Karyn Ablin is a member of Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C., and has devoted much of her over 20 years of experience to litigating music licensing and other copyright issues before the Copyright Royalty Judges, the ASCAP Rate Court, and federal courts. Most recently, Karyn represented both the National Association of Broadcasters and the National Religious Broadcasters Noncommercial Music License Committee in the webcasting proceeding before the Copyright Royalty Judges to set sound recording performance rates for 2016-2020. Karyn also negotiates music licenses and counsels broadcasters and other clients on issues related to the use of music and other copyrighted content. Karyn was named by The Legal 500 US as a “recommended lawyer” for copyright law in both 2015 and 2016, and she graduated Order of the Coif from the University of Virginia School of Law and summa cum laude from Oral Roberts University.

Megan Alexander is a correspondent on the syndicated national news magazine television show Inside Edition.

She has a successful career as a national news correspondent, author, speaker, and actress.

Alexander began her television career as a reporter for Tennessee Mornings on Fox 17 where she was a traffic and weather radio reporter for MetroNetworks. While in Nashville, she hosted a teen show for LifeWay Christian Resources entitled Fuel. She then went on to be a reporter/anchor for KENS5, the CBS station in San Antonio, Texas, and co-hosted the morning show Great Day San Antonio before joining the Inside Edition. She was also a frequent guest commentator on HLN’s Showbiz Tonight and the Wendy Williams Show.

Her first book, Faith in the Spotlight – Thriving in Your Career While Staying True to Your Beliefs, was released by Simon and Schuster in 2016. In addition to her writing and television career, Alexander is an actress and producer and her film credits include roles in the movies Space Warriors, Redeemed, Heartbeats, and in the television dramas Nashville on ABC and Still the King on CMT. She hosts the nationally televised Inspirational Country Music Awards each year from Nashville.

She is a married Mom of two young boys and my website www.MeganAlexander.com

Matt Alheim joined United Teleports as Vice President of Sales in April 2016. He has extensive experience in global broadcast production, operations, transmissions and management. Over his 20+ year career, Matt has held numerous technical and sales roles at companies such as Bexel Broadcast Services, Quince Imaging and Arqiva. He has a strong track record supporting the religious broadcasting community, including collaborating with Inspiration Networks, SonLife Broadcasting Network, Faith Broadcasting, TBN and Daystar TV.

Mike Antonovich joined Eutelsat Americas as CEO in April 2017. He has over 30 years of experience in the satellite and telecommunications industry.

He began his career at ESPN as a broadcast engineer and held a number of sales and marketing functions at PanAmSat, including leading PanAmSat’s global sales team. He has more recently been CEO of Genesis Networks, SVP for the Americas for ATEME and SVP Global Sales for Global Media Links in Japan.

Neal Ardman has been forming and distributing broadcast networks over the last 20 years. He was one of the founders of the Retro Television Network, which reached over 49 million cable homes within the first year of launch. Neal has worked privately on distribution, ad sales and syndication for many networks including; DreamWorks Animation, FETV, Sky Angel , RFD TV and Weather Nation. He has also secured multiple carriage deals with Comcast, DIRECTV, Dish Network, ATT Uverse and Version Fios. 

Actor and producer Stephen Baldwin stars in the upcoming movie Staines. Baldwin landed his breakthrough role in The Usual Suspects in 1995. His subsequent films included Bio-Dome (1996) and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000). From January to March 2008, Baldwin appeared on Donald Trump’s Celebrity Apprentice, Season 7 on NBC. In September 2006, Baldwin released his book The Unusual Suspect, which details highlights from his personal life, career, days of drug abuse, and ultimately, his turn to becoming a born-again Christian after the 9/11 attacks.

More recently, Baldwin starred in the faith-based films God’s Club (2015) and The Apostle Peter: Redemption (2016). He also stars in a new TV series on global TV news network RT called Great American Pilgrimage… the GAP, which follows him and his friend Max Keiser on an RV journey across the United States to learn and examine what people believe, what they perceive, and how they define living in America in the wake of its most controversial presidential election.

In addition, Baldwin is co-founder of LIGHTBEAMedia with MyPillow inventor Mike Lindell.

Brian Bird is executive producer and co-creator of the Hallmark Channel original series When Calls the Heart, now in its fifth season, and co-author of the new book, When God Calls the Heart. In his three decades in Hollywood, he has written or produced two dozen films, including The Case for Christ, Captive and Not Easily Broken, and nearly 300 episodes of such shows as Touched by an Angel, Step by Step, and Evening Shade. He is currently developing three new films, Northern Lights, Junction 395 and The Case for Miracles, along with a new television series, Big Sky.

As a registered nurse, small businesswoman and former educator, Congressman Diane Black brings a unique and dynamic perspective to her work in Congress. Diane’s faith in America’s promise was shaped from an early age. The middle daughter of Great Depression era parents, Diane spent the earliest years of her life in public housing and, upon the encouragement of a high school guidance counselor, would go on to become the first person in her family to attain a college education.

Named among the 25 most influential women in Congress by Roll Call, Black was elected to the House of Representatives in 2010 and represents Tennessee’s 6th district, comprised of 19 counties across middle Tennessee. Prior to that, Black served in the Tennessee state legislature, where she built her legacy on fighting back against a state income tax proposal and successfully passing legislation to make home healthcare more accessible for Tennessee seniors.

Marsha Blackburn is an American politician and former businesswoman. A member of the Republican Party, she represents southwest Tennessee's 7th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives.

Additionally, Blackburn served the Tennessee Senate from 1999 to 2003. In October 2017, Blackburn announced that she will run for the United States Senate seat, being vacated by Bob Corker in the 2018 Tennessee U.S. Senate election.

Carl Bliss serves as Manager of Interactive Media for Northwestern Media. Carl has worked with Northwestern since 1998, and has helped guide the radio network through digital media growth. Carl and his wife, Katie, are raising three girls near Stillwater, MN. Carl and his family are actively involved at Hope Church in Oakdale, MN, where he has served on the Elder board, and leads a highly energetic group of K-5th graders on Wednesday nights. Carl holds a Master of Organizational Leadership degree from the University of Northwestern.

As Head of Development and Acquisitions at Pure Flix Entertainment, Rick Bonn developed the feature films Samson, The Case for Christ, and God's Not Dead: A Light in Darkness as well as the streaming series The Encounter. In two years, Rick has acquired more than fifteen completed films for distribution including The Stray, Until Forever, Wish For Christmas, and Little Notes From Heaven. In twenty years of development, he has consulted on 4,000 screenplays for Disney, Nickelodeon, Wind Dancer Films and other companies. His writings on film and theology have been published by Westminster John Knox Press, Prism Magazine, Christianity & Theatre and on the websites aint-it-cool.com, hollywoodjesus.com, and upperleftedge.com. He’s been a guest teacher at Pepperdine University, Los Angeles Film School and the Act One Program, and has coordinated media/theology conferences at Wheaton College and Fuller Seminary. He’s also an optioned screenwriter, published author, and creator of indie comic books.

Burchfield makes ministry happen as the Executive Producer of Burchfield Ministries International. With a background in broadcast television, he developed and distributed Young Believer’s Broadcast to 196 countries that continues to air weekly. Seasoned, yet savvy, he uses his innovative ideas to make systems simpler, processes more productive, while leading large teams that connect with their purpose. Serving on committees for the NRB and the State of Texas, he brings his spirit-led perspective to the table of influence a variety of industry professionals appreciate and admire. A proud Texan, avid coffee drinker, Burchfield is all about Building and Blessing His Church.

Jeremy C. Burton, APR, serves as Director of Communications for Museum of the Bible and has previously served as Executive Director of University Relations for Oral Roberts University. He has spent decades providing leadership for award-winning public relations programs in the faith-based sector. Successes in social media include Museum of the Bible becoming a top 10 museum in the world on Facebook and ORU was ranked one of the Top 100 Social Media Colleges.

Jim Caviezel was recognized for his role as Jesus in The Passion of the Christ, which earned him a “Grace Award” from the Movie Guide Awards for the “Most Inspired Movie Acting.” Among other outstanding roles, Jim was casted in Terrence Malick’s Oscar-nominated film The Thin Red Line, a dramatic adaption of a popular book about World War II alongside Sean Penn and Adrien Brody. Other notable film credits include Ang Lee’s Civil War drama, Ride with the Devil, Mimi Leders dramatic romance, Pay it Forward & Luis Mandoki’s romantic thriller Angel Eyes. In 2002, Caviezel played the lead in an adaptation of The Count of Monte Cristo based on the classic novel by Alexander Dumas. His next two roles included High Crimes opposite Ashley Judd and Morgan Freeman and in Robert Harmon’s crime thriller in film Highwaymen.

In August 2013, Jim played Ward Allen in Savannah with acclaimed actors Sam Shepard, Hal Holbrook, Bradley Whitford and Chiwetel Ejiofor. The same year, Jim starred as the insidious villain Warden Hobbes in the prison break action film Escape Plan (Summit Entertainment) opposite Sylvester Stallone and Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2014, Jim portrayed the legendary Coach Bob Ladouceur, opposite Laura Dern in the real-life football movie When The Game Stands Tall. Jim’s role on the mini TV-series The Prisoner for six episodes allowed him to prepare for his biggest TV role. In 2012, Jim appeared in the drama thriller Transit, alongside James Frain and Elisabeth Rohm. Premiering in 2011 Jim starred as ex-CIA special operations agent Jon Reese in CBS’s critically lauded drama, Person of Interest for all five seasons. In 2017 Jim starred in The Ballad of Lefty Brown opposite Bill Pullman and Kathy Baker. His upcoming film releases include Jo, the Medicine Runner with Matt Dillon and Paul, Apostle of Christ portraying Luke opposite James Faulkner as Paul.

Joseph C. Chautin III is managing partner of Hardy, Carey, Chautin & Balkin, LLP, a boutique firm specializing in all aspects of broadcast law, from regulatory compliance to transactions. Joe periodically assists NRB with its efforts before agencies, courts and Congress. Joe served in the United States Air Force and Air Force Reserve from 1988-2008, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.

Catherine Clinch began her career writing 18 produced episodes of network television for hit series. While her three sons were young, her “placeholder job” was Associate Publisher of Creative Screenwriting Magazine and the Co-Organizer of Screenwriting Expo 1-5. Over the past six years, Catherine has been awarded three US Patents for inventing a new mobile entertainment platform. Catherine loves every aspect of writing and storytelling. She plans to die with a pencil in her hand.

Carter Conlon can be heard daily on “It’s Time to Pray” and weekly on “A Call to the Nation.” He is senior pastor of Times Square Church in New York City—an interdenominational church representing over 100 different nationalities.

Carter joined the pastoral staff of the church in 1994 at the invitation of founding pastor, David Wilkerson. He was appointed senior pastor in 2001.

His passion for prayer was evidenced in launching Prayer in the Square, a gathering of 50,000 believers from many denominations to pray for one hour in the middle of Times Square.

Soon after, the World Wide Prayer Meeting began. Every Tuesday night, thousands gather to pray at Times Square Church along with others from 199 countries and territories to participate through live streaming.

Carter is calling each of us to seize this moment for righteous prayer in unrighteous times.

An internationally-known filmmaker, writer, and media consultant, Phil Cooke has produced media programming in more than 60 countries around the world.  He’s created and produced many of the most influential and successful Christian and inspirational TV programs in history, and his book Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social Media is changing the way church and ministry leaders engage today’s culture with the gospel.  Joel Osteen calls him “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation.”  His new book, co-authored with Jonathan Bock is called The Way Back: How Christians Blew Our Credibility and How We Win It Back

Marjorie Dannenfelser is president of Susan B. Anthony List, a national network of more than 600,000 pro-life Americans seeking to elect pro-life leaders and advance lifesaving laws. Since its founding, SBA List has elected more than 150 candidates to Congress and statewide offices across the country.

Dannenfelser was named one of Newsmax’s top 25 Most Influential Republican Women and among Newsweek’s top ten “Leaders of the Christian Right.” Marjorie and her husband Marty have five children and live in Arlington, Virginia.

John Dickson (PhD, Ancient History) is the author of more than a dozen books including Rector of St Andrew’s Roseville, and a busy public speaker. He has hosted three TV documentaries including the forthcoming For the Love of God: How the Church is Better and Worse Than You Ever Imagined, and he is a regular media commentator. In 2007 he founded the Centre for Public Christianity. He has held lecturing and research positions at both Macquarie University (Sydney) and the University of Sydney, where he teaches a course on the Historical Jesus. A Visiting Academic in the Faculty of Classics at Oxford University for 2017-18, he lives in Sydney with his wife and three children.

Crossroads CEO Lorna Dueck loves evangelism in media. Context with Lorna Dueck and Lorna’s
column in Canada’s Globe and Mail newspaper have been compelling witness for post Christian
audiences. In 2016 Lorna was appointed CEO of the Crossroads Global Media Group which
oversees YES TV, Tricord Media, and multiple media productions including 100 Huntley Street.
Lorna has a Masters of Evangelism Degree from Wheaton College, and has co-authored Faith,
Life and Leadership; 8 Canadian Women Tell Their Stories.

Jon and Andy Erwin are a directing team that focuses on creating faith-based and inspirational feature films. The duo began their career when they were teenagers, working as camera operators for ESPN in their hometown of Birmingham, AL. They soon embarked on full time careers as sports cameramen covering University of Alabama games all over the country. The brothers had the opportunity to work with ESPN College Football Primetime, FOX NFL, and the NBA covering events like the XGames and the Superbowl. In 2002, the Erwin Brothers started their own production company. They ventured into creating commercials, documentaries and music videos. They found their greatest success in the world of music. Soon they were directing music videos and producing concerts and television programs for platinum artists like Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Casting Crowns, Switchfoot, Skillet, and others. The brothers received eleven nominations and were honored with wins for “Music Video of the Year” at the GMA Dove Awards for three consecutive years.

The Erwin Brothers have also produced and directed several documentaries. These include the multi-award winning 9/11 story, The Cross and the Towers, a music documentary with the band Third Day, titled Live Relations, The Mysterious Islands, a documentary filmed in the Galapagos Islands, and the international dramatic short film series, God Provides.

In 2010, the Erwin Brothers shifted their focus and began exclusively developing dramatic feature films. Their debut feature, released by Samuel Goldwyn, was a coming of age drama titled October Baby. October Baby opened in the top ten movies in America, and eventually earned over five million at the box office. Other films they have released include Moms’ Night Out and Woodlawn.

Karl Faase is an Australian Christian communicator, media presenter, leader and social commentator. He is the CEO of Olive Tree Media, an organization creating unique documentary series for broadcast and church use. Jesus the Game Changer is their most recent production.

Faase is regularly called upon as a Christian spokesperson and commentator on a variety of social issues.

With over 20 years of involvement in media, Faase is one of Australia’s most experienced Christian radio and television presenters. He is passionate about reclaiming the Christian Gospel as word as well as deed.

Joshua Feuerstein is a viral conservative social media personality, speaker, evangelist, and political commentator with more than two million daily Facebook followers. His bold perspective, cutting edge presentation, and resonating message have fueled several of his videos to break the coveted 100 million view mark. With between 30-50 million people viewing, reading, and interacting with his posts on a weekly basis, he remains one of the leading social media voices in the Christian conservative movement.

Dr. Floyd has served as Senior Pastor of Cross Church in Springdale, Arkansas, a multi-campus church, for 31 years. In August 2017 Dr. Floyd was named the President of the National Day of Prayer. He continues serving as Senior Pastor at Cross Church while fulfilling this calling on his life. He has also served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has been married to his wife, Jeana, for 41 years. They have two sons and daughter-in-laws and seven grandchildren.

Luna Fuss-Kaufman, a native of Krakow, survived the concentration camps of Krakow-Plaszow, Hasag-Skarzyskol and Leipzig. Following a Death March she returned to Krakow where she completed a degree in Musicology and immmigrated to Israel. In 1952 she moved to USA where she pursued a life of social activism. This included being President of Temple Sholom in Plainfield NJ, President of New Jersey State Opera, Member of NJ Holocaust Commission, and Chairman of Liberty State Park Monument Committee whose purpose was erecting survivor Nathan Rapoport's Liberation Holocaust monument in Liberty State Park, New Jersey.

Following a friendship with the late Sister Rose Thering, a tireless fighter of anti-Semitism, Luna became chairman of Seton Hall University's Sister Rose Thering Fund. Seton Hall University awarded Luna an Honorary Doctorate for her devoted work towards Jewish-Christian relations. Her autobiography "Luna's Life" was released in May 2009 for which she received 3 book awards.

Luna's commitment to freedom and human rights manifests in her constant efforts to promote an understanding of both the horrors of the Holocaust as well as the sacrifices of many Righteous Christians.

Shur Gopal has been teaching media technologies, film and video production at North Greenville University in Tigerville, South Carolina for over 16 years where he developed the video and film program of the Mass Communication department (almost from the ground up.) Shur brings with him over three decades of in-the-field media experience. As a Principal Consultant, Shur has launched five satellite television stations, from concept to launch – four in India and one in Malaysia. He has been a Fulbright Fellow in Communication Technology during 1988-89. He is the Director of the South Carolina chapter of the Hollywood Prayer Network in Greenville, SC. Shur is a strong believer in networking and building contacts.

Billy Hallowell, 34, has worked as an author, journalist and commentator for nearly 20 years. He's written more than 11,000 articles on faith, culture and politics and has been published and featured in books, textbooks, and magazines; he’s also the author of three books: “Fault Line,” “Armageddon Code” and “Left Standing.” 

Hallowell is the senior editor at Faithwire.com and the former faith and culture editor at TheBlaze; he has appeared on and contributed to Fox News, HuffPo Live, The Washington Post, Human Events, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, and The Huffington Post, among others.

Craig Harper is National Manager of Faith for Sony North America, Media Solutions Division, a position he has held since April 2014.

Harper’s chief responsibility is serving churches while establishing and building relationships in the Faith Market. He works with ministries’ providing broadcast, production and content management solutions.

Before joining Sony, Harper was vice president and Chief Technology Officer for Belo Corp., an owner/operator of 20 television stations and 6 cable news channels. Harper had responsibility for Belo’s broadcast and IT technology, operations and strategy. Belo was sold in 2013.

Harper began his broadcasting career while still in Junior High School working as a disc jockey at a 3,000 watt Christian radio station in his hometown of Waco, Texas.

He is a 25 year plus member and Deacon at Prestonwood Church, Plano, Texas and a founding board member and continues to serve, PowerPoint Ministries with Jack Graham, the international broadcast of Prestonwood. 

Craig is the former Chairman of the National Association of Broadcasters Television Technology Committee. He also served on the Technical Standards Group of the Advanced Television Systems Committee, ATSC, which is the standards organization for North American digital television.

Sarah Hawkyard comes from Yorkshire, England. She was classically trained on the piano, vocals, and violin from the age of five. She performs regularly in some of London’s most exclusive venues, including The Savoy and George Club Mayfair. She has recorded her latest two songs at Abbey Road studios, gets flown out to Europe, America, and Canada to perform and has regular features on American radio stations. She will not stop until she has reached as many hearts as possible with her music, which is full of passion, honesty, and virtu-osic performance styles.

Bob Higley is the CEO of Upliftv, a faith and family national television network that features inspirational movies and ministry programs. A 40-year television industry veteran, he was previously CEO of Parables TV, President of Christians in Communications, Vice President of Distribution for TBN, Station Manager, WCLJ TV, Indianapolis, IN, Director and Editor producing live and taped programs on WGPR TV, Detroit, MI and Disc Jockey at Wurtsmith Air Force Base Radio Station, Oscoda MI.

Since 2001, Bob Hutchins has participated in and strategically guided online campaigns for countless movie, book, and music releases and events. As a marketing expert, author, and cultural interpreter, Hutchins is uniquely positioned to help brands understand how to communicate digitally in a style that is human and relatable. He regularly writes and speaks on ways brands can use technology and social media to communicate in styles that are human, impactful, and restorative.

Hutchins’ client/partner roster includes Time Life, Sony Pictures, General Motors, Twentieth Century Fox, Disney, Warner Brothers, Thomas Nelson Publishers, and Zondervan. He has been featured in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, INC Magazine, Fortune Magazine, MarketingVOX, American City Business Journals, and Dallas Morning News, as well as various television/radio media outlets, including Fox News and MSNBC.

He is a frequent blog contributor at Social Media Today, Business2Community, and Digital Journal, and occasionally teaches Social Media Marketing to MBA students at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee.

Dr. Jerry A. Johnson is President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). Dr. Johnson previously served as President of Criswell College in Dallas, TX. He is a graduate of Criswell College, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies. He received a Master of Arts in Historical and Theological Studies from Denver Seminary in Denver, CO, and a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dr. Johnson also studied at Oxford University in England.

Tim Kachuriak is the Founder and Chief Innovation and Optimization Officer for NextAfter, a fundraising research lab and consulting firm that works with businesses, nonprofits and NGOs to help them grow their resource capacity. As a nonprofit thought leader, Kachuriak is the lead researcher and co-author of the Online Fundraising Scorecard, Why Should I Give to You? (The Nonprofit Value Proposition Index Study), and The Midlevel Donor Crisis. Kachuriak has trained organizations around the world as far away as Bangalore, India and Oslo, Norway and is a frequent speaker at national nonprofit conferences including Christian Leadership Alliance, National Religious Broadcasters, the Data and Marketing Association, and others. Kachuriak is also the co-founder and Vice Chairman of the Human Coalition, a member of the board of directors for Open Doors USA and the Halcyon Movement, an Advisory Board member for Kids Prosper Kids, and is on the MECLABS Advisory Board for Optimization. Kachuriak lives in Prosper, TX with his wife Rebecca, and their four children: Max, Charlie, Gracie and Joey.

Alex Kendrick is best known as an actor, writer, and director whose film credits include FACING THE GIANTS, FIREPROOF, COURAGEOUS and WAR ROOM. He is co-writer of the New York Times best sellers, The Resolution for Men, The Love Dare and The Battle Plan for Prayer.  Alex is passionate about men’s discipleship and has spoken to churches and men’s conferences across the nation.  He has been interviewed by Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, Fox News, CNN, Glen Beck, Dr. Phil, USA Today, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time Magazine.  He and his wife, Christina, have six children and live in Albany, Georgia where they serve as active members of Sherwood Church.    

Dr. Billy (Jang Hwan) Kim is a pastor, evangelist, and broadcaster who has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world to thousands of people in all walks of life.

He currently serves as Pastor Emeritus of the 15,000-member Central Baptist Church in Suwon, South Korea, where he has served 45 years as pastor. He is also the Chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea, directing this network of 11 radio stations, of which two are high-powered AM transmitters sending the Gospel to China, Russia, Japan, and throughout Korea. In addition, he is the author of several books on Christian living, which are all published in Korean.

In 1992, Dr. Kim received South Korea's highest civilian award for radio broadcasting and media ministries from former South Korean President Roh Tae-woo. The citation recognized his efforts for improving Korea’s relationship with China and Russia.

Dr. Susanna Kokkonen, originally from Finland, is the Director of the Christian Friends of Yad Vashem. Dr. Kokkonen travels around the world to speak about Israel, the Holocaust and anti-Semitism. Fluent in six languages, she also writes regularly on Jewish and Israeli issues, and her articles have been published in various publications. Her book "Journey to the Holocaust: Hatred of Jews in Light of the Bible and History" came out in Finland in April 2014. She received her Ph.D. from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in 2004 in Holocaust studies.

Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, which has campuses in California and Hawaii.  Laurie has authored over 70 books, including Steve McQueen: The Salvation of an American Icon, Tell Someone, Hope for Hurting Hearts, and his autobiography, Lost Boy. Host of the nationally syndicated radio program A New Beginning and television program GregLaurie.tv, Laurie is also the founder and featured speaker for Harvest Crusades and Harvest America—large-scale evangelistic outreaches. The 2018 Harvest America event will take place on June 10, emanating nationwide from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

MyPillow inventor and CEO Mike Lindell is a successful entrepreneur. After being fired from his job at a grocery store, Lindell pursued an entrepreneurial path by starting his own carpet cleaning company, which he expanded into a larger business. After that, he went on to run lunch wagons, nightclubs, and small-town bars. In 2004, Lindell had a dream about a pillow, which prompted him to invest all his time and resources into developing the world’s most comfortable pillow.

As Lindell struggled to grow his burgeoning pillow enterprise, he also battled with drug addictions. But those addictions came to an end in January 2009 after he prayed and asked God to take away his desire for drugs, promising in return that he would do whatever He wanted him to do. Lindell has been sober ever since that day.

And since then, Lindell has seen amazing success. MyPillow is now a thriving near-billion-dollar company that manufactures and sells more than 75,000 MyPillow products every day, has a workforce of 1,500, and has sold more than 25 million pillows worldwide. More importantly, Lindell made good on his promise to God, donating to several groups, including Teen Challenge, The Wounded Warriors, and the Salvation Army. He also formed The Lindell Foundation, which provides worldwide aid to the poor through a unique approach to loving and giving.

In addition, Lindell has turned his attentions to producing Christian-themed films, co-founding LIGHTBEAMedia with actor Stephen Baldwin. Lindell and Baldwin are currently working on a movie called Youth Group, which will soon be released.

Principle Representative to Israel, The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc.

Michael D. Little is the Principal Representative to Israel for The Christian Broadcasting Network, Inc. (CBN). He serves on the Board of Directors for National Religious Broadcasters (NRB), as well as several other organizations, and is the current Chairman of the Board for the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA). As an Emmy^® Award-winning TV producer, he has served more than 40 years at CBN, working in more than 100 countries overseeing TV production and global distribution. Michael is a veteran officer of the U.S. Army. He and his wife, Becky are active members of the First Baptist Church of Norfolk, Virginia.

Gabe Lyons is the co-author of Good Faith (2016), unChristian (2007) and authored The Next Christians (2010), as a manifesto for how Christians can faithfully lead in a changing culture. He is the founder of Q, a learning community of Christian leaders where they are equipped to engage our cultural moment.  Their Q Conference (http://conference.qideas.org/) annually convenes thousands of leaders from all industries while Q Commons, their global event simultaneously unites 140 cities and over 10,000 people on an October evening (www.QCommons.com). Called "sophisticated and orthodox" by The New York Times, Q equips Christians apply their faith to daily life by addressing some of the most difficult and controversial issues of our time. Gabe speaks to over 100,000 people each year on topics of equipping the next generation, cultural issues and research related to the intersection of faith and public life. He lives in Nashville with his wife, Rebekah, and their three children.

John Paul Mains is the Product Leader for Lumentis.io and has spent the last 20 years as a digital marketing and technology leader for companies like Google, BMC Software and AT&T as well as small software start-ups and web agencies. John Paul brings a wide range of industry experience in B2B and B2C digital marketing, data management, e-commerce and technology best practices. These days, John Paul is changing perceptions on how to take the guesswork out of digital marketing through user data and engagement analytics.

The Eric Metaxas Show offers compelling perspective on American culture, political life, and stories making news around the corner and across the globe.

Heard on leading radio stations from coast-to-coast, The Eric Metaxas Show taps the unique talent of one of America’s best known authors, commentators, TV personalities and public speakers for radio unlike anything ever heard before: compelling, compassionate and interactive as Eric and his listeners seek answers to life’s toughest questions together.

Jan-Erik Nyman is the Regional Director for IBRA in East, Central & Southern Africa. He is also the chair of AbR Media, a network of more than 200 Christian media organizations across Subsaharan Africa. Jan-Erik has worked with media in the region more than forty years establishing Christian media work in almost 70 languages across the continent.

LEADERSHIP:

O President/Founder, Vision Africa & Vision Africa Radio

o ED, Nigerian Inter-Faith Action Association

o Co-Chair, Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace

o Served as Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun  Obasanjo on privatization

O Served on Presidential Task Force on Port Reforms

O Member Presidential Task Force on Polio Eradication

O A Methodist Church Bishop

AWARD:

O Global Peace Award, 2013 in Malaysia

O 2016 NRB Media Award for International Individual Achievement among others.

One of Christian music’s most respected composers, Fernando Ortega has three Gospel Music Association Dove Awards and a Billboard Latin Music Award to his credit, while Ortega’s Christian radio hits include “This Good Day,” “Jesus, King of Angels,” and “Sleepless Night.” Renowned for his stirring arrangements of beloved hymns — “Give Me Jesus” and “Be Thou My Vision,” among others — Ortega’s solo discography features 18 projects in a heralded career spanning more than 25 years. Last month, Ortega released The Crucifixion of Jesus, his first project in six years, which brings together 11 contemplative songs and six readings. His works encompass modern hymns, liturgical songs, and inspirational and praise/worship favorites.

David Oxenford is a partner in the Washington DC law firm of Wilkinson Barker Knauer LLP. He has represented broadcasters, broadcast associations and others involved in the broadcast industry for over 30 years, assisting on FCC, transactional and copyright issues. He is a frequent speaker at state and national broadcast and digital media conferences. He also is the editor and principal writer of the Broadcast Law Blog, www.broadcastlawblog.com, which has been covering legal issues of interest to broadcasters for almost a decade.

Luis Palau and his ministry have shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with tens of millions of people through evangelistic events and media over the past five decades. He has spoken in 75 countries with more than one-million registered decisions for Jesus Christ. He has authored close to 50 books, contributed articles on issues of faith to countless publications, and counseled business leaders, political leaders, and heads of state around the world.

This year, Palau celebrates 66 years of Christian broadcasting, having started in 1952 at the age of 18 with a seven-minute daily radio program at a local radio station in Argentina. Today, in addition to Palau’s radio outreach, his evangelistic festivals have produced some of the largest audiences ever recorded in cities from south Florida to South America. His ministry also includes an alliance of evangelists called Next Generation Alliance (NGA) that allows partner evangelists to collaborate, draw guidance and resources from Palau’s vast experience, and become equipped to reach the world for Christ. More than 650 evangelists are currently involved in NGA.

Wayne Pederson is Global Ambassador for Reach Beyond, following 8 years as the organization's president. Wayne has served as Vice President for Broadcasting at Moody in Chicago, Executive Vice President for Radio at University of Northwestern in Minneapolis,

Wayne serves on the board of Evangelical Council for Financial  Accountability (ECFA) and National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) where he previously served as chairman and president.  Wayne earned his BA at University of Minnesota and M.Div at Free Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis.

Michael R. Pence is the 48th and current Vice President of the United States.

Pence earned his bachelor’s degree in history at Hanover College, where he renewed his Christian faith which remains the driving force in his life. He later attended Indiana University School of Law and met the love of his life, Second Lady Karen Pence.

After graduating, Pence practiced law, led the Indiana Policy Review Foundation, and began hosting The Mike Pence Show, a syndicated talk radio show and a weekly television public affairs program in Indiana. In 2000, he launched a successful bid for his local congressional seat, entering the United States House of Representatives at the age of 40.

The people of East-Central Indiana elected Pence six times to represent them in Congress. On Capitol Hill he established himself as a champion of limited government, fiscal responsibility, economic development, educational opportunity, and the U.S. Constitution. His colleagues quickly recognized his leadership ability and unanimously elected him to serve as Chairman of the House Republican Study Committee and House Republican Conference Chairman. As a Congressman, Pence was honored in 2009 with NRB's prestigious Faith & Freedom Award, which the association annually presents to a stalwart defender of religious liberty.

In 2013, Pence left the nation’s capital when Hoosiers elected him the 50th Governor of Indiana. Four years later, after being chosen as his running mate by soon-to-become President Donald Trump, Vice President Pence was sworn into his current post of national leadership on January 20, 2017

Tony Perkins is president of Family Research Council, Washington D.C.’s largest Christian organization fighting for life, religious liberty, and economic freedom for families.

During his nearly 15-year tenure as FRC's president, Tony has substantially deepened the organization's influence on Capitol Hill and throughout the country. Tony has also expanded the organization's reach across the nation by building a major network of pastors and churches, encouraging them to impact the culture by thinking nationally, but acting locally.

An effective communicator, Tony is the host of a daily, nationally syndicated radio show, Washington Watch with Tony Perkins. He frequently appears as a guest on national news programs and talk shows. He is the author of No Fear: Real Stories of a Courageous New Generation Standing for Truth.

Tony, who is an ordained minister, remains active in Christian ministries serving as an elder in his home church and frequently filling pulpits across the country. He is a board member of Caring to Love Ministries, one of Louisiana's largest pregnancy resource centers.

A veteran of the United States Marine Corps and a former police officer, Tony brings a unique perspective to the public policy process. In addition to domestic law enforcement, he oversaw the training of hundreds of international police officers as the general manager for a Washington, D.C.-based firm contracted by the U.S. Department of State to provide the training and services in anti-terrorism.

Tony holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University, a Master of Public Administration degree from Louisiana State University, and was awarded an honorary doctorate of divinity from Liberty University.

An entrepreneur and international television media professional, Graham Pitman is the Founder & CEO of The European Television Guild, Rapid TV News Publications Group, Dragon TV Productions and The African Television Guild.  He has launched and distributes over 165 television channels Worldwide. He has also successfully licensed over 200 channels around the globe. He has partnered with such religious networks as Inspiration TV, SonLife Broadcasting Network, and GOD TV in their global distribution efforts.

Dennis Prager is one of America’s most respected radio talk show hosts. He has been broadcasting on radio in Los Angeles since 1982. His popular show became nationally syndicated in 1999 and airs live, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon PT from his home station, KRLA. Widely sought after by television shows for his opinions, he’s appeared on Fox and Friends, Red Eye, Hardball, Hannity, CBS Evening News, The Today Show, and many others.

In 2011, Prager co-founded with Allen Estrin, Prager University, an institution of higher learning on the internet with a unique difference: all the courses are five minutes long. The courses distill the best ideas of the best minds in the world and cover the disciplines of Political Science, History, Philosophy/Religion, Economics, and Psychology.

Dennis Quaid was born in Houston to Juanita Bonniedale (Jordan), a real-estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid, an electrician. He grew up in the Houston suburb of Bellaire. He was raised a Baptist, and studied drama, Mandarin-Chinese, and dance while a student at Bellaire High School. He continued study at the University of Houston but dropped out before completing his degree. He moved to Los Angeles to pursue a film career where his brother, Randy Quaid, had already begun to build a successful career. However, Dennis initially had trouble finding film roles, but began to gain notice when he appeared in Breaking Away (1979) and earned strong reviews for his role in The Right Stuff (1983). Among his many other roles, recently are “American Crime Story” and A Dog’s Purpose along with the March 2018 film, I Can Only Imagine. Aside from acting, Quaid is also a musician and plays with his band, The Sharks. He holds a flying license and is a five-handicap golfer.

Ken Rather is an experienced movie-industry executive with 20-plus years of experience in leading theatrical distribution on both major exhibitor and studio sides. Ken negotiates and oversees all theatrical distribution for films including calendar dating, terms, booking, settlements, collections, in-theatre marketing and exhibitor relations. He manages a team with an ability to handle release footprints up to 4,000-plus screens. As a former VP Film at Regal with an 18-plus year career, he booked thousands of films and developed strong relations with all of the major studios, mid-majors and independents. He formed and maintains strong relationships with all major exhibitors – including Regal, AMC and Cinemark as well as all regionals and independents, which allows the company to attain a footprint as large as a film dictates.

Bill Reeves has extensive experience in the Christian product industry since 1988. He has served in various Christian retail roles, including a position with Word Entertainment/Warner in distribution support for recording artists such as Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith. At Big Idea Productions, Bill led Christian retail product licensing and distribution for the successful VeggieTales® brand and worked on the theatrical release of Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie. During his tenure at Thomas Nelson Publishers/HarperCollins he served as executive producer of several children’s video properties, including Max Lucado's “Hermie & Friends”® series. As vice president of marketing for Propeller Consulting, he participated in the marketing launches of leading faith-based films such as, Fireproof, Courageous and Soul Surfer and led the consumer products campaigns for the Kendrick Brothers’ films, including the New York Times #1 best-selling book, The Love Dare, and many other top-charting books. In 2009, Bill launched The WTA Group. Since then, he has led the marketing campaigns for such films as 90 Minutes in Heaven, The Ultimate Life, and God’s Not Dead, and the agency has steered the release of films such as Heaven is for Real and War Room.

Gordon Robertson was named chief executive officer of CBN on December 1, 2007, having previously served as vice president of CBN International, executive producer of The 700 Club, and a member of CBN’s board of directors. The son of Pat and Dede Robertson, Gordon graduated from Yale University in 1980 and earned his Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University in 1984. Gordon has founded CBN Asia, the Asian Center for Missions, and created CBN Asia’s flagship television show, The 700 Club Asia. Following that model, Gordon started CBN centers throughout Asia. Gordon now co-hosts CBN’s The 700 Club and 700 Club Interactive. He is executive producer of the new Superbook animation series, and oversees television and digital programming for CBN.

At a young age, André gave his life to the Lord Jesus Christ. He financed himself through Bible School being involved in business and commerce, honing much of the commercial experience he has today.  In 1998, André and his wife Jenny founded The River Church.  Today André and Jenny are the CEO's of the River Group, comprising of over 47 different companies including Faith Broadcasting Network whose daily television broadcasts reach millions of homes.

Joel C. Rosenberg is a New York Times bestselling author with more than 3 million copies sold. He has been interviewed on top national and religious radio and TV shows. Joel has spoken to many audiences and met with religious and government leaders all across North America and around the world. He has addressed audiences at the White House, Pentagon, Congress, Canadian Parliament and the European Union Parliament. He is the Founder and Chairman of The Joshua Fund, a charitable organization to bless Israel and her neighbors.

Shahar is a historian and tourism expert, teaching at Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva.

He has a B.A. in History and Geography of the Land of Israel, an M.A. in History of Israel, and an M.B.A. in Tourism and Marketing.

This year, Shahar has submitted his Ph.D. thesis at Haifa University, specializing in Heritage Tourism in Jerusalem. Until recently, Shahar served as the Director of Marketing in the biblical City of David in Jerusalem. Also, for the past 25 years, Shahar has served as a senior tour guide and director of the National Tour Guide course for the Ministry of Tourism.

Multi-Platinum artist, best-selling author and acclaimed actor Michael W. Smith recently released two albums - a studio album, A Million Lights, and a live worship album, Surrounded from Rocketown Records and The Fuel Music. Michael has been releasing new music regularly and performing around the world to sold-out crowds for the last 30-plus years. During his storied career, he’s written 32 No. 1 singles, been honored with three Grammy Awards and 45 Dove Awards, was inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame and has sold more than 15 million albums. He’s also given back to the global community. Michael has raised funds to battle AIDS in Africa alongside longtime friend Bono; started Rocketown, a safe haven for young people in Tennessee to meet and find hope; and has helped more than 70,000 children through Compassion International. In honor of the 100th Anniversary of ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), Smith, along with Amy Grant, was honored as “a cornerstone of Christian music” for his groundbreaking career and significant influence on the genre.

Nils Smith is the Chief Strategist Social Media+Innovation for Dunham+Company, co-founder of TVApp.Church and author of The Social Media Guide for Ministry. Smith also hosts the Social Media Church podcast for ministry leaders around social media, technology and media innovation. Over the past 10 years, Smith has been very active in online ministry as a practitioner, consultant and conference speaker. Most recently Smith served as the Innovation Pastor at Community Bible Church with an Online Ministry reaching over fifteen thousand each week and a Facebook community of over 800,000. Smith lives in New York City with his wife, Katie, and their two daughters, Emery and Shelby. You can learn more about Smith on his website at NilsSmith.com or connect on Twitter or Instagram @nilssmith.

Todd Starnes has been at Fox News Channel for over a decade. His daily short-form commentary is heard on more than 500 radio stations around the nation. In July 2017 Fox News syndicated The Todd Starnes Show, a daily, three-hour radio program.  He also writes a syndicated column and makes regular appearances on Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network. He is the author of four books and is a frequent speaker. Todd’s journalism has been honored by the Associated Press,the Radio, Television, News Director’s Association, and the National Religious Broadcasters.

The Deplorables’ Guide to Making America Great Again was released in 2017. Follow Todd on Twitter @toddstarnes and find him on Facebook at ToddStarnesFNC

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., holds the Billy Graham Distinguished Chair for Church, Mission, and Evangelism at Wheaton College. Stetzer also serves as the Executive Director of the Billy Graham Center, and as chair of the Evangelism and Leadership Department in the Graduate School.

Stetzer is a prolific author, and well-known conference speaker. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches, trained pastors and church planters on six continents, holds two masters degrees and two doctorates, and has written a dozen books and hundreds of articles.

Stetzer is a contributing editor for Christianity Today, a columnist for Outreach Magazine, and is frequently cited or interviewed in news outlets such as USAToday and CNN. He is also the Executive Editor of The Gospel Project, which is used by over 1 million individuals each week.

Stetzer co-hosts (with John Stonestreet) BreakPoint This Week, a radio show started and formerly hosted by Chuck Colson, and now airing on over 500 media outlets.

With an impressive resume as a TV/Feature Executive and longtime literary agent, industry veteran Michael Van Dyck has left Paradigm after 13 years to fulfill his vision of building unique, high quality inspirational brands with broad mainstream appeal through the launch of his management/production company, Inspired Entertainment with Pure Flix, the independent faith and family studio, backing the new entity. Inspired Entertainment, a management and production company, will develop, package, and broker original mainstream and inspirational content to broadcast, cable, and streaming networks, building a presence and fulfilling a need in the entertainment market

Van Dyck brings his extensive mainstream entertainment experience and work in and outside of the faith and family market to the new company. In his new role, Van Dyck will manage and direct Inspired Entertainment’s operations identifying and representing top accredited writers/content creators, actors, and directors through long standing relationships with the artists, TV and feature lit agents, managers, and studio/network executives. His successes in mainstream entertainment and growing inspirational genre include: James Mano’s Dexter (Showtime), Peter Barsocchini’s High School Musical (Disney Channel), Martha Williamson’s Signed, Sealed, Delivered (Hallmark), Karen Kingsbury’s The Baxter Series (MGM), A Time to Dance, and The Bridge (Hallmark) Kirk Franklin’s Sunday Best (BET), and John Sakmar and Kerry Lenhart’s Unveiled (NBC), and others. Van Dyck will also continue to work with staff writer and director clients on current network series.

Dr. Paul Virts is a consultant for Advocace Media, LLC. From 2002 to 2015, he was the Senior Vice President for Media at the University of Northwestern, overseeing Northwestern’s 15 radio stations and one satellite radio network, with a staff of 90 employees and an annual budget of $18 million. Prior to joining Northwestern’s radio network, Virts served for four years as the Chief Operating Officer of Leading the Way with Dr. Michael Youssef. Before that, he was the Director of Media at the KMA agency in Dallas, TX. Virts served as a Vice President for Development at The King’s College (New York), Director of Client Services and Manager of Corporate Research at Christian Broadcasting Network (Virginia), and Professor of Broadcasting at Regent University (Virginia). He also spent two years as a researcher, administrator, and consultant with Daystar Communications, Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. Richard Warren is a global strategist, philanthropist, pastor, and author. His influential book The Purpose Driven Life has sold more than 35 million copies, and is published in more than 50 languages.

In 1980, Dr. Warren founded Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, CA. Today, it may be America’s most influential congregation with more than 100,000 names on the church roll, a 120-acre campus, and more than 500 ministries.

He has lectured at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, the World Economic Forum in Davos, the United Nations, the Global Health Summit, the Aspen Ideas Institute, TED, and numerous world congresses. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Mr. Weber is the Chief Operating Officer at Trinet Internet Solutions, Inc., a digital marketing firm with offices in Irvine, California, Alexandria, Virginia, and Dallas, Texas. Trinet has produced advanced digital media experiences including websites, web applications, social media advertising, emails, efundraising and media experiences for some of America’s best known ministries, parachurch organizations and Christian broadcasters, including Trinity Broadcasting Network, World Vision, and Focus on the Family. Ron speaks regularly about digital media at national conferences events such as the National Religious Broadcasters conference, CLA, and Outreach conferences.

Kelly Wright is an anchor on FOX News and an award-winning journalist. He has experience serving in newsrooms large and small.

Wright currently serves as a co-anchor on America's News Headquarters, as well as an overnight breaking news anchor based in New York.

Wright began his journalism career in 1977 while serving in the United States Army, and has received numerous awards for his reporting, including two local Emmy Awards for his developing, reporting, and co-producing a documentary and news series on the transatlantic slave trade.

Wright secured numerous rare interviews, including a 1996 exclusive interview with O.J. Simpson following the criminal court trial. Wright also was among the first reporters to cover the Abu Ghraib Prison scandal and the subsequent court martial cases held in Baghdad. Wright was inducted into the Martin Luther King, Jr. Board of Sponsors at Morehouse College for his "Beyond the Dream" series.