Diane J. McDougall believes that the best articles result from a trusting partnership between creator and editor. She specializes in magazine writing/editing and memoir editing, with clients ranging from the faith-based nonprofit world (including numerous EPA members) to higher education. She’s available via McDougall Editorial for freelance writing and editing, and the coaching of writers and editors.
Phil Cooke, Ph.D., is co-founder and CEO of Cooke Media Group in Los Angeles and Nashville. Phil has produced media programming in more than 70 countries and created many of the most influential inspirational TV programs in history with a client list that includes Hollywood studios, major nonprofit organizations, and many of the world’s most respected churches and ministries. His book, “Ideas on a Deadline: How to Be Creative When the Clock is Ticking” is the gold standard for creating brilliant ideas under pressure. His latest book is: “Church on Trial: How to Protect Your Congregation, Mission and Reputation During a Crisis.” He’s been called “one of the most innovative communicators of our generation,” and CNN calls him “The only working producer in Hollywood with a Ph.D. in Theology.” Find out more at philcooke.com.
Trillia Newbell is the author of the kids’ books Creative God, Colorful Us and God’s Very Good Idea, a Bible study on Hebrews 11, A Great Cloud of Witnesses, and a Bible study on Romans 8, If God Is For Us, as well as the books Sacred Endurance: Finding Grace and Strength for a Lasting Faith, Enjoy: Finding the Freedom to Delight Daily in God’s Good Gifts (2016), Fear and Faith: Finding the Peace Your Heart Craves (2015) and United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity (2014). Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, True Woman, Christianity Today, The Gospel Coalition, and more. She was also a commentator for World Radio (a sister platform for World Magazine). She has spoken at numerous conferences, churches, women’s retreats, colleges and seminaries, including True Woman, The Gospel Coalition Women’s conference, Southeastern Theological Seminary, and more. She spent seven years serving as the Director of Community Outreach for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. She is currently the Acquisitions Director for Moody Publishers.
“
Kathleen Cooke is an award-winning producer, actor, global speaker, writer, and co-founder of the multi-award-winning media production company Cooke Media Group and the nonprofit The Influence Lab. She is the Founder and Global Director of Influence Women, an initiative of The Influence Lab, with chapter groups in multiple U.S. cities and an online chapter serving women internationally. IW offers career development, connections, and support to women involved in film, television, music, and the arts industries. She has served on the boards for the National Salvation Army, Hollywood Prayer Network, 4WordWomen, Oral Roberts University, and Courage For Life. Kathleen was awarded a National Congressional Leadership Award in 2022 in Washington, DC, for leadership and is the author of “Hope 4 Today: Stay Connected to God in a Distracted Culture.” She has appeared on top national and international radio, podcast, and television shows, including CBN and TBN, and her articles have been published in multiple magazines. Kathleen is an international speaker at media, leadership, and women’s conferences and was honored in 2024 and 2025 to be one of 50 women chosen to speak at a UK/U.S.A. special forum on global affairs at Windsor Castle.
Andy Butcher is a veteran writer and editor who has lived in three countries and traveled to more than 50 in his work. A former British newspaper journalist, he has served as a news service director for a missions agency, senior writer and magazine editor, and journalism trainer. Freelancing since 2013, he has also co/authored more than 25 books. He is a past EPA board member and Higher Goals award winner and judge.
For twenty-five years Jim has served as a university professor of photojournalism. He has covered many national and international stories. Most recently Jim and Carol were involved in covering Hurricane Milton in Florida. In 2011 he received the National Press Photographers Association’s highest award for teaching photojournalism, the Robin F. Garland Educator Award. Jim and Carol now teach photography at The Paris Academy for the Arts, and at the Dixie Carter Performing Arts Center in Huntingdon, as well as weekly classes at the Huntingdon Middle School, and with young women at Youth Town in Pinson, Tenn. Their classes introduce students of all ages to the idea that amazing photographs aren’t just found in faraway places, but often in the familiar moments we overlook. Incredible images are often hiding within the simplest scenes, and at times they are right in front of us. Photography has provided a way for Jim to share the stories of people in relationship with one another, and encourages viewers to make a difference in the lives around them.
Stephanie Salvatore is the Associate Creative Director of Design at Lifeway, where she has spent more than 30 years working across nearly every facet of publishing design. Her experience spans magazines, long-form publications, UX/UI, and curriculum design, giving her a rare end-to-end view of how content, design, and audience needs intersect.
Today, Stephanie leads a centralized team of roughly 50 designers responsible for creating a wide range of products—from Bibles and marketing to Vacation Bible School and even communion cup packaging. Her role sits at the intersection of creativity, systems, and strategy, helping teams navigate collaboration, constraints, and scale without losing clarity or craft.
Her work has been recognized by both industry and faith-based organizations, including multiple ADDY awards and honors from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association, most recently Bible of the Year at the ECPA Christian Book Awards. She is particularly drawn to designing research-driven books that translate complex ideas into clear, compelling visual systems. Stephanie is also the co-author of Flip the Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, a research book focused on helping churches rethink long-standing assumptions in order to better engage emerging generations.
Warren L. Maye is the editor-in-chief of SACONNECTS, the Salvation Army’s award–winning lifestyle magazine, published in English, Spanish, and Korean. He is the author of “Soldiers of Uncommon Valor: The History of Salvationists of African Descent in the United States” (The Salvation Army, 2008) and “When God Calls: The Heart and Ministry of a Holiness Preacher, Rev. Dr. V. Seymour Cole” (Nazarene Publishing House, 2012). He has also co–authored several books. Warren is a board member for EPA. He is also a member of the American Society of Magazine Editors (ASME) and the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB). From September 11, 2002 to July 6, 2003 over 1 million visitors saw the exhibition “September 11: Bearing Witness to History” at the Smithsonian’s, National Museum of American History that included Warren’s 9/11 photos. He earned a B.F.A., from Parsons School of Design and the New School for Social Research and a M.A., from Fordham University. He is a Society of Illustrators award winner, Scholastic Magazines scholar, and former 90.7 WFUV FM co–host and first voice of “Cityscape,” a weekly talk show addressing New York City issues, now in its 34th year.
Emily Belz is a senior staff writer on the news team at Christianity Today and lives in New York City. She has almost 20 years of experience in long-form feature reporting and writing in local, national, and international news. In addition to CT, she has written for The New York Times, World, Plough, the New York Daily News, The Hill, and The Indianapolis Star. She has won awards including one for feature writing from the Evangelical Press Association as well as the Zenger Prize.
For over 45 years, Steve Lopez has created design and illustration for Assemblies of God publications and curriculum. Currently he is the designer for Influence magazine, a publication for ministers. He studied art at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri.
Myal Greene is the President and CEO of World Relief, a global Christian humanitarian organization with the mission to boldly engages the world’s greatest crises in partnership with church. With 18 years of service at World Relief—including the last four in the role of President and CEO—Myal has helped shape and lead the organization’s strategy and focus on serving vulnerable populations in the US and around the world who have been impacted by the global displacement crisis. Prior to becoming CEO in 2021, Myal spent eight years in Rwanda, where he led the development of World Relief’s innovative church-based programming model—now active in nine countries across Africa, Asia, and the Americas. He also served for six years in senior leadership roles within the international programs division, helping shape strategy and program effectiveness across the organization. A passionate advocate for the role of the Church in responding to global needs, Myal is a leading voice on issues of global displacement, regularly engaging Christian audiences through writing, speaking, and participation in major conferences. He brings experience from both the non-profit and government sectors, with an earlier career in U.S. government service.
Carol Pipes is director of Communications for Lifeway Christian Resources and senior editor at LifewayResearch.com. She has worked in Christian publishing for 25 years, during which time she has written numerous magazine articles and previously served as editor of “Facts & Trends” and “On Mission” magazines.
Dustin W. Stout is a Christian entrepreneur, speaker, and digital marketing expert who has dedicated his career to helping others share their stories effectively in the digital age. After serving as a Youth Director and discovering his passion for combining ministry with digital communication, Dustin has become a respected voice in the intersection of faith, technology, and storytelling.
A devoted husband and father of three, Dustin built and led a successful digital marketing agency, consulting for Fortune 100 brands and establishing himself as a thought leader in the marketing space. His expertise has been featured in numerous publications such as Forbes, particularly for his insights on marketing strategy and artificial intelligence.
Most recently, Dustin founded Magai, the world’s premier all-in-one AI platform that brings together over 30 powerful tools under one roof, helping organizations maximize their technological potential while minimizing costs. His unique blend of faith-based values and technical expertise makes him particularly adept at helping Christian organizations navigate the digital landscape while maintaining their mission and message.
Drawing from his background in ministry and his success in digital entrepreneurship, Dustin brings a fresh perspective on how Christian organizations can effectively communicate their message in today’s digital world.
Justin Dean is an entrepreneur, author, and communications leader with more than 15 years of experience helping faith-based organizations communicate with clarity and credibility. He previously served as Communications Director at Mars Hill Church in Seattle and later founded and led multiple church-focused ventures and national conferences, including That Church Conference, SundayU, and the SaaS platform Church Requests. Justin went on to serve as Director of Marketing at Tithely, where he helped scale the company from approximately 10,000 to more than 50,000 churches through content strategy, brand development, and digital engagement. Today, he advises organizations on messaging strategy and crisis communication and is the author of PR Matters: A Survival Guide for Church Communicators and Stay Salty. He lives in North Georgia with his wife and four children.
“Samuel Ebersole is the director of training for Global News Alliance. After more than 35 years in higher education, he is now a professor emeritus at Colorado State University-Pueblo. In recent years, he’s been developing training materials, curriculum, and connections with other trainers and experts, all with the goal of training a network of smartpthone reporters who will inform the Church about what God is doing in the World. He has provided training in communication and video production for YWAM and other international Christian organizations. He currently serves on the board of Universal Chastity Education, a non-profit ministry serving Uganda, Burundi, and Tanzania.
Ebersole has authored a textbook, several book chapters, and numerous scholarly articles. He has been a NATPE Faculty Fellow, an International Radio & Television Society Fellow, a Berglund Center for Internet Studies Fellow, and a recipient of the Stephen H. Coltrin Award for Excellence in Communications Education. He was awarded two Emmy awards for his work with NBC Sports.”
Katie Allred is a strategist, author, and professor who bridges the gap between emerging technology and ministry. With a master’s degree in communication and a background in Computer Information Systems, she specializes in helping organizations navigate the digital age without losing their human touch.
She previously served as the Community Partnership Lead at Meta, where she oversaw Facebook Groups for North America, and has authored books including Church Communications and AI Prompts for Church Leaders. Today, she leads Katie Allred Consulting, focusing on AI literacy and strategic communications for faith-based leaders. Whether she’s building websites or hosting workshops on AI ethics, Katie’s mission remains the same: helping leaders automate the temporary so they can invest in the eternal.
Aaron Earls is the senior writer at Lifeway Christian Resources. He has been published in “The Washington Post,” “Christianity Today,” “WORLD” magazine, and others. He has an M.Div. in apologetics and a Bachelor of Arts in journalism.
Anita Moreland Smith is co-founder and president of the Children’s AIDS Fund International. She and her husband Shepherd have worked in the HIV/AIDS global arena since the late 1980s. She served as co-chair of the President’s Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS in 2002-04. In the 1970s she was managing editor of the National Association of Evangelical’s United Evangelical Action magazine, a member of the Evangelical Press Association board of directors, on the founding editorial board of Today’s Christian Woman, a columnist for Christianity Today’s Leadership magazine, and a freelance writer whose articles appeared regularly in both faith-based and secular publications.
Bob Elder is an industry leader in Faith-Based Entertainment who has been navigating the transformative media marketplace for the last 37 years; the experience applied from his arduous career continues to strengthen his impact on the landscape of Christian media today. Bob founded Collide Media Group in 2016 with a mission to “elevate media that inspires a deeper relationship with Christ.” Collide continues to grow by recently purchasing Docs/ology a boutique unscripted film company that connects smart films to soulful people; thus creating the opportunity for Bob to serve using his marketplace aptitude for missional impact on our culture.
Seana Scott is an EPA award-winning writer with about a decade of freelance writing experience. She is also founder of Well Soul Life, a content-based ministry helping others know God’s Word, walk with God, and live with purpose—including a weekly devotional podcast, Well Soul. She has been writing on Substack for a few years with a continuing growing audience of readers and her writing has also been featured in numerous online and print publications including Christianity Today, Peer Magazine, She Reads Truth, Dallas Theological Seminary Voice, Answers in Genesis, and more. Read more about her at WellSoulLife.com.
Micah Voraritskul is the author of Human Is the New Vinyl: Why AI Makes Human Creativity More Valuable, a #1 Amazon bestseller exploring why human presence and authenticity become more valuable as AI capabilities expand. He is the founder of VerifiedHuman, a certification platform for human creators with members in more than 25 countries across 6 continents — described as “Fair Trade for creativity.” Through his consulting practice, The Sharp Pencil, he helps organizations develop strategic narratives around trust, authenticity, and the human elements that AI cannot replicate. His work sits at the intersection of technology, creativity, and the irreplaceable value of human-originated work.
Jenny Dyer is the Founder of The 2030 Collaborative. As such, she directs the Faith-Based Coalition for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in partnership with Friends of the Global Fight. She also leads the Faith-Based Coalition for PEPFAR and the Faith-Based Coalition for Global Nutrition.
Dyer has taught Southern Religion and Culture (2013) as a Lecturer in the Department of Religion at Vanderbilt University as well as Religion and Global Health (2016) as a Lecturer at Vanderbilt School of Divinity. For seven years, she taught Global Health Politics and Policy (2011-2017) as a Lecturer in the Department of Health Policy (and Medicine, Health, and Society) at Vanderbilt School of Medicine.
Dyer formerly served as the CEO/Executive Director for Senator-Doctor Bill Frist’s humanitarian organization, Hope Through Healing Hands, in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to that, she served as the National Faith Outreach Director for the DATA Foundation and/or The ONE Campaign, Bono’s organization. In this role, she worked with religious leaders, authors, artists, and other faith-based leaders to promote awareness and advocacy for extreme poverty and global AIDS issues.
Dyer has written both peer-reviewed academic articles and opinion pieces at the intersection of religion and global health. She has been published in TIME, Forbes.com, Huffington Post, Roll Call, Christianity Today’s Her.meneutics, Patheos, Relevant Magazine, Christian Post, Dallas Morning News, Washington Post, and The Tennessean to name a few.
She is a co-editor for the newly released The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World (2019). She also is a contributor of Why Save Africa: Answers from around the World (2011) and a co-compiler of The Mother & Child Project: Raising Our Voices for Health and Hope (2015) and The aWAKE Project: Uniting Against the African AIDS Crisis (2002).
Chuck Peters is Director of Lifeway NextGen, overseeing Lifeway Kids and Lifeway Student publishing. He is the co-author of Flip The Script: Disrupting Tradition for the Sake of the Next Generation, and host of the ETCH NextGen Ministry Podcast. A graduate of Columbia Bible College, Chuck and his wife Cris have served in Preschool, Kids, Student, and Groups Ministry for many years in New Jersey, California, Florida, and Tennessee. Before joining Lifeway, Chuck had a prolific career in television and video production. He is a 3-time Emmy Award-winning producer, director, writer, and on-screen host. Chuck is driven by a passion to equip and inspire ministry leaders to reach the next generation.
Alison Dellenbaugh is the editor of NextStepDisciple.org, a discipleship content website from Central Bible Church in Fort Worth, TX, that publishes new articles weekly, reached more than 350,000 unique users worldwide in 2025, and has won an EPA Best in Class award. Alison has served on the church staff for 15 years, in communications and spiritual formation, and has edited multiple books. She brings years of experience as a technical writer and editor in the high-tech world and a freelance writer of everything from children’s stories, poetry, and humor to home profile articles and a garden business column. She has a bachelor’s degree in communications from The University of Texas and a Master of Arts in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary, where she won the Aubrey M. Malphurs award for excellence in Christan Leadership. As a Bible teacher, prayer leader, and giftedness coach, Alison’s personal mission is to expand people’s vision of God and their part in His purposes.
Marissa Sullivan is the managing editor of LifewayResearch.com. She has a Master of Theological Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in public relations. Marissa received EPA’s Emerging Journalist Award in 2025
The first decade of Dean’s career was spent in and out of advertising agencies, serving clients across diverse industries. From automotive to healthcare, Dean gained valuable insight into the creative process and how some of the world’s most beloved brands are built as he led project teams and produced work for HERSHEY’S®, Auntie Anne’s®, and Armstrong World Industries®.
In 2011, Dean moved from an outside agency to Sight & Sound®, a ministry-based entertainment company. Here, Dean led brand strategy and marketing while developing new product expansions into movie theaters, television, home entertainment, and streaming. In 2020, Dean produced Sight & Sound’s first-ever global live broadcast event, earning a Dove Award nomination.
In 2021, Dean re-located his family of five to Nashville and became Chief Marketing Officer at Educational Media Foundation, where he developed a marketing operating system for EMF and each of its cornerstone media brands (K-LOVE®, Air1®, AccessMore®).
Most recently in 2024, Dean began the transition from employee to entrepreneur, embarking on his most ambitious project to-date: creating a company. Red Leaf Brands is a newly formed venture where Dean is developing a portfolio of media properties (Nashville Music Network™, Music Night™, Creativity by Design™) while helping purpose-driven organizations develop their brands, strategy, and marketing.
Ron Hunter Jr., Ph.D., is the executive director and CEO of D6 Family Ministry (formerly Randall House Publishing). His doctorate is in the field of leadership with a core of business from the Cook School of Leadership at Dallas Baptist University. He wrote the curriculum for the master’s in the leadership class and school of ministry at Dallas Baptist University, where he is an adjunct professor teaching both leadership and family ministry, also at a master’s level. Within his expertise, he has been a sought-after speaker and consultant for organizations like the U.S. Army, Hasbro, the University of Alabama, Southern Baptist Leadership Summit, The Gideons International, Orange County Public Schools, and numerous churches and other nonprofit organizations. Ron has written policy, taught policy, and been part of board development for several organizations. He has written over 80 articles for various magazines and authored or helped author six books.
Tyler Sansom is a pastor, filmmaker, and creative entrepreneur dedicated to telling stories that connect faith, culture, and real life. He is the founder of First Capital Films and Mauckwood Studios where he develops and produces feature films and original content for both faith-based and mainstream audiences. Tyler’s work includes nationally released films such as “Learning You”, “Broadcast”, “I Can”, and “A Father’s Fight. His storytelling often explores themes of family, doubt, resilience, and hope, with a particular passion for serving overlooked communities, including families impacted by autism and youth in the foster care system.
Alongside filmmaking, Tyler is the lead pastor for Church Anywhere and leads multiple nonprofit and outreach initiatives. He regularly teaches on storytelling, leadership, and cultivating audiences in the digital age. Drawing from hands-on experience across ministry, film distribution, and digital platforms, he helps creators build meaningful work that lasts beyond trends.
Warren Smith is the president of MinistryWatch. He has held leadership positions at The Colson Center for Christian Worldview and at WORLD Magazine. Newspapers he edited are multiple prize winners from the Evangelical Press Association and the Fellowship of Christian Newspapers. He is the author or co-author of more than 10 books, including A Lover’s Quarrel With The Evangelical Church, Faith-Based Fraud, Prodigal Press: The Anti-Christian Bias of the American News Media and Restoring All Things.
Jana Magruder serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director for Lifeway NextGen. She is a graduate of Baylor University and has a backrground in education, publishing, and ministry. As host of the Kids Ministry Calling Podcast, Jana loves championing and equipping leaders and famiies in the local church. She is the author of Nothing Less and Kids Ministry that Nourishes as well as co-author of Every Age Every Stage and Flip the Script. She and her husband are native Texans planted in Tennessee and love to explore both states with their three kids.
Lindsey is the CEO of Ignite Faith Media, a marketing, publishing, and media company for faith-fueled thought leaders with bold messages that address radical change needed in church, culture, and spiritual leadership.
They provide hands-on consumer marketing support, strategic book launch campaigns, business and ministry scaling, a year-to-market publishing process, and media features on tailored platforms and publications (Unlock Your Story, Kingdom Over Culture, When Church Hurts, and LeaderShift).
Russell “Russ” Jones, Ph.D., is a strategic storytelling pioneer with a 35-year career in award-winning journalism, media production, and cultural research. He holds a Ph.D. in the philosophy of communication from Liberty University. As a recognized subject-matter expert in communication and digital media, Dr. Jones specializes in bridging generational divides in professional and organizational contexts. He currently serves as the CEO of Doctor TV Channel and an adjunct professor at Liberty University. His leadership has consistently driven massive growth, including: • Expanding the Abide Bible & Sleep App to 145,000 yearly paid subscribers and 6 billion annual minutes of usage prior to its acquisition, and 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, reaching high-five-figure monthly earnings. • Growing the USA Radio Network’s affiliates from 150 to 700 stations. • Serving as a Major and Public Affairs Officer in the Mississippi State Guard. • Journal published and academic research: “The Complexities of Impoliteness in Digital Workspaces: A Politeness Theory Analysis of Gen Z Workplace Communication.” The study included 330 interview participants. Dr. Jones combines high-level executive team-building experience with academic rigor to provide practical, strategically rooted tools for organizational success.
