smallChurch Conference

Craig Groeschel

Senior Pastor of Lifechurch.tv

Craig Groeschel is the founding and senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv. Craig, his wife, Amy, and their six children live in the Edmond, Oklahoma, area where LifeChurch.tv began in 1996.

Craig's creative leadership skills are changing the way church is done worldwide. Under his leadership, LifeChurch.tv has become one of the country's first multi-campus churches, with over fifty weekend worship experiences at thirteen different locations throughout the United States.

Craig and Bobby Gruenewald write daily blog posts pastors. You can participate in this blogging community at swerve.lifechurch.tv.

Toby Slough

Senior Pastor of Cross Timbers Community Church

Toby M. Slough is the Senior Pastor of Cross Timbers Community Church in Argyle, Texas, a multi-site church of three campuses and over 4,500 weekly attendees. He is the author of two books: Living the Dream and The Great Adventure.

Toby graduated from AbileneChristianUniversity in 1986, and began his ministry reaching high school students in San Antonio, Texas, and Oklahoma City. Shortly, doors opened for him to travel nationwide encouraging teenagers and youth workers. In 1993, he and his family moved to Southlake, Texas, where he served as Preaching Minister for Southlake Boulevard Church. It was there that God gave him a dream to plant a church in the rural community of Argyle. In 2000, along with 12 families, Toby fulfilled that dream when he started Cross Timbers in the back of a bar.

Toby feels blessed to have married way over his head. He and his wife Mika have celebrated more than 20 years of marriage and have two children: a daughter, Bailey, and a son, Ross. Toby readily admits that his children bring him more joy than any one man could ask for. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing and playing golf very badly

Dave Workman

Senior Pastor of Cincinnati Vineyard Church

Dave Workman is senior pastor of Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, a growing church of over 6000 weekend attendees and over a dozen local church plants. Vineyard Community Church has become well known for its outward-focused message and ministry.

While criss-crossing the country playing Christian music, Dave became involved with Steve Sjogren and the new little church plant of twenty people in 1984. A couple of years later Dave stepped into a worship leading role and helped architect the servant-oriented atmosphere of a very different kind of church, pioneering video production and graphic design in the early nineties. After leading worship for twelve years, Dave moved into a regular teaching role and in 2000 accepted the position of senior pastor. He and his wife Anita have been happily married since 1978 and are proud parents of two children, Rachel and Katie.

Dave has spoken on developing outward-focused churches both nationally and internationally.

Andy Tilly

National Youth Speaker and Director of Student Ministries & CT kids for Cross Timbers Community Church

Andy is on staff at Cross Timbers Community Church, a multi campus church based in Argyle, Texas as the Director of Student Ministries and CT Kids. Andy is also the Founder and Speaker for the Xperience It! Foundation and Andy Tilly Ministries. He frequently speaks at churches, camps, conferences, school assemblies and retreats across the country. Andy is the author of "The Student Experience" released in 2007, "Poser" and "Practical Jesus" to be released in early 2009.

Michael Bleecker

Worship Pastor at the Village Church

Michael Bleecker is the Worship Pastor at The Village Church in Highland Village, TX and also travels throughout the nation leading worship at conferences, camps and universities. Michael's passion is to glorify God by being a worshiper and effectively lead others into the presence of God where they can respond appropriately to His greatness and glory, be intimately touched by his nearness, and be powerfully changed into His likeness.

"I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.: - 1 Corinthians 14:15

Charles Bello

Charles Bello is a writer, pastor to pastors, a spiritual director and educator. He has spent the last 30 years ministering and training pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders in more than 20 nations. He is the author of "Prayer as a Place: Spirituality that Transforms" and "Recycled Spirituality."

Israel Hogue

Lead Pastor The Edge Church & Co-Founder Small Church Conference

Israel started in full time ministry when he was 18. He has been a youth pastor, singles pastor, an associate pastor and he and his wife started theedge church back in 2001. Israel was born in Houston, and grew up in Edmond and then in Southern California. His wife is an Edmond native and they now live in Edmond with their four amazing children - Levi, Crew, Goldie, and Jude.

Mark Ryan

Worship Pastor The Edge Church & Co-Founder Small Church Conference

Mark grew up in a traditional Catholic Church. While in high school Mark committed his life to Christ and God called him play and write music that glorifies Jesus. Mark spent a good portion of his life running away from God and is now committed to spending the rest chasing after Him. Mark is based out of Edmond, Oklahoma where he lives with his wife Kathryn and their children Layne Taylor and Finn. Mark works full-time as the Worship Leader for the Edge Church in Edmond along with traveling around the country leading worship for various events, camps and conferences.