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Ben CachiarasBen Cachiaras has been Lead Pastor at Mountain Christian Church since 1997, carrying on a rich family legacy of ministry. He loves preaching, mentoring pastors, and building Jesus-shaped communities that help people experience God’s love. Mountain is a vibrant, multi-site church making a big impact locally and globally, with a heart for reaching the unchurched and serving families in need through its EPICENTER outreach. Ben and his wife Karla have three grown kids, and when he’s not cheering (sometimes irrationally) for the Minnesota Vikings, he enjoys skiing, pickleball, and time with family.
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Ken IdlemanKen Idleman, BA, MDiv, DD, is the Vice President of Leadership Development at The Solomon Foundation. Ken is responsible for mentoring gifted pastors and equipping them with the resources they need to lead their churches to the next level. In his 20s, Ken began teaching at Ozark Christian College in the areas of Bible and ministry. At age 29, he was named President-elect and at age 31, he became the fourth president of OCC. After a colorful career in Christian higher education, Ken began a ten-year ministry as Senior Pastor of Crossroads Christian Church, a 4000 active member mega-church, located in southwest IN. In Ken’s words, “College presidents don’t retire; they go out to pastor!” He has personally mentored or counseled hundreds of Christian leaders over the years. Ken has been a Certified Church Health Consultant with the Thom Rainer Institute since 2005. He was president of the North American Christian Convention in 1992. Throughout his professional life he has consistently been an avid supporter of the mission of Christ through the local church. Ken’s ministry focus has been to raise up, equip, send out and faithfully support Christian leaders. Ken and his wife of 57 years, Kaylene, have raised three children, who are all Christian leaders, along with their spouses, at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY. The Idleman’s have eleven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
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Ronda PaulsonRonda Paulson is the Founder and Executive Director of Isaiah 117 House, a nonprofit organization that provides physical and emotional support in a safe and loving home for children awaiting foster care placement. A native of East Tennessee, Ronda lives in Elizabethton with her husband Corey and their four children. While training to become foster parents in 2014, Ronda learned that children removed from their homes often wait in offices — scared, alone, and with little to call their own. The question “What if there was a home?” was planted in her heart. One year later, when she picked up their first foster son in those same conditions, that question became a calling. In June 2018, the first Isaiah 117 House opened its red doors in Carter County, TN. Today, Isaiah 117 House has 61 locations across 13 states and has served more than 10,000 children. Under Ronda’s leadership, the organization continues to expand, bringing hope and healing to children on one of the hardest days of their lives.
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Dave StoneFor 30 years, Dave Stone preached at Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky. During his 13 years as Senior Pastor the weekend attendance grew from 18,000 at one campus to 27,000 at seven campuses. He serves on Boards for Spire, Focus on the Family and the Rawlings Foundation and is on the Teaching Team for Christ's Church of the Valley (CCV) in Phoenix, AZ.
Dave has a heart for people and a passion for families. He and Beth have three children and eleven grandchildren. When Dave speaks he has the unique ability to touch both your heart and your funny bone. |
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Marty SolomonMarty Solomon grew up in the Reformed tradition before attending Boise Bible College and getting his B.A. in Christian Ministries. In 2008 he studied in Israel with Ray Vander Laan and was challenged to grapple with his own Jewish heritage. As he learned more about the wider conversation surrounding the Bible, especially through a Jewish context, he began to develop BEMA Discipleship as a way to share his experience with others. He found his way into Impact Campus Ministries, seeing college students as in the perfect stage of life to experiment with the methods he saw in Jesus. Marty began leading trips of his own to Israel and Turkey in 2014. After a few iterations of his BEMA material, The BEMA Podcast was launched in 2016, making it accessible to a global audience. He and his wife, Becky, currently live in Cincinnati; they are committed to the work of ministry together and of raising their two kids, Abigail and Ezekiel.
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Breakout Speaker Biographies
Dr. Esther Hetrick grew up in the Independent Christian Church/Church of Christ branch of the Restoration Movement. She developed a heart for ministry from her preacher father, and a love for music from her mother, an elementary music teacher for over 30 years. Since 1989 she has taught on the faculty of Great Lakes Christian College, teaching music and worship ministry courses, private voice lessons, and directing choral and ensemble groups.
Todd Jones is the Academic Dean and Professor of Ministry at Great Lakes Christian College. Todd is nearing the end of his Doctor of Ministry degree at Emmanuel Christian Seminary and his research revolves around prayer and spiritual formation. Todd served in vocational for over 10 years before transitioning into his current role at GLCC.
Dr. Sam Long is the Professor of Old Testament and the Dean of Online Education at Great Lakes Christian College. He mostly focuses on Torah and ancient Near Eastern religious practice. He is married to Carrie and has 2 children, Elijah and Sophia. He enjoys soccer (favorite team Arsenal), disc golf, and pickleball.
Mahrley Parks is the head of the Psychology/Counseling program at GLCC and as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of MI she co-owns a small private practice, The Counseling Center of Great Lakes, where she remains a practicing clinician. Mahrley was born and raised in Lake Odessa, MI where she currently resides with her young daughter and her mischievous-yet-dapper cat (known for wearing a bowtie on the daily). Her favorite pastimes are being in community with others, reading, dancing, and enjoying life at the lake.
Devin Robertson serves as the Lead Minister of Cornerstone Christian Church. In addition he serves as a Regional Director for Renew.org, serves as part of the leadership of the Michigan Christian Convention and is a board member for NCCE. Devin is the husband Sarah, and father of three.
Dr. Ed Rockett, a Chicago native, serves as the Associate Professor of Business Management at Great Lakes Christian College. He also serves as the Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Lansing, MI, and has been in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. Prior to coming to Lansing, Dr. Rockett spent 23 years in the financial services industry as a financial advisor, along with progressive roles in sales management, including roles as a managing partner and vice president. He shares his life and ministry with his wife Machea, and they are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Aaliyah and Amanda.
Matt Schantz and his wife, Beth, have four children and two grandchildren. He serves in church planting with New Churches of Christ Evangelism across the Great Lakes region and helps train movement leaders in India.
Dr. Charlie W. Starr is the Professor of English and Humanities at Great Lakes Christian College where he teaches composition, literature, film and the works of C. S. Lewis. Dr. Starr has published a dozen books and hundreds of articles and is a world renowned expert in the works of C. S. Lewis.
Dr. Frank Weller is the 10th President of Great Lakes Christian College (GLCC). Weller received a bachelor's degree from GLCC, a Master of Arts degree from Huntington University and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Bethel Seminary. Weller has a rich background in ministry and leadership. Prior to his presidency, Weller served churches in Kokomo, Crawfordsville and Butler, Indiana, then moved to Michigan to become the lead minister at South Lansing Church of Christ. Weller has also served as an adjunct professor at GLCC in the areas of Homiletics and Church Leadership.
Dr. Esther Hetrick grew up in the Independent Christian Church/Church of Christ branch of the Restoration Movement. She developed a heart for ministry from her preacher father, and a love for music from her mother, an elementary music teacher for over 30 years. Since 1989 she has taught on the faculty of Great Lakes Christian College, teaching music and worship ministry courses, private voice lessons, and directing choral and ensemble groups.
Todd Jones is the Academic Dean and Professor of Ministry at Great Lakes Christian College. Todd is nearing the end of his Doctor of Ministry degree at Emmanuel Christian Seminary and his research revolves around prayer and spiritual formation. Todd served in vocational for over 10 years before transitioning into his current role at GLCC.
Dr. Sam Long is the Professor of Old Testament and the Dean of Online Education at Great Lakes Christian College. He mostly focuses on Torah and ancient Near Eastern religious practice. He is married to Carrie and has 2 children, Elijah and Sophia. He enjoys soccer (favorite team Arsenal), disc golf, and pickleball.
Mahrley Parks is the head of the Psychology/Counseling program at GLCC and as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of MI she co-owns a small private practice, The Counseling Center of Great Lakes, where she remains a practicing clinician. Mahrley was born and raised in Lake Odessa, MI where she currently resides with her young daughter and her mischievous-yet-dapper cat (known for wearing a bowtie on the daily). Her favorite pastimes are being in community with others, reading, dancing, and enjoying life at the lake.
Devin Robertson serves as the Lead Minister of Cornerstone Christian Church. In addition he serves as a Regional Director for Renew.org, serves as part of the leadership of the Michigan Christian Convention and is a board member for NCCE. Devin is the husband Sarah, and father of three.
Dr. Ed Rockett, a Chicago native, serves as the Associate Professor of Business Management at Great Lakes Christian College. He also serves as the Senior Pastor of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Lansing, MI, and has been in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. Prior to coming to Lansing, Dr. Rockett spent 23 years in the financial services industry as a financial advisor, along with progressive roles in sales management, including roles as a managing partner and vice president. He shares his life and ministry with his wife Machea, and they are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, Aaliyah and Amanda.
Matt Schantz and his wife, Beth, have four children and two grandchildren. He serves in church planting with New Churches of Christ Evangelism across the Great Lakes region and helps train movement leaders in India.
Dr. Charlie W. Starr is the Professor of English and Humanities at Great Lakes Christian College where he teaches composition, literature, film and the works of C. S. Lewis. Dr. Starr has published a dozen books and hundreds of articles and is a world renowned expert in the works of C. S. Lewis.
Dr. Frank Weller is the 10th President of Great Lakes Christian College (GLCC). Weller received a bachelor's degree from GLCC, a Master of Arts degree from Huntington University and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Bethel Seminary. Weller has a rich background in ministry and leadership. Prior to his presidency, Weller served churches in Kokomo, Crawfordsville and Butler, Indiana, then moved to Michigan to become the lead minister at South Lansing Church of Christ. Weller has also served as an adjunct professor at GLCC in the areas of Homiletics and Church Leadership.