Speakers
Debbie Barrett
I have served in Kids Ministry for over 30 years. The last 27 years have been at FBC Inola as the Children’s Minister and the last 16 years as the Weekday Director. I have been married to my husband, Randy for 35 years. We have 4 adult children, 3 Daughters-in-Love, 6 GRANDbabies with our 7th on the way. I am so thankful for my family. I absolutely love getting to teach children. Being able to share the gospel with them and watch them grow is the sweetest.
Caitlin Beauplan
Caitlin is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University where she received her degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She spent many summers interning at her home church, Concord Baptist. She spent two years in the public school classroom before moving to Haiti and working as a teacher and field director with Hope Community Project for five years. She has served as the Children’s Ministry Director at Concord since March 2023. She enjoys spending time with her husband Wood, and their two children, Josiah and Leila.
Karan Burnette
Karan B. Burnette, MA, CCC-SLP I am currently the Executive Director of Partners, Arkansas’ University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD), an outreach program of the College of Education & Health Professions at the University of Arkansas. After completing both a BSE in Elementary Education/Speech Pathology and a MA in Speech Pathology/Audiology from the University of Arkansas, I have over 40 years in various roles associated with services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. My specific areas of interest are autism, sensory processing disorders, trauma, positive behavioral supports, and family engagement. I am currently appointed to the Arkansas Legislative Task Force on Autism and the Arkansas Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities.
Jeremy Carroll
Jeremy Carroll is the Lifeway Kids Ministry Publishing Manager for Hyfi, VBS, and Kids Discipleship resources. Before coming to Lifeway, he served in a variety of church staff positions. He currently serves each week as a volunteer in the kids ministry of his church. Jeremy earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Stephanie Chase
Stephanie Chase has worked in education and kids ministry as a
teacher, director, writer, and trainer for over 25 years. She currently serves as the global kids minister at Champion Forest Baptist Church and is a national speaker for family conferences, women’s events, and leadership training. Her enthusiasm and joy in living is contagious and will inspire you to live the life God has planned for you.
Pam Copeland
Pam Copeland is the Children’s Minister at Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas. She was called to ministry at the age of 16 and has served in children’s ministry for almost 35 years. Her passion is teaching children about God’s amazing love for them, helping parents to teach their children and find their greatest pleasure and purpose in Jesus Christ. She and her husband Mark have 3 children, a daughter in law, and 3 amazing grandsons. When she isn’t serving, you will find her traveling, reading a good book, or antique shopping.
Ally Freeman
Ally Freeman is the family minister at Grand Avenue in Fort Smith, AR. She leads a team who ministers to babies through 12th grade and enjoys connecting families to community within the church and watching them thrive as they worship, grow, and go on mission within Fort Smith. Ally has over two decades of ministry in churches in Louisiana, Texas, Missouri, and Arkansas serving on church staff with preschool, elementary, and student ministries, as well as in private school and church weekday learning centers. Her heartbeat of ministry is to equip volunteers and parents with the gospel and a heart like Jesus, giving the next generation a church experience that will not deconstruct in adulthood.
Taylor Garmon
Taylor serves as the Bible Drill Consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. He and his wife, Keri, together raise twin 11-year-olds sons (Carson and Kamdyn), a 7-year-old daughter (Caroline), and a 6-year-old son (Kole).
Billy Hardesty
Billy Hardesty has pastored in Arkansas since 2007. He pastored New Liberty Baptist Church in Blytheville for five years and later shifted his ministry focus to children’s ministry, beginning this phase of his ministry at West View Baptist Church in Paragould. During the past seven years, he has served as the preteen pastor and currently serves as the children’s pastor at Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas. He and his wife, Rachel, have two wonderful daughters.
Luke Harding
Luke Harding is Lead Pastor at First Baptist Clever Missouri. Prior to FBC, Luke served as a Kid’s Pastor for over 9 years at 2 previous churches. Luke is passionate about growing healthy and effective church leadership at all levels in the local church. His heart for ministry is to teach the truth of scripture with simplicity, clarity, and application. Serving and leading the local church is one of Luke’s greatest joys in life. Luke has also regularly served as camp pastor for Centrikid Camps. Luke has been married to his wife Hannah for 13 years, and together they have 3 children.
Martha Harvey
Martha Harvey has served in ministry for over 17 years. Martha and her husband, Dallas, are passionate about ministering together to families, children, ministry leaders and the church. They have served together in ministry in various roles such as worship, youth, adult discipleship, communications, and their favorite- kids and families! They also are the co-founders of their family ministry company, with families, which resources and equips families to bring worship into the home. Martha loves to see kids come to know Jesus as their Savior and help equip parents to be the primary disciple maker of their children. She also loves a good iced latte, beach vacay, musical, and trip to Ikea so she can decorate and transform spaces. Matthew 5:16 @withfamilies.co
Lynn Jordan
Lynn Jordan recently retired as the Children’s Ministry Coordinator for Capital Baptist Association in Oklahoma City. An Oklahoma University and Southwestern Seminary graduate, she has led children’s conferences for LifeWay Christian Resources and the State Conventions of Baptist in Ohio and Oklahoma. Lynn is a writer for LifeWay Christian Resources and Mr. Mark’s Classroom. Lynn is a Quail Kids Bible Drill leader at Quail Springs Baptist Church.
Jana Magruder
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director of Lifeway Kids in Nashville. With a background in education, publishing, and ministry, she loves championing the local church to help families disciple kids of all ages. Jana and her husband Michael are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three big kids.
Shelly Melia
Shelly Melia serves as the associate dean of the Graduate School of Ministry and professor of Childhood Education at Dallas Baptist University. She oversees the Master of Arts in Family Ministry and Master of Arts in Children’s Ministry. Prior to coming to DBU, she served as a children’s minister for over 25 years and is a licensed professional counselor.
Brandi Melvin
Brandi has 20 years experience working in the church. She has been in children’s ministry for 17 years and adult ministry the past 3 years. She has a Master of Art in Christian Ministry. She and her husband, Ryan have been married for 26 years. They have 2 sons that bring them so much joy.
Christy Nance
Christy Nance is the Kid’s Worship Leader at The Rock Church St Louis and serves as the Missouri State VBS Strategist. She has served in many capacities in the church setting including early education, Christian School and Church Administration.
Donna Peavey
With nearly 40 years of ministry and teaching experience, Dr. Donna Peavey stands as a distinguished leader in the realms of children’s ministry and spiritual formation. As a highly respected consultant, professor, writer, and frequent conference speaker, she is unwavering in her dedication to providing parents and teachers with the essential tools to support children’s holistic development. One of her greatest joys is guiding others in crafting or enhancing their plans for children’s spiritual growth. She serves as a professor at NOBTS, a ministry consultant, and a Bible study teacher. Her unwavering commitment to children and families, coupled with her extensive knowledge, has established her as a trusted and influential voice in the field of children’s ministry.
Sandra Peoples
Sandra Peoples (PhD candidate) is the disability ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, an adjunct professor, and the author of Accessible Church: A Gospel-Centered Vision for Including People with Disabilities and Their Families. She and her family live outside of Houston, TX. You can connect with her at sandrapeoples.com.
Chuck Peters
Director of Lifeway NextGen, overseeing Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Student publishing. He is the co-author of Flip The Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, and host of the ETCH NextGen Ministry Podcast. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck and his wife Cris have served in Preschool, Kids, Student, and Groups Ministry for many years in New Jersey, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Before joining Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award Winning producer, director, writer, and on-screen host. Chuck is driven by a passion to equip and inspire ministry leaders.
Emily Smith
Emily Smith serves as the Abuse Prevention + Response Consultant for the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. Emily has served on convention staff with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, church staff in Arkansas and faith-based organizations in AR and TX. She has a passion for serving churches in the areas of safeguarding minors and next generation ministries. Emily and her husband, Wayne, enjoy exploring their great state with their two boys and serving as volunteers at First Baptist Church Hot Springs.
Krista Storts
Klista Storts served in Oklahoma and Tennessee church leadership positions in kids ministry since 1994. She then moved to Lifeway Christian Resources, where she worked as a Kids Ministry Specialist and Content Editor. Klista has trained thousands of kids ministry leaders across the nation in best teaching methods. She recently retired after her 18-year tenure with Lifeway Kids and now enjoys life with her husband in Oklahoma.
Kayla Wescoat
Kayla Wescoat is the Kids Minister at Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri. She loves helping kids grow to know Jesus and love worshipping Him! She has a heart for seeing parents take on the role of the primary spiritual leader of their family. She loves spending time outdoors with her firefighter husband, Chris, and their three children, Aiden, McKenna, and Hadlee.
Delanee Williams
Delanee Williams serves as a Kids Ministry Specialist. She is a graduate of Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Delanee has served in kids ministry for over twenty years and is passionate about developing, equipping and encouraging leaders.
Carisa Wilsie
Carisa Wilsie, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and orphan care advocate. She is involved in state efforts to better the lives of children with compromised beginnings in Oklahoma. She does life with many bright, compassionate and encouraging people that hold her up. She is a wife and mother to three who were born out of her heart through adoption. Most importantly, she is a Christ-follower and strives every day to live out her unique calling.