STEPHEN MAXWELL

Stephen Maxwell serves as the worship minister at Memorial Road Church of Christ in Edmond, Oklahoma. He is passionate about worship and sharing the Good News of Christ through singing, speaking, and teaching. Stephen has served in local congregations across the United States and holds an M.A. in Christian ministry from Harding School of Theology in Memphis, Tennessee. Additionally, Stephen has worked with the internationally known Christian music group Acappella for the past 23 years, touring Europe, Africa, South America, and the continental United States. Stephen is married to Alasha, his wife of 23 years, and they have three boys: Jonah (18), Judah (15), and Josiah (14). Stephen loves to sing and spend time with his family. 

SARA BARTON

Thursday, Oct. 12 / 12:15-1:45 p.m. / Hart Auditorium

Sara Gaston Barton is the Pepperdine University Chaplain where she provides pastoral care and teaches adjunct ministry courses. She is also on the preaching team at the Camarillo Church of Christ. Sara's previous professional experience includes teaching and serving as the campus minister at Rochester University in Michigan and working in women's ministry in Jinja, Uganda. She is on the advisory board for the ministry journal, Discernment: Theology and Practice of Ministry. Recently, Sara and her daughter-in-law, Falon, have launched a podcast entitled Emerge: Questions that Matter for Young Adult Spirituality. Sara and her husband, John, are parents to Brynn, Nate, and Falon, and grandparents to Soren.

ESAU MCCAULLEY

Thursday, Oct. 12 / 6:00-8:30 p.m. / 201 Mesquite Event Center

Rev. Esau McCaulley, PhD, is an associate professor of New Testament at Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL. He is the author of many works including Sharing in the Son’s Inheritance and the children’s book Josie Johnson’s Hair and the Holy Spirit. His book, Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope, won numerous awards, including Christianity Today’s book of the year. His latest project is a memoir entitled How Far to the Promised Land: One Family’s Story of Hope and Survival in the American South. He is a contributing opinion writer for the New York Times. He is married to Mandy, a pediatrician and navy reservist. Together, they have four wonderful children.

DON MCLAUGHLIN

Wednesday, Oct. 11 / 7:00-8:30 p.m. / Chapel on the Hill

Don McLaughlin has served, since 1997, as the preaching minister for the North Atlanta Church of Christ in Atlanta, Georgia, following ministries in Ohio and Indiana. Don and his wife Susan have focused their ministry on inspiring and equipping people to live fully into the vision of Christ for the world. Don is the author of Heaven in the Real World and Love First: Ending Hate Before It’s Too Late.

JERRY TAYLOR

Thursday, Oct. 12 / 9:00-9:45 a.m. / Chapel on the Hill

Jerry Taylor is associate professor of Bible at Abilene Christian University. He attended public schools in West Tennessee, graduating from Millington Central High School in 1980. He later earned his B.A. from Southwestern Christian College in Terrell, Texas, and his M.Div. and D.Min. from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. Jerry has served as the minister of Churches of Christ in Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia, and is the author of Courageous Compassion. He is the founding director of the Carl Spain Center on Race Studies and Spiritual Action. Jerry travels extensively speaking on college campuses and at national conferences, and is a popular lecturer at retreats and gospel/revival meetings. He is married to Patricia (Bowden) Taylor, and they have two children. The Taylor family lives in Abilene and attends the Treadaway Church of Christ.