Chapel Guests 2011 - 2012
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Al Allison, Pastor, Chattanooga, TNAl Allison is a staff elder and area pastor at North Shore Fellowship, overseeing congregants living in the northern most part of the greater Chattanooga area. Al was raised in Texas and graduated from Baylor University, where he met his wife Heather. He worked at DePaul Psychiatric Hospital until 2000 when they moved to Chattanooga to work with at-risk youth at Bethel Bible Village. In 2005, Al was called to North Shore Fellowship where he has served since. He and Heather have two children: Katie, 13 and Caleb, 9. |
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Rev. Augustine Asir, Word for the World
Rev. Augustine Asir is the founder and Executive Director of Word for the World, an incarnational ministry operating among the socially neglected people of India: the lepers, slum dwellers, villagers and handicapped. This ministry, which started with just eight people and a budget of $200, has since grown to include 152 missionaries in thirteen states throughout the country of India. |
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Dr. Richard E. Averbeck, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, ILDr. Richard E. Averbeck (B.A. Calvary Bible College; M.Div. Grace Theological Seminary; Ph.D. Dropsie College for Hebrew and Cognate Learning) is Professor of Old Testament and Semitic Languages and Director of the Ph.D. program in Theological Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Dr. Averbeck is co-editor of Life and Culture in the Ancient Near East and Crossing Boundaries and Linking Horizons. He has contributed numerous essays that elucidate the ancient Near Eastern background of the Genesis creation narratives, including "The Sumerian Historiographic Tradition and Its Implications for Genesis 1-11," in Faith, Tradition, and History; "Factors in Reading the Patriarchal Narratives: Literary, Historical, and Theological Dimensions," in Giving the Sense: Understanding and Using Old Testament Historical Texts; "Ancient Near Eastern Mythography as it relates to Historiography in the Hebrew Bible: Genesis 3 and the Cosmic Battle," in The Future of Biblical Archaeology: Reassessing Methodologies and Assumptions; and "Temple Building among the Sumerians and Akkadians,” in From the Foundations to the Crenellations: Essays on Temple Building in the Ancient Near East and Hebrew Bible. He and his wife Melinda reside in Pleasant Prairie, WI, and have two sons and two grandchildren. |
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Dr. Mark Bailey, Dallas Theological Seminary PresidentDr. Bailey assumed the presidency of Dallas Theological Seminary after years of service as both a professor and the vice president for Academic Affairs as well as his role as pastor of a local church. He was a seminar instructor for Walk Thru the Bible Ministries for 20 years and is in demand for Bible conferences and other preaching engagements. His overseas ministries have included Venezuela, Argentina, and Hungary. He is also a regular tour leader in the lands of the Bible, including Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Greece, and Rome. |
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Rev. Leroy Barber, Mission Year
Leroy Barber has dedicated more than 20 years to eradicating poverty, confronting homelessness, restoring local neighborhoods, healing racism, and living what Dr. King called "the beloved community." |
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Dr. Matt Benson, Vice President for Spiritual Formation
Matt and his wife, Melody, love raising their children (Jonathan, Joshua and Emilyn) to welcome college students, visitors and missionaries for fellowship on the back porch. Now in his 13th year at Bryan, Matt brings to the table his experience as a pastor, music leader and pastoral counselor, as well as his keen sense of kingdom-living, leadership development and strategic thinking. |
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Ann Blackburn, His Grace MinistriesAnn Blackburn is an anointed Bible teacher, conference speaker and author. In addition to teaching weekly Bible studies in her home area of Dayton, TN, she speaks on the radio, at revivals, for district meetings and men's and women's conferences. Recently, Ann complied the journals of her daily Bible studies, which are now published as The First Gleam of Dawn. Ann's love relationship with God the Father and her enthusiasm for the Truth of God's Word are contagious. Her deepest desire is to see the lives of people changed by the power of God and his Word "so that we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ." |
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Don Blanton, Money Trax, Inc.Don Blanton, owner and current president of Money Trax, Inc., graduated from Bryan College with a BS in Biology. He went on to teach at Ben Lippen High School in North Carolina for eleven years before transitioning to a career in the insurance and investment business with Gilsbar Financial Services, Inc. After working as a leading agent with Gilsbar for ten years, he left to devote more of his time to MoneyTrax, a company dedicated to the development of innovative communication tools for professionals in the financial services industry. Don continues to see clients and is active in the sale of life insurance and securities. He travels nationwide to speak at seminars, addressing the top financial planners in the country who utilize his unique communication style and tools to work with their individual clients. He currently holds the LUTC, CLU, and ChFC designations. Don has been married 33 years to his college sweetheart Connie and is the proud father of James and Annah. |
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Michael Card, Musician/Author
In a career that spans 25 years, Michael Card has recorded over 23 albums, authored 19 books, hosted a radio program, and written for magazines. Having penned favorites such as “El Shaddai” and “Emmanuel,” he never imagined selling over 4 million albums or writing over 19 #1 hits. |
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Katherine Chon, President/Co-Founder, Polaris ProjectKatherine began combating human trafficking after reading a newspaper article that described the enslavement of women in a brothel a few miles from her home. She identified 400 potential victims in her community, which led to one of the first transitional housing and service programs for victims and a community-wide Human Trafficking Task Force. Katherine has testified before U.S. Congress and interviewed with the Washington Post, ABC News, Marie Claire, and Newsweek. Widely recognized for her leadership, social entrepreneurship, and executive management, Katherine was presented the Do Something BRICK award by President Bill Clinton and the People's Voice award at the United Nations. |
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Jonathan Doran, Counseling and Soul CareJonathan, Director of Counseling and Soul Care and Instructor of Psychology, graduated from Bryan College (2000) with a degree in psychology, and continued his studies at Asbury Theological Seminary (M.A., Counseling). He has worked in a variety of contexts: psychiatric hospitals, schools and camps.As a counselor, Jonathan invites students into a relationship with God that they might find healing and be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. To that end, he has developed an academic minor in Soul Care, and enjoys spending time with students in and out of the classroom. Jonathan loves UVA football, theology and the liturgical calendar. He and his wife Lorraine have three children, Eli, Simon and Eden. |
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Chuck Fleishmann, U.S. CongressmanCongressman Fleischmann is a conservative Republican who represents the 3rd District of Tennessee. The District is made-up of 11 counties: Anderson, Bradley, Claiborne, Grainger, Hamilton, Jefferson, Meigs, Polk, Rhea, Roane and Union. Congressman Fleishmann received his undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Illinois. He received both Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude honors. He then went to the University of Tennessee law school where he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence. He and his wife, Brenda, live in Ooltewah, Tennessee, with their 3 boys, Chuckie, Jamie and Jeffrey. |
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Dr. Robby Gallaty, Pastor, ChattanoogaRobby Gallaty came to Chattanooga as Senior Pastor of Brainerd Baptist Church in October of 2008. Robby is a native of New Orleans and was raised in Chalmette, LA. Before coming to Brainerd, Robby was the pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church in Morgan City, LA.Robby earned his B.G.S. from William Carey University in 1998. Robby also graduated from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with an MDIV in Expository Preaching and is finishing his PhD in Expository Preaching at New Orleans. He authored his first book in the summer of 2009, Creating an Atmosphere to HEAR God Speak, which is a discipleship toolbox for anyone seeking a deeper relationship with the Lord. Robby and his wife Kandi have two sons named Rig and Ryder. Robby likes to play golf, watch the UFC, and read. |
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Dr. Peter Held, Professor of Christian Thought and Biblical Studies, Senior Fellow for Christian WorldviewDr. Peter Held holds degrees from the University of Alabama (Ed.D. Higher Education Administration, M.A.E. Counseling), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M. Bible Exposition) and John Brown University (B.S. Business). During his 18 years at Bryan, Peter has been heavily involved both in Student Life and as a professor. Peter has a variety of passions and expertise, including spiritual warfare, Christian worldview, higher education law, student development, and redemptive discipline. Peter and his wife Robin have two adult daughters, Rachel and Amanda. |
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Buddy Hoffman, Pastor, Atlanta
Buddy Hoffman, a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, is the Lead Pastor of Grace Fellowship Church, a church he and his wife founded more than twenty five years ago, which has campuses both in the heart and in the suburbs of Atlanta, GA. |
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Dr. Wendell (Whit) Jones, Jr., Professor of EnglishDr. Whit Jones has been a part of the English Department for twenty years, primarily teaching courses in British and Southern Literature, Shakespeare, Literary Criticism, and the works of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. Having degrees in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (M.A. and Ph.D.), he is also interested in psychology, marriage and parenting.Whit is loved by his students for his patience and sense of humor, and has been known to perform original compositions for Bryan College variety shows. He is married to Amy and together they have four children—Will (a student at Bryan), Mary Clare, Sam, and Cliff. |
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David Johnson, Silent Images
David Johnson is a former English teacher in Charlotte, NC who left teaching to do full time international work. He is the President and founder of Silent Images and specializes in documentary photography. |
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Tom Key, Actor/Director/Playwright
Tom Key is the Executive Artistic Director of the Theatrical Outfit at The Balzer Theater at Herren’s in Atlanta, a professional company giving dramatic voice to the themes of spirituality, race and community in the South. Tom's solo performances are in high demand; he has appeared at The John F. Kennedy Center of Washington D.C., Harvard and Yale Universities as well as Oxford University. |
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Klon Kitchen, National Counterterrorism Center Chair
Klon Kitchen, a Bryan alum (1999, Theology/Philosophy) is an internationally recognized intelligence, security, and strategic influence expert who advises senior members of the US government, including the Obama and George W. Bush administrations . |
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Dr. Stephen Livesay, President's Series
Dr. Stephen Livesay, Bryan's president since 2003, curates this series of chapels occurring at strategic points during the academic term. Dr. Livesay holds degrees from the University of Michigan (Ph.D.) and Oakland University (M.A.), has taught at a high school in Michigan and at colleges in Virginia and Mississippi. He was a faculty member and administrator at Belhaven College for ten years immediately prior to coming to Bryan. |
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Larry Martin, Southeast Director of Church Mobilization, IJM |
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Dr. David Morgan, Assistant Professor of Biblical StudiesDavid and his wife LeAnn have recently joined the Bryan College community from the Tampa, FL, area. David has a passion for teaching biblical studies in the lectern, secondary only to teaching Scripture in the pulpit and living Scripture among the public. David has lived in several regions of the world, but his favorite residence was a beach villa in the Canary Islands, Spain, during a season of church planting.David has degrees from Houston Baptist University (BA Political Science/History, 1998); Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. Biblical Languages, 2004); Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (Th.M. New Testament, 2005; Th.M. Old Testament, 2006) and most recently completed a Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible at the University of Aberdeen (2011). |
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Carl Most, MissionaryCarl, his wife Kathy, and their two children, Jared and Corey, are missionaries in Nicaragua with Caribbean Ministries Association. The Most family is from New Zealand and has been serving in Nicaragua for the last 10 years. They joined the Nehemiah Center collaboration in 2006, implementing the Mission for Transformation, a spiritual development program for youth leaders with a focus on outreach to at-risk youth. Carl has worked in youth formation for more than 20 years in both New Zealand and Nicaragua. |
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Jeff Myers, President, Summit MinistriesIn the last 20 years Jeff Myers has become one of the most respected authorities on youth leadership development, having trained millions of young adults in the art of culture-shaping leadership. Jeff recently became President of Summit Ministries, a youth leadership and worldview training program based in Colorado, after serving as a professor at Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, for 14 years, teaching undergraduate and MBA courses in leadership and communication. In 2006, Dr. Myers founded a mentoring-focused non-profit organization, Passing the Baton International, and has since trained more than 200,000 people in 1,500 schools, churches, non-profits and political groups in the United States, Asia, Europe and Africa. Jeff now lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Danielle, and their four children. |
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Rev. Joe Novenson, Pastor; Lookout Mountain, GA
Joe began serving as Senior Pastor at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church in 1996. He received his bachelor's degree in Speech Communication from Rider College in 1974 and his Master of Divinity in 1978 from Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia. Prior to serving at LMPC, Joe served churches in Lexington, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia. |
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Dr. Ron Petitte, Professor Politics and GovernmentDr. Petitte has taught at Bryan for 18 years, and also serves as Director of the Center for International Initiatives and Vice-Chair of the Faculty at Bryan College. Prior to his academic career, he served in the United States Army for more than 30 years, retiring as a full colonel. Dr. Petitte holds degrees from Golden Gate University (D.P.A. Public Administration), Central Michigan University (M.A. Management/Administration) and Virginia Military Institute (B.A. English). His leadership has been recognized in the classroom as well in local and global communities. He has received the Outstanding Teacher Award "for creativity and innovation in the classroom" (2007); the George Washington Honor Medal by Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge, PA; and was honored as a presenter and discussion leader at The Oxford Round Table (2008). Dr. Petitte also earned a Certificate in International Law and International Relations from The Hague Academy Centre for Studies and Research as well as a Diploma in International Relations from the University of Vienna. He is currently involved in efforts with Scotland Yard and International Justice Mission in the battle to stop human trafficking. Dr. Petitte and his wife have four adult daughters and live in Dayton, TN. |
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Rev. Dr. W. Gary Phillips, Pastor, Chattanooga
Dr. Phillips holds degrees from Vanderbilt University (B.A.), Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M.), and Grace Theological Seminary (Th.D.). He was Distinguished Professor and Chair of Biblical Studies at Bryan College, where he taught for 24 years. He has received six teaching awards; published articles and books including Making Sense of Your World with W. E. Brown (nominated for Christianity Today’s “Reader’s Choice” book of the year), and a commentary Judges and Ruth; and served in the Evangelical Theological Society and the Evangelical Philosophical Society. |
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Rev. Ken Pierce, Pastor, DaytonNow serving at the First United Methodist Church here in Dayton, TN, Pastor Ken has pastored for 38 years in Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Florida. He attended Hiawassee College, and then graduated from Radford University and Asbury Theological Seminary. With a song in his heart, he loves God, his family, and the church. The great outdoors is his hobby. |
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Grady Powell, Trinity Forum AcademyGrady Powell serves as Executive Director of the Trinity Forum Academy, a nonprofit organization that works to cultivate networks of leaders whose integrity and vision will renew culture and promote human freedom and flourishing. Grady is responsible for the overall management, communications, and strategic development of the organization. Grady and his wife Sarah, a registered nurse, enjoy traveling, cooking, exercising, and exploring new places with their two sons, Liam and Parks. |
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Michael Reagan, Author/Speaker, founder/chairman The Reagan Group |
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Dr. Mark Regnerus, Sociologist/Author
Mark Regnerus is an associate professor of sociology at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Premarital Sex in America (Oxford University Press, 2010). Before that, he wrote Forbidden Fruit: Sex and Religion in the Lives of American Teenagers (Oxford, 2007), which tells the story of how religion shapes teen sexual decision-making. His op-ed on the benefits of early marriage appeared in the Washington Post on April 26, 2009. |
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Margot Starbuck, Speaker/Writer
Margot Starbuck, a graduate of Westmont College and Princeton Theological Seminary, is the author of The Girl in the Orange Dress: Searching for a Father Who Does Not Fail; Unsqueezed: Springing Free From Skinny Jeans, Nose Jobs, Highlights and Stilettos; and Small Things With Great Love: Adventures in Loving Your Neighbor. Ordained in the Presbyterian Church, she has served as a chaplain among folks living with physical and intellectual disabilities. |
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Tom Waddell, Anglican Church of the Redeemer, ChattanoogaFather Tom is the rector of Anglican Church of the Redeemer in Chattanooga, TN. Tom’s first career was as an environmental economist, mostly with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Upon retiring, he studied at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div.). He and his wife, Linda, were called to missions work with the Anglican Church of Bolivia, where they ministered to impoverished communities by teaching principles and practices of Christian microfinance and microenterprise development. After returning to the U.S. in 2005, he served as a deacon at Redeemer while working with the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders (SAMS), and in partnership with the Chalmers Center for Economic Development at Covenant College and Five Talents International, the microenterprise and microfinance program of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Tom has taught in theological schools in the U.S., Peru, and Kenya. |
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James Ward, Singer/Songwriter James has distinguished himself as a band leader and worship director for several Christian conventions including the National Youth Worker's Convention, Jubilee Convention in Pittsburgh, and the Creation Festival in Pennsylvania. He has also been visiting lecturer in the apologetics department of Westminster Theological Seminary. Ward has toured the US, Canada and Europe as a recording artist and singer-songwriter. He has recorded 12 albums, written several hit songs, as well as numerous contemporary praise songs. |
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David Wilcox, Singer-SongwriterCleveland-born David Wilcox was inspired to play guitar after hearing a fellow college student playing in a stairwell. His lyrical insight is matched by a smooth baritone voice, virtuosic guitar chops, and creative open tunings, giving him a range and tenderness rare in folk music. Considered a 'songwriter's songwriter', his songs have been covered by artists such as k.d. lang and many others. In addition to his writing prowess, his skills as a performer and storyteller are unmatched. His first release on the label, ‘How Did You Find Me Here’, sold over 100,000 copies the first year largely by word of mouth. Now, 17 albums into a career marked by personal revelation and wildly loyal fans, David continues to find and deliver joy, inspiration, and invention. |
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Bonnie-Marie Yager, Assistant Director of Worldview Formation
Bonnie-Marie Yager, Assistant Director of Worldview Formation graduated from Bryan (2007) with a political communication degree, and went to Bratislava, Slovakia to assist fundraising and development for non-profits organizations. Since returning to the U.S., Bonnie-Marie has worked as the Director of Research for Worldwide Interactive Network (WIN) and as Director of Public Relations for The Refuge Tennessee, a ministry in Harriman, TN, for homeless women and families. |
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Klaudia Zhelezny, Chosen People MinistriesKlaudia Zhelezny grew up as an atheist in Kiev, Ukraine, and moved with her family to America in reaction to a corrupt government. During their journey, a Baptist pastor told them that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah. After reading the Old Testament, her family came to America believing in Jesus! In 1997, Klaudia was invited by Chosen People Ministries to serve among Russian Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn. She helped start a Russian Jewish congregation, where she continues to be active in evangelism, offering English classes where the Bible is taught and the Gospel is proclaimed. |































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