Bob Goff
N.Y. Times Bestselling Author of “Love Does: Discover a Secretly Incredible Life in an Ordinary World”
Bob Goff is the New York Times Best-Selling Author of Love Does, as well as an attorney who founded Restore International, a nonprofit human rights organization operating in Uganda, India and Somalia. Bob is a sought after speaker for leadership, church and university events, inspiring current and future influencers to get to the “do” part of life. Choosing to live audaciously, Bob connects to audiences in a powerfully inspirational, yet down to earth manner.
Bob has pioneered the vision of Restore International to fight for freedom and human rights, working to improve educational opportunities and to be helpful to those in need of a voice and a friend. Restore has worked with Uganda’s judiciary in bringing over 200 cases to trial, as well as pursuing justice, intervention and education for at risk women and children in Uganda, India and Somalia. Restore Leadership Academy in Northern Uganda educates over 300 students with a focus on character and leadership development. Because of Bob’s vision and the work of Restore International, he serves as the Hon. Consul for the Republic of Uganda to the United States.
Bob has been a practicing attorney for over 25 years. He is also an adjunct professor at Pepperdine Law School where he teaches Nonprofit Law, and Point Loma Nazarene University, where he teaches Business Law.
@bobgoff
@josaxton
Jo Saxton
Author of “More than Enchanting: Breaking Through Barriers to Influence Your World” and a Director of 3DM , a movement/organization helping church leaders make discipleship and mission the heartbeat of the local church.
Jo Saxton is a leader, visionary, and practitioner that church leaders and lay people need to hear!
Born to Nigerian parents and raised in London, Jo has spread her message for the past twenty years across the UK and North America. She has served as a pastor at St. Thomas Church in Sheffield, England, and in a wide range of churches in the United States. In 2009 Jo went to work for 3DM where she continues to serve while writing books, speaking around the world, and planting a church with her husband.
Her message encourages people to engage in missional living and discipleship. Her message specifically equips women for leadership and influence and inspires all believers to engage the world in the same way God does—by going out rather than just reaching out.
Jo has spoken at colleges, universities, and seminaries, including Liberty University, Bethel University, Virginia Baptist College, and Fuller Seminary. She has addressed conference audiences at Q, Catalyst, Simply Youth, and the National Day of Prayer, as well as denominational gatherings for the Virginia Baptist Women, Salvation Army, Evangelical Covenant and Foursquare Church, Lutheran Congregations on Mission for Christ and North Star Church Network.
In her book More than Enchanting: Breaking Through Barriers to Influence Your World (IVP Books, 2012), Jo discusses the central role of women in the church and how to handle the juxtaposition of the biblical model and the current marginalization women find in their churches, neighborhoods, cities, and society. High Heels and Holiness: The Smart Girl’s Guide to Living Life Well (Hodder, 2012) is a discipleship guide for young adult women, and Real God, Real Life (Hodder, 2011) explores the desire for a deep faith in a life that works. In addition to writing books, Jo blogs at 3DM and Today’s Christian Women.
She and her husband Chris have recently planted Mission Point Church, in the Minneapolis area, where Jo serves as one of the pastors. Jo loves running, good music, reading, and laughing loudly with family and friends over a great meal. Jo and Chris have two amazing daughters. Follow her on Twitter at @josaxton.
Rev. Neil Hudson
Author of “Imagine Church” and Imagine Project Director at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity
Neil began working with LICC as the Church-Life Consultant on the Imagine project in 2006 and took over as Imagine Project Director in 2010. In 2012, Neil published Imagine Church that reflected on the lessons that had been learnt from working with churches as they engaged with the challenge of developing a culture of whole-life discipleship. Together with Tracy Cotterell, he also published a Grove booklet entitled Leading a Whole-life Disciplemaking Church.
For the previous ten years he worked at Regents Theological College, serving there latterly as its Vice Principal. His main areas of teaching concerned the missiological relationship between the Church and wider society. As well as working for LICC, he co-leads a church in Salford, Greater Manchester.
@dnhudson11
@sarahbessey
Sarah Bessey
Author of “Out of Sorts: Letting Go of Perfection and Discovering More Joy” and “Jesus Feminist: An Invitation to Revisit the Bible’s View of Women”
Sarah Bessey is an Author, award-winning blogger and speaker. Her first book Jesus Feminist: An Invitation To Revisit The Bible’s View Of Women (Howard Books, 2013) is a critically acclaimed work that is written with poetic rhythm, a prophetic voice and a deeply biblical foundation.
In her new book, Out of Sorts: Letting Go of Perfection and Discovering More Joy, Sarah candidly shares her wrestlings with core issues—such as who Jesus is, what place the Church has in our lives, how to disagree yet remain within a community, and how to love the Bible for what it is rather than what we want it to be while teaching how to walk courageously through our own tough questions.
In addition to writing books and her blog, Sarah is also an editor for A Deeper Story and a monthly contributor at SheLoves Magazine. Her work has also appeared in Conversations Journal, ChurchLeaders.com, Her.meneutics (Christianity today’s Blog for Women), Converge Magazine, Relevant Magazine, Today’s Christian Woman and a handful of other places.
When she is not traveling around North America speaking, you can find her at home in Abbotsford, British Columbia with her husband Brian, and four children.
Rickey A. Bolden
Former NFL Player Serving the Less Fortunate in Washington D.C.
Rickey was born and raised in the inner city of Dallas, Texas with four brothers and four sisters. Rickey excelled in sports at an early age and by his senior year in high school he was one of Texas top recruit. He received a football scholarship to Southern Methodist University and by his senior year in college he was named to the All-Southwest Conference team.
He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 1984, and had an immediate impact on the team. He played six seasons, and then retired to continue his education at Ashland Theological Seminary and pursue a call into full time ministry.
Rickey earned a bachelors degree from SMU, a Master of Divinity and a Doctorate of Ministry degree from Ashland Theological Seminary. In 1992, Rickey relocated to Washington D.C. to pastor Southeast Christian Fellowship. Nine years later he retired to serve our nations leadership.
In 2005, Rickey moved to LaGrange Georgia and became the Senior Pastor of New Community. In 2013, Rickey moved back to Washington D.C. to serve s the less fortunate in the metropolitan area.
@rbolden77
@RuthBellGraham
Ruth Graham
Author of “Fear Not Tomorrow, God is Already There” and “In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart”
Ruth Graham is the author of Fear Not Tomorrow, God is Already There, and the award-winning title, In Every Pew Sits a Broken Heart. She is also the author of Step into the Bible: 100 Bible Stories for Family Devotions. Ruth Graham has a heart for those who face life’s difficult challenges and seeks to minister God’s grace and restoration to those who feel marginalized within the church. She equips others to reach out to the wounded with the love of Christ.
No stranger to heartache, she provides a Biblical perspective as she shares her journey of faith. Warm and articulate, Ruth connects with her audiences by speaking openly about her own pilgrimage through her husband’s infidelities, her divorces, her teenage daughter’s two unplanned pregnancies, her other daughter’s bulimia and her son’s battle with drugs.
Ruth is an experienced conference speaker and Bible teacher. She has appeared on Good Morning America, The Hour of Power, Focus on the Family and Moody Broadcasting.
