2024 Speakers
AL JACKSON
Brother Al was Lakeview Baptist Church of Auburn’s pastor from 1979 to 2021 and is now the Pastor Emeritus. A native of Florala, Alabama, he is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama. He received his Master of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.
Bro. Al has ministered God’s Word throughout the United States and in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Africa.
He and his wife, Kem, have been married since 1972 and have three married children and nine grandchildren.
HERSHAEL YORK
Hershael York has served as the 11th dean of Southern Seminary’s School of Theology since 2018, and as the Victor and Louise Lester Professor of Christian Preaching since 1999. Since coming to Southern in 1997, York has authored two books on speaking and preaching and has written dozens of articles in journals and online publications. His preaching has been featured in Preaching Today as among the best in North America, and he has twice preached at the International Congress on preaching in Cambridge, England.
York retired in January 2024 after 20 years as the senior pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church in Frankfort, Kentucky. While there he led the 200-year-old church in growth that necessitated relocation to a 100-acre campus and new facilities. He frequently ministers internationally, especially in Brazil, where his father was a missionary. Before joining the faculty of Southern Seminary, York pastored the Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington and the First Baptist Church of Marion, Arkansas.
BART BARBER
Bart Barber has served as the pastor of First Baptist Church in Farmersville, Texas, since 1999. At the SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California, June 14-15, 2022, Bart was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention.
A native of Lake City, Arkansas, Bart has served churches in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. He has earned degrees from Baylor University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, culminating in a PhD in Church History.
He is married to Tracy Brady Barber. Together they have two children, Jim and Sarah.
CHRIS JONES
Chris Jones has served as Lead Pastor of Meadow Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL since 2013. He received his Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University and is passionate about reading and proclaiming God’s Word in the local church.
Originally from Arkansas, Chris and his wife, Ashley, are Razorback fans and have three children: Kinsley, Paxton, and Elias.
DAYLAN WOODALL
Daylan Woodall is from the small community of Calcis, Alabama which is situated about forty five minutes southeast of Birmingham. Daylan accepted the call to preach the Gospel at 14. He has dedicated his life to that call.
Since 2015 Daylan has served as Senior Pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church Decatur. He graduated from Huntingdon College in Montgomery and completed a Master of Arts in Christian Education at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is also completing a Master of Divinity Degree.
Daylan has written one book, “Faces in the Crowd Around the Cross”. He has also authored articles and papers for The Gospel Coalition and The Baptist History and Heritage Society.
In His goodness, God has blessed not only Daylan’s ministry but also his life and his family. He is a husband to Kyra and a father to their son Cj.
CHAD HUNSBERGER
Chad Hunsberger has been in ministry for over 20 years and has served churches in Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. He attended Samford University in Birmingham, and while serving at a church, he met Gloria. They were married soon after graduation in 2004.
Chad completed his Master’s degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in 2010 and earned his Doctorate of Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014.
He and Gloria have four children; Abigail, Luke, Lottie, and Zeke. Chad has been blessed with opportunities to train church leaders and preach the gospel throughout the United States and in over 20 countries, but one of his greatest blessings is to serve as Lead Pastor at Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Ridgeland, MS.
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