John has 40 plus years of ministry experience and has served as the Executive Director since 2015. He is a speaker, author, and consultant in areas related to church leadership, discipleship and Sunday School. He has served churches in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee and served 13 years at Lifeway with a focus on training and development. John’s greatest joy comes from watching church leaders connect with others who will help them flourish in their ministries and homes.

Alan serves as the Pastor of Christian Education & Discipleship at Nashville First Baptist Church, Nashville, TN. Prior to coming to Nashville First, he served 24 years at Lifeway training and connecting with Christian Educators and Adult Ministry leaders around the country about the work and strategy of adult ministry. Alan has a passion for training Sunday School leaders and ministry professionals.

Ben has served churches in Tennessee and North Carolina. Ben’s experience working with adults has helped FBC Hendersonville expand their groups ministry as they move forward post-COVID. Ben is a leader who loves to learn and share what he learns by investing in other leaders.

God called Carl to serve as a minister at the age of nineteen. Carl has had the opportunity to serve churches in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, and Florida. His greatest passion is helping the church remain focused on her mission and helping leaders join God in fulfilling that mission.

Kim has served on the Christian Education staff in numerous churches in the greater Atlanta area including Roswell Street and West Cobb, both in Marietta, GA. She has served with the Noonday Association since 2018. Kim is passionate about training and developing leaders as is evident in her work to develop a weekday preschool training event that reaches hundreds of leaders each year.

As a discipleship consultant with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, PJ helps churches make disciples and reach their community.  He is especially passionate about reaching and equipping single adults. As an advocate for singles, he travels nationally, speaking, coaching, and creating content for singles and the local church. PJ founded Table for One Ministries in 2013 with a mission to build community for single adults through discipleship.

Ben has served churches in Tennessee and North Carolina. Ben’s experience working with adults has helped FBC Hendersonville expand their groups ministry as they move forward post-COVID. Ben is a leader who loves to learn and share what he learns by investing in other leaders.

Dixie is a seasoned Women’s Ministry leader. She has served at New Vision Baptist for multiple years where she serves with a disciplemaking team whose goal is to reach adults in Murfreesboro, TN with the gospel and see their lives transformed as they worship, connect, serve, and go.

Sean is the Sunday School/Discipleship Strategist for the Louisiana Baptists Convention. His goal is to assist Louisiana Baptist Churches in developing and utilizing their small groups strategy to make disciples and accomplish the Great Commission. He assists churches in developing a path forward towards a healthy, growing church.

Prior to DBU, Shelley served for more than 25 years in children’s and family ministry in Oklahoma, Florida, and Texas.

Dr. Melia is also a Licensed Professional Counselor specializing in grief and resilience. She holds an undergraduate degree from Oklahoma Baptist University, two master’s degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Philosophy from B.H. Carroll Theological Institute.

In addition to serving as Lead Pastor, Brad also serves as a hospital chaplain, is the Director for National Sustainability and Missouri Team Lead for Prison Seminaries Foundation and is an adjunct professor for New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Brad has served as a prison chaplain, church planter, and church revitalizer. Brad has a Master of Arts in Christian Education, as well as a Master of Theology, and a Ph.D. all from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In his spare time Brad enjoys time in the gym, hiking with his family, and cooking Cajun meals.