Steve Cloer (Keynote Speaker) 

Steve has been the preaching minister at Southside Church of Christ in Fort Worth, Texas since 2006. Before that, he worked in youth and campus ministry. He and his wife, Lindsay, currently have three children, Joshua, Bethany, and Lydia. Steve graduated from Harding University with two B.A. degrees in Bible and Math. He received his M.Div. in New Testament from Harding School of Theology and graduated with his D.Min. in Congregational Mission and Leadership from Luther Seminary.

Topics: What is the Gospel? and How is the Gospel “Good News” for the World?

Justin Bland

Justin lives in Searcy, Arkansas with his wife, Heather, and sons, David and Joseph. Justin teaches exercise science and kinesiology courses at Harding University and received his Ph.D. in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pediatric Exercise Physiology from Michigan State University. He is passionate about exploring the wondrous design of the human body, and using his research as a platform for theological insight.

Topic: There is Power in the Blood

Kevin Burr

Kevin currently serves as a minister at the Nicholasville Church of Christ in Nicholasville, KY and is pursuing his Ph.D. in Biblical Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. He and his wife Linnea have a new baby boy, Peter, and a dog, Gibson. Kevin is a graduate of Harding University and Harding School of Theology. His passion for ministry is to equip Christian young men and women to live their faith genuinely and to discuss their faith intelligently. 

Topics: The Gospel According To… 

Devin Swindle

Devin is an Associate Professor of Bible and Ministry at Harding University, and he serves as the Preaching Minister for the Highway Church of Christ in Judsonia, Arkansas. Devin is also the director of Harding’s Kerusso Experience, a preacher training camp for 9th-12th grade boys. Devin is a graduate of Harding University and Harding School of Theology, where he received master’s and doctoral degrees. He and his wife Rachel have been married for 18 years, and are parents of four sons. Devin and his family love to hike, watch movies, and cheer on the 11-time World Series champion St. Louis Cardinals. Devin has been preaching since he was eight years old. He firmly believes that he was called by God to preach, and to train up other young men to answer that call as well.

Topic: The Gospel—the Power to Save

Jonathan Godsey

Jonathan is a senior Bible and preaching major at Harding University. He and his wife Madison are excited to begin ministry together. Jonathan has served in youth ministry internships with the Owens Cross Roads Church of Christ (Alabama), the Valley View Church of Christ (Arkansas), and the Farmington Church of Christ (Arkansas), and much of his passion for ministry has been shaped by those congregations. Jonathan’s passions include creating intergenerational dialogue in our churches, developing stronger relationships between local congregations, and ending the church-hopping trend that hampers growth and outreach.

Topic: Saved for a Purpose

Bonnie King

Bonnie received her Master’s degree in teaching from the University of Arkansas and she is currently a full-time Clinical Instructor at the University in the Childhood Education program. She attends Mount Comfort Church of Christ in Fayetteville, Arkansas, has led a ladies bible study in her home for ten years, and is active within ministries throughout Northwest Arkansas. She and her husband, Tyler, have been married for 5 years, and are parents to three amazing, energetic children. Bonnie is passionate about spreading the message of freedom found in serving God and her desire is for unity among Christian women in order to reach our communities for Jesus.

Girls’ Class Topic: #IRL: Living Out the Gospel in a Social Media World

Whit Jordan

Whit received his undergraduate degrees from Harding University before living in Mexico for ten months and then earning a Master's and a Ph.D. in Hispanic Studies from the University of Kentucky. He is currently a Spanish professor at Harding, where he helps sponsor two student organizations. Whit and his wife Nicole have a beautiful young daughter, Katherine, and are expecting the birth of a son this Thanksgiving. Their first son, Elijah, suffered from a rare chromosomal condition and lived for just under two hours.

Topic: Good News in a Time of Tragedy

Tye Zola

Tye has served as a youth minister for 12 years. He has worked in Southern California, and now serves as the Youth Minister at the Rocketdyne Road Church of Christ in Neosho, Missouri. He is married to Karina, and they have one daughter with a son on the way. Tye has a heart to live into Jesus’ example of mentoring others and declaring the Kingdom of Heaven in Christ alone.

Topic: The Bad News About the Good News

Jared Dockery

Jared is an associate professor of history at Harding University, where he has taught since 2008. He graduated from Harding with a B.A. in History in 1994, and also has an M.A. and Ph.D. in History from the University of Arkansas. He was the youth minister of the Bella Vista Church of Christ from 2000 to 2008, and served as a sportswriter for the Northwest Arkansas Times from 1998-2000. He and his wife Natalie live in Searcy, Arkansas

Topic: What Christianity has Done for the World

Mike Raine

Mike has been preaching for 40 years, and has been the Preaching Minister for the Farmington Church of Christ since January 2013. Mike is passionate about saving souls and is a tireless worker in God’s Kingdom. He and his wife, Donna, have three adult children: Rachel, Joshua, and Caleb, and one granddaughter, Macy.

Topic: The Gospel is For All

Jared Pack

Jared is a Ph.D. student in History at the University of Arkansas. He did his undergraduate work at Freed-Hardeman University and holds degrees in both Bible and History. Jared, his wife Karen, and their son Ben live in Farmington, Arkansas, where they are actively involved with the Farmington Church of Christ. 

Worship Leader