2010 Empower Evangelism Conf. speakers and bios

MAC BRUNSON

Brunson, pastor of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, Fla., who previously served the First Baptist Church of Dallas before succeeding Jerry Vines in Jacksonville, is a South Carolina native and is a graduate of Furman University and Southwestern Seminary, where he earned a master of divinity and a doctor of ministry. He received the SWBTS Distinguished Alumni Award in 2004. He also received an honorary doctor of divinity from Dallas Baptist University. Brunson served at FBC Dallas from 1999-2006.

He is known for his love of history, which he often weaves into his sermons to help illustrate his expounding of the Scripture. He is the author or co-author of four books, including "The New Guidebook for Pastors," with James Bryant.

GARY DYER

A native Texan, Dyer is the pastor of First Baptist Church of Midland and previously served churches in Dallas, Belton, Copperas Cove and DeSoto. He holds degrees from Dallas Baptist University, Southwestern Seminary and Howard Payne University, where he received an honorary doctor of divinity. He has preached revivals nationally and internationally, from Idaho to Australia.

Under his leadership, FBC Midland has helped plant numerous churches. He co-developed a personal evangelism plan called MPACT (Making People Aware of Christ's Truth). He was also honored in Midland with the 2003 Martin Luther King Jr. Beloved Community Leadership Award.

ROY FISH

Saved as an undergraduate at the University of Arkansas, Fish went to Southwestern Seminary and received a bachelor of divinity degree?then the equivalent of a master of divinity degree?in 1957. Fish completed his doctorate in church history at Southwestern in 1963.

He accepted the call to teach at Southwestern in 1965 and taught evangelism there for over 40 years.

Fish's focus on the simple gospel was evident even in his earliest days of teaching. "In the coming years, there is going to be pressure on us to emphasize the redemption of the structures of society rather than the individual in society," Fish predicted during a message in 1967. "But never lose sight of the fact that soup, salve and sewing classes are not salvation.... Too many preachers are calling for a gospel that does little more than put a new suit of clothes on a man; we must preach a gospel that puts a new man in a suit of clothes," he said.

KEVIN HAMM

Hamm, pastor of Gardendale First Baptist Church in Gardendale, Ala., has a passion for celebrative music combined with biblically anointed preaching. He served almost nine years as the pastor of Valley View Church in Louisville, Ky., witnessing its growth from 300 to 2,700 weekly worshippers.

Hamm strives to communicate God's Word with clarity, enthusiasm, and personal relevance sprinkled with timely humor. His articles have been published in "Growing Churches," "Leadership," and "Leader Life."

He has a B.A. from Western Kentucky University, a master of divinity from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Germantown, Tenn., and a doctor of ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky.

THOMAS HAMMOND

Hammond is the personal evangelism team leader on the staff of the SBC's North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, Ga.

Thomas previously served as director of missions for the Metrolina Baptist Association in Charlotte, N.C. Also, he served as minister of evangelism at Hebron Baptist Church, Dacula, Ga., evangelism associate at the Ohio Baptist Convention, and chaplain for the Veterans' Administration Medical Center (VAMC) in Memphis, Tenn.

He is a graduate of Augusta State University, Augusta, Ga., and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Germantown, Tenn.

JUNIOR HILL

Hill began his ministry at age 19 and served as a pastor for 11 years in Alabama and Mississippi before entering vocational evangelism in 1967.

A native of Hartselle, Ala., he is a graduate of Samford University, Birmingham, Ala., and New Orleans Bap