Steven Curtis Chapman

In a career that has spanned more than three decades, Steven Curtis Chapman is the most awarded artist in Christian music history. With 59 Gospel Music Association (GMA) Dove Awards, five Grammy Awards, an American Music Award, and a historic 50 No. 1 singles, he has sold more than eleven million albums with ten RIAA-Certified® Gold or Platinum albums to his credit.

In his career, he has collaborated with and had his songs recorded by other renowned artists in the Christian music world including BeBe Winans, CeCe Winans, Amy Grant, Casting Crowns, Mercy Me, Geoff Moore, and others. His songs of hope have also crossed genres, seeing collaborations with Glenn Campbell, Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Ricky Skaggs, Brad Paisley, and Mitchell Tenpenny. In 2017, Chapman also became a best-selling author with his memoir Between Heaven and the Real World: My Story.

His new album, Still, is filled with entirely fresh, life-giving songs for the masses, including his 50th #1 hit “Don’t Lose Heart”.

He is also the recent recipient of the BMI Icon Award. Given to him in June 2022, Chapman is the first Christian music songwriter to receive the honor, joining an elite list that includes Barry Manilow, Brian Wilson, Carole King, Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Merle Haggard, and Sting.

Along with touring the world, Steven Curtis Chapman has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning and This Morning, CNN, MSNBC, 60 Minutes, E! Entertainment, The Today Show, Fox & Friends, and The Tonight Show among others, along with appearing in the pages of People Magazine, Billboard, Parents Magazine, and more. As a vocal supporter of adoption, Chapman along with his wife Mary Beth founded Show Hope in 2003, a nonprofit organization that helps restore the hope of a family to orphans.

Julio Guarneri

Dr. Julio Guarneri has a long history of service within the Convention. Prior to being elected executive director, Guarneri served two terms as BGCT president and two terms as first vice president. He has served as the chair of Buckner International, vice-chair at Buckner, chair of Stark College and Seminary and on the BGCT Executive Board.

Guarneri has also served as a faithful Baptist pastor for about three decades. He has led Calvary Baptist Church since 2010, and before that, he served as senior pastor of Iglesia Bautista Getsemaní for 17 years. Additionally, he has served as the minister of education and youth at Segunda Iglesia Bautista in Corpus Christi, founding pastor of Shalom Baptist Mission in Corpus Christi and pastor of Primera Iglesia Bautista in Taft.

Guarneri completed his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University in Kingsville. He also earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in leadership studies from Dallas Baptist University.

He and his wife, Monica, have four children and two grandchildren.

Mary Jo Sharp

A former atheist, Mary Jo Sharp was raised without religion. She is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Christian University, the founder of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry, and the director of content for the new modern teen apologetics series Darkroom. She is the author of the Zondervan book Why I Still Believe: A Former Atheist’s Reckoning With the Bad Reputation Christians Give a Good God and the LifeWay bible study Why Do You Believe That? She is an itinerant speaker on apologetics and has engaged in formal debates on Islam. She focuses on using love and logic to uncover truth. Visit maryjosharp.com to learn more.

Ralph S. Emerson

Ralph Emerson is a preacher, pastor, and administrator with over 20 years of experience working in roles as Executive and Senior Pastor. Ralph’s passion is to push people into gospel purpose.

He is a graduate of Florida A&M University, a current MDiv student at George W. Truett Theological Seminary.

He is happily married to his boyhood crush and best friend, Chanesia. They have two children, Orien Christopher, and Eden Gabrielle.

Victor Rodriguez

Victor L. Rodriguez serves as the Evangelism Associate/Discipleship Specialist, Hispanic Evangelism for Texas Baptists. He, and his wife Olga, have served in ministry for over 38 years as a church starter, pastor, and evangelist. At the age of 19 he started his first church near Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas where he served for 18 years. The last 22 years Victor served as Senior pastor of Life Church of San Antonio where this new church grew to over 800 in Sunday School and was nationally recognized as a church that averaged 110 baptisms for 8 consecutive years. Today, his desire is to teach every church how to best reach the changing demographic landscape of today’s church community. His greatest joy is to spend time with his wife Olga, sons Victor, Fernando, Manuel and Anthony and his 7 beautiful and handsome grandkids!

Leighton Flowers

Dr. Leighton Flowers is a Professor of Theology at Trinity Seminary and the engaging host of the widely acclaimed theological broadcast, Soteriology 101. He is an author, with three notable books to his name: The Potter’s Promise, God’s Provision for All, and his latest release, Drawn by Jesus

Leighton travels globally, conducting evangelism and apologetics seminars, participating in debates, and leading training conferences. During his time as Director of Youth Evangelism, he oversaw Super Summer and Youth Evangelism Conferences, impacting thousands of teenagers with evangelistic messages and missions mobilization. Leighton has also been involved in ministries like See You At The Pole, a global prayer movement started by his father, reaching people worldwide.

Leighton earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Theology from Hardin-Simmons University (1997); a Masters of Divinity with Biblical Languages from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (2000); and completed his Doctorate at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (2016).