Affirming The Faith Seminar 2012 - Speaker's Bios
Thomas C. (Tom) Alexander is a professor of Bible in Harding University where he has served since 1978. He received the A.A. from Freed-Hardeman University, the B.A. from Lipscomb University, the M.A. and M.Th. from Harding University Graduate School of Religion, and the Ph.D. from Emory University. He has preached for several congregations over the years and presently serves as an elder of the College Church of Christ in Searcy, AR. Tom and his wife Phyllis (Smith) have three children and nine grandchildren.
Ralph Burcham serves as an educator at Oklahoma Christian University for 32 years. He received the “Master Teacher Award” from OC in 2011. In addition, he did mission work in Vietnam during the war years and helped many Vietnamese refugees come to the U.S. when Vietnam fell to the communists.
Dan Chambers has been preaching the gospel for over twenty years. He currently serves as the pulpit minister for the Concord Road congregation in Brentwood, Tennessee. He holds advanced degrees in Bible (M.A., M.A.R., M.Div.) from Lipscomb University, Business (M.B.A.) from Indiana University-Ft. Wayne, and is a candidate for a doctorate in Applied Theology (D.Min.) from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Among the books Dan has written are Showtime! Worship in the Age of Show Business and “Where’s the Piano?” He and his wife, Leola, are the proud parents of two college students, Andrea and Chris.
Granville Clapp preached for the Cherokee Hills church of Christ for 38 years. He is now blessed to still teach a class there, and preach for several congregations as the opportunity presents itself. Granville and his wife Marilyn have been married over 50 years and they are now the proud grandparents and great grandparents of several. They have been richly blessed and continue to be so.
David Duncan has served as the Pulpit Minister of the Memorial Church of Christ in Houston since 2006. Before moving to Houston, he served as the Outreach Minister at the Edmond, Oklahoma Church of Christ and as an Adjunct Instructor at Oklahoma Christian University for seven years. Prior to his work in Oklahoma, David and his wife, Barbara, worked with three other couples in Vitoria, Brazil to plant a congregation. They were in Brazil from 1992 to 1999. David graduated from Oklahoma Christian with BA and MA degrees in Bible and Ministry and from Houston Graduate School of Theology with a Doctorate of Ministry. David serves on the boards of Continent of Great Cities and Oklahoma Christian University. David and his wife, Barbara, have two girls, Anna Beth (17) and Emma (13).
Allison Dabbs Garrett is currently at Oklahoma Christian University serving as the Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs since June 2010. She has also served as an Associate Professor of Law and Thomas Goode Jones School of Law at Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL. Allison has also served in the business world with Wal-Mart Stores in several capacities including as the Vice-President of Benefits Compliance and Planning. She attended Oklahoma Christian, where she graduated in only 2 years with a B.A. She continued her education in law at the University of Tulsa and Georgetown University.
Scott Harp was born in Haleyville, Alabama. He attended Freed-Hardeman University 1976/77 and graduated from Heritage University in 1989 with a B.A. in Bible. While doing mission work in New Zealand, he married Jenny Hubbard who is a New Zealander by birth. They have three children, Rebecca, Richard and Brooke, all of whom have attended Freed-Hardeman University. He and his family have done mission work in the British Isles, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands. His years of service include preaching in Alabama, Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Presently, he preaches for the Buford church of Christ in Buford, Georgia. The study of the Restoration Movement is one of his interests and he maintains a website dedicated to this study, The Restoration Movement.
Jerry Houston Jerry Houston is a native of Shreveport, Louisiana and holds a Doctorate of Theology degree from Buxton University, a Masters of Divinity in counseling and Biblical studies from Harding Graduate School of Religion, a B.A. from Harding University A.A., and a 3rd year Bible Certificate from Northeastern Christian College. He is a certified chaplain having served in the armed forces and in hospitals in the Memphis area. Jerry currently serves the East Henrietta Road Church of Christ. Jerry and his wife Deborah have two children, Amber Symone and Janae Lindsey, and they make their home in Rochester, NY.
Dr. Michael Houts has a PhD in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and currently serves as Nuclear Research Manager for NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. Prior to joining NASA Dr. Houts worked 11 years with Los Alamos National Laboratory serving in various positions including Team Leader for Criticality, Reactor, and Radiation Physics and Deputy Group Leader for a 70-person Nuclear Design and Risk Analysis Group. Dr. Houts grew up outside the church and was a staunch evolutionist through his early twenties. Dr. Houts was baptized into the Lord's church in 1999. He, his wife, and their two children currently worship with the Madison congregation in Madison, AL. Dr. Houts also serves as an auxiliary staff science writer for Apologetics Press. The central purpose of Apologetics Press is to provide scientifically and biblically accurate information that defends the truthfulness of New Testament Christianity.
Thomas Jackson has been ministering to the people of God for approximately 16 years and has enjoyed the journey that God has provided for him. He currently serves as the minister of the Wagner Ave. Church of Christ and the New Life Church of Christ, in St. Louis, MO. He and his wife, Karla, are the proud parents of two children: Dillon (son) and Kayla (daughter). He has a doctorate of philosophy degree in Theology/Family Psychology and has been involved in behavioral health for 15 years. He is a published author of the book, Man and Woman As God Has Ordained and co-author with Dr. David L. Lane of the book, Low Motives in High Places: A Survival Strategy For Wounded Healers. He currently serves as the Chair of the Department of Counseling and Family Studies for the School of Religious Studies (SRS) in Little Rock, AR.
Dan Jenkins attended Freed-Hardeman College and David Lipscomb College where he graduated with a B.A. He married Judie Kircus in 1959 and has four children---Debbie (married to Mark Nicholas, former missionary to Kenya where they served as missionaries for nineteen years), David (an elder at the Avondale church in Atlanta), Gary (who has served as a deacon in Greenville, SC and now is a deacon in West Palm Beach, FL), and Jonathan (preaching in Katy, TX). Dan began preaching at age 14. Following graduation from college went to Hamilton, New Zealand (with two other missionaries) to establish the work in that city. He has continued preaching the gospel both domestically and in foreign countries like New Zealand, Fiji, Western Samoa, and India. He is currently preaching at the Palm Beach Lakes congregation in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Jeff A. Jenkins grew up in a preacher’s family in the state of Alabama. He has been preaching since 1973. He married the former Laura Colley in 1981. They have two children Amanda, and Jeremy. They also have one precious granddaughter, Evie. Jeff holds degrees from Faulkner University and Freed Hardeman University (BA – 1981), and has done post-graduate work at Southern Christian University as well as Emory University. He has been the preaching minister for the Lewisville church of Christ since July, 2004. He was involved in Radio and TV Preaching for more than twenty years. He also contributed a couple of chapters to the book Redeeming the Times. He has also contributed a chapter for the book, Seeking True Unity. Jeff has written a class study book entitled, God’s Plan for Unity.
Aubrey Johnson is an author, educator, minister, and speaker on leadership related themes. Since 2000, he has preached for the Peachtree City Church of Christ near Atlanta, Georgia. Aubrey majored in Speech at Lipscomb University where he went on to receive his MDiv before entering Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary to complete a DMin in Christian Leadership. He is a writer for the Gospel Advocate Magazine and the author of six books: The Barnabas Factor, Love More, Sin Less, Spiritual Patriots, Renewing Your Spiritual Life, Music Matters in the Lord’s Church, and The Seed Principle. Aubrey is currently completing a new book entitled "Dynamic Deacons" aimed at equipping deacons in the Lord's church.
Andy Lashley is the Involvement & Communications Minister at the Memorial Road Church of Christ. He has degrees from Oklahoma Christian University and Southern Methodist University. He is married to Summer and they have two children that keep them on their toes: Mia and Bode.
Chuck Monan is a native of Flint, Michigan with a B.A. & M.A. from Oklahoma Christian University. He has served churches in Michigan, Oklahoma and Arkansas. He is the preaching minister at the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock since 2001. In addition, he is married to the former Susan North and they have two sons Charlie and Nathan. Chuck is also a frequent contributor to the Gospel Advocate. On Fridays during football season can be heard from 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. on 103.7 FM in Little Rock as The Pigskin Preacher.
Robert K. Oglesby, Sr. has B.A. & M.A. degrees in Bible from Abilene Christian University, and a Doctor of Laws degree ( LL.D) conferred upon him by York College in 1994. He has completed 49 years as the pulpit minister of the Waterview Church of Christ in the Dallas area. Robert has specialized in group discussion teaching and has held more than 450 seminars on that subject. He has authored 21 books on how to use the discussion technique in studying the entire New Testament. He is on the Christian Chronicle Board. Robert’s wife is the former Willora Armstrong whom he met and married at ACU. They have two children. Their son, Robert Jr. is the head of the Youth & Family Ministry Department at ACU, and their daughter is a housewife living in Richardson, Texas. The Oglesby’s have 5 grandchildren.
Kathy Pollard attended Faulkner University, where she met her husband, Neal, who preaches for the Bear Valley church of Christ in Denver, CO. They have 3 sons, Gary, Dale, and Carl. Kathy speaks on various events for ladies, and has had articles published in Gospel Advocate, Christian Woman, Christian Bible Teacher, and Think Magazine. She is an instructor in the Women's Program of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver, and a director of Higher Ground Encampment, a Bible camp for teen girls. Kathy enjoys going on mission trips to Ukraine, Tanzania, and Cambodia.
Neal Pollard married to the former Kathleen Gillaspie, with whom he has three sons (Gary, Dale, and Carl). Began preaching in 1987. Educated at Faulkner, FHU, and BVBID (BA, MBS). Local work in AL, VA, and CO. Serves as part-time instructor at Bear Valley Bible Institute. Author of Rise Up And Build. Has preached in 25 states and 7 foreign countries. The local preacher for the Bear Valley church of Christ in Denver, CO since 2006. Directs Future Preachers Training Camp in Denver the 2nd week of June. Sends out daily email devotional entitled “Daily Bread.” Directs the Bear Valley Lectures and is editor of the lectureship book.
Wayne Roberts serves as the pulpit minister for the Church of Christ in Parker, Colorado where he has been working since 1997. He is also on the adjunct staff of the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver. Wayne has done extensive study in the area of Homiletics and Vacation Bible School and spends several weeks a year training others in these efforts. He is also the co-host of “Behind the Pulpit” a weekly internet podcast about preaching (theequipnetwork.com). He holds a Bachelor of Biblical Studies degree from the Bear Valley Bible Institute of Denver and has done undergraduate work at Oklahoma Christian University and the Kansas City School of Biblical Studies. Wayne and his wife Tami have been married 30 years. They have five grown children and three grandchildren.
David Roper has preached for almost sixty years—in Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. He and his family worked ten years in Australia. For fifteen years, he wrote for Truth for Today. He is author of numerous books and booklets, including six and a half volumes in the Truth for Today Commentary Series. He and his wife Jo presently divide their time between Midwest City, Oklahoma, and Newcastle, Oklahoma—where they labor with the Newcastle Heights congregation. They have three children and three grandchildren.
Mike Schroeder has served as the pulpit minister for the Blue Starr Church of Christ in Claremore, Oklahoma for the past 16 years. He is a graduate of Sunset International Bible Institute and Missions and has been proclaiming God’s Word for over 28 years. He has been trained and certified in various marriage and parenting courses. He has also taught various courses in preacher training and mission campaigns to Scotland, India, Mexico, and Nigeria West Africa. He and his wife Debbie of 37 years, have 4 children and 10 grandchildren with whom they feel blessed by God.
Gary Smith attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas on a football scholarship and played on the 1983 Cotton Bowl Championship Team. He graduated in 1983 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business. He later studied at Harding University and Houston Christian Institute. He is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Gary has been a member of the Fifth Ward Church of Christ since age eleven. He is a home grown product in every sense of the word. He has served in vital roles in the church for the past forty years, including Youth Minister, Young Adult Couples Minister, Assistant Minister, Deacon, and presently, full time Pulpit Minister. Gary is a devoted husband to his gifted wife, Karen, of twenty seven years. He is the father of three beautiful girls, Karenda 27, Kendria 22, and Kia 18.
Mark Taylor is one of the ministers for the Memorial Road church of Christ in Edmond, OK. His primary roles at Memorial Road include ministry organization, volunteer leadership and support, as well as working with the preaching team. Additionally, he has served congregations in New Milford Connecticut, Arlington Texas, and Norman Oklahoma, working in pulpit ministry, campus ministry, and education ministry. Mark is a graduate of both Oklahoma Christian University and the University of Oklahoma. Mark and his wife, Karla, have two daughters, Karissa and Karenna.
Bill Watkins was born in Georgia and raised in Tennessee. I am the son of a gospel preacher (James Watkins) and my brother (Alan) and I are both preachers. I married Beverly, the daughter of a preacher (Lynn Cook), and have been married 37 years. We have 5 children, 2 boys (Jim and Michael) and 3 girls (Tiffany, Angela, and Rachel), and 15 grandchildren. I was formally educated at Freed-Hardeman University, David Lipscomb University, Southern Christian University, and Florida International University. I was really educated through growing up with 3 siblings; preaching at churches in Florida, Tennessee, Alabama, and Texas; learning from my parents and parents-in-law; observing my wife's willingness and wisdom; and attempting to raise five remarkable and remarkably different children. I have been one of the ministers of the Crieve Hall Church of Christ since March 6, 2005. I love being with my family and working with the church. Preaching is not my career. Like being a husband and a father, it is my life-choice and my joy.
Noel C. Whitlock was born in Farmington, NM in 1961, but spent most of his growing up years in Enid, OK where he graduated from Enid High in 1979. He attended David Lipscomb University before transferring to Oklahoma Christian where he graduated in 1986 with a B.S. in Speech Communications and minors in Bible and Biblical Languages. He has done some graduate work at Oklahoma Christian University and the Austin Graduate School of Theology. Noel and Lael met while students at OC and were married in 1985. They have two beautiful daughters, Joelle 18, and Natalie, 15. He became the preaching minister for the College Church of Christ in Searcy in August, 2006.
Don Williams is a third generation preacher, following in the footsteps of his grand-father J.E. Williams and his father Joe Williams of Northport, Al. He graduated from FHU in 1979 and received his Masters degree in Ministry from Harding Graduate School of Religion in 1984. Don served as a Minister for 30 years. Since May of 2008 he has worked as the Executive Director of North Alabama Christian Children's Home in Florence, Alabama. He serves as a deacon for the Florence Boulevard congregation in Florence, Al. For 18 years he has taught an area grief support class in places where he has lived. In 1996, he and his twin brother Ron wrote a grief book entitled Walking with Those who Weep-A Guide to Grief Support. In 1999, Don completed a second book on grief that serves as a sequel to the other one. It is entitled Hope For Those Who Struggle-Coping with the losses of Life. Don has been married to his wife Leisa for 33 years and she is a high school math teacher in Sheffield. They have 2 sons, Matt and Ben, and three grandchildren, Braden, Kenzlee, and Lyla Kate.
Ron Williams is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman University (B.A. in Bible, 1979) and Southern Christian University (Masters of Science in Counseling, 1997). He has served in ministry for the past thirty-four years. He is the pulpit minister for the Lincoln church of Christ in Huntsville, Alabama for the past 15 years. He is the co-author of the book, Walking with Those Who Weep: A Guide to Grief Support (1996), a book he wrote with his twin brother, Don. In addition, he is a contributing author of a chapter for the book, Redeeming the Times: Addressing Issues of the Church in the Present Age. He married his childhood sweetheart, the former Bonnie Lawler 33 years ago. They have two sons, Jon Michael, and Stephen, and a grandson, Luke.