Jonathan Merritt is a faith and culture writer who has published over 100 articles in respected outlets such as USA Today, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Washington Post's “On Faith” blog, and Relevant, Outreach and Charisma magazines. As a respected Christian voice, he has been interviewed by ABC World News, NPR, PBS’ Religion and Ethics Newsweekly, the UK Guardian, The New York Times and The Washington Post. His first book, Green Like God: Unlocking the Divine Plan for Our Planet (FaithWords), releases nationwide in Spring of 2010. Jonathan is known for his ability to tackle difficult issues through both the written and spoken word. "I believe that it's vital to navigate the toughest, trickiest, most controversial conversations," he says. "I think we need to throw the hush off of the hidden things and blow the dust off the subjects we've stored in the attics of our minds. In bravely honest conversations, we find the power to radically change the Church, the culture, and the eternal destinies of men and women." He earned a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Wake Forest, NC) in 2008, and is currently a Master of Theology candidate at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology (Atlanta, GA). Jonathan resides outside of Atlanta, GA where he actively serves and teaches at Cross Pointe Church.

Kerry Jackson is the National Missionary to Cultural Creatives with the North American Mission Board. He is a church planter starting a church focusing on the creative community of Atlanta. See www.bezalelchurch.org. Kerry also performs visual art in worship services all over the country. Visit www.drawingtotherock.com for booking information.

Erin-Leigh Patterson hails from Gainesville, Fla., better known as Title Town, or Gator Country. She has been in Atlanta for six years now including her time at Georgia State University. During her senior year she served as office intern for Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee and started working as a Relationship Coordinator shortly after graduating. Working for Thousand Hills has allowed Erin-Leigh to blend her passion for Africa and abolishing poverty with her long-time addiction to coffee. Her role is to connect churches with the easy and amazing opportunity to change lives through a simple cup of coffee.

Brian Audia is the President and CEO of Surgance, Inc. that he co-founded in 2006. Previously, he was Executive Director of New Hope New York (NHNY), a leading nonprofit in the metro New York City community, providing crosssector collaboration for community transformation across the five boroughs, Long Island and New Jersey. Prior to NHNY, Mr. Audia was Director of Missions Operations at the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA (FBCW) a 16,500-member congregation with global humanitarian outreach. In addition to his tenure at NHNY and FBCW, Mr. Audia also held executive positions in various businesses and start-ups.

Larry Grays answered the call to preach on May 15,1990. He was licensed to preach in First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, FL on October 7,1990. He was ordained at Parkway Baptist Church in Orlando, FL. Larry served in full-time evangelism from 1997-2007. In the past, he has served as a Senior High youth pastor at Crossroads Fellowship in Raleigh, NC and as Assistant Pastor/ singles at Parkway Baptist Church in Orlando, FL. Larry launched the Midtown Bridge Church in August of 2007. Midtown Bridge is located in midtown Atlanta in a Live, Work and Play community called Atlantic Station. Larry is serving as Senior Pastor.

Kris McDaniel is lead pastor of Trinity Vineyard Church in Atlanta, Ga. He and a team of leaders planted the church in the fall of 2002. Since that time the community has taken root in the city, adopting a long term goal to transform Atlanta's perception of what it means to be a follower of Jesus. Kris and his wife, Karyn, live less than two miles from the church with their three children - Mady, Scout and Finn. Kris is currently enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary where he is working on a Master of Theological Studies.

Jonathan Golden, an entrepreneur and Executive Coach for fifteen years, is also the pastor of St. Peter's Place Anglican Church. He loves spending time with his family and can often be found kayaking with his wife, Brenda, or on his long board with his two sons. When Jonathan first invested in a roaster and a few bags of green coffee beans from Rwanda, he envisioned creating a coffee experience that not only serves excellent specialty coffee, but also promotes reconciliation, justice, and sustainable business in rural coffee farming communities. Jonathan is the company's creative visionary and loves a Rwandan cappuccino.

Nathan Tran graduated from Boyce Bible College in May 2008 and is in charge of planting a multi-ethnic church in Vinings, GA. Currently, he and his wife, Christina, are attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary where they are obtaining a Master of Divinity in Church Planting and Evangelism. They are also involved in the CARES Program through Apartment Life, a Christian organization. Through this program, they get to meet and connect with more than 350 people a month to share the gospel.

Todd McMichen is the CEO of McMichen Development Group, a church leadership coaching service for stewardship and development strategies. He also serves as the founding leader of The People’s Church at Oak Mountain, a church plant in Birmingham, Alabama built upon volunteerism and a shared leadership community. Todd and his wife, Theresa, also founded the Developing Churches Network which provides coaching, networking, and resources for church planters in America.