First Look at
2025 Conferences

Dr. Ray Pritchard serves as president of Keep Believing Ministries. He ministers extensively across the US and in South Korea, Ukraine, Uganda, Kenya, China, and the Philippines. He has written 31 books, including Stealth Attack, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, and An Anchor for the Soul. He is a co-host of Today's Issues on American Family Radio. He has been married to Marlene for 50 years. Their eleven grandchildren can be found in Kansas, Illinois, and Montana. Dr. Pritchard’s hobbies include biking, surfing the Internet, and anything related to the Civil War. He recently hit the 50,000 mile mark on his bicycle riding.

Gary serves as the Executive Director of Transforming the Bay With Christ, a city Gospel network of over 750 churches in the San Francisco Bay Area. His role is to join Jesus, and catalyze a kingdom movement by connecting, equipping, and fostering collaboration among Bay Area leaders in the church, marketplace, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to joining TBC, he served at Peninsula Covenant Church in Redwood City for 24 years. (He started overseeing Family Ministries and then served his final 19 years as the Lead Pastor.) Gary earned his BS in Business Management from Sacramento State University, (which Gary affectionately refers to as the Harvard of the West) and an MDiv from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Gary and his wife Anne have been married for 32 years and have five awesome daughters, and 1 son in law, and 2 pugs! Gary’s hobbies include roasting coffee beans and pulling espresso shots, searching for the world’s best cannoli, riding on his Peloton, his Vespa, and doing anything with his wife and daughters and son in law. -------------------------------------------------------------------- As a young man, Matt came to a living faith in Jesus from an utterly non-religious background and he has never really recovered from the thrill of being forgiven, delivered and adopted by God. Matt brings more than 40 years of experience in pastoral ministry. Under his leadership, his congregation grew to twelve services across four locations in two languages. Matt developed a gifted group of pastors, who now share the teaching load at the church. Matt is married (50 years!) to the best woman in the world. He has two great kids and grandkids that he loves. He is an avid fisherman and hunter.

Steve graduated from Puget Sound Christian College with a Bachelor of Arts in Preaching. He received a Master of Arts in Practical Ministry from Pacific Christian College and a Master of Divinity in Theology from Lincoln Christian Seminary. Steve received his Doctorate from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In 1995, Steve planted Eagle Christian Church—a non-denominational, Bible-believing church in Eagle, Idaho. Since that time, the church has helped plant nine other churches and ECC has grown to four campuses in the greater Boise area. Steve and Sally have four children and one (recent) grandchild. In addition to his love for Jesus and his family, he likes classic cars and is an active mountain biker.

Derek W. H. Thomas, is a native of Wales, but has lived in the United States of America for almost 30 years. He was the Senior Minister at First Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Columbia, South Carolina until his retirement at the end of 2023 after twelve years of ministry at this historic church. He is also a Chancellor’s Professor at Reformed Theological Seminary, and a Teaching Fellow with Ligonier Ministries. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the University of Wales, a Master of Divinity from Reformed Theological Seminary (Jackson), and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Wales (Lampeter). He was ordained in the Evangelical Church of Ireland and served Stranmillis Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Belfast for 17 years before moving to the United States. He has published more than thirty books and contributed to many others. He has been married to his wife, Rosemary, for forty-nine years and they have two children and two grandchildren.

Kent is a pastor, professor, author, and executive coach who specializes in philosophical theology and cultural apologetics. He has been in ministry for 30 years, pastoring churches in California, Arizona, and Idaho, and he has taught as an adjunct professor at several colleges and seminaries including Grand Canyon University and Phoenix Seminary. He has authored many articles, four books, and even a worship album. Kent has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Print Journalism from Arizona State University, a Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Communication from Phoenix Seminary, a Doctor of Ministry degree in Cultural Apologetics from the Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, and a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from the Townsend Institute at Concordia University Irvine. Kent and his wife Stephanie have been married for 28 years and reside in Eagle, Idaho. They have three children named Ethan, Christian, and Claire who all attend The Ambrose School in Meridian.

Rene Schlaepfer, senior pastor of Twin Lakes Church for over 30 years, is the author of ten books and speaks at churches, camps, and conferences around the world. Rene and his wife Laurie have three married children they adore and six practically-perfect grandchildren aged infant to eight years old. Rene and Laurie also advocate together for Second Harvest Food Bank, Little Flock Children’s Home in India, and the Santa Cruz Pregnancy Resource Center. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Bill Butterworth is an award-winning communicator whose talks, columns, and books are providing education and encouragement to people throughout North America. Through the wit, warmth, and realism of his presentations, he brings love, laughter, and hope to his audiences. Bill holds a Bachelor degree from Florida Bible College and Masters’ degrees from both Dallas Theological Seminary, and Florida Atlantic University. He was on the faculty of Florida Bible College for eight years and was Director of Counseling Ministries at Insight for Living, the radio ministry of Chuck Swindoll for seven years. Bill now devotes himself full time to encouraging people through speaking, writing, and ghost writing. Bill and his wife Kathi have five grown children and eleven grandchildren.

Joe was born and raised in Seattle, was saved by the Lord Jesus from his sins at a young age, and called to ministry after his studies at the UW (BS Electrical Engineering, 1992). He was ordained in 1998, educated at The Master’s Seminary (Master of Divinity, 1995), and Dallas Theological Seminary (Master of Sacred Theology 1998; Doctor of Ministry in 2005 in Biblical Counseling). He assisted in the planting of Living Hope Bible Church, has served there in various roles since 1995 and as the senior pastor since 2001. He enjoys spending time with his family, fellowship with other believers, worshiping the Lord, home projects, working out, and has been very involved in short-term missions often with a focus on training pastors (Cambodia, India, Philippines, Uganda, Mexico, Honduras, Malawi, South Africa, and Sierra Leone). He served for four years as a board member of Action International Ministries, a mission agency reaching the neediest people in the world with the Gospel. His favorite scriptures include Ecclesiastes 12:13, Acts 20:24, 2 Timothy 2:15, and 2:24.

Dennis Keating was raised in a devout Catholic family and placed his personal faith in Jesus Christ in 1972. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Talbot Theological Seminary. He served at Emmanuel Faith Community Church in Escondido, CA for 40 years and now leads Grateful Shepherd Ministries that’s dedicated to preaching, teaching, mentoring, and leading so that pastors and church congregations can thrive. Dennis and Marsha have been married for 45 years and have three adult children and eight grandchildren. In his free time, Dennis enjoys woodworking and most things athletic.

Bio to come!

Dr. JP Jones is the Founding Senior Pastor for Crossline Community Church in Laguna Hills, CA. JP has a doctorate in theology and apologetics and is a popular speaker at Retreats and Christian Camps. On the Adjunct Faculty in Biblical Studies at Biola University, JP has traveled worldwide, preaching the gospel and teaching the Bible. His radio program and podcast, “Truth that Changes Lives,” is listened to in all 50 states and 162 countries. JP is married to his wife Donna and they have three young adult children and five grandchildren.

New Format! Our Week 11 conference starts on Sunday PM and check out is 10am on Thursday. Pastor John is a highly relational pastor at North Coast Family Fellowship in Seaside, OR. John is a graduate of Biola University and Dallas Theological Seminary. He is known for his Bible teaching that seeks to make God's truth understandable and applicable to daily life. John is a vision-caster for NCFF and is committed to developing Christ-like leadership. He and his wife, Becky, believe the North Coast of Oregon is where God has called them to live and share the life-transforming story of Jesus.