Affirming The Faith Seminar - Speaker's Bios

Phyllis Allen has been active in women’s programs at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Oklahoma City. She was the co-coordinator for the Center for Women’s Bible Studies for 12 years. In 2006 she was the coordinator and taught the teaching lesson for these classes. She leads singing for women’s programs (Oklahoma Christian Lectures Ladies Day) and has spoken at various women’s retreats. She also co-coordinated the ladies day program for the Oklahoma Christian Lectures. She has been active in planning, teaching, and attending Women’s Retreats at Memorial Road Church of Christ. Phyllis lives in the Frisco, Texas area.

Neil Anderson has served as editor for Gospel Advocate since 1999. Neil has served the church as preacher, author and publisher. Neil has served as President of Gospel Advocate Company and currently serves with Christian Publishing, Gospel Advocate, Christian Woman and Ideal Shop magazine. Neil is a graduate of David Lipscomb University (1959) and did post-graduate studies at Harding Graduate School (1961-1965).

Leon Dennis is currently in his 33rd year as the pulpit minister for the Westside church of Christ in Norman, Oklahoma. He began regular preaching at the age of 16 and has served churches in Lawton, Weatherford, and Norman, Oklahoma. He worked for 6 years as the Bible Chair director for S.W.O.S.U. He has held over 250 gospel meetings plus numerous family seminars. Leon is a National Certified Counselor and has devoted much of his life to marriage and family counseling.

Jeff Jenkins preaches for the Lewisville Church of Christ in Lewisville, Texas. Jeff has also served with churches in Alabama and Oklahoma. He preaches annually in a number of gospel meetings, family seminars, leadership seminars, lectureships and other special events. He has written for Gospel Advocate, Spiritual Sword, Twenty-First Century Bible Study Guide, Power For Today, and he serves on the writing staff for Forthright E-Magazine. He has co-edited two books; Redeeming the Times & Restoring the Passion and contributed a chapter for the book, Seeking True Unity. Jeff has written a class study book entitled, God’s Plan for Unity. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees at Freed Hardeman University. Jeff holds a BA from Freed Hardeman University and has done post-graduate studies at Southern Christian University as well as Emory University.

Jerry Jones has devoted his life to strengthening families. Since beginning their Marriage Matters series in 1996, Jerry and his wife Lynn have presented hundreds of seminars and have spoken to thousands of people across the United States. Jerry’s education includes two master’s degrees and a doctorate of theology. His ministry includes 17 years of university teaching and 40 years of preaching in 43 states and foreign countries. He has also authored 12 books.

Ken Jones has served as president for Lubbock Christian University since 1993. Prior to his appointment as president, Ken spent a decade in pulpit ministry at the Sunset Church of Christ. Ken is a frequent speaker for seminars on leadership and has authored two books: Leadership After God’s Own Heart and The Ultimate Leader. Ken holds a B.S., M.S., and PhD in Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Mack Lyon serves as speaker for the internationally known program In Search of the Lord’s Way. For more than 62 years, Mack has lived and worked with churches in Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas and New Jersey. In the 1960s he served as missionary in Western Australia where he established a congregation in the Riverton suburb of Perth. Mack has authored several books and maintains a full speaking schedule. Mack attended Freed-Hardeman College and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma.

Alan Martin serves as Family Life Ministry Professor at Oklahoma Christian University and as part-time Community Outreach Minister with the Edmond Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma. He has served in ministry with various congregations in South Africa; West Monroe, Louisiana; Searcy, Arkansas; Abilene, Texas and most recently at Lansing, Michigan. Alan received his Master's degree in Family Therapy from ACU and a PhD. in Family and Child Ecology from Michigan State University.

Bruce McLarty serves as Vice President for Spiritual Life and as Dean of the College of Bible for Harding University; positions he has held since August of 2005. Bruce has ministered with congregations in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. In 1984-1985 he served as Missionary in Kenya. Bruce is a frequent speaker for lectureships and seminars throughout the church and has authored two books: Journey of Faith: Walking with Jesus Through the Gospel of John and Paul’s Letter to Philemon in the Truth for Today series. Bruce received his Bachelor’s Degree in Bible from Harding College (1978) and his M.TH from Harding Graduate School of Religion (1982).

Steve Minor serves as the Family and Youth Minister with the North MacArthur Church of Christ in Oklahoma City where he has been since October of 2004. He has served as youth minister for congregations in Atlanta, Texas and Ada, OK. Steve serves as director for Focus Week at Quartz Mountain Christian Camp and for the Oklahoma Preacher Training Camp. Steve graduated from Oklahoma Christian University with a degree in Bible in 1998.

Chuck Monan preaches for the Pleasant Valley Church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas where he has serves since 2001. Chuck has served churches in Michigan and Oklahoma City and is a contributing writer to Gospel Advocate. Chuck is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University with a BA in History and an MA in Ministry and has done graduate work at Michigan State University.

Stafford North has worked in various roles with Oklahoma Christian University since 1952, teaching full-time in the Bible department since 1994. Stafford has served congregations in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Florida. He has spoken on numerous lectureships, seminars, and teacher training programs and has preached in churches of Christ throughout the United States and foreign countries since 1948. Among his areas of special interest have been the books of Daniel and Revelation on which he has written and spoken frequently. Stafford is an elder at the Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma. North received his bachelor's degree from Abilene Christian, Master's from Louisiana State University, and doctorate from the University of Florida. He has written a number of books, tracts, and educational materials and writes for the Christian Chronicle, Gospel Advocate, and Power for Today.

Howard Norton serves as professor of Bible and Assistant Dean for Church Relations at Harding University. He is editor of The Arkansas Christian Herald, director of Harding’s annual Bible lectureship and an elder of the College Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas. From 1961 to 1977, Howard and his family worked as missionaries in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He has served as a minister for churches in Brazil, Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Howard holds a BA from Abilene Christian University, M.A. from the University of Houston and the Doctor of Human Science degree from University of Sao Paulo.

Harold Redd ministers with the Midtown Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee where he has been since 1991. He has also served as minister for congregations in Memphis and Oklahoma City and as a Bible teacher at Harding Academy. Harold is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Christian Chronicle and Harding University. He received his B.A. from Oklahoma Christian (1975), M.Th (1985) and D.Min (2000) from Harding Graduate School of Religion.

Phil Sanders preaches for the Concord Road Church of Christ in Brentwood, Tennessee where he has served since 1995. Phil also serves as speaker for “God’s Answers for Life’s Questions” on WNPX-TV in Nashville and Assistant Director and Instructor for the Nashville School of Preaching. Phil is author of several books and articles as well as a frequent speaker at lectureships, gospel meetings and seminars. Phil received a B.A. from Oklahoma Christian (1975), M.A.R. from Harding Graduate School of Religion (1983) and a PhD from Theological University of America (1998).

Dan Winkler currently preaches for the Huntingdon Church of Christ in Huntingdon, Tennessee. He has been preaching regularly since 1969. Dan is a frequent speaker on lectureship programs, author of eight books, contributing author to numerous publications throughout the church and is a member of the advisory board for Freed-Hardeman University. Dan is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University where he received a B.A. in Bible, with a minor in Greek and Speech. He is a graduate of David Lipscomb University where he received the M.A.R. degree.