaut since 1996, Williams flew a record-setting 534 days on four space flights to the International Space Station. He is the author of The Work of His Hands: A View of God’s Creation from Space. A West Point graduate, Williams has advanced degrees in aeronautical engineering, national security, as well as a Doctor of Ministry from The Master’s Seminary. Jeff and his wife, Anna-Marie, reside in Battle Ground, Washington, where they serve at Word of Grace Bible Church.
ROSS WILSON
Ross Wilson is one of Northern Ireland’s leading artists. He has been a visiting speaker at Harvard and Oxford Universities. Wilson’s many portrait commissions have included Nobel Laureates Derek Walcott and Seamus Heaney. His artwork is displayed across the world among several public and private collections.
ROSS WILSON
Ross Wilson is one of Ireland’s leading artists and sculptors. In the 2019 New Years Honours List he was honoured by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, receiving a B E M, British Empire Medal for services to charity and outreach work amongst under-privileged communities in Northern Ireland. He graduated with a First-Class Honours degree in Fine Art from the University of Ulster and went on to receive his Masters degree from the prestigious Chelsea School of Art, London. He has been a visiting speaker at Harvard, Wheaton, Oxford and Cambridge Universities and the National Portrait Gallery London. His commissions include Nobel Laureates Seamus Heaney and Derek Walcott for the National Portrait Gallery in London. Sculpture commissions include the CS Lewis Centenary Sculpture East Belfast, Titanic Yardmen Sculpture and most recently Amy Carmichael - A Life And Legacy of Grace Sculpture. His work is included in private and public collections worldwide including: The Fogg Museum Harvard, The Keats- Shelley Museum Rome, Tate Britain, The Ashmolean Museum Oxford, Jesus College Cambridge, St Lucien National Trust, The British Museum, Boston Museum of Fine Art, The Ulster Museum, The Burns Library Boston College, Museo Federico Garcia Lorca Spain, The Houghton Library Harvard. His work has sold both at Christies and Sotheby’s London. Ross Wilson believes strongly in community outreach, through creativity and educational interaction within marginalised communities both in Ireland and more recently in Rwanda. His aim is to encourage others to see with the soul of the eye.
These simplified tree motifs are reflections on the Genesis creation narrative of given things, recorded in chapter one. They are a type of elementary shorthand , yet each one carries high symbolic significance. Each tree silhouette contains an active spectrum of colouring indicating the growth cycle of seasonal life, the input patterns parallel the direction purposed by the giving Creator. Trees are by nature obedient, obedient in being, they do not deviate, they are faithfully rooted and grow daily into their reflective purpose and praise.
- ROSS WILSON
OAK TREE CEDAR TREE OLIVE TREE
