Dr. Robert Smith Jr.
Dr. Robert Smith Jr. is a distinguished professor of Christian preaching at Beeson Divinity School, where he has served for over 25 years and held the Charles T. Carter Baptist Chair of Divinity. He is known for his impactful preaching style and has mentored many future church leaders. Dr. Smith has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the 2017 E. K. Bailey Expository Preaching Conference Living Legend. His contributions to Christian ministry include co-editing books and contributing to studies on Christian ministry in the African American church.
Bob Pitman
Bob Pitman, evangelist from Alabama and Co-Founder of the East Coast Men’s Bible Conference. He and his wife, Cheryl, have two sons and a house full of grandchildren.
Michael Cloer
Michael Cloer, Mission Strategist of the Cape Fear Network of Baptist Churches. He and his wife, Tebra have 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
Chuck Lawless
Chuck Lawless is Dean of Doctoral Studies and Vice-President of Spiritual Formation and Ministry Centers at Southeastern Seminary in Wake Forest, NC, where he also serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions. In addition, he is Team Leader for Theological Education Strategists for the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Dr. Lawless was awarded an MDiv and a PhD in Evangelism/Church Growth from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY, where he also served as professor and dean of the Billy Graham School of Missions and Evangelism. Prior to that, he was pastor of two Ohio churches. A conference leader and author of several books, including Discipled Warriors, Putting on the Armor, Mentor, Nobodies for Jesus, and Spiritual Warfare in the Storyline of Scripture (co-authored), Dr. Lawless has a strong interest in discipleship and mentoring. Dr. Lawless and his wife, Pam, have been married for more than 30 years, and they live in Wake Forest, NC.
Ronjour Locke
Ronjour Locke serves as lead pastor of MVBC Raleigh. He also teaches at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he has served since 2018. He is a graduate of Washington Bible College and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is happily married to Annie, and they have four children.
John Ewart
Dr. Ewart became the Senior Pastor of Englewood in March of 2025. He is blessed to be married to Tresa, and they have three incredible adult children: Joshua, Rachel, and Josiah, a daughter-in-law, Stephanie, a son-in-law Nathan, and four wonderful grandchildren: Elizabeth Grace, Elsie Michelle, Millee Jo, and Jonathan Vincent. He has a B.A in Religion from Baylor University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Missiology from the Southern Baptist Seminary. He has served in full-time pastoral ministry for decades, conducted missions, education, and/or consulting projects in over 70 nations, served in two Southern Baptist seminaries, as well as personally participated in over a dozen church plants. He has consulted with hundreds of churches, denominational, non-profit, business, and government entities and trained thousands of leaders around the world. He recently served as the Associate Vice President for Global Theological Initiatives and Ministry Centers, and Professor of Missions and Pastoral Leadership at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he will continue to teach on a limited basis. Though not raised in church, God used a friend to bring him to Christ in a football locker room and then called him to full time service soon thereafter. He loves all Scripture, but God especially uses II Corinthians 5:17 to remind him of His grace and salvation: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.