Program Personalities

 Keynote speakers include Richard Blackaby, Jerry Rankin, Paul Cedar, Dee Duke, and Daniel Henderson. Other workshop leaders include Ed Cox, Elaine Helms, Chris Schofield, and Rick Shepard.


Chris Schofield

 

Dr. J. Chris Schofield serves on staff with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina and is Director of The Office of Prayer for Evangelization and Spiritual Awakening. The Office of Prayer for Evangelization and Spiritual Awakening assists churches, associations and state entities in the development of prayer strategies, ministries, networks and conferences that focus on global evangelization and awakening. Prior to coming to North Carolina, Dr. Schofield served with the North American Mission Board, SBC, as Manager of the Prayer Evangelism Unit from 1997-2004. His heart’s desire is to equip and encourage believers and churches to walk with Jesus in a life of prayer toward global evangelization and awakening.
 
Dr. Schofield also enjoys an itinerant preaching and teaching ministry, which includes Prayer Revivals, Prayer Conferences, and Evangelism Training. He has pastored two churches full-time and often serves as an adjunct Professor in our SBC Seminaries. 
 
He and his wife, Tamee, have four children: Heidi, Hannah, Haley, and Hilary and they reside in Wake Forest, NC.
 
 
FACTUAL DATA
 
Education:                   Gardner-Webb College, Boiling Springs, NC, 1985-1987, B.A.
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, 1987-1991, MDIV                                                  Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, 1992-1995; Th. M.,
Concentration in Evangelism/Prayer
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, NC, 1995-2001 Ph. D.,
Concentration in Evangelism, Prayer and New Testament
                                                           
Experience:                  Pastor, Corinth Baptist Church, Oxford, NC, 1987-1990
Pastor, Somerset Baptist Church, Roxboro, NC, 1990-1994
Adjunct Instructor of Evangelism, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994-1995, 2004-2005                                    Itinerant Preaching and Teaching Ministry (Revivals, Prayer Conferences, Evangelism
Training, Pulpit Supply, Interim Pastor), 1985-Present
Manager of the Prayer Evangelism Unit, North American Mission Board, 1997-2004
Director, Office of Prayer for Evangelization and Spiritual Awakening, Baptist State Convention of North Carolina, 2004--to Present                                                            
 
Writing Ministry           Writer, numerous articles and resources related to prayer and evangelism including Lighthouse of Prayer Starter Kit; Prayer Prompts for Prayer Groups, Praying toward His Passion Bookmark, Prayer Walking Made Simple Booklet, Lord, Rend the Heavens and Come Down bookmark; J. Chris Schofield, The Gospel for the New Millennium, Broadman/Holman, Spring 2001.

 


Daniel Henderson

Daniel was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  He attended Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia on a full scholarship.  He loves the Lord, his wife, his children, and the church with a passion.

After spending 25 years in rewarding full-time pastoral ministry, Daniel is now full-time with Strategic Renewal. He has most recently been Senior Pastor of Grace Church in Eden Prairie, Minnesota for three and a half years, and Senior Pastor at Arcade Church in Sacramento, California for 11 years prior to that, where a profound movement of congregational prayer was birthed. He has also served as Senior Pastor of Los Gatos Christian Church in the San Jose area for four years.  His pastoral and leadership experience also includes ministry as Associate Pastor to Dr. John MacArthur at Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California and church planting in the Pacific Northwest.

Daniel’s first book, The 7 Most Important Questions You'll Ever Answer, was released in 1998 and has sold over 12,000 copies and been translated into ten languages. In 2004, Fresh Encounters was released, focusing on Daniel's journey in the area of worship-based prayer.  His third book, Think Before You Look, was released in 2005, and focuses on the temptations, dangers, and consequences of pornography. His newest book, PRAYzing! Creative Prayer Experiences from A to Z, will be released this July!

Daniel’s articles have appeared in Leadership Journal and Pray! Magazine, and he also serves on the Editorial Review Board for Pray! Magazine.

Daniel has been married to Rosemary (Brewer) for over 24 years and together they have raised their three children, Justin, Jordan, and Heather Rose.

Fun Facts:

  • Life Verse: Generally 2 Corinthians 5:9. Most recently Galatians 1:24
  • Most Interesting Place Ever Lived: Elephant Butte Lake, New Mexico (just outside the booming metropolis of Truth or Consequences)
  • Most Interesting Places Ever Visited: (Top five)
       Fordell Castle; Scotland (historic home of the Henderson Clan)
       The Holy Land
       Petra, Jordan
       Bali, Indonesia
       Singapore
  • Ministry Passion: Pastor-led, local-church focused movements of Christ-exalting, worship-based prayer, leading to national revival, supernatural evangelism, and cultural reformation.
  • Key goals for the future:
       To enjoy the rest of his life with his (one-and-only) wife of his youth
       To support the dreams God places in the hearts of his children
       To continue to write articles and books
     

 


Dee Duke

 

RE: Biographical Info. for Pastor Dee F. Duke
 
 
Pastor Duke has been the pastor at Jefferson Baptist Church in Jefferson, Oregon, for 32 years. He grew up in Oregon and Washington and graduated from Western Baptist College in Salem, Oregon, and has since earned a Master’s Degree and is continuing work on his doctorate. 
 
When he first came to the church there were about 25 members and the congregation was meeting in the local City Hall. The church was able to move to the Elementary School and then purchase its own land on which to build. All of the present buildings were built on a cash basis and with volunteer labor from the congregation. A new Sanctuary with a seating capacity of 800 was completed in October, 1999. Construction is continuing on a new Christian Education Building as well as additional parking areas.
 
Jefferson is a small, rural community of about 2200 people. The church has grown to an average attendance of 1300 people in three weekend Services. In the last seven years Jefferson Baptist has had the joy of starting three daughter churches: AGAPE Family Fellowship in Albany, Turning Point Com. Church in Turner, and Doxology in Corvallis.
 
Pastor Duke attributes the growth of the church to the emphasis on prayer. In 1989 he attended his first Pastors’ Prayer Summit and has since modeled and preached the importance of individual and corporate prayer. He has had the opportunity to speak all over the United States as well as to travel overseas and speak and participate in several Prayer Walking Journeys. He has written articles for Moody Monthly, Leadership Journal and Pray!  Magazine, and has written a book, entitled Prayer Quest.
 
Dee and his wife Patty have been married for 38 years and have eight children: four who are married, three in college, and one preparing to be a missionary. They have five grandchildren. They live in a 100-year old house near Jefferson, Oregon, and Dee enjoys fishing and hunting, running marathons, as well as restoring old cars.
 

 


Dr. Paul Cedar

 

Dr. Paul A. Cedar
Chair and CEO of the Mission America Coalition
Dr. Paul Cedar is the Chair of the Mission America Coalition.  Before Chairing and serving as CEO of The Mission America Coalition, he served as the President of the Evangelical Free Church of America for two three-year terms, as the Senior Pastor of Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California for ten years, as Executive Pastor and Pastor of Evangelism at Hollywood Presbyterian Church and as Pastor of several Evangelical Free Churches.  He was also a Crusade Associate with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and a Crusade Director with evangelist Leighton Ford and a director of a Youth for Christ Ministry.
 
Deeply committed to the ministry of evangelism in the United States and around the world, Paul served as Chairman of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization where he currently serves as a Senior Advisor.   He is a member of the National Prayer Committee and on the Board of the U.S. Center for World Missions.  In addition, he is on the Advisory Boards of a number of strategic ministries.
 
Dr. Cedar is the author of eight books with the most current volume entitled “Compassionate Leadership” of which he co-authored with Dr. Ted Engstrom, President Emeritus of World Vision.  Paul has served as adjunct professor or visiting professor at five theological seminaries in the United States and has lectured at a number of colleges and theological seminaries in other parts of the world.
 
Paul and his wife Jeannie live in California and have three children and four grandchildren.
 

 


Dr. Richard Blackaby

A few things about Richard Blackaby:

Richard grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He has been married to Lisa for 24 years and has three kids: Mike 22 (in seminary); Daniel 20 (in college); Carrie 16 (home schooled and just got her driver’s license!).
 
He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, has an M.Div and Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and an honorary doctorate from Dallas Baptist University.
 
Dr. Blackaby served as a senior pastor at Friendship Baptist Church in Winnipeg.  He was the president of the Canadian Southern Baptist Seminary in Cochrane, Alberta for 13 years, and continues his close relationship with the Seminary by serving as its Chancellor.
 
Richard is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and resides in Cochrane, Alberta Canada.
 
Richard has written or co-authored with his father 18 books, including: 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. He also co-authored with his father Experiencing God: Revised Edition. He served as the managing editor/co-author of the Blackaby Study Bible. He also wrote Putting a Face on Grace: Living a Life Worth Passing On as well as Unlimiting God: Increasing Your Capacity to Experience God. He is presently working with his father to revise Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.
 
Richard travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership and the Christian life. Richard also works with his father in discipling Christian CEOs of Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

 


Ed Cox

 

Ed Cox is the current director of the International Mission Board’s International Prayer Strategy Office. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and considers Grand Prairie, Texas, his hometown. He is married to the former Debbie Odom, and they have a grown son, Jeremy, and daughter, Jennifer.
 
He received the B.S. degree in psychology from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas, and the Master of Religious Education degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Baylor University, Waco, Texas; Oklahoma Baptist University, Shawnee, Oklahoma; University of Bordeaux, France; University of Cambridge, England; and received a diploma in Christian studies from Spurgeon’s College, London. 
 
Prior to being appointed an IMB missionary in 1983, he served as youth and music minister in several churches in Texas and Oklahoma. After missionary appointment, he served as a student worker at the University of Bordeaux, France; church planter and country strategy coordinator in Bordeaux; Field Associate Area Director for Western Europe, based in Wiesbaden, Germany; and Regional Leader for Western Europe.
 
Ed’s seven years as regional leader saw him traveling extensively as he served as pastor, mentor, counselor, administrator and friend to approximately 400 IMB colleagues ministering in Western Europe.  His local ministry was among the Iranian Diaspora in Wiesbaden, Germany.
 
On July 1, 2004, Ed became the director of the International Prayer Strategy Office at the IMB’s home office in Richmond, Virginia.  He values the opportunity to encourage and equip Southern Baptists to intercede effectively for IMB personnel, their ministries, and the millions of lost souls around the world. His vision for Southern Baptists is “a praying people impacting a lost world.”

 


Elaine Helms

 

Elaine Helms provides leadership at the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention in the area of prayer. Her responsibilities include mobilization of missionary prayer support—by publishing the Quarterly NAMB Prayer-Gram, bi-weekly Prayer Connection E-letter, and 24/7 Prayer Line (1 800 554-PRAY); networking with national, state, associational, and church prayer leaders; oversight of the NAMB Prayer Web site, www.Namb.Net/Prayer; and encouraging Southern Baptists to pray for revival and spiritual awakening.
 
Elaine represents Southern Baptists on the Denominational Prayer Leaders Network, the National Prayer Committee, and is past president of Christian Women United. She also helps churches begin and develop prayer ministries by teaching on prayer at state convention and associational conferences, by consultation with individual churches, and speaking at prayer retreats, banquets and meetings.
 
Her book, If My People...Pray, Steps to Effective Church Prayer Ministry, was written when she was the Prayer Ministry Coordinator at Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Atlanta, GA for twelve years. It has been used by thousands of churches across the country and is available to help your church too. Her newest book is Prayer 101: What Every Intercessor Needs to Know released by New Hope Publishers in 2008.

 


Jerry Rankin

 

JERRY A. RANKIN
President
International Mission Board
 
 
 
 

Born:
March 16, l942, in Tupelo, Mississippi; also lived in Clinton, Mississippi
 
Education:
·       Bachelor of arts degree from Mississippi College, Clinton
·       Master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas
·       Honorary doctor of divinity degree from Mississippi College
·       Honorary doctor of missions degree from California Baptist University, Riverside
 
Married:
Bobbye Simmons of Brookhaven, Mississippi
 
Children:
·       Lori (daughter) and Chip were appointed in 1999 and are currently serving in Central and Southern Asia in community outreach and encounter. They have three children, Samuel (born in 2002), Miriam Anna (born in 2004) and Gloria (born in 2005).
·       Russell (son) and Angela and their three children, Zachary (born in 1995), Joseph (born in 1999) and Anna Grace (born in 2002), currently live in Nashville, Tennessee where Russell is a staff writer for LifeWay Resource Center. They previously served in East Asia from 1999 to January 2005.
 
Pre-Career Missionary Experience:
·       Pastor of Sadler (Texas) Baptist Church
·       Youth director and associate pastor at Sagamore Hill Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas
·       Baptist Student Union director and Bible instructor at Grayson County Junior College, Denison, Texas
·       Summer (1962) missionary to New York and Vermont for the Southern Baptist Home Mission Board and summer (1963) missionary to the Philippines for the Southern Baptist Foreign Mission Board
 
Special Honors:
·       Mississippi College Hall of Fame
·       Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities
·       l972 Outstanding Young Men of America
·       Mississippi College Service to Humanity Award, l976
 
Authored:
·       A Journey Of Faith And Sacrifice: Retracing The Steps Of Lottie Moon, written by Jerry Rankin and photography by Don Rutledge. Published by New Hope in June 1996.
·       Empowering Kingdom Growth to the Ends of the Earth, written by Jerry Rankin. Published by IMB in June 2005.
·       Lives Given, Not Taken, co-authored by Jerry Rankin and Erich Bridges. Published by IMB in June 2005.
·       The Challenge to Great Commission Obedience, written by Jerry Rankin. Published by B&H Publishing Group, Nashville, TN in 2006.
 
Previous Board Assignments:
·       Appointed missionary to Indonesia in June 1970.
·       General evangelist in East Java and Surabaya, Indonesia.
·       Associate to the area director for South and Southeast Asia, Jan. 1, 1982 ‑ July 31, 1986, based in Bangkok, Thailand.
·       Administrator for Southern Baptist mission work in India, August 1986 ‑ May 1987.
·       Area Director for Southern Asia and Pacific, May 31, 1987‑ June 14, 1993. Based in Singapore, he oversaw the work of 480 missionaries in 15 nations.
 
Current Assignment
President of the International Mission Board (formerly Foreign Mission Board) since June 14, 1993.

 

International Mission Board


Electronic copy: fblake@imb.org

Box 6767, Richmond, Virginia 23230

Revised April 2004

 


Richard Shepherd

 

Richard Shepherd
Director, Prayer/Spiritual Awakening Department
Evangelism Division
Serving the Convention since 2000
 
Primary Responsibility:
To equip and encourage churches and associations in personal, family and corporate prayer through conferences, revivals and workshops as well as through equipping resources in prayer and spiritual awakening.
 
Birth:
Mobile, Alabama, April 14, 1952
 
Marital Status:
Married July 16, 1977
 
Spouse:
Linda Gail Fisher
 
Children:
Joshua, Lydia, Talitha, Sarah Beth
 
Education:
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, Ph. D., 1982
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, M. Div., 1977
Mobile College, Mobile, Alabama, B.A., 1974
 
Previous Experience:
Associate Pastor/Teacher, Woodland Park Baptist Church,
            Chattanooga, Tennessee, 1983-2000
Associate Pastor/Prayer Ministries, Southcliff Baptist Church,
Fort Worth, Texas, 1977-1983
 
Denominational Activities:
Advisor, (Chairman, 1996-1999) Board of Directors, Chosen Children Ministries, Nicaragua, 1996 to present
Member, Board of Directors, Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf, Knockpatrick, Jamaica, 1992 to present
Adjunct Instructor, Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee, 1989-1997
 
Publications:
Co-author of the Following God Series
Author of Praying God’s Way, Following Christ and the Ten Commandments
 
Church Membership:
Westside Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL