A successful businessman before answering God's call to ministry, Bryant is a respected Bible teacher, pastor, husband, father and community leader. He is a straightforward communicator who uniquely connects God's unchanging truth with a diverse culture through compelling and creative teaching. He has authored six books, One Minute of Your Time, Another Minute of Your Time, One Minute of Your Day, Seeds of Turmoil, Right from the Heart, and The Stage is Set.

You can find out more about Bryant's resources, listen or view his messages online and download podcasts at Right from The Heart Ministries. Bryant served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from June 2010 – June 2012.

Gordon is Sr. Ambassador for the President, IMB. He received the bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University, College Station, and the master of divinity and doctor of ministry degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX. Gordon grew up in Zimbabwe, one of 5 boys born to medical doctor missionary parents. Gordon, and his wife, Leigh Ann, have served with the IMB since their appointment in 1985, in Botswana as Associate to Area Director for Southern Africa; as regional leader for southern Africa; as vice president for the Office of Overseas Operations; as Sr. Vice President of Prayer Mobilization, and most recently as Senior Ambassador for IMB.

Gordon and Leigh Ann have 4 children, and 3 grandchildren. Gordon delights in serving and encouraging local churches, associations, and state conventions, as well as IMB staff and overseas personnel.

Trillia Newbell is the author of Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God's Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015), United: Captured by God's Vision for Diversity (2014), a children’s book, God’s Very Good Idea: A True Story of God’s Delightfully Different Family, and a six-week Bible study on Romans 8, If God is For Us: The Everlasting Truth of Our Great Salvation. She is currently Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. Trillia is married to her best friend, Thern, they reside with their two children near Nashville, TN. You can find her at trillianewbell.com and follow her on twitter at @trillianewbell.

Dr. Manny Fernandez graduated with a Masters in Theology and a Doctorate of Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1983. He founded World Link Ministries and the European Seminary of Theological Formation and Evangelization in Madrid Spain in 1991. He continues to serve as the president and Chairman of WLM as he oversees the expansion of the ministry which has spread globally. Dr. Manny is a member at First Baptist Church of Dallas. He is married to Glenda and has three children: Manny Jr., Elizabeth and Sarah.

As Vice President of Engagement, Rick Morton shepherds the ministry’s outreach to individual, church, and organizational ministry partners as well as the ministry’s commitment to publishing resources that aid families and churches in discipling orphans and vulnerable children. Holding both the Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Arts degrees in Christian Education from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Rick taught on the faculty of his alma mater as well as the faculties of Bryan College and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He also served local churches in Tennessee, Louisiana, and Mississippi. He is an accomplished writer and sought after speaker. Most notably, Rick is the co-author of the popular Orphanology: Awakening to Gospel-centered Adoption and Orphan Care and the author of KnowOrphans: Mobilizing the Church for Global Orphanology.

Rick and his lovely wife Denise have been married for over 26 years, and they have 3 children, all of whom joined their family through international adoption. Rick has also recently gained the title of “Doc” in his new role as a very proud grandpa!

Vance responded to God’s call to Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2000, as a church plant from First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia.

With a passion for God’s kingdom, he had a vision to launch a church focused on joining in God’s activity locally and globally. Thus was Hope Church born in the fall of 2001 in Las Vegas, NV. From a small group of eighteen adults in a living room, Hope’s fellowship has grown to 4000 people in small groups desiring to connect people to live the life of a Jesus follower. Vance has led Hope to understand that what God is doing is bigger than one church. Since its launch in 2001, Hope Church has sent hundreds out of its fellowship on mission, invested millions of dollars in God’s global activity, and has commissioned more than fifty churches in the Western United States.

As a seasoned church planter in the West, Vance speaks across the country and all over the world from the passion of his apostolic heart to inspire people to join in God’s eternal, redemptive mission of making disciples and multiplying the church among every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.

Vance holds a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in History and a minor in Business Management from the University of North Alabama, and a Master’s Degree in Divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He resides in Henderson, Nevada, with his wife Kristie, and has two sons, two daughters, a son-in-law, and the cutest granddaughter in the world.