D.J. has been the Senior Pastor of Church at The Mill since 2004. He often says his job as our shepherd is to focus on four P's; prayer, preaching, people, and purpose. An Alabama native raised in a pastor's home, he came to know Christ personally as an eight-year-old boy. His call to ministry became very clear during college. Growing spiritually but struggling with feelings of unworthiness to pastor people, D.J. began to really grasp the greatness of the grace of God. This revelation set his heart on fire to use his gifts of preaching and leadership to help others know and experience the amazing reality of God's grace in Christ.

For his training, D.J. earned a B.S. from Auburn University, where he was a member of the football team. He received an M.Div from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and a doctorate degree in preaching from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He's been happily married for 20 years to his wife, Laurel. They are proud parents of six children: Ty, Micah, Lily, Grey, Rhett, and Evy. When he is not preaching or pastoring, D.J. is a passionate outdoorsman and an average golfer.

D.J. also founded Living Worthy Ministries to share his preaching, teaching, and other content to encourage and equip people to live lives worthy of The Lord. Check out livingworthyministries.com for sermons, blogs, podcasts, free resources, or to book him for a speaking engagement.

Robert J. Morgan is Associate Pastor of World Outreach Church in Murfreesboro, TN and the leader of Robert J. Morgan Ministries with the aim of energizing God’s people with a greater understanding and appreciation of the Bible and Christian heritage. Preceding this transition, Rob was involved in pastoral ministry for over 40 years in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a best-selling, gold-Illuminations, and gold-medallion winning writer with more than 35 books in print and approximately 5 million copies in circulation in multiple languages. Rob has appeared on numerous television and radio shows. He speaks widely at churches, conferences, schools, and corporate events.

Rob was also a homemaker and a caregiver for his late wife of 43 years, Katrina, who battled multiple sclerosis and passed away in November of 2019. He and Katrina have three daughters and sixteen grandchildren.

In 2014, Rob was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from his alma mater, Columbia International University.

From 2004 to August 2016, I served at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, as the dean of the School of Theology. In August of 2016, I became the founding dean of the new School of Preaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Currently, I serve as distinguished professor of practical theology and dean of the Adrian Rogers Center for Biblical Preaching at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn., and am the founder and editor-in-chief of PreachingCoach.

I came to Christ as my Savior at the age of 9 and responded to God’s call to preach as a junior in high school. I attended The Criswell College in Dallas (1978 graduate), where I also later taught adjunctively (1985-1998) and full time (1998-2004) as the W. A. Criswell Chair of Preaching.

My first church staff position was minister of students at the newly founded Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas in 1977, where I served for five years while completing college and seminary. Prestonwood was founded in January 1977, and I came on staff as the first staff member in February. One of the most exciting things in my life was being in on the ground floor of a new church plant.

For 37 years, I was married to Sherri, who died of cancer in 2015. We had four children: Jeremy, Jared, Melody, and Kali. Jared’s wife is Joelle, and they have five wonderful children: Judah, Lydia, Hudson, Ishmael, and Maranatha. Kali and her husband Justin Geddie married in December 2013. God in his grace brought Kate Finley into my life, and we were married in October 2016.

I earned the MDiv degree from Southwestern in 1981, and had the privilege of serving on the Board of Trustees at SWBTS for 12 years, including serving as vice-chairman from 2001-2003 and chairman of the board from 2003-2004.

R.T. Kendall is an author, speaker, and theologian who pastored Westminster Chapel for 25 years. He hosts the TBN UK series Word and Spirit, Open Book, the documentary Luther’s Reformation, as well as episodes of TBN Presents, Start Your Day, and Don’t Be Afraid.

R.T. Kendall describes himself primarily as an Evangelist, followed by roles as a preacher and teacher, as well as a husband and father. With a remarkable literary output, he has authored countless books. Born on July 13, 1935, in Ashland, Kentucky, he holds a D. Phil. from Oxford University, an A.B and a D.D. from Trevecca Nazarene University, an M.Div. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a M.A. from the University of Louisville, Kentucky.

Notably, he served as the Senior Minister at Westminster Chapel from February 1, 1977, to February 1, 2002. He is happily married to Louise, and they have two children, TR and Melissa, both of whom are now married.

Dr. Dates holds a Bachelor's Degree in Speech Communication & Rhetoric from the University of Illinois - Champaign, Urbana, where he met his wife, Kirstie, who not only changed his life, but also elevated his approach to living. He continued his education with a Master of Divinity and a PhD in Historical Theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois.

In 2011, Reverend Dates became the youngest Senior Pastor to serve the historic Progressive Baptist Church of Chicago, which saw exponential growth under his leadership. As a highly sought-after speaker, he is widely invited to preach at churches and speak at retreats, conferences, and universities throughout the United States and abroad. Through his passion for learning, living, and teaching the Gospel, Dr. Charlie serves as an Affiliate Professor at Baylor University- George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and Wheaton College. He is a contributing author to Letters To A Birmingham Jail and Say It: Celebrating Expository Preaching in the African American Tradition, and is currently working on his first single-authored book on Christianity and Social Justice.

In January 2023, Reverend Dates became the Senior Pastor of the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago. He is married to Kirstie Dates and is the proud father of their children, Charlie Edward Dates II & Claire Dates.

Dr. Jarrett Stephens serves as Senior Pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Northwest Houston. Since coming to Champion Forest in January of 2021, he has led the church to establish a residency program that trains and equips seminary students who are called to ministry. He also founded CF Connect, a ministry designed to help connect pastors to the church, to one another and to church planters from across the country for resourcing and encouragement.

Jarrett also serves on the boards of BridgeBuilders, Dallas Baptist University and the North American Mission Board – which clearly point to his passions of sharing the life-transforming message of the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the world, to serving the least of these in the inner cities, to raising up the next generation of Christian leaders, to equipping churches to be on mission.

A native of Louisiana, Jarrett graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Ark., with a bachelor of arts in biblical studies and psychology. He received his master of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2006 and his doctorate of ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary in January 2012.

Jarrett is the author of two books, including his newest book, The Always God: He Hasn’t Changed and You Are Not Forgotten. Addressing this chaotic season we find ourselves in, and for any difficult days, Jarrett brings a message of hope about a God who never changes. His debut book, The Mountains Are Calling: Making the Climb for a Clearer View of God and Ourselves, was released in August 2018. In his book, Jarrett takes readers to 10 mountaintop moments in the Bible where people had encounters with God. Through these experiences, God revealed His truth and brought His people closer to Him.

Jarrett and his wife, Debbie, have four daughters, Riley, Kelsey, Cameron and Landry.

Bryan Carter is best known as a leader, connector, thought leader, pastor, and dynamic communicator. Innovative, strategic, compassionate, and visionary are just a few words used by others to describe him.

He serves as the pastor of Concord Church in Dallas, TX, where he has served since 2003. Bryan is a passionate leader with a vision for inspiring people to grow to their full potential in Jesus Christ.