Daniel L. Akin is the president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses in theology, preaching, and hermeneutics. Danny was previously the senior vice president for academic administration and dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author or editor of a number of books, including A Theology of the Church, God on Sex, and the volume dedicated to 1, 2, 3 John in the New American Commentary Series. Danny is married to Charlotte, is the father of four boys, and is a proud grandfather of two. The Akins are members of Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Bruce Riley Ashford is the dean of The College at Southeastern and associate professor of philosophy and intercultural studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is also a research fellow for the L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern. Before coming to teach at Southeastern, Bruce lived and worked in the former Soviet Union. He has published articles with a number of academic journals including Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society and Journal for Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. Bruce is married to Lauren. The Ashfords are members of The Summit Church in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina.

 

Nathan A. Finn is assistant professor of church history and Baptist studies at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Nathan previously served on church staffs in Georgia and North Carolina and has worked in the archives at two theological seminaries. He is the co-editor of Domestic Slavery Considered as a Scriptural Institution, contributed chapters to Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialog and Southern Baptist Identity: An Evangelical Denomination Faces the Future, and serves as associate editor of The Journal of Baptist Studies. Nathan is married to Leah and is the father of two children. The Finns are members of the First Baptist Church of Durham, North Carolina.

 

J. D. Greear is the pastor of The Summit Church, in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. Before becoming the pastor of The Summit, J. D. served with the International Mission Board from 1997-1999 and, upon returning, earned his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He frequently teaches courses in evangelism and church planting at the seminary. J. D. and The Summit Church are committed to local and international church planting, having undertaken the goal of planting 1,000 churches over the next 50years. At present, The Summit Church has 12 church plants internationally, including seven in Islamic contexts. J.D.  is the author of the forthcoming book Breaking the Islamic Code. He is married to Veronica, with whom he has three little girls, Kharis, Alethia, and Ryah.

 

Kenneth Keathley is dean of graduate studies and professor of theology at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has previously served on the faculties of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Ken has served as pastor and interim pastor of churches in Missouri, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Virginia. He is the co-author of Biblical Authority: The Critical Issue for the Body of Christ and has contributed to A Theology of the Church, Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialog, and The Mission of Today’s Church: Baptist Leaders Look at Modern Faith Issues. Ken is married to Penny and is the father of two children. The Keathleys are members of the Central Baptist Church of Henderson, North Carolina.

 

David P. Nelson is senior vice president for academic administration and dean of the faculty at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses in systematic theology and worship. David has served on church staffs in Texas, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. He has contributed to A Theology of the Church, Authentic Worship, and Calvinism: A Southern Baptist Dialog. David is married to Kathleen and is the father of three children. The Nelsons are members of Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina.

 

Alvin L. Reid is professor of evangelism and student ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he occupies the Bailey Smith Chair of Evangelism.  Alvin is the author of numerous books, including Radically Unchurched, Raising the Bar, Join the Movement, and Introduction to Evangelism. He is also co-author, with Southeastern ethicist Mark Liederbach, of the recently published The Convergent Church: Missional Worshipers in an Emerging Culture. He is a popular conference speaker and evangelist, and he plays a mean bass guitar. Alvin is married to Michelle and is the father of two children. The Reids are members of Richland Creek Community Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

 

Ed Stetzer is the President of LifeWay Research and serves as LifeWay’s Missiologist in Residence. He also serves as Visiting Research Professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ed has planted churches in three different states and transitioned decling churches in two states. He is also the author of numerous books, including Breaking the Missional Code, Planting Missional Churches, Comeback Churches, and Compelled by Love. He also writes for several publications and is a frequent speaker at conferences all over evangelical life. Ed is married to Donna and is the father of three daughters. Ed recently completed an interim pastorate at the First Baptist Church Hendersonville, Tennessee.