Rev. Dr. jon Lepinski
Keynote Speaker | Friday Evening & Saturday Morning Main Sessions
Dr. Jon Lepinski is the Lead Pastor of The Gathering in Surprise, Arizona. Called by God to be a “City Shaper,” Jon launched The Gathering in 2018 with a mission to shape souls and impact the West Valley. Since then, the church has grown steadily, adapting through multiple locations and seasons while emphasizing that the Church is not a building, but a people. A former school teacher and lead singer for the Christian rock band, Broken Yoke, Jon holds a Doctorate of Ministry from Liberty Theological Seminary and is passionate about helping people feel known, seen, and valued.
rev. Dr. Andrew Keuer
Keynote Speaker | Saturday Evening Main Session
A native Texan, Andrew worked in business on the west coast before studying for the ministry and entering the pastorate. The Keuers lived in Europe for a decade, where Andrew completed his research doctorate on “marriage ethics in the early church” and served as lecturer in theology and director of two accredited degree programs. He is currently senior pastor at First Protestant Church, New Braunfels, Texas. Andrew believes that the future belongs to those who listen well, that intergenerational churches are the need of the hour, and that historic Protestant convictions continue to inspire godly living in God’s kingdom here and now!
Rev. Jason Ford
Keynote Speaker | Sunday Morning Main Session | Workshop Leader | "Christ-Centered Preaching"
Jason Ford has been pastor of St. Paul Evangelical Church in Cibolo, TX for 10 years. He grew up in the Memphis, TN area and attended the University of Memphis and then Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. He has served as a pastor in Tennessee, Mississippi, Indiana, and Texas. He and his wife Stephanie have been married for 27 years, they have one son (Benjamin). Jason has been on the EA National Board of directors for eight years and has served as the Vice President of the board for four years. He loves fishing, sci-fi and fantasy, cheering for the Memphis Tigers and Grizzlies, and loves to extol the virtues of Memphis Style Barbecue.
Dr. Scott Stripling
Workshop Leader | "Old Testament Biblical Archaeology" & "New Testament Biblical Archaeology"
Scott Stripling serves as Provost at The Bible Seminary in Katy, Texas and as Director of Excavations for the Associates for Biblical Research at ancient Shiloh (2017 to present). Previously, Stripling directed several other excavations in Israel. Stripling did his graduate studies at the University of Texas (M.A.), Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (M.A.), and Veritas International University (Ph.D.). Stripling serves as President of the Board of Directors of the Near East Archaeological Society and has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, popular magazines, and books, including as a contributor to the Open Study Bible (2025). He is a popular speaker at churches and conferences around the world and a guest on numerous television programs and documentaries. Scott and his wife Janet have been married for 43 years. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren.
REv. Jim Barnes
Workshop Leader | "Simple Steps to Kill Your Church"
The Rev. Jim Barnes has served as National Minister of the Evangelical Association since October 2009. Before becoming full-time with the association, he worked for twenty-one years as the Senior Pastor at Bethesda Evangelical Church in St. Louis, Missouri. Throughout his ministry career, Pastor Jim has been very involved in church renewal and has served on the Board of Directors of both the Biblical Witness Fellowship and the Evangelical Association, two groups seeking to provide options for Bible-believing churches and pastors within the Evangelical, Reformed, Congregational and Christian traditions. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and currently resides in St. Louis with his wife Patti. They have three adult children.
Nate Williams
Workshop Leader | "Merging Teens with Jesus"
Nate Williams lives with his wife Bailie in Cullman, Alabama. He currently is the Director of Research and Communications at ALCAP (Alabama Citizens Action Program), and he is also on staff at his local church (Saint John's Evangelical Protestant Church, with Rev. John Richter). He graduated from Beeson Divinity School of Samford University with his Master of Divinity (M.Div.) in 2022. In his free time, he enjoys being outdoors, playing sports, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Rev. Daryl Higgins
Workshop Leader | "Merging with Jesus in a Negative World"
Rev. Daryl C. Higgins is the founding President of the Evangelical Association Board of Directors, and served for 30 years as Senior Minister of the First Protestant Church of New Braunfels, Texas.He retired in 2019 and continues to serve on the EA Board of Directors, and does supply preaching, primarily at EA churches in Texas, and occasionally at churches out of state.Rev. Daryl is a graduate of Kent State university in Kent, Ohio, and received his M. Div. from the Ashland University Theological Seminary in Ashland, Ohio. He also did graduate studies at the Pontifical College Josephium in Columbus, Ohio. He served churches in both Ohio and California earlier in his ministerial career. Rev. Daryl has been married to Rev. Ardie J. Kendig, EA Minister, for 47 years.He is a licensed private pilot and long time Corvette sports car enthusiast.
Shirley Briggemann
Workshop Leader | "EA Mission Network 101"
Shirley Briggeman is the coordinator for the Mission Network volunteer team that handles the new applications from missionaries and mission projects for the EA Mission Network and replies to any of their emails and prayer requests. Shirley has her B.A. degree in music education and has been in staff leadership of 4 pro-life pregnancy centers for 32 years. She and her husband, Ed, have been married nearly 59 years and have 4 grown children, 14 grandchildren, and are enjoying their retirement in Holt, MI, visiting family, especially watching basketball and baseball games of their grandchildren near and far.
Rev. Hart Inlow
Workshop Leader | "EA Mission Network 101"
Hartford Inlow (“Hart”) is an ordained pastor with 40 years experience. He has been with the EA since it was formed. He and his wife, Lynn, were also on the mission field in Tanzania for five years, where Hart trained pastors and Lynn taught primary students. While there they helped found The Lion of Judah Academy in 2002, dedicated to the education of the children of poor Tanzanian pastors and church workers. The school now has nearly 800 students and they continue active involvement in it. They live in Penney Farms, Florida.
Rev. Ron Shifley
Workshop Leader | "Wrestling With The Apocrypha"
Ron Shifley has served as the senior pastor at Immanuel Evangelical Church in Needville, Texas for the past six years. He is a graduate of Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio and Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana. He has served churches in Indiana, Ohio, South Dakota and Texas, and is the author of the book "Light in the Darkness: A Hanukkah Devotional for Jesus Followers." He currently serves on the EA Board of Directors, on the EA Web Ministry Team, and co-edits the annual EA Desk Calendar and Ministry Planner with his wife Deanna. In his free time he enjoys watching NHL Columbus Blue Jackets hockey, MiLB Indianapolis Indians baseball, and spending family time with grandkids and the pastoral dogs.