There Is Always A Way with Dr. Jay Strack (Jay Strack)

Army Ranger Hall of Famer, Jeff Struecker, Ph.D.  This Black Hawk Down hero says, “The difference between being a coward and a hero is not whether you’re scared, it’s what you do while you’re scared.”

Brian has worked in ministry for over 16 years with 14 of those years serving in full time student ministry. He has led student ministries as small as 7 and as large as 2000. Brian is the co-author of "Checkpoints - A Tactical Guide to Manhood" and "Virtuosity - Doing the Common Uncommonly Well" along with being the co-founder of Impact Resources, a curriculum guide for student ministries.

Brian is passionate about seeing people saved, baptized and growing in their faith along with equipping and leading the staff and volunteers where he serves. He is married to Jennifer Mills, co-author of "Salvaging My Identity" and father to McKenna and Parker.

https://www.slulead.com/slu

#alwaysaway #slulead #outcomesconference

Tami Heim has been the president and CEO of Christian Leadership Alliance since January 2012. Her professional career includes executive leadership experience in the technology, marketing, publishing and retail industries. She has served as a partner in The A Group – Brand Development, executive vice president and chief publishing officer for Thomas Nelson Publishers, and as the president of Borders, Inc.

Email: Tami.Heim@ChristianLeadershipAlliance.org

Website: http://blog.christianleadershipalliance.org/

🌎 GLOBAL DIGITAL EXPERIENCE

September 1 - October 31, 2023

Convene with Christian nonprofit leaders worldwide.

Engage in live and recorded learning experiences

Strengthen your mission-critical competencies.

Increase your leadership capacity.

Expand your Kingdom impact!

https://outcomesconference.org/global/

As an organization following Jesus Christ, Mission of Hope exists to bring life transformation to every man, woman, and child. With campuses in the Caribbean, we partner with local churches to transform lives through church advancement, nutrition, education, and medical care.

We accomplish this through our Core Resolutions:

RESOLUTIONS

• Connecting People to Jesus: Repeatedly sharing the Gospel message in targeted geographies.
• Empowering Local Leaders: Strategically developing national leaders to carry the vision to the nation.
• Serving People Holistically: Continuously striving to meet the physical, mental, social and spiritual needs of every man, woman, and child.
• Engaging People Relationally: Intentionally modeling Christ’s love through relationships.
• Stewarding with Excellence: Responsibly utilizing all resources and talents to their fullest potential for God’s glory.

Connect with Jay:

• Twitter

• Instagram

Brought to you by Student Leadership University

#SLUlead

Pete Peterson—COVID19 And The Calling Of Public Service

Dr. Jeffrey Alan Lovingood was saved, baptized and called to serve the Lord while at First Baptist Church Cleveland, TN. Having been in ministry since the age of 18, in every church where Jeff has served, he has led the way in reaching beyond church culture and engaging the community. The churches he has served over the past 36 years are: Intern, First Baptist Church. Cleveland, TN; Youth Minister, First Baptist Church. Royce, TX. (While attending seminary); Youth Minister, First Baptist Church. Ruston, LA; Youth Minister, First Baptist Church. Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Youth Minister, First Baptist Church. Cleveland, TN; Youth Minister, Idlewild Baptist Church. Tampa, FL; Youth Minister, First Baptist Church Concord. Knoxville, TN; Senior Associate Pastor for Spiritual Development, Long Hollow Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN. 2002 – 2014. Under Jeff’s leadership, Long Holllow was consistently recognized for being in the top churches for children, student and adult baptisms; the church has grown from a little over a 1,000 members to a multi-site church with 5 campuses and a membership of 12,000 averaging 7,000 weekly attendance in attendance for all campuses. Jeff currently serves as Senior Associate Pastor, First Baptist Church, Cleveland, TN. (June 2015 to present) – First Baptist Cleveland is the 6th largest church in Tennessee with an attendance of approximately 3,500.

Jeff’s education, awards, and achievements include: High school graduate, Bradley High School; All-State football player, Bradley High School; BA, Carson Newman College; played football and baseball while at Carson Newman College; was a part of three National Championship football teams while at Carson Newman College; Masters of Arts in Religious Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Doctorate of Divinity at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Served as President of the Metro Youth Minister’s Conference (The youth pastors associated with this conference represent 25,000+ students and 300,000+ church members.); currently a Trustee at Carson Newman University; received the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award for Student Ministry; Adjunct professor at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Author of Make it Last, Proven Principles for Effective Student Ministry; and Chaplain of the University of Tennessee football team under Coach Phil Fulmer

Jeff was born in 1963 in Detroit, MI. He has been married to Rachel Tollett Lovingood for 30 years. Rachel is an author and speaker. They have 3 children: Trevor, is married to Erica and they have a 2yr old daughter Londyn Willow and a 5 month old son, Leo. Trever is the Campus Pastor at is Bridgepoint Downtown Campus. Kelsey, who has her PA license, and is married to Luke Harper, the Student Pastor at Cross Church Fayetteville Campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Luke and Kelsey have a 2 month old girl named Layla. Riley, their third child, is attending the University of Tennessee on a football scholarship.

Most leaders live with UNHOLY HURRY. The guest for today's Podcast wrote “That kind of unholy hurry may make me look busy, but too often it keeps me from actually being fruitful in the ways Jesus wants me to be. Jesus modeled grace-paced leadership. To learn from him, we begin not with leading but with following.”

Alan Fadling (M. Div., Fuller Theological Seminary) is President and Founder of Unhurried Living, Inc. in Mission Viejo, CA, inspiring people to rest deeper, live fuller and lead better. He speaks and consults internationally, as well as nationally with organizations such as Saddleback Church, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Cru, Halftime Institute, Apprentice Institute and Open Doors International. He is the award-winning author of An Unhurried Life (IVP 2013), honored with a Christianity Today Award of Merit in spirituality, and An Unhurried Leader (IVP 2017). He is a trained spiritual director. He lives in Mission Viejo, California with his wife, Gem, and their family.

President And CEO, Open Doors USA

Open Doors USA President and CEO David Curry advocates on behalf of those who are persecuted for their Christian faith. He provides leadership to Open Doors in its mission to strengthen and equip Christians who live under extreme restrictions, while encouraging these believers to remain strong in their faith.

For over 60 years, Open Doors has worked in the world’s most oppressive regions, empowering and equipping persecuted Christians in more than 60 countries by providing Bibles, training, and programs to help those who have been marginalized because of their beliefs as well as helping to restore those communities that have been targets of persecution. For twenty years Open Doors has published the World Watch List, a report on the 50 countries where it is most difficult to live as a Christian.

Since assuming the role of CEO in August 2013, Curry has traveled extensively to the field to encourage those living under persecution and support the work of Open Doors. He appears frequently on Fox News and is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post. He has also been published or featured in sources such as CBS News, CNN, The Washington Post, Christianity Today, USA Today, The Christian Post, and other news outlets.

Prior to coming to Open Doors, Curry served as CEO and president at Christian organizations that serve homeless and neglected children in several countries, including India and Peru.

Curry is the author of four books: First Aid for Enablers, It’s Not How Far You Fall It’s How High You Bounce, God Plays Golf and Change Your World!

Curry holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwest University in Seattle and an honorary doctorate of humane letters from Faith Evangelical College and Seminary based in Tacoma, Washington.

Based in Santa Ana, California, Curry and his wife have two children.

In this episode, Dr. Jay Strack interviews Mark Miller about his latest book "Smart Leadership" 

Mark Miller is an international best-selling author, business leader, and communicator.

Mark began writing almost twenty years ago when he teamed up with Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager, to write The Secret: What Great Leaders Know and Do. With over 1,000,000 books in print, in more than 25 languages, Mark’s global impact continues to grow.

In addition to his writing, Mark enjoys speaking to leaders. Over the years, he’s traveled to dozens of countries teaching for numerous international organizations. His theme is always the same: encouraging and equipping leaders!

Mark started his Chick-fil-A career working as an hourly team member in 1977. In 1978, he joined the corporate staff working in the warehouse and mailroom. Since that time, he has provided leadership for Corporate Communications, Field Operations, Quality and Customer Satisfaction, Training and Development, and Leadership Development. During his tenure with Chick-fil-A, the company has grown from 75 restaurants to over 2,300 locations with annual sales approaching $10 billion.

Connect with Jay:

• Twitter

• Instagram

Brought to you by Student Leadership University

#SLUlead

Julia Immonen Strachan was born and raised in Finland before moving to the UK at age six. An avid sportswoman who works for Sky Sports News, Julia’s passion is campaigning to end modern-day slavery, and she believes sport is a powerful vehicle for raising awareness about such overwhelming injustice.

CLICK HERE TO READ An incredible account of one woman’s record-breaking row across the Atlantic

Thirty-two-year-old Julia Immonen and four other women take on a challenge completed by fewer people than have climbed Mount Everest or gone into space: row three thousand miles, unaided, from the Canary Islands to Barbados.

Row for Freedom chronicles that dramatic journey, detailing the grueling, peril-filled crossing, which broke two world records, as it weaves together Julia’s search for hope and purpose against a background of relationships scarred by violence.

(Special Preview Episode to a course from The Strack Center CSU)

Dr. Strack and John Maxwell have been friends for decades.

John C. Maxwell is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, coach and speaker who has sold more than 24 million books in 50 languages. Often called the country's No. 1 leadership authority, Maxwell was identified as the most popular leadership expert in the world by Inc. magazine in 2014. And he has been voted the top leadership professional six years in a row on LeadershipGurus.net.

He is the founder of The John Maxwell Company, The John Maxwell Team and EQUIP, a nonprofit organization that has trained more than 5 million leaders in 180 countries. Each year Maxwell speaks to Fortune 500 companies, presidents of nations and many of the world's top business leaders.

Link to 16 Laws of Communication

https://www.amazon.com/16-Undeniable-Laws-Communication-Message/dp/B0BMZ6N6MD

Link to The Strack Center at CSU

https://www.charlestonsouthern.edu/academics/strack-center/

#alwaysaway #slulead #strackcenter #takemylife

Concorde travelled at twice the speed of sound-some would say that Graham Lacey did the same. Graham relentlessly pushed the limits, until he went too far...and he got a phone call which changed his life forever. In his new book, Take My Life, Graham Lacey shares his very personal story of how God saved him from himself and gave him peace of mind-a peace that is available to us all. Having read the manuscript, his life-long friend Dr. R.T. Kendall remarked, "I could not put this book down and I don't think you will want to either."

Born in England in 1948, he commenced business on his own account at age fifteen. He has served on the boards of twenty seven publicly listed companies in five countries. Dr. Lacey has now dedicated himself to activities that have eternal spiritual dimension.

Dr. Lacey was the executive producer of the award-winning “A Worldwide Christmas Celebration” and is the executive producer of “The Millennium Chorus”. He produced a television special on Mother Theresa. He also compiled the book entitled, My Favorite Hymn.

A confidant of many leading evangelist and lay preacher alike, he has been and active enabler for the cause of Christ in numerous countries around the world. Lacey holds an honorary Doctorate in International Law, which was conferred on him in 1986.

Dr. Lacey is married to Susan, and they have two sons – Luke and James. They reside in the Isle of Man in the British Isles.

“In my lifetime, I have met leaders from every area: politics, military, religion, sports, business, and the arts. Graham Lacey is the giant essential leader. No one individual has made the impact on my life and vision as has my dear friend Graham Lacey. I have learned more from him than any other man. He has done more than anyone else to make SLU 301, London a reality.” — Dr. Jay Strack

#theresalwaysaway #slulead#thestrackcenter

Eric Metaxas is the #1 New York Times Bestselling author of Bonhoeffer, and many other books, including Is Atheism Dead?, Martin Luther, Amazing Grace, and Letter to the American Church. He has written more than thirty children’s books, including the bestsellers Squanto and the Miracle of Thanksgiving and It’s Time to Sleep, My Love, illustrated by Nancy Tillman. His books have been translated into more than twenty-five languages. He is the host of Socrates in the City, and the nationally syndicated Eric Metaxas Radio Show — “The Show about Everything!” — which also airs as a weekly television program on TBN. Metaxas has conducted interviews with an eclectic mix of guests including film director Ron Howard, Mel Gibson, and Morgan Freeman,  as well as such figures as Peter Thiel. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, and many other publications.

Ben Trueblood serves as the Director of Student Ministry for Lifeway Christian Resources and has twenty years of student ministry experience, fourteen of which were spent in the local church as a student pastor. In addition to his role at Lifeway Ben is involved in training, consulting, and speaking to student ministries throughout the U.S.

He is the author of three books: A Different College Experience, Within Reach, and Student Ministry That Matters, and is the host of The Student Ministry Podcast by Lifeway. Ben has also recently started a YouTube channel aimed at encouraging and investing in fellow youth pastors.

Ben is driven by a desire for student ministries to expand God’s Kingdom, to see the lives of students transformed by the gospel, and to develop students who shape the culture in which they live.

Ben and his wife Kristen have four children. In his free time Ben enjoys family, hunting, is a huge St. Louis Cardinals fan, and is a collector of hobbies.

Connect with Ben on Instagram: @bentrueblood

#jongordon #alwaysaway #slulead #thestrackcenter

Jon Gordon’s best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world.

His principles have been put to the test by numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams, school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 28 books including 15 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 2 million copies, The Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee Bean, Stay Positive, and The Garden. Jon’s latest book is The One Truth.

https://jongordon.com

The Center for Global Leadership and Ministry at Charleston Southern University offers academic credit for high school and college students seeking faith-based learning opportunities. Courses within the Center focus on three key areas: biblical worldview and apologetics, youth culture and ministry, and global leadership strategies.

https://www.charlestonsouthern.edu/academics/strack-center/

Nick Korir holds a BSc. Appropriate Technology Degree and an MA. Leadership Studies Degree. After working for ADRA in South Sudan, he later went on to become Youth Pastor at Immanuel AGC (Kericho); Africa Director of Global Youth Ministry Network; Teens Pastor at Nairobi Baptist Church, Youth Pastor at Parklands Baptist Church and Youth Pastor at Nairobi Chapel. He later on took up the role of Executive Pastor of Nairobi Chapel in 2013 and finally Senior Pastor in December 2017.

Pastor Nick is married to Julia Korir together they have twin boys – Don and Dan.

Pastor Nick is an Adventure Motorcycle Rider and passionately rides across Africa to raise funds to provide educational scholarships for needy students in High Schools and Universities in Kenya through Nairobi Chapel’s LOGOS Scholarship Fund. He also serves as a chaplain among the biker community and founding chair of Motorcycle Kenya – the national association for private bikers in Kenya.

Pst Nick’s life purpose is: “Building a generation of reproducing disciples of Jesus Christ that are Righteous, Responsible and enjoy healthy Relationships”. He is passionate about investing in emerging Youth Leadership in Africa through discipleship, mentorship and leadership development.

John C. Lennox (PhD, DPhil, DSc) is Professor of Mathematics in the University of Oxford (Emeritus), Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science, and Pastoral Advisor at Green Templeton College, Oxford. He is author of God's Undertaker: Has Science Buried God? on the interface between science, philosophy, and theology. He lectures extensively in North America and in Eastern and Western Europe on mathematics, the philosophy of science, and the intellectual defense of Christianity, and he has publicly debated New Atheists Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. John is married to Sally; they have three grown children and ten grandchildren and live near Oxford.

2084book.com

At the age of 19, Bob Reccord surrendered his life to Jesus Christ, compelled to make a difference in the lives of others because of the difference Christ had made in Him. Believing that Christ had called him both to a personal relationship with Him, and an exciting personal mission alongside Him, Bob has served Christ in several different venues. 

In 2008, Bob founded Total Life Impact Ministries, Inc. and serves as Founder/Chairman, while his wife, Cheryl, leads as President. Whether through Men’s Conferences, Marriage Conferences, Wild Game Dinners, worship services, or workplace ministries, Bob challenges people from all around the world to Live a Life that Matters. Believing that every life is made to count, Bob has also spoken for pregnancy resource centers across the nation who daily fight to protect LIFE , resulting in gifts exceeding seven figures cumulatively. 

Bob was the President/CEO of Hope for the Heart Ministries based in Plano, Texas. Hope for the Heart develops resources to equip people to Biblically deal with the life issues which so regularly trip up individuals, marriages, families, relationships and organizations. These resources were used in both in the USA and in 30 languages and 68 countries. Hope for the Heart serves individuals, families, churches and Christian ministries. 

Prior to that Bob was the Executive Director for the Council for National (CNP), in Washington, D.C. This highly respected entity’s mission is to restore and sustain America's freedoms by providing a forum for conservative leaders nationally to deepen their understanding of the great spiritual, economic, constitutional, and national security issues confronting the nation. In short, CNP seeks to advance the “First Principles” of this nation’s Founding Fathers calling our nation back to its Constitutional foundations.

 In 2006, Bob brought the evangelistic challenge for every Promise Keepers in every one of the 19 arena-based major gatherings across the entire nation. In 2013, he was honored to be the keynote speaker for the NRA National Prayer Breakfast at the Houston NRA convention. Bob’s previous roles include nine years as the founding president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC) North American Mission Board, overseeing 5000+ missionaries, one of the top three disaster relief entities in the country and a radio/TV network. During those years and working with state convention partners, the FEMA-trained volunteers grew from 13,000 to over 52,000 and donations rose from $2 million to over $24 million. Additionally, 14,350 churches were started in the United States, its territories and Canada. During several of those years, Bob hosted a national radio show called Strength for Living. His other ministry roles have been as Senior Pastor at both First Baptist Church of Norfolk, Virginia and Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida. He also served as a co-pastor at Carmel Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bob also served as a business executive working with automotive, computer and aeronautic industries. During that time he served bi-vocationally helping churches grow and speaking on “how to take your faith to work.” 

Dr. Reccord has authored nine books which include Beneath the Surface, Forged by Fire, Made to Count and his latest A Heart For Adventure (available in E-Book). Bob is an avid hunter, outdoorsman, and is one of Christian Sportsman’s Fellowship’s Master Sportsmen writing regularly for their Christian Sportsman’s Magazine. Whether as a pastor, businessman, husband or father, Bob has dedicated his life to helping people discover their calling and to effectively develop and exercise their passion for God and His mission to change the world.

You may reach Bob at Bob@BobReccord.com.

Jordan Easley is the Lead Pastor of First Baptist Cleveland TN and former lead pastor of Englewood Baptist Church.

Jordan served alongside David Landrith as Teaching Pastor/Multi-site Pastor at Long Hollow Baptist Church in Hendersonville, TN.  Before serving at Long Hollow, Jordan had the privilege of serving at several other leading churches in the SBC:

• Second Baptist Houston, TX (Ed Young)
• First Baptist Atlanta, GA (Charles Stanley)
• Prestonwood Baptist Church, Plano, TX (Jack Graham)

God moved in a mighty way during Jordan’s season at Englewood:

• Over 800 people were baptized
• Over 1,700 people joined the church and were assimilated into small groups
• They launched 2 new multisite campuses that now average roughly 1,000 additional people in worship each week.
• They supported the launch of 6 new church plants across America
• They saw their budget increase from $5.1 million to $7.1 million.
• They dramatically increased their CP giving and mission involvement
• They reduced their church debt from $3.2 million to less that $800k.

In addition, Jordan is an author for Lifeway.  In 2013, B&H published his first book, “Life Change.” His second book, “Resuscitating Evangelism,” is scheduled to be released in January of 2020.  Jordan received his Bachelors degree in Biblical Studies from Dallas Baptist University and then attended Seminary at both Southwestern Baptist Theological and Luther Rice.  Jordan is currently continuing his education at Union University, where he is concluding a Masters degree in Christian Ministries.

Greg Stier has a reputation for knowing and relating to today’s teens in unique and effective ways. Because of his 25+ years in youth ministry, Stier is widely viewed as an authority on teen issues and adolescent spirituality. Over the course of the last 20 years, Stier has spoken to over 1,000,000 teens in major venues across the nation and heard countless stories of their struggles and triumphs.

Stier’s commitment to mobilizing teenagers to reach their generation for Christ is rooted in the transforming power of the gospel. Raised in a violent, inner-city family of body-builders, he never had a dad and never felt like he measured up because his biceps weren’t big enough! But one by one, he saw his tough, urban family of “thugs” come to know Christ. And that ignited a passion in Stier to see all lost people come to know Jesus.

Living just minutes away from the scene of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings in the Denver area, the tragedy triggered a pivotal turning point in Stier’s career. Following those events, he resigned a pastorate at a church in Arvada, Colorado, to pursue Dare 2 Share (D2S) full-time. Since then, Stier and the ministry of D2S have impacted the lives of hundreds of thousand teenagers across the country, motivating and equipping them to relationally reach out to those who don’t know Jesus with the gospel message of hope.

Stier is well-known for his ability to inspire teenagers to action by communicating Biblical truth through amazing true-life stories and side-splitting humor. This ability to connect with teens has made him a nationally known and sought-after speaker and author who speaks to the heart of teen issues and helps teens find their significance in God. As a dynamic communicator, Stier has had the privilege of appearing on several national television and radio shows.

Dr. Ronnie Floyd was elected as president and CEO of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention on April 2, 2019.

Floyd has deep experience in Southern Baptist leadership, having served two terms as SBC president (2014–2015 and 2015–2016), as chairman of the Great Commission Task Force of the Southern Baptist Convention (2009–2010), and on the SBC Executive Committee (1988–1998).

As a member of the Executive Committee, Floyd was on the Committee’s presidential search committee (1991–1992), the Program and Structure Study Committee of the SBC (1993-1995), and was chairman of the board (1995–1997). During this time, he was also elected as president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference (1997).

He also served as general editor of LifeWay Christian Resources’ Bible Studies for Life curriculum (2013–2017); chief mobilization strategist with the North American Mission Board (2012–2015); and was on the board of trustees, GuideStone Financial Resources (2001–2009).

Floyd was pastor of five churches over a span of 43 years, the last 32 of which were as Senior Pastor of Cross Church, a multi-campus church in Northwest Arkansas (1986–2019). His experience, wisdom, and passion for God make him a powerful proclaimer of God’s Word and inspiring leader. He has spoken at numerous SBC Pastors’ Conferences, state evangelism conferences, and state conventions and has pledged to lead the Executive Committee “with a pastor’s heart.”

In 2017 Dr. Floyd was named the president of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, a position he held for two years. The National Day of Prayer Task Force mobilizes unified public prayer for America throughout the year, leading to the National Day of Prayer observance which is held annually on the first Thursday of May. Dr. Floyd continued serving as Senior Pastor at Cross Church while in this role. He was on the Family Research Council board of directors from 2016–2019, serving until he resigned to accept his position with the SBC Executive Committee.

During Floyd’s 32-year ministry in Northwest Arkansas, the church baptized more than 25,500 people. In 2001, First Baptist Church of Springdale became a multi-campus ministry with the beginning of The Church at Pinnacle Hills. In 2010, the church changed its name to Cross Church and expanded to three campuses in Northwest Arkansas—Springdale, Rogers, and Fayetteville—and a campus in Neosho, Missouri, by the time Floyd accepted his current position.

Read more at www.ronniefloyd.com

Dr. David and Teresa Ferguson have shared a biblical message of health and relevance for more than 25 years. Their passion for seeing the Great Commandment of loving God and loving others lived out among God's people has led them to impact thousands of ministers and their laity. As codirectors of Intimate Life Ministries, they direct a multidisciplinary team that serves more than 35,000 churches in the United States and abroad with training and resources through the strategic partners involved in the Great Commandment Network of denominations, movements, and ministries. David serves as codirector of the Center for Relational Leadership, which provides training and resources in church, business, and community settings. Teresa serves Intimate Life Ministries and the Center for Relational Leadership as a conference speaker, small group facilitator, and mentor for church and business leaders.

David has an M.Ed. from Texas State University and two doctoral degrees from Oxford Graduate School. He is a member of the Oxford Society of Scholars.

From Scotland, Sheila is first a wife and mom and in her spare time she is an author, Bible teacher and television host. She has spoken around the world to over 6 million women and reaches a potential 100 million people daily as co-host of the Life Today television program.

Sheila loves to make the Bible practical, sharing how God met her at her lowest point and helped her to rise up again. Her message: God is for you!

Sheila’s books have sold over 5 million copies including her latest bestseller It’s Okay Not To Be Okay. In February 2020, she releases her newest book, Praying Women, How to Pray When You Don’t Know What To Say.

Texas is her home where she lives with her husband, son and two little crazy dogs Tink and Maggie who rule the roost!

sheilawalsh.com

#slulead #alwaysaway #onetruthbook

The truth is, we are not meant to go through life feeling anxious, disconnected, insecure, cluttered, chronically stressed, worried and sad most of the time. We are meant to heal the hole in our soul and become whole. We are meant to live with hope, clarity, power, purpose, and confidence. 

The One Truth will show you how! 

Jon Gordon's best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and

audiences around the world. His principles have been put to the test by

numerous Fortune 500 companies, professional and college sports teams,

school districts, hospitals, and non-profits. He is the author of 28 books

including 15 best sellers and 5 children’s books. His books include the

timeless classic The Energy Bus which has sold over 3 million copies, The

Carpenter which was a top 5 business book of the year, Training Camp, The

Power of Positive Leadership, The Power of a Positive Team, The Coffee

Bean, Stay Positive, The Garden, Relationship Grit and his new release The

One Truth. Jon and his tips have been featured on The Today Show, CNN,

CNBC, The Golf Channel, Fox and Friends and in numerous magazines and

newspapers. His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, In-N-Out Burger,

The Los Angeles Rams, Campbell Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines,

The Chicago Bulls, Miami Heat, The Colorado Rockies, Truist Bank,

Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, Bayer, West Point Academy and

more.

Jon is a graduate of Cornell University and holds a Masters in Teaching from

Emory University. He and his training/consulting company are passionate

about developing positive leaders, organizations and teams.

David Arnold King was the tenth Director of the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

King joined NASA as a main propulsion system engineer. In subsequent roles, he served on the Space Shuttle Discovery and as deputy director of the Marshall Space Flight Center until his appointment as director. David King was the senior on-site NASA official during recovery operations for the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster. King is now the President of Dynetics, Inc., a Huntsville-based defense contractor.

7 Family Ministry Essentials will energize and equip you with the practical steps, inspirational stories, and biblical foundation you need as you lead those in your ministry.

CONNECT WITH MEGAN FATE MARSHMAN

CONNECT WITH DR. MICHELLE ANTHONY

GET THE BOOK

Brought to you by www.slulead.com

David Metcalf has more than 20 years' experience in the design and research of web-based and mobile technologies converging to enable learning and healthcare. Dr. Metcalf is Director of the Mixed Emerging Technology Integration Lab (METIL) at UCF's Institute for Simulation and Training. The team has built mHealth solutions, simulations, games, eLearning, mobile and enterprise IT systems for Google, J&J, VA, U.S. military and UCF's College of Medicine among others. Recent projects include Lake Nona’s Intelligent Home and transmedia, adaptive learning projects using mobile, AR and sims. Dr. Metcalf encourages spinoffs from the lab as part of the innovation process and has launched Merging Traffic and several other for-profit and nonprofit ventures as examples. In addition to research and commercial investments, he supports social entrepreneurship in education and health. Dr. Metcalf continues to bridge the gap between corporate learning and simulation techniques and non-profit and social entrepreneurship. Simulation, mobilization, mobile patient records and medical decision support systems, visualization systems, scalability models, secure mobile data communications, gaming, innovation management and operational excellence are current research topics. Dr. Metcalf frequently presents at industry and research events shaping business strategy and use of technology to improve learning, health and human performance.

For more information see http://metil.org.

He is the co-editor/author of Blockchain Enabled Applications (2018), Connected Health (2017), HIMSS mHealth Innovation (2014) and the HIMSS best-seller mHealth: From Smartphones to Smart Systems (2012).

Specialties:Innovation Management, Strategy, mHealth, mLearning, Healthcare IT, Learning strategy, technology advisement and investing. Research and design capabilities for cost-effective real-world learning and simulation initiatives.

Robby has served as Long Hollow’s Senior Pastor since 2015. He wasn’t always a pastor, though.

For three years, he battled a drug addiction that ravaged his life. A $ 180-a-day heroin and cocaine addiction forced him to steal $15,000 from his parents. After living without gas, electricity, and water for months, losing 8 of his friends to drug-related deaths, watching 6 friends arrested, and completing two rehab treatments, Robby remembered the gospel that was shared with him by a friend in college and was radically saved on November 12, 2002.

Eight months later, David Platt, a seminary student and church member at the time, asked Robby to meet weekly for accountability, prayer, and bible study. For the next 2 years, David installed a passion for missions, expository preaching, and disciple-making in his life. He also encouraged Robby to go back to school to pursue theological education.

Robby completed his Masters of Divinity Degree in Expository Preaching in 2007 and his Ph.D. in Preaching in 2011 from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Today, Robby’s gospel conviction and evangelistic zeal drive him to passionately “make disciples who make disciples.”

In addition to his leadership at Long Hollow, Robby is also the founder of Replicate Ministries and the author of several books, including Growing Up, Firmly Planted, and Rediscovering Discipleship.

Robby and his beautiful wife, Kandi, have two young sons: Rig and Ryder.

Ed Newton was raised in a deaf world. The only child of two deaf parents, Ed was the voice in the silence for his parents Ron and Libby Newton. Through difficult circumstances and major hardships Ed was radically saved in high school. It was through the spoken word of others and the written Word of God that clarified a call to ministry as a senior in high school. God began to show forth His sovereign will in leading Ed to Clearwater Christian College to gain a Bible education, while affording the opportunity to play college basketball for four years. Ed continued his education journey by receiving a Master in Religious Education from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, a Master of Divinity from Trinity Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry in Pulpit Communication and Expository Preaching from Trinity Theological Seminary.

Prior to surrendering to a call to a faith-based itinerant evangelism ministry, Ed has served the local church in multiple positions such as Youth Minister, Recreation Pastor, as well as Minister of Outreach and Single Adults. Ed Newton is currently the Lead Pastor at Community Bible Church San Antonio. He strives to present the timeless truth of Scripture for abundant life change.

God has uniquely gifted Ed with an ability to connect with various age groups, personally and corporately. His communication style can be summarized as “passion with content” while seeking to inspire people to be passionate, dedicated followers of Christ. He and his wife, (College Sweetheart) Stephanie, and their four children, London, Lola, Liv, and Lawson reside in San Antonio, TX.

www.ednewton.com

D.A. Horton serves as Pastor of Reach Fellowship a church plant in North Long Beach, CA & as Chief Evangelist for the Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI). Prior to his current roles he served as an urban church planter/pastor in Kansas City, MO, a National Coordinator of Urban Student Ministries at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Executive Director at ReachLife Ministries, the non-profit ministry of Reach Records.

He earned his B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, his Masters Degree in Christian Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has authored three books; G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith (published through Moody Publishers) and Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to be Captured by Grace, (published through NavPress). He and his wife of 13 years Elicia are co-authoring a book on marriage. D.A. and Elicia have two daughters, Izabelle and Lola and one son, D.A. Jr. (aka Duce).

Jimmy Draper served 35 years as a pastor and 15 Years as President of LifeWay Christian Resources. He served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention for two years from 1982-84. He is now retired and remains active preaching and leading conferences and mentoring younger pastors.

In “Don’t Quit Before You Finish”, Jimmy focuses on knowing that God has designed for you to be in a position of leadership and identifying the role of a leader, addressing the principles of change and other challenges leaders face. Most of the failures in leadership are self-inflicted. Failing is rarely the fault of those we serve. This book is designed to help every leader examine their own lives and implement the tools presented in this book, with the character to sustain them.

http://www.jimmydraper.com

Christian Care CEO, Scott Reddig, explains how his organization took a calculated risk and dared to believe the New Testament message to “bear one another’s burdens.”

On this episode of The Always a Way Podcast, Dr. Jay Strack has an interview like none other. He interviews the Founder of She Loves Out Loud, Diane Strack.

Across six continents of the world On November 5, 2022, She Loves Out Loud Global is “gathering the women of the world” to say, “We are with you.”

Mark your calendar for November 5, 2022.  Gather your family, church, pregnancy center, prison ministry, your neighborhood, and everyone you meet.   “Gather the women to pray!” has never been more urgent.  Together we fulfill the command to “bring the Good News” of abundant peace and hope in Christ.

You can learn more about she loves out loud by visiting ShelovesoutLoud.org

#alwaysaway #slulead

Shane serves as the National Next Gen Director for the North American Mission Board (NAMB). He and his wife, Kasi, reside in Rockwall, TX with their six children – Raygen, Harper, Titus, Morris, Elliot, & Glory. He has been in ministry for over 20 years as a denominational leader, church planter, lead pastor, and student pastor. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Studies, and a Master’s Degree in History.

Shane is also a traveling communicator, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Every year he speaks to over a hundred thousand people about the good news of Jesus Christ. He is also the author of many articles that have been picked up by RELEVANT, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, The Gospel Coalition, CrossWalk, Church Leaders, The Baptist Press, FaithIt, HelloChristian, and others. Shane and his wife, Kasi, were featured as ABC’s Nightly News “Persons of the Week” in August 2017.

Shane has written two books, 9 Common Lies Christians Believe: And Why God’s Truth Is Infinitely Better and Calling Out the Called: Discipling Those Called to Ministry Leadership. Both books are available everywhere books are sold. He is also the co-host of the podcast, Next Gen on Mission (available on podcast platforms), and the YouTube Channel – GenSend.

Check out his most recent sermons, articles, and speaking dates at www.shanepruitt.com.

#TheStrackCenter #slulead #alwaysaway

Retired Green Beret and military chaplain. Former advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commander, United States Special Operations Command & Eight 4-star generals. Chief of Religious Affairs on the Joint Staff 
Nationally sought dynamic speaker & teacher for Leadership, Ethics, Religion in the Strategic Environment, Resiliency, Suicide Prevention, Intervention, Postvention, Moral Injury/PTSD.

Pat Williams is a basketball Hall-of-Famer, co-founder of the NBA’s Orlando Magic and former general manager of the Philadelphia 76ers. Also one of America’s top motivational and inspirational corporate speakers, Pat has addressed employees from many of the Fortune 500 companies. Pat is also the author of over 100 books, his most recent title highlighting the leadership secrets of the United States Military Academy at West Point in CHARACTER CARVED IN STONE.

Pat has been the general manager with NBA teams in Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Orlando, including the 1983 World Champion 76ers. In 1996, Pat was named as one of the 50 most influential people in NBA history. In 2012, Pat received the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

Pat was diagnosed in February of 2011 with Multiple Myeloma, an incurable form of cancer. However, after several rounds of chemo, Pat’s doctors have told him that they are unable to detect any myeloma in his body and have given him a clean bill of health.  

Pat and his wife, Ruth, are the parents of 19 children, including 14 adopted from four nations. Additionally, Pat has been blessed with 17 grandchildren. Pat and his family have been featured on CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, Fox & Friends, and Mike and Mike as well as in such diverse publications as Sports Illustrated, Reader’s Digest, Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal, and Focus on the Family.

Today is very special edition of the Podcast. In this episode Dr. Jay has a conversation with Taylor Glow of Student Leadership University. There is a battle for the heart, mind, body, and souls of the next generation.

In this interview Dr. Jay Strack and Taylor talk about SOCIAL MEDIA. Perhaps THE most important topic in the lives of the next generation. Every parent and leader of students needs to pull up a chair and listen closely.

Johnnie Moore is the best-selling author of DEFYING ISIS: Preserving Christianity in the Place of It's Birth and In Your Own Backyard. He is a humanitarian who has been called one of the "world's most influential young leaders" and "a modern day Dietrich Bonhoeffer." The Vicar of Baghdad named him "one of America's foremost spokespersons for international religious freedom," PR News appointed him one of America's top young executives, Christianity Today deemed him a "who's next" leader & the Washington Post profiled his work in a major, front page feature. He has appeared on dozens of leading television, radio, print and online outlets to provide expert analysis and commentary on the world’s largest most troubled regions. He is also a widely read opinion columnist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Fox News, Relevant Magazine and CNN. He serves on the boards of World Help, the National Association of Evangelicals, and the World Evangelical Alliance.

In 2014, Moore witnessed the current Middle East refugee crisis rsthand, having met with everyone from the King of Jordan to orthodox patriarchs
and Catholic cardinals, the world’s largest NGO’s, members of the Iraqi government, the United Nations and hundreds of refugees. The result was The Cradle Fund, a non-profit organization focused on providing immediate humanitarian assistance for the rescue, restoration and return of displaced Christians to practice their faith free from fear. In the first quarter of 2015 The Cradle Fund rescued more than 100,000 ISIS-effected refugees. Moore has also worked in more than two dozens countries including with genocide victims in the Middle East, Bosnia and Rwanda and visited the world’s largest refugee camps on the borders of Somalia and Syria.

He is the founder of THE KAIROS COMPANY, a boutique consultancy. Moore served for a dozen years at the 100,000-student Liberty University where he was a Professor of Religion, chaplain and Senior Vice President before moving to Hollywood to work with a multiple Emmy award winning television producer.

Sam Brownback, in full Samuel Dale Brownback, (born September 12, 1956, Garnett, Kansas, U.S.), American Republican politician, who served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1995–96) and of the U.S. Senate(1996–2011) before becoming governor of Kansas (2011–18). He later served as ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom (2018– ) in the administration of Pres. Donald Trump.

#alwaysaway #leadership

David Ferguson is the director of the Great Commandment Network, which serves thousands of churches and ministry leaders worldwide with a relational message of how to deepen intimacy with God and others. 

Dondi Costin, Ph.D. earned a war zone Bronze Star Medal. He shares “The Leadership Path” he learned as a Major General in the Air Force and how he transitioned to the Presidency of Charleston Southern University.  “Listen first; then strategize.”

Mike’s passion is helping students see the call of God on their life for the Gospel. Mike has been an innovator in Student Ministry for over 30 years. Throughout his ministry, he has used his spiritual gifts to preach and teach students through his personal mission statement: “We exist to Reach unbelieving and uncommitted students to Grow and deepen them in their faith and to Send them out to impact their world for Jesus Christ.” Mike’s ability to lead has given him the reputation as one of the top youth pastors in the country. He has served as President of the Metro Youth Pastors Association on two occasions and has been a featured speaker with the Song of Solomon conferences, youth camps, and various student events. Mike and his wife, Kookie currently live in the United Kingdom in Stockton-on-Tees. They have four children: Thad, Shelby, Hannah, and Hayden.

Mike currently serves as the Centre Director for Tees Valley Youth For Christ and as the Pastor of The Vine Church Teesside. Mike and Kookie have lived in the Northeast of England since September 2011.

You can follow Mike on Twitter: @mikestaylor @ukusaministries

You can follow Mike on Instagram: @ukusaministries

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#SLUlead

D.A. Horton serves as Pastor of Reach Fellowship a church plant in North Long Beach, CA & as Chief Evangelist for the Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI). Prior to his current roles he served as an urban church planter/pastor in Kansas City, MO, a National Coordinator of Urban Student Ministries at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Executive Director at ReachLife Ministries, the non-profit ministry of Reach Records.

He earned his B.S. in Biblical Studies from Calvary Bible College, his Masters Degree in Christian Studies from Calvary Theological Seminary and is currently working on his Ph.D. in Applied Theology with a North American Missions emphasis at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He has authored three books; G.O.S.P.E.L., DNA: Foundations of the Faith (published through Moody Publishers) and Bound to Be Free: Escaping Performance to be Captured by Grace, (published through NavPress). He and his wife of 13 years Elicia are co-authoring a book on marriage. D.A. and Elicia have two daughters, Izabelle and Lola and one son, D.A. Jr. (aka Duce).

Donna Gaines is a Pastor’s wife, Bible teacher, author of four books, and editor of A Daily Women’s Devotional. She is a disciple maker who fervently desires to see the lives of women transformed as they encounter God through His Word and prayer. Embracing God’s missional calling on her life, Donna mobilizes women to practically live out their faith through both inner city and international efforts. She is the Founder and President of the Board for ARISE2Read, a nonprofit that focuses on literacy in the inner city. She is the mother of four and “Nonna” to 11 grand children. Donna enjoys Memphis Barbecue, Alabama football and anything you can douse with salsa.

donnagaines.org

Justin serves as the Executive Director of a non- profit organization called CARE for AIDS. He founded this organization in 2007 as a junior at Vanderbilt University. He graduated from Vanderbilt in 2009 with degrees in Economics and Human and Organizational Development. CARE for AIDS was started through a unique partnership with two Kenyan leaders as a response to lack of holistic care and overall marginalization of the HIV-population. By empowering this generation of Kenyan parents to live longer, healthier, more productive lives, they are preventing thousands of orphans from being created each year. Justin has been married to Lindsay, his college sweetheart, for four years now. They live in Atlanta, GA with their dog, Jackson. They love traveling and have visited Antarctica, Rwanda, and Croatia in the last few years. Justin completed SLU 101 – 401 (Rome) as a student and has also come back and volunteered for several years on our SLU summer staff, serving at SLU 101, 201, and 401.

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#SLUlead

#alwaysaway #slulead #threstrackcenter

For over 60 years Josh McDowell has provided breakthrough moments for more than 45 million people in 139 countries about the evidence for Christianity and the difference the Christian faith makes in the world. Through his work with Cru and the global outreach of Josh McDowell Ministry, millions of people worldwide have been exposed to the love of Christ. He is the author or coauthor of more than 150 books, including such classics as More Than a Carpenter and Evidence That Demands a Verdict.

Ben Bennett is an author, speaker, and the Director of Resolution Movement – a global movement helping young people overcome hurts and struggles and thrive in life. He has faced addiction, trauma, and other mental health struggles in his journey toward a wholehearted life. Through many mistakes, missteps, false starts and restarts, Ben discovered proven tools and principles that have helped him overcome the hurts and struggles that hindered his journey toward wholeness. For the past 10 years, he has partnered with world renowned therapists and ministry leaders, helping individuals young and old understand and work through the underlying factors driving the unhealthy patterns in their lives. Ben offers a unique and fresh perspective on how to find freedom, healing, and a life of thriving through Christ and others. He has been a staff member of Josh McDowell Ministry since 2017.

#alwaysaway #sluelead #strackcenter

Al Lopus, cofounder and CEO of Best Christian Workplaces Institute, has studied hundreds of organizations to discover eight key drivers in companies with healthy culture and engaged employees. He gathers best practices from across a range of companies and ministries to demonstrate how people at all levels can work together to accomplish work that matters. Principles and real-life examples provide concrete ways that organizations can flourish by building fantastic teams, cultivating life-giving work, attracting and retaining outstanding talent, and much more.

With compelling case studies, behind-the-curtain revelations, and enlightening personal anecdotes, Road to Flourishing will motivate leaders, managers, and their teams to reimagine, reassess, and renew their commitment to building healthy work cultures where everyone can flourish.

https://www.roadtoflourishing.com

In the premier episode of “There Is Always a Way” podcast with Dr. Jay Strack, Dr. Jay speaks with world renown scholar Dr. John Lennox about Coronavirus global pandemic. Dr. Lennox is no stranger to the SLU family. This exclusive interview is insightful. Get Dr. Lennox’s book on Amazon. Where is God in a Coronavirus World?


Our Guest Today: JC Lennox MA MMath MA(Bioethics) DPhil PhD DSc Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science Green Templeton College Associate Fellow of the Said Business School

Ted DiBiase is a WWE Hall Of Fame professional wrestler, best known for his role as the villainous “Million Dollar Man” of the World Wrestling Federation (now known as WWE). Ted traveled the world with the WWF, wrestling in some of the biggest venues in the world.  After almost losing everything, Ted had  a powerful conversion to Jesus Christ. A few years later. God called Ted into evangelism. Officially ordained into the ministry, he is speaking to church congregations, youth groups, men’s meetings, corporate businesses, and in public schools and universities all over the world. In the past six years he has spoken to hundreds of thousands of people, young and old alike. In this episode Dr. Jay goes behind the scenes with one the most iconic wrestlers in history who Jesus radically transformed.

Attorney David C. Gibbs III is the President and General Counsel of the National Center for Life and Liberty, a ministry organization that defends life and liberty freedoms nationwide. Mr. Gibbs speaks regularly to audiences in churches and conferences while also litigating cases as a trial attorney. He has authored five books including Fighting for Dear Life and Understanding the Constitution.

Attorney Gibbs graduated from Duke Law School and manages the Gibbs Law Firm with offices in Dallas, TX, St. Petersburg, FL, El Centro, CA, Winston-Salem, NC, and Washington, D.C. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and numerous federal circuit and district courts nationwide. He has also been admitted to the state bars of Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, Michigan, and the District of Columbia.

Attorney Gibbs was the lead attorney in the Terri Schiavo case, representing the parents as they fought to save the life of their daughter. This case went before the United States Supreme Court twice in ten days. Mr. Gibbs is a frequent spokesperson on radio and television having appeared on many major news and talk programs.

Attorney Gibbs believes: “If it’s wrong, fight it. If it’s right, fight for it.” His life verse is Matthew 25:40, where Jesus said, “Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

In 1993, Andrew Brunson was asked to travel to Turkey, the largest unevangelized country in the world, to serve as a missionary. Though hesitant because of the daunting and dangerous task that lay ahead, Andrew and his wife, Norine, believed this was God's plan for them.

What followed was a string of threats and attacks, but also successes in starting new churches in a place where many people had never met a Christian. As their work with refugees from Syria, including Kurds, gained attention and suspicion, Andrew and Norine acknowledged the threat but accepted the risk, determining to stay unless God told them to leave.

In 2016, they were arrested. Though the State eventually released Norine, who remained in Turkey, Andrew was imprisoned. Accused of being a spy and being among the plotters of the attempted coup, he became a political pawn whose story soon became known around the world.

God's Hostage is the incredible true story of his imprisonment, his brokenness, and his eventual freedom.

Dr. Bill Brown speaks and writes about how Christians should engage the culture with the heart and mind of Christ. He has served as the President of two Christian universities and spoken in over two dozen countries. His film series and curriculum reView continues to influence new generations of Christians. He consults with international corporations and ministries on employee development, cultural transitions and strategic planning.

Dr. Alex Himaya is a follower of Jesus, husband, father, pastor, speaker, author, visionary, and leader. He is the founding and Senior Pastor of theChurchat, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Under Alex’s leadership, attendance of theChurchat has increased significantly since its founding in 2003. Rather than establishing one mega building in a central location, Alex maximized the reach of the church by implementing a multi-site strategy with campuses across the Tulsa metro area. Inspired by his Egyptian heritage and commitment to further God’s plan for Gospel transformation in Egypt, Alex expanded the reach of theChurchat to international heights by establishing a ministry for permanent and long-term mission teams in Egypt.

Alex is currently involved in church planting efforts both locally and internationally through theChurchat and various strategic partnerships. He has founded an international orphan care ministry called Adopt(ed), which is helping churches and families find their niche in orphan care around the world.

In addition to his role as a strategic leader, Alex has been blessed with the unique ability to connect with individuals on a personal and spiritual level. One of Alex’s greatest passions is to effectively present the same relevant message—the good news of Jesus Christ—using fresh and innovative methods. Alex participates in speaking engagements nearly 200 times each year in order to share the Gospel with people across Tulsa, America, and the world.

Alex received his bachelor’s degree from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas and his master’s degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas. He completed his doctorate in Church Growth and Evangelism in May 2002.

Alex and his wife, Meredith have four children—Katherine, Eli, Benjamin, and Lemley.

We are only getting started! 

Dr. Jack Graham, Pastor of Prestonwood Church, is a life-long friend of Jay Strack’s.  Together they discuss how to follow God before leading other people.


Dr. Jack Graham is the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, one of the nation’s largest, most dynamic congregations.

When Dr. Graham came to Prestonwood in 1989, the 8,000-member congregation responded enthusiastically to his straightforward message and powerful preaching style.

Now thriving with more than 45,000 members, Prestonwood continues to grow. In 2006, the church began a second location, the North Campus, in a burgeoning area 20 miles north of Plano, and the church also has a flourishing Spanish ministry, Prestonwood en Español, with locations in Plano and Lewisville.

Dr. Graham is a noted author of numerous books, including his most recent release Angels: Who They Are, What They Do and Why It Matters; Man of God; Unseen; and Courageous Parenting.  His passionate, biblical teaching is also seen and heard across the country and throughout the world on PowerPoint Ministries. Through broadcasts, online sermons and e-mail messages, Dr. Graham addresses relevant, everyday issues that are prevalent in our culture and strike a chord with audiences worldwide.

He served as Honorary Chairman of the 2015 National Day of Prayer and he has served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the country with 15 million members.

He and his wife, Deb, have three married children and eight grandchildren.

In “Letters to Our Sons” Brent Crowe and Jeff Wallace join Jay to share how they talked about the murder of Ahmaud Arbrey with their sons.  “Hate and evil has no color, socio economic, or political affliction. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood…”, (Ephesians 6:12)

Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview.  Sean is an Assistant Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University.

Sean still teaches one high school Bible class, which helps give him exceptional insight into the prevailing culture so he can impart his observations poignantly to fellow educators, pastors, and parents alike. In 2008 he received the Educator of the Year award for San Juan Capistrano, California.  The Association of Christian Schools International awarded Exemplary Status to his apologetics training. Sean is listed among the top 100 apologists. He graduated summa cum laude from Talbot Theological Seminary with a double Master’s degree in Theology and Philosophy. He earned a Ph.D. in Apologetics and Worldview Studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014.

Traveling throughout the United States and abroad, Sean speaks at camps, churches, schools, universities, and conferences.  He has spoken for organizations including Focus on the Family, the Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, Cru, Youth Specialties, Hume Lake Christian Camps, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Association of Christian Schools International. Sean has also appeared as a guest on radio shows such as Focus on the Family, Point of View, Converse with Scholars, Stand to Reason, Family Life, as well as shows hosted by Hugh Hewitt, Michael Reagan, and others.

Sean is the author, co-author, or editor of over seventeen books including Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God’s Design for Marriage, with John Stonestreet, Is God Just a Human Invention? with Jonathan Morrow, and Understanding Intelligent Design along with William A. Dembski. Sean has also written multiple books with his father, Josh McDowell, including The Beauty of Intolerance, The Unshakable Truth and More Than A Carpenter Sean is the General Editor for Apologetics for a New Generation and The Apologetics Study Bible for Students. He has also written for YouthWorker Journal, Decision Magazine, and the Christian Research Journal.  Follow the dialogue with Sean as he blogs regularly at seanmcdowell.org.

In April 2000, Sean married his high school sweetheart, Stephanie. They have three children and live in San Juan Capistrano, California. Sean played college basketball at Biola University and was the captain his senior year on a team that went 30-7.

See www.seanmcdowell.org for Sean’s blog, articles, videos, and many other resources.

Dr. Jay Strack has challenges leaders from around the world to think "Just imagine if..."
It's a vital message on how to first imagine and then to execute positive change in yourself, your family, and your business through future tense thinking.

He has been a lecturer at the Air Force Academy, NASA, Wal-Mart, Chick-fil-a, Johnson & Johnson, General Motors, Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Walt Disney Company, Universal Studios, & to thousands of teenagers.

In this episode Dr. Jay Strack has a conversation with Dr. Malachi O’Brien on lessons all leaders can learn from one of the greatest organizations in history.

Richard is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Richard travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs, church, and family leaders.

He has also co-authored many books with his father, Henry, including: Experiencing God: Revised Edition; Spiritual Leadership: Moving People on to God’s Agenda; Experiencing God: Day by Day; Hearing God’s Voice; Called to Be God’s Leader: Lessons from the Life of Joshua and many others

#alwaysaway #slulead #thestrackcenter

This interview occurred just a few weeks before Dr. Costin was announced as the new President of Liberty University. At the time Dr. Costin was the President of Charleston Southern University.

Biography-

As President of Liberty University, Dr. Costin comes to the university’s leadership as a continuation of a lifetime dedicated to service. Most recently, Dr. Costin has served as president of Charleston Southern University (CSU). His celebrated tenure has been marked by academic and athletic achievement. Costin oversaw the construction of several new facilities and the substantial expansion of CSU’s academic programs, including South Carolina’s only four-year aviation program, multiple doctoral programs, and an engineering program within the university’s College of Science and Mathematics. Under his leadership, the university set fundraising records, significantly improved its overall rankings, and dramatically exceeded freshmen enrollment goals. On the heels of the best all-around year in CSU’s athletic history, Dr. Costin now serves as president of the Big South Conference. Despite operating in a #1 tourist town with a top national port, the only Boeing plant outside the State of Washington, manufacturing plants for Mercedes and Volvo, three major universities, and countless successful businesses in every industry, CSU was named the 2022 Business of the Year by the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Prior to Charleston Southern University, Dr. Costin obtained the rank of Major General with the U.S. Air Force during 32 years of commissioned service, during which he represented the Liberty Baptist Fellowship as an endorsed chaplain. He completed his military career at the Pentagon as Air Force Chief of Chaplains. As Chief of Chaplains, he served as senior pastor to more than 664,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces in the United States and overseas, and he led 2,000 chaplains and chaplain assistants from the Air Force Chaplain Corps. A decorated combat veteran, Costin deployed in support of numerous contingency and humanitarian relief operations across the globe and previously served as senior chaplain for Air Force operations in both the Pacific and the Middle East. His military decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and the Bronze Star Medal. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in operations research from The United States Air Force Academy, Dr. Costin holds five master’s degrees, a Doctor of Ministry degree, and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership. He earned two of his five master’s degrees from Liberty University early in his military career. He has been married to Vickey for more than 33 years. Mrs. Costin’s own legacy of public service includes 23 years as a public-school educator.