Merlin D. Burt

 Merlin D. Burt, Ph.D. is director of the Ellen G. White Estate, Inc.  He additionally serves as Research Professor of Church History at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He was founding director of the Center for Adventist Research and White Estate Branch office at Andrews University where he served from 2003-2020. From 1993 to 2003, he was director of the Loma Linda University White Estate Branch Office and chair of Archives and Special Collections, Dr. Burt has been with the Ellen G. White Estate since 1993.

He has published books, numerous articles, and chapters and has served variously as an organizer and speaker at various conferences and symposiums. Before his administrative and academic appointments, he served in the United States as a pastor in Ohio and California. He is married to Sarah the love of his life for 42 years. They have two sons and a daughter and six grandchildren. His hobbies include collecting Adventist-related materials and woodworking. One of his passions is for Seventh-day Adventists to connect God’s leading in the past to a personal living Christian experience.

Ty Gibson

 Ty Gibson, pastor of Storyline Adventist Church in Eugene, Oregon and Co-director of Light Bearers, will be speaking in the Rupp Arena for the CALLED Pastors Family Convention.

A passionate communicator with a message that opens minds and moves hearts, Ty teaches on a variety of topics, emphasizing God’s unfailing love as the central theme of the Bible. He has authored eight best-selling books.

At the age of 18 Ty Gibson encountered the truth of God’s existence for the first time. After having been raised with a purely secular worldview and having witnessed firsthand much evil and suffering, Ty was completely opposed to the idea of a Supreme Being. “If a God exists at all,” he reasoned, “wouldn’t He have to be cruel to have made a world like ours?” Ty’s conversion as a teenager was founded upon the answer to that question. Since then Ty has given his life to the joyous task of sharing God’s good character in public seminars as well as through print and video media. Ty and his wife Sue have three adult children and two grandsons.

Tim Gillespie

 Timothy Gillespie, pastor of Crosswalk Adventist multi campus church based in Redlands California, will be speaking in the Rupp Arena for the CALLED Pastors Family Convention.

Under Tim’s leadership, Crosswalk has experienced revitalization and exponential growth. Currently Crosswalk has several campuses throughout the North American Division. These unique church plants flourish under the guidance and discipleship of the Redlands team as they minister to unreached people groups.   

Gillespie earned a doctorate in Semiotics and Future Studies from George Fox University. He's an adjunct professor at Azusa Pacific and La Sierra University. He's done TedX talks, been published in many compilations and authored a book with his father, Dr. V. Bailey Gillespie entitled “Love Them and They Will Come,” focusing on the importance of young adult retention and engagement.

He's married to Sara Gillespie, an art teacher at Loma Linda Academy, and they have three amazing children — Hannah, Jacob, and Isaac.

Tara Vincross

Tara VinCross, Senior Pastor of Azure Hills Church in Grand Terrace, California, will be speaking in the Rupp Arena for the CALLED Pastors Family Convention.

 Pastor VinCross was raised in the Seattle, WA area, and over the last 20 years has served churches in Washington, Pennsylvania, and California.

 When thinking about pastoring she says “What I get to share with people in my work as a pastor has all been formed by my experience of God’s grace in my life. Each sermon, small group, and meeting I lead are a reflection of the gift of grace, God’s power.“

 She is passionate about helping people create space in their lives to become deeply rooted in the love of God and serve the world from their passion and giftedness. She is the author of the Deep Calling Discipleship Series and a children’s book titled, God Loves Me and All My Feelings.

 She writes “My understanding of God has come as I have lived this life journey. The things I’ve experienced and the presence of God in the midst of those experiences has changed me. God’s deep call to me has ushered me into a place that I would not be on my own.”

 Tara lives in Grand Terrace California with her husband Caleb, and their kids Josiah and Ava. Connect with her at taravincross.com.

Roger & Katherine Hernandez

Roger & Katherine Hernandez are fully bilingual and serve together in full-time ministry as the director and coordinator for the Ministerial and Evangelism Departments of the Southern Union Conference.  Roger is a speaker that motivates people to action and has spoken all over the world, effective in both the faith-based and business spaces. He speaks on leadership, evangelism, accountability, and diversity (LEAD). He connects well with all audiences of all generations and is known for delivering messages in a style that is clear, simple, and engaging. Roger has the gift of practicality and is a prolific writer and the author of over 32 books, including the Sharing book of the year twice. They are titled "Failure is Not Final and "We All Have Problems." He also had the privilege of writing the Discipleship Book of the Year: "Everyone Welcome." The most recent book he has written is "RAMP" published in 2021.

Katherine’s life calling has been to nurture her children and anyone else who has needed the love of a family and to work alongside her husband in ministry.  Youth ministry is her particular ministry calling.  She has worked with youth for over 21 years.  She especially enjoys working with teen girls. She loves working for the Lord and feels honored every time He chooses to use her, and believes she is nothing without her God. Roger and Kathy’s Family includes four adult children Yessenia, Deisy, Vanessa, Jonathan, and two granddaughters, Sara and Maya.

Noah Washington

Noah Washington is known as one who has never met a stranger. And for as much as he enjoys making people laugh, he also feels called to help them push past their comfort zones.  His concern for those who struggle to settle into the fullness of their lives runs deep.  That’s why he founded Inspiring Purpose© with a mission to help them live more intentionally as individuals and in their relationships. As Associate Pastor of the Emmanuel Brinklow Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ashton, MD; Dr. Washington, is focused on maintaining active worship and outreach experiences that bring people closer to God. Even after 16 years in the ministry, and all that he has accomplished, the published author has his eyes set towards much more. His motto is that “your greatest place of pain is your place of purpose” and he’s intent on helping others see the beauty in their struggles.  Outside of work, Dr. Washington completed a Doctor of Ministry in Family Ministry.  He always looks forward to spending time with his wife and college sweetheart Twila and their two children, Noah Alexander and Drew Mackenzie.  Otherwise, you might find him watching a game of basketball, listening to his favorite music, or having a good laugh.

Ivan Williams

Ivan L. Williams, Sr. sensed a call to ministry at thirteen years of age while serving in an evangelistic meeting, and his ministry has spanned many years in three different conferences. He served as a Chaplain-Lieutenant Colonel for the US Air Force, and as a Chaplain for the California State Assembly. He has a passion to help pastors find their purpose and meaning in ministry. He enjoys media ministry, barbering, and landscaping, and has been able to be all he can be with unconditional love and support of His Heavenly Father, wife Kathleen, and their two children, Imani, and Ivan, II. Ivan serves as the director for the Ministerial Association of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. The NAD ministerial team serves and supports one hundred ministerial directors and over four thousand pastors in Bermuda, Canada, the United States, Guam and Micronesia. Prior to this, he served as the Ministerial Director for the Northern California Conference.

Hallerin Hill

Hallerin Hilton Hill is a renaissance communicator who moves people with the ideas over the radio and on TV; through music and words; live in person, face to face in front of thousands of people each year.

His philosophy is to “grow and help others grow.” He’s been a top-rated drive-time radio talk show host for more than 27 years, voted Best Talk Show Host by his loyal listeners and was recently named one of America’s top talk show hosts by Talker’s Magazine. For over a decade he’s produced and hosted the TV talk show Anything Is Possible on East Tennessee’s top-rated station. His guests have included Gov. Bill Haslam, Pat Summit, Chris Whittle and numerous others. Hallerin has worked with the DIY Network and has appeared in national TV commercials and served as narrator/host for several documentaries, including one on the life and work of former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker. Hallerin is also a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter. His song, “Who Would Imagine a King” was recorded by Whitney Houston for the movie The Preacher’s Wife. Hallerin is CEO and founder of Wisdom House, a multimedia company focused on inspiring people around the world to grow in wisdom. Hallerin is a graduate of Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama where he studied Communications. He is married to Nedra and they have two children, Hallerin II, and Halle Nicole.

G. Alexander Bryant

G. Alexander Bryant is passionate about the mission of sharing Jesus with others. He serves as the president of the North American Division and vice president of the General Conference. Prior to his current position, he served as executive secretary of the North American Division and president of the Central States Conference and Temperance Director, Youth/Pathfinders/National Service Organization director, and superintendent of Education. His path to ministry began with a degree in Theology and Business Administration from Oakwood College in 1982, where he also served as a missionary to Japan. Elder Bryant is married to the former Desiree Wimbish, who serves as the NAD Spouses ministry leader in the Ministerial Association. As an educator, Des served previously in the NAD Education ministry, Potomac Conference, superintendent of Education for the Central States Conference, and former principal of the V. Lindsay Seventh-day Adventist School in Kansas City, Kansas. They are the parents of three children: Travis, Traven, and Terrence.

Debleaire Snell

Debleaire Snell, the speaker-director for the Breath of Life (BOL) ministry, and the senior pastor of the Oakwood University Church, will be speaking in the Rupp Arena for the CALLED Pastors Family Convention.

Since 2010, BOL speaker/director Snell has served as senior pastor of the three campuses of the First Seventh-day Adventist Church (First Church, Abundant Life, and “The Bridge”) in Huntsville, Alabama. He has conducted several major evangelistic meetings for the church; and throughout his time at First Church, there have been a total of 878 baptisms. In 2020, Snell launched a local television ministry with the Huntsville CBS affiliate.

Before serving in Huntsville, Snell was senior pastor at the Lima Drive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lexington, Kentucky, from 2006-2010. In two years, Snell and his team conducted three evangelistic series, baptizing more than 100. Snell also served as senior pastor of the Salem Seventh-day Adventist Church in Columbus, Mississippi, and the Lee Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church in West Point, Mississippi.

Snell has taught at Oakwood University as an adjunct professor since 2010. In addition to starting a devotional column in a local newspaper while in Kentucky, Snell has authored six books. He graduated from Oakwood University in 1999 with a bachelor’s degree in theology. In 2001, Snell earned his Master of Divinity from Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Originally from Tallahassee, Florida, the entire Snell family was baptized into the Maranatha SDA Church in Tallahassee, Florida in 1987. From the time he joined the church he was active,  serving as Jr. Deacon and youth ministry assistant, and at the age of 17, he accepted the call of God on his life and pursued professional pastoral ministry. Pastor Snell is married to Gianna Snell and has a twelve year old son Jadon Christopher Snell.

David Williams

David R. Williams, chair of the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, will be speaking in the Rupp Arena for the CALLED Pastors Family Convention.

Dr. Williams is an internationally recognized social scientist focused on social influences on health. He has been invited to keynote scientific conferences in Europe, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, South America and across the United States. His research has enhanced our understanding of the complex ways in which socioeconomic status, race, stress, racism, health behavior and religious involvement can affect health. He is the author of more than 475 scientific papers, and he has served on the editorial board of 12 scientific journals and as a reviewer for over 75 others.

The Everyday Discrimination Scale that he developed is the most widely used measure of discrimination in health studies.  He has received numerous honors and awards. He was elected to the National Academy of Medicine (formerly Institute of Medicine) in 2001, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2007, and to the National Academy of Sciences in 2019. He has also received distinguished contribution awards from the American Sociological Association, the American Psychological Association, and the New York Academy of Medicine. He was ranked as one of the top 10 Most Cited Social Scientists in the world in 2005 and as the Most Cited Black Scholar in the Social Sciences in 2008. In 2014, Thomson Reuters ranked him as one of the World’s Most Influential Scientific Minds.

Along with his Florence Sprague Norman and Laura Smart Norman Professorship in Public Health at Harvard, he is also a Professor of African and African American Studies and Sociology at Harvard University. Previously, he served 6 years on the faculty of Yale University and 14 at the University of Michigan. He holds an MPH from Loma Linda University and a PhD in Sociology from the University of Michigan.

David Sedlacek

Arnaldo Cruz

Pastor Arnaldo Cruz is the Communications/Technology/Media Evangelism Director in the Southeastern Conference. He was born in Dominican Republic. He is happily married to Menchy Cruz, and the Lord blessed then with two daughters:  Laura Armely, (20), and Gabriela Mia, (9). Pastor Arnaldo Cruz graduated from the Adventist University in Dominican Republic with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Theology and a minor in Education and Computer Science.  He obtained his Master’s degree in Theology from the Inter-American Adventist Theological Seminary (SETAI), in Puerto Rico. He collaborates with the Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN Latino) and Hope Channel in Spanish (Esperanza TV), recording sermons that have reached more than 34 million people around the world.  In 2020 Pastor Arnaldo Cruz was awarded the Youtuber Award for reaching the milestone of 100,000 followers.  Today, he has  149,000 followers on YouTube, 80,000 on Facebook and 50,000 on Instagram. He enjoys playing the piano, reading, writing and preaching the gospel through social media.   His motto in live is “to proclaim the gospel and prepare souls for Jesus’ return, while motivating them to find hope by reminding his audience that Jesus is the Victory”.

Adriana Perera

 Adriana Perera is the worship pastor for the Loma Linda University SDA Church. She served formerly as the Chair of the Department of Music at Andrews University and was the co-director of AU International Center for Worship and Music. She taught music theory and composition at Oakwood University for eleven years, and before that, she served as the Chair of the J. S. Bach Conservatory in Sagunto, Spain. She also taught music and worship at the Adventist Theological Seminary of Sagunto, Spain.  Adriana was born in Uruguay, where she started piano lessons at the age of six. She continued her musical studies in piano, music theory, orchestral conducting, and composition in Argentina, Spain, and the United States. More than 200 sacred pieces written by her are currently performed by choirs, orchestras, and soloists around the world. As a composer and recording artist, she has co-produced six album CDs with her sacred musical works.
Mrs. Perera is an international speaker who has lectured on music and worship in several countries of Europe, South America, North America, and the Caribbean. The main purpose of her ministry is to promote the organization of quality music ministries in local churches and the production of music materials that make an impact on society, taking the message of Jesus to everyone. She has published several articles and two books on the topic of music and worship: “En espiritu y en verdad” (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 2013); and “More than Music: Worship” (Biblio Publishing, 2017). Her research interests include the African American music legacy and its influence on contemporary choral works. Adriana is married to Francisco Burgos, a professor of Spanish, English, and Literature. God has blessed them with two children: Laia and Marcos.

Allan Martin

Pastor Martin will be speaking on, “Growing Together instead of Growing Apart,” in the Rupp Arena for the CALLED Pastors’ Family Convention. Growing young and new believers benefits everyone in the Adventist church. Martin looks to dig deep to unearth a transformational local church, where all generations thrive and grow. . . together!

A Allan Martin, PhD, is the teaching pastor of Younger Generation Church, the vibrant young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church in Texas [USA]. Dr. Martin serves the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists [NAD] as point for the Growing Young Adventists initiative in collaboration with Young Adult LIFE and the Fuller Youth Institute.

Martin also served the NAD, in partnership with the Barna Group, as the lead research facilitator for the Adventist Millennial Study. Dr. Martin continues as adjunct faculty for the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary, specializing in discipleship and young adult ministry. 

He and his wife, Deirdre, tour internationally, speaking about relationships as well as equipping new generations in Christian lifestyle and leadership. Their daughter, Alexandria, is a registered nurse with Loma Linda University Medical Center, while Allan and Deirdre continue to reside in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex.

The CALLED Pastors Family Convention, to be held June 19-22, 2022, is sponsored by the North American Division Ministerial Association, and is designed to connect, inspire, equip, and value pastors and their families in the NAD. Registration is now open and pastoral families who register by April 30, 2022, will still qualify for the regular registration rate.