Affirming The Faith Seminar - Speaker's Bios

Jeremie Beller serves as the Congregational Minister for the Wilshire church of Christ in Oklahoma City where he has been since 2000. He began his ministry in Chandler Oklahoma working as an associate and later as a pulpit minister. He has served as an adjunct instructor for Oklahoma Christian University teaching Bible and communication courses. Jeremie received a B.S. in Bible and M.Div from Oklahoma Christian University and is currently pursing a Ph.D at the University of Oklahoma, studying the use of religion in communication.

Dan Chambers serves as the pulpit minister for the Maryville congregation in Maryville, Tennessee. He is author of three books: Showtime: Worship in the Age of Show Business, Where’s the Piano?, and Is Baptism Really Necessary? Dan holds a B.A., M.A., M.A.R., and M.Div. from Lipscomb University, and an M.B.A.from Indiana University.

David Deffenbaugh preaches for the South College church of Christ in Tahlequah where he has served since 1996. He is a staff writer for The Voice of Truth International and has written for Old Paths and The Gospel Advocate. David co-authored Strength for the Journey (a daily devotional and reading guide) and has served as the director of Libre Press. He has worked with churches in the Ukraine training native preachers. David is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University with a B.A. and M.A and is currently pursing an M.Div at Harding Graduate.

Ralph Gilmore is a distinguished professor of Bible and Interdisciplinary Studies at Freed-Hardman University where he has served for 27 years. He received an A.A. and a third-year certificate in Bible from Freed-Hardeman, a B.A. in Bible from David Lipscomb, a M.A. in Christian apologetics from Harding Graduate, and a Ph.D. in philosophy from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He has conducted international and domestic campaigns, preached in 39 states and 20 countries and served as pulpit minister for churches in Jackson and Action, Tennessee. For the past 7 years he has moderated the open forum at Freed-Hardeman lectures and in 2006 participated in the Faust-Gilmore Discussion on instrumental Music and Fellowship. Along with teaching at Freed-Hardeman, Ralph serves as a minister and elder for the Crosswinds church of Christ in Medina, Tennessee.

Dale Hartman serves as a preacher and an elder for the Eastside Church of Christ in Midwest City. As a student at Oklahoma, Christian Dale began his ministry working with the Nicoma Park and Southern Oaks churches in Oklahoma City. While attending Harding Graduate School, Dale worked with the Senatobia church in Mississippi. After completing a B.A. and B.S.E from Oklahoma Christian and an M.Th from Harding University, Dale spent 12 years serving as missionary in Sydney, Australia under the oversight of the Eastside congregation in Midwest City. In 1991 Dale and his family returned from Sydney and began working in various roles with the Eastside congregation.

Tom Holland began preaching in 1950 and has preached full time in Tennessee, Texas, Illinois and Wisconsin. He currently preaches for the Riggs Church of Christ in College Grove, TN. Tom is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman (A.A.), David Lipscomb (B.A.), Abilene (M.A.), Ambridge (M.Th) and Southern Illinois (Ph.D) Universities. He has authored books on a wide variety of topics: homiletics, NT outlines, poetry, biblical study guides, 12 volumes of southern humor and 50 religious songs. Tom’s ministry has involved university teaching at Free-Hardeman, David Lipscomb and Ambridge University, and he has served as the director of the Nashville School of Preaching and Biblical Studies. Tom is the co-founder of Diana Singing and the Columbia Bible Institute.

Dale Jenkins has preached for 30 years, spending 10 years in Hamilton, Alabama and 9 years with the well-known Granny White Church of Christ in Nashville. Dale is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman and has done graduate work at Southern Christian University and was awarded the L.L.D. from the Nigerian Christian Bible College in 2006. Dale’s ministry includes working in television and radio, lectureships, mission work and editorial work for PowerPoint’s for New Life (the adult Bible school curriculum of 21st Century Christian). In 2006, Dale began working with a new congregation in Spring Hill, Tennessee.

Phillip Johnson began full-time ministry after serving as a public school teacher and administrator for 4 years. His ministry began in Manford, Oklahoma where he served for 3 years before moving to the Westside Church of Christ in Norman, Oklahoma to serve as the University Minister. In January of this year, Philip began serving as the full-time pulpit minister at Westside. He holds a B.A. in education from the University of Oklahoma and an M.A. in education from Oklahoma State University.

Jay Lockhart began preaching in 1956 in Parkersburg, WV. Since then he has been involved in local work with churches in Kentucky, Texas, and Oklahoma. His ministry has included extensive radio and television work since 1961. Jay is a graduate of Freed-Hardeman (A.A.) David Libscomb (B.A), Harding Graduate (M.A.) and Trinity Theological Seminary (Ph.D). Jay currently preaches for the Benton church in Kentucky.

Alan Martin serves as Family Life Ministry Professor at Oklahoma Christian University and part-time as the Community Outreach Minister with the Edmond Church. He has served in ministry with various congregations in South Africa, West Monroe, LA, Searcy, AR, Abilene, TX and most recently at Lansing, MI. 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 a missionary in Kenya. Bruce is a frequent speaker for lectureships and seminars throughout the brotherhood 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).

Chuck Monan preaches for the Pleasant Valley church of Christ in Little Rock, Arkansas where he has served since 2001. Chuck has served churches in Michigan and Oklahoma and is a contributing writer to The Gospel Advocate. Chuck is a graduate of Oklahoma Christian University with a B.A. in History and an M.A. 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 knowledge are 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. He 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 continues to write for The Christian Chronicle, The Gospel Advocate, and Power for Today publications.

Howard Norton serves as professor of Bible and Assistant Dean for Church Relations at Harding University. He is the editor of The Arkansas Christian Herald, the 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 B.A. from Abilene Christian University, M.A. from the University of Houston and the Doctor of Human Science degree from the University of Sao Paulo.

Pat Peters was converted to Christ in 1969 while serving in the Air Force in Karamursel, Turkey. He has served in ministry for 34 years working with the church in Clinton since 1989 and serving as the Oncology Chaplin for the South Community Hospital since 1980. Pat is involved in helping people cope with grief through his “Coping with Life Threatening Illness” seminar and grief support groups.

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 a sought after speaker, lecturer, author and former co-host of the “Get Real” radio program. He has worked in the past as a youth minister, deacon in the area of communications, Bible class teacher, education department director and director of Vacation Bible School. 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. He is currently working on Master’s in Biblical Studies. Wayne and his wife Tami have been married 27 years. They have five children and one granddaughter.

Pat Scott is the author of Batten Down the Hatches, Preparing for Life’s Storms, which was written in the aftermath of her husband’s murder. Her second book, Surviving the Raging Fire, was released in the fall of 2000. Pat is a member of the Prestoncrest church of Christ in Dallas where she has established and directs an ongoing program for mentoring young women. She maintains a full schedule speaking for women’s retreats, and lecturing; in addition, she serves as a facilitator for Grief Recovery Programs, participates with Christian Works for Children and works with Lifeline Chaplaincy of Houston. Pat attended Arlington State, Abilene Christian and Southern Methodist Universities and most recently studied at the Center for Loss and Life Transition through Colorado State University.

Philip Thompson serves as the preacher for the Rose Bud Church of Christ in Arkansas and as an Associate Professor of Bible at Harding University. He is a graduate of Harding University (B.S.) and Harding Graduate (M.A., M.Th., D.Min). During his ministry Philip has served as a youth minister, a chaplain, a missionary and has been involved in foster care for more than 20 children. His teaching areas include the New Testament, ethics, and preaching.

Flavil Yeakley has served as a Professor for the College of Bible and Religion at Harding University since 1990. He is an author, consultant, and researcher, focusing primarily on the patterns of church growth and decline since 1970. Flavil has also served as the former president of the American Society for Church Growth and as a member of the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. He began preaching in 1950 and spent 20 years in full-time local church ministry, primarily planting churches in the U.S. He has also served as a deacon and an elder. He married Maydell Yeakley in 1954, and they have three children and eight grandchildren who are all faithful Christians. Both of his sons serve as Involvement Ministers for the Lord’s church: Mark at Northside in Wichita, Kansas and Steven at Faith Village in Wichita Falls, Texas.