Mark was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in Naperville, Illinois. Mark went to the University of Chicago on scholarship playing basketball and majoring in pre-law. After a prayer walk through a cow pasture, he felt called to full time ministry and ended up at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. That's the short story. Mark also holds a Doctor of Ministry from Regent University. He is the author of 24 books including his first published title, In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day and The Circle Maker, a New York Times

Bestseller. Mark and his wife, Lora, moved to Washington, DC, in 1994 to direct an inner-city ministry. He has served as Lead Pastor of National Community Church since 1996. Under his leadership, NCC has grown from a core group of 19 people to one church with multiple locations. Mark and Lora live on Capitol Hill and have three children: Parker, Summer, and Josiah.

Kyle was born and raised in Austin, Texas and is a graduate of Southwestern Assembly of God University. Marcia is from Concord, CA and a Bethany University graduate. They are both Ordained Ministers with the Assemblies of God. They moved to Modesto in 2011 to become the Lead Pastors at One Church. Under their leadership, One Church has grown to 6 campuses throughout the Central Valley. They love Modesto and feel privileged to serve God’s people here. Kyle and Marcia have been happily married for 16 years and are blessed with three wonderful children: Colby, Rylie, and Jaxen.

Pastor’s Bryan and Kelly Briggs are the founders and Lead Pastors of Destination Church in Hopewell, VA. They are passionate about helping people know God, find family, discover their purpose, and make a difference. Since 2011, Destination Church has been named by Outreach Magazine as one of the 100 largest and fastest growing churches in America and has seen thousands of people find their destination in Christ. Pastor Bryan and Pastor Kelly love God and people, and are pastors of faith who declare, “The best is yet to come”.

At the beginning of 2013, Aaron and his wife, Katie, took a major step of faith and planted Radiant Church on September 15, 2013 with a dream of impacting the Tampa Bay area for the kingdom of God. Since the launch, Radiant Church has seen incredible growth and expansion. Aaron has a heart for multiplication and plans to continue to open locations throughout Tampa Bay. Aaron and Katie have been living their dream ever since. They are continually amazed at how God has used this local church to move people towards Christ, community and their calling. They firmly believe that the best is yet to come for Radiant Church and Tampa Bay!

Aaron graduated from Southeastern University in 2005, received his Masters in Business Administration in 2010 and completed his Doctorate in Ministry in 2020. Aaron and Katie have been married since 2010 and now have 5 beautiful children: Lily (2012), Annabelle (2014), Kai (2016), Elise (2018), and Adeline (2020). With his spare time, Aaron loves to travel, spend time with his family and crossfit.

Rural America has a huge need for hope. Pastor Cody’s goal at Bethel Assembly is to be a light of hope for the surrounding towns of Abilene, TX. Cody has been blessed beyond measure to have the ability to open up 4 campuses around Abilene. The main campus in Anson (Pastor Cody), a campus in Albany, a campus in Stamford, and a campus in Sweetwater.

Herbert and Tiffany Cooper are the founding and senior pastors of People’s Church. Since it began in 2002, People’s Church has become known as a life-giving, diverse, multi-generational, multi-site church with campuses in Oklahoma City, OK and Indianapolis, IN. Herbert and Tiffany have a deep passion to see people’s lives changed by the power of God. Herbert speaks at churches and conferences across the country, serves on the board of two organizations that plant churches across America and the world, and is the author of the book But God Changes Everything. Herbert and Tiffany have four children and live in the Oklahoma City metro area.

David Crosby Jr. is the Founder and Lead Pastor of Community Church. Community Church is a multi-cultural, multi-generational, and life-giving church located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains, PA. David has an earned doctorate from The Assemblies of God Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO. David and his wife, Rebekah, and their four children reside in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. 

Since January 2022, the Davidsons have been the lead pastors of Evangel Temple in Springfield, Missouri, where their children, Breanna and Brant, have enjoyed using their gifts to serve the church. John gives direction to the vision and staff, and serves as the primary communicator in Sunday services. He has served in ministry for nearly 25 years as a local church pastor, trainer and educator of future ministers through college and seminary education, and facilitator of church planting for the Assemblies of God.

Jeremy DeWeerdt serves as the Senior Pastor of City First Church, a church focused on introducing everyone to Jesus and teaching them to follow Him. Jeremy, along with his wife, Jen, were placed in leadership of the church in April of 2007. Previously, they had been on staff at City First Church for 16 years in the role of Student Ministries Pastor and Founder/Director of the post-high school ministry, Rockford Master’s Commission (now City First Leadership College). Jeremy holds a M.A. in Ministerial Leadership from Southeastern University and a DMin in Semiotics, Church, and Culture from Portland Seminary at George Fox University.

Jeremy and Jen have been married since 1995 and have three amazing sons, Caden, Connor, and Paxton.

Greg and Shaylyn Ford moved to Columbus, Ohio, in March of 2010, with a vision to ignite a movement of Christ-centered, multiplying churches. The first step was to start One Church. They began by working in the community (5 jobs between the 2 of them), building relationships, and hosting meetings in their apartment. One by one, people began to see the vision and join the movement. Pretty soon a team was built and word began to spread. On January 23, 2011, One Church hosted its first official service. Since then, the church has continued to expand. In 2016, One Church purchased the property at 817 North Hamilton Road in Gahanna. This facility is now home to a church that is reaching, connecting, growing, supporting, and empowering person after person. As the numbers grow, so do the stories. Lives are being transformed through the power of Jesus. Greg Ford serves as Lead Pastor of One Church and is committed, along with his entire staff, to “Igniting a Movement to Reach a Disconnected Culture” for Christ in Columbus, Ohio, and around the world. The Fords are a family of five. With Greg and Shaylyn are Ella, Hudson, and Miles.

Maricela H. Hernández was elected as the West Spanish language area executive presbyter in August 2021, representing nine Hispanic districts within the Assemblies of God. She is the secretary/treasurer of the Texas Gulf Hispanic District of the Assemblies of God. Prior to her current role, Hernández served as lead pastor of Templo Paraiso, Sullivan City, Texas for nine years and as assistant pastor of Family Christian Assembly, Penitas, Texas for 17 years. Hernández serves on the AGTrust Board of Advisers, Southwestern Assemblies of God

University Board of Regents, and Global University Board of Trustees. She founded Flames of Fire Bible School in 2007, a district school of ministry Bible training center. She serves on the CMN lead team and NWM regional director. She is involved internationally serving as the USA Women Ministries Representative for the Hispanic World Fellowship of the Assemblies of God.

Hernández holds a master's degree in leadership from Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in education from the University of Texas Pan American. She is also a graduate of Bethel Bible Institute.

She and her husband, Rafael, have two adult children.

Dan Hunter and his wife, Rachel, are Lead Pastors at Grace Church in Houston, Texas. They have spent over 29 years in marriage and ministry together. Dan planted Living Church, located in the Dallas area, in October of 2010. He also spent 20 years in student ministries and church leadership. Dan continues to train and coach leaders, consult with churches, speak at conferences and events, and pastor on the local level. Dan and Rachel and their twin girls, Jordyn and Avery, live in Friendswood, TX.

Travis and Brittany Jones have called Richmond home for over a decade, dedicating their lives to serving and investing in the South Richmond and North Chesterfield communities. With a passion for sharing hope and inspiring others, they believe that no one is beyond restoration—“God can take broken people and build them back together.” Drawing from many years of experience in full-time ministry, they embrace life as a vibrant, diverse, and purposeful journey. Together with their team, Travis and Brittany are excited to continue making a positive impact, living out their shared vision to bring hope and motivation to those around them.

Pastors Rob & Becca founded River Valley Church in an elementary school in 1995. It has since grown into a thriving church with nearly 10,000 in attendance across ten U.S. campuses and one international campus (Mbekelweni, eSwatini) with plans for further expansion in the future. Through Pastor Rob’s unique and practical preaching style, vision casting and gifts of leadership, he encourages people to live out River Valley’s mission of cultivating an authentic, life-changing relationship with Jesus Christ. He is the author of the books “Change Before You

Have To,” “Front Row Leadership,” “Fix It,” “Speed of Unity,” and his latest release, “Keep the Change.” In addition to leading River Valley, he also serves on several organizational boards and speaks at events and conferences around the world.

Jeff Leake has served as the Lead Pastor of Allison Park Church in Pittsburgh, PA for more than 30 years. He is an author of more than five books. Jeff has helped to parent 30 over new churches over the last twenty years, and many of these churches have reproduced to create a movement of well over 100 new churches. He and his wife, Melodie, have been married for over 30 years and have five children and seven grandchildren.

In 2015, Senior Pastors Gabby and Petry Mejia received a divine calling to reach and serve the lost, hurting, and marginalized in the heart of Kissimmee, FL. This led to the establishment of New Birth Church on October 4th, 2015. Through the sacrificial efforts of Pastor Gabby and Petry Mejia, alongside the dedicated leadership teams, New Birth has become a beacon of hope, serving the community through various outreach programs, providing food, and assisting those in need.

In March of 2020, Pastor Gabby Mejia was sworn in as a Chaplain, assuming a role of providing spiritual support for the City of Kissimmee. From their family of three children to the expansion to five campuses and incorporating two languages, New Birth Church is grateful for the blessings received. The Mejias express anticipation for the future, confident that the best is yet to come, and they eagerly look forward to what God has planned for the future of New Birth.

In 2009, a small group of people began gathering in midtown Tulsa, OK with a similar heartbeat and vision. Matt and Lindsey Nelson, and others, came together around a shared passion to see people discover Jesus, to serve our community, and to see our city transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ which was the start of City Church.

Wayne and Kristi Northup are the lead pastors of Saints Community Church, a multi-site church in New Orleans, LA. Wayne is an experienced evangelist having spoken to more than a million students across the country. With over 20 years of experience, he is both reaching his city and training others to reach theirs. When Wayne isn’t preaching, you’ll find him winning in fantasy football or hanging out with his family, including his dog Pippin.

Lead Pastor Scott Obremski embarked on his ministry journey at James River Church in the autumn of 1996, concurrently attending Central Bible College. Initially volunteering for four years in the youth ministry, Scott's dedication led to his official inclusion on staff to initiate the James River Master’s Commission program. After nearly a decade and impacting countless students, Scott transitioned to assume leadership of the worship department at James River, where he became a regular speaker on Wednesday nights. In the autumn of 2007, Scott crossed paths with Jen, and within a year, they exchanged vows. The couple is blessed with three children: Cruz, Titus, and Eden. In 2012, the Obremskis sensed God's call to establish a church in Lee’s Summit, MO. Their shared passion for people and commitment to guiding them toward a life in Jesus Christ fuels their anticipation for the future of Summit Park Church. Together, Scott and Jen eagerly await the unfolding of God's plans for their ministry.

Chris and Cara Railey are the Co-Lead Pastors of Oaks Church in Red Oak, Texas. They’ve been in pastoral ministry since 2000. Chris and Cara have a rich history with Oaks Church, going back to 2007 when they were the first directors of Oaks College. They have been married since 1999 and are the proud parents of Canon, Caleb, and Cooper.

What began with several people in the living room of their townhome, has transformed into hundreds of people experiencing Life Change Through Christ. Pastors Mike & Ashton are passionate about the local church, and love serving in ministry together. After serving together as youth & worship pastors, they felt the call to start a church that was focused on seeing people experience Life Change Through Christ. They stepped out in faith, moving their family from Florida to North Carolina to plant Focus Church. Pastors Mike & Ashton are high school sweethearts, and have three children, Ariana, Joel, and Harmony.

Pastor Adam and Kristy were married in July 2002 while finishing up their ministry degrees at Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, and they have been doing ministry ever since.

Before coming to VFC, Adam had been a youth pastor, campus pastor, and executive pastor. In 2003, Kristy signed a recording contract with Warner Brothers and began her several years of touring. Now, Kristy has over a decade of experience being a worship pastor. Pastor Adam and Kristy have two children, Beckham and London. Adam and Kristy Starling took over a struggling church of 100 people in January of 2013. A year later this church became Victory Family Church and now serves as the home for over 5,000 people in weekly attendance. In that time span, it has become one of the fastest-growing churches in America. However, the numbers don’t even begin to tell the amazing story of what God has done. VFC has been marked by the miraculous. They have seen thousands come to know Christ, thousands in weekly Small Groups, marriages restored, addicts set free, and extraordinary healing. Through it all, they ALL have become FAMILY. Their story is simple, really – they are just a lot of people who are committed to Jesus and each other, and we have a relentless passion to tell others about him. Adam and Kristy have committed their lives to create a place where people can come to know Christ, grow in Him, and find a family. The ministry philosophy is incredibly simple and effective.

John Van Pay is the founding and lead pastor of Gateway Fellowship Church

(www.mygateway.tv) in San Antonio, Texas, the fastest growing church in America in 2016, according to Outreach Magazine. He has finished seventy endurance events including the IRONMAN triathlon. John, his wife, Stephanie, and their three children live in Helotes, Texas.

In 2014, God spoke to Pastor JJ and Pastor Liz Vasquez to plant a church that would serve their community and the city of Orlando selflessly. 2 years later on September 18, 2016, that vision became a reality when Journey Church held its first service in the auditorium of Winter Park High School. Since launch, Journey Church has seen incredible growth and is often recognized as one of the fastest growing churches in the US.