Summer Speakers
Nicolas Ellen and Tedd Tripp
June 20 - June 26, 2021
Register NowNICOLAS ELLEN
Dr. Ellen is the Senior Pastor of Community of Faith Bible Church in Houston Texas and Senior Professor of Biblical Counseling at the College of Biblical Studies. Dr. Ellen has also developed a biblical counseling training center called Expository Counseling Center LLC.
He received his B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Houston, Houston, Texas, his M.A. in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, Texas, his M.A. in Biblical Counseling from The Masters University, Santa Clarita, California, his Doctorate of Ministry with a concentration in Biblical Counseling from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville, Kentucky and his PH.D in Biblical Counseling from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas.
Dr. Ellen is a certified Biblical Counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), a Fellow with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and travels nationwide with the organization teaching biblical counseling principles. Dr. Ellen also teaches on a morning show called “Up With The Son” where he teaches various topics from God’s Word. In addition, He is also a Senior Member of the Biblical Counseling Framework Association. Dr. Ellen and his wife Dr. Venessa Ellen have two children and four grandchildren.
TEDD TRIPP
Dr. Tedd Tripp is Senior Pastor Emeritus of Grace Fellowship Church since his retirement as Senior Pastor after 29 years of service. He was married to Margy in 1968. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren. Tedd is a graduate of Geneva College, B.A. in History, Philadelphia Theological Seminary, M. Div., and Westminster Theological Seminary, D. Min. with an emphasis in Pastoral Counseling. Tedd is the author of the popular child-rearing book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Shepherding a Child’s Heart Parent’s Handbook and co-author with Margy of Instructing a Child’s Heart.
Tedd and Margy founded Immanuel Christian School in 1979 where Tedd has served as a teacher and administrator. Tedd is ICS Board Chairman Emeritus. For over a decade Tedd served as a counselor in the Lehigh Valley office of the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation. Since 1994 Tedd has maintained an extensive ministry as a conference speaker and presenter of Shepherding a Child’s Heart Seminars. His books and video and audio materials are used throughout the world.
George Murray and Stephen Bramer
June 27 - July 3, 2021
Register NowGEORGE W. MURRAY
Dr. George Murray is the former President (2000-2007) and Chancellor (2007-2017) of Columbia International University (CIU) in Columbia, South Carolina. He currently travels the world, preaching and teaching the Word of God, and providing spiritual and organizational consultation services for churches, para-church organizations, and individuals.
Prior to his educational leadership role at CIU, Dr. Murray served for seventeen years (1983-2000) as the President of two international missionary agencies: The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM) and the Bible Christian Union (BCU), which merged with TEAM in 1994.
From 1971-1983, George and Annette, and their family were pioneer church planters in the spiritually needy country of Italy. A graduate of CIU (B.A., 1967; M.A., 1981) and Trinity International University (D. Miss, 1995), Murray is an experienced missionary, teacher, preacher, writer and evangelist. He has ministered all across the United States of America and in 83 other countries. Annette Brice Murray is a graduate of Columbia International University (B.A., 1969) and Biblical Theological Seminary (M.A. Theology/Counseling, 1994), and is a licensed professional counselor.
The Murrays have four married children, six grandsons, one granddaughter, and two step-grandsons
STEPHEN BRAMER
Dr. Bramer taught for 16 years at Briercrest Bible College and at Briercrest Biblical Seminary in Saskatchewan, Canada, before joining the faculty of DTS. He also has enjoyed a variety of other ministries such as teaching elder, youth pastor, and pulpit supply throughout Canada and the United States. He serves as an adjunct professor for Word of Life Bible Institute, Hungary; Briercrest Seminary, Canada; as well as at the Jordan Evangelical Theological Seminary (JETS) in Jordan. He is a teaching pastor at Waterbrook Bible Fellowship and travels yearly to Israel and Jordan. Stephen and his wife, Sharon, enjoy visiting their three married children and nine grandchildren who live in three different countries.
Corey Abney and Ray Pritchard
July 4 - July 10, 2021
Register NowCOREY ABNEY
Dr. Corey Abney serves as the lead pastor at Bell Shoals Church, a congregation with over 6,000 members and 5 campuses in Tampa, Florida. He also serves on the board of trustees at Cedarville University and previously served on the board of governors at Gateway Seminary in Los Angeles, California. He is a published author and conference speaker, but remains most passionate about local church ministry, church planting, and international missions. Dr. Abney is a graduate of Cedarville University (B.A) and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div, Ph.D). He is married to Christina and they have four children.
RAY PRITCHARD
Dr. Ray Pritchard serves as president of Keep Believing Ministries. He ministers extensively across the US and in South Korea, Ukraine, Uganda, Kenya, China, and the Philippines. He has written 31 books, including Stealth Attack, The Healing Power of Forgiveness, and An Anchor for the Soul. He is a co-host of Today’s Issues on American Family Radio. He has been married to Marlene for 46 years. They have three sons (all married) and ten grandchildren.
Dr. Pritchard’s hobbies include biking, surfing the Internet, and anything related to the Civil War. He hit the 50,000-mile mark on his bike riding in 2020.
Phil Moser and Ramesh Richard
July 11 - July 17, 2021
Register NowPhil Moser
Phil has served as the teaching pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in New Jersey for more than 20 years. Besides his church responsibilities, he is also an adjunct professor at Word of Life New York, Germany and Hungary. He is the founder and author of Biblical Strategies. Phil and his wife, Kym, have 4 children and a son-in-law.
RAMESH RICHARD
Professor of Global Theological Engagement and Pastoral Ministries, Dallas Theological Seminary
In addition to more than thirty years of faculty service, Dr. Richard is founder and president of Ramesh Richard Evangelism and Church Health (RREACH), a global proclamation ministry that seeks to evangelize leaders and strengthen pastors primarily of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. He has ministered in over 100 countries, speaking to wide-ranging audiences, from pastors in rural areas to heads of state. In partnership with DTS, RREACH launched the Global Proclamation Academy to equip influential young pastors from all over the world. Dr. Richard is also the founder of Trainers of Pastors International Coalition (TOPIC) and the general convener of the 2016 Global Proclamation Congress for Pastoral Trainers. He and his wife, Bonnie, have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Brian White and Richard Blackaby
July 18 - July 24, 2021
Register NowBRIAN WHITE
Brian White has served as the Lead Pastor of Harvest Church in Carmel, Indiana since its planting in 2007. He is a graduate of Cedarville University (B.A.), The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and is currently completing his Doctor of Ministry degree at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. A church planter by background, Brian teaches and coaches church planters around the country and he served from 2017-2019 as the Executive Director for Great Commission Collective, a global church planting fellowship of over 120 churches. Besides his ministry at Harvest, he serves on the Board of Trustees at Cedarville University.
He and his wife, Laura have been married for 22 years and they reside in Noblesville, Indiana where they enjoy life and ministry with their 5 children.
Social Media:
Twitter – @brianwhiteHCNI
RICHARD BLACKABY
Richard is the president of Blackaby Ministries International and lives in Atlanta, Georgia. He travels internationally speaking on spiritual leadership in the home, church, and marketplace as well as on spiritual awakening, experiencing God, and the Christian life. Richard regularly ministers to Christian CEOs, church, and family leaders. He served as a senior pastor and seminary president, and has written or co-authored thirty-five books. Richard has been married to Lisa for 35 years and has three grown children and four grandsons.
Mark Yarbrough and Erwin Lutzer
July 25 - July 31, 2021
Register NowMARK YARBROUGH
Dr. Mark Yarbrough began his tenure as the 6th president of DTS on July 1, 2020. He also serves as Professor of Bible Exposition. Along with his responsibilities of leading DTS, he serves as an elder of Centerpoint Church in Mesquite and travels extensively leading tours and speaking at conference centers. Mark has recently authored Jonah, Beyond the Tale of a Whale. He has been married for twenty-nine years to Jennifer, his high school sweetheart. They have four adult children, one son-in-law, and reside in Sunnyvale, Texas.
ERWIN LUTZER
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer is Pastor Emeritus of The Moody Church where he served as the Senior Pastor for 36 years. A clear expositor of the Bible, Dr. Lutzer is the featured speaker on three radio programs that are heard on more than 1,000 outlets in the United States and around the world. Dr. Lutzer is also an award-winning author of numerous books including Christian Bookseller’s Gold Medallion Award winner, Hitler’s Cross. His speaking engagements include Bible conferences and seminars, both domestically and internationally. He also leads tours to Israel and the cities of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. Dr. Lutzer and his wife, Rebecca have three grown children and eight grandchildren.
Todd Adams and Tom Messer
August 1 - August 7, 2021
Register NowTODD ADAMS
Pastor Todd, as the senior pastor of Faith Baptist Church, has been given the incredible privilege and responsibility to preach and teach God’s Word. He takes this calling very seriously, and desires to serve God with the utmost integrity and honor. As Pastor, his desire is to see you grow and develop in your walk with Christ.
Pastor Todd has a Graduate Degree in Theology, a BA in Ministry, and is currently working towards a MA in Pastoral Theology. He has also taken extensive training in Biblical Counseling. Pastor Todd has a passion to reach people locally and globally. Having lived most of his life in England, he has been afforded the opportunity to do an array of “mission’s work” in Europe. God has allowed him the privilege of serving Him full time in ministry for over 25 years.
Pastor Todd and his wife Angela have two sons and a loveable pit bull who completes the Adams household.
A native of Northfield, Massachusetts, Dr. Messer graduated from Maranatha Baptist Bible College where he earned his undergraduate degree in 1982 and was later awarded a Doctor of Divinity. In 1982, he began his association with Trinity Ministries as a basketball coach and teacher at Trinity Baptist College, where he earned his Master’s degree in Ministry. In 1991, he was appointed Executive Vice President of the college. On December 6, 1992, he became the pastor of Trinity Baptist Church and president of Trinity Baptist College. In 1998, he was named Chancellor of Trinity Baptist College. Pastor Messer and his wife Lisa have four children: Drew, Christie, Michael, and Jacob.
Dr. Messer enjoys spending time with his family, studying the Bible, reading books on the Christian life or church growth, eating barbeque or seafood, and playing golf. He’s also a fan of basketball, football and baseball.
Fall and Spring Retreats
Get Inspired
Seeing relationships with the Lord deepen throughout the week is the our number 1 goal at Word of Life. That’s why we find the most inspirational speakers to guide daily sessions, share biblical truths and create opportunities to deepen your faith.
