Speakers at Weekend to
Remember Events

Michael and Lucy live in Orlando, FL with their four kids.

Michael is the founding pastor of Christ United Fellowship, a gospel centered diverse church in South Downtown Orlando. He earned his BA in Social Work from University of Kentucky where he played football. He earned his M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando.

Lucy is a part-time Nurse practitioner and a full-time mother. She also earned her BS in nursing from University of Kentucky where she was a gymnast. She earned her MS in Nursing from University of South Florida. They have been married for 12 years. For fun, they enjoy family trips to Destin Beach, offshore fishing, and meaningful time with friends.

Jose played 16 seasons of professional baseball with parts of 5 years in the major leagues. After retirement he competed professionally in golf which led to him mentoring young tour pros. For 15 years he served with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf ministry as chaplain to the PGA’s Korn Ferry Tour players, wives and caddies. He now serves with Links Players International, helping men and women change the conversation at their clubs and courses where they play golf—from surface to substance, me to others, and temporal to eternal.

Michelle is an event-planning consultant for corporate events and event planner for the church where they worship.

They have three adult children, two are married and have 2 children each, making Jose and Michelle grandparents of four!

Corwin and Kim have spent over 20 years building into the marriages of pro athletes and their spouses. They met at UCLA, where he was a football standout who played briefly in the NFL. She was an international champion and Hall of Fame gymnast.

Corwin is the Chief Ambassador Officer for Athletes in Action, Executive Director of the Super Bowl Breakfast and has also served as an NFL Chaplain and Director of AIA’s Pro Ministry.

Kim is a keynote speaker for corporate and faith based events. She is also the podcast host of Resilience to Brilliance, a leadership coach, and a consultant with a passion to help others to overcome life’s challenges. The story behind this passion is found in her book, Unfavorable Odds. Visit Kim’s website, InBrillianceMode.com to learn more.

Justin and Sharita Bilson believe in marriage and family. The Bilson’s currently live in Little Rock, AR where Justin serves as a Teaching Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church and Sharita is a Licensed Professional Counselor and the owner of Grace Place Therapy. Justin received his B.A in Communications from Elon University and his MDiv from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Sharita received her B.S. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her M.S. in Marriage and Family Therapy & Clinical Mental Health Counseling from John Brown University.

The Bilsons have been married since 2012 and have two beautiful children.

Jackie and Stephana Bledsoe, the founders of HappilyMarriedCouples.com, help couples build better marriages and Christ-centered families, which intentionally impact the world.

You may have seen the Bledsoes on ABC News, The 700 Club, Moody Radio, YouVersion’s Bible app, or through their work with LifeWay and The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters.

Jackie is an author, podcast host, and speaker who’s reached over 115,000 couples with his bestselling 7 Rings of Marriage book.

Stephana is a speaker, podcast host, encourager, and prayer intercessor for women of all ages.

They have three amazing children whom they travel the world with ministering to families.

Bruce and Julie Boyd have been on staff with the global mission organization, Cru, since 1982. They are 25-year veterans of the FamilyLife Speaker Team, and appear on the highly acclaimed video series, The Art of Marriage. In addition to being passionate advocates for the cause of marriage and family, the Boyds also serve with the Jesus Film Project as Regional Representatives.

Bruce received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois in Music Education. Julie graduated from Texas Wesleyan with a Business Management degree and has a mental wellness business coaching people with holistic solutions. They have 3 adult sons and live in Noblesville, Indiana.

Dan and Julie served for 17 years with CRU working with college students before beginning their church ministry. They currently live in Grand Island, Nebraska, where Dan serves as the lead pastor at Grand Island Evangelical Free Church. Dan and Julie both graduated from the University of Kansas and Dan completed his master’s at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Julie serves as the Teaching Director for the local Community Bible Study ministry and loves mentoring and helping women thrive in their marriages and family. They have three adult children and 5 grandchildren.

As marriage and family educators Ben and Janet help couples understand and live out the biblical picture of family in their homes, churches and neighborhoods. Besides conference speaking they also assist local churches in marriage mentoring, parenting seminars and couples counseling.

Janet is an A.C.C. certified professional coach and teaches at One, a community women’s Bible study.

Ben is an adjunct professor on marriage and the family at Western Seminary and in 2024 will be launching a YouTube channel on parenting called Family Practice.

Janet and Ben have three children and live in Wilsonville, Oregon.

Carl and Heather Cartee live in Franklin, TN and have been in ministry together for over 20 years. While traveling the nation leading worship with Carl, Heather built a successful career as a top Mary Kay Sales director. Carl is a Dove Award winning songwriter and musician and the Pastor of Worship and Arts at Fellowship Bible Church. They are both active in teaching and mentoring families and ministers in the local church. They’re the proud parents of 4 active boys, Oak, Ezra, Abe and Ike.

Raymond, former director of the Urban Family Ministry of Cru, is a licensed, ordained minister in the PCA, pastoring Redemption Fellowship Church in Fayetteville, GA. He received his Bachelor of Arts in communications and biblical studies from Biola University and his M.Div. from Metro Atlanta Seminary. Raymond authored, Changing for Good: Practical Steps for Breaking Your Negative Patterns and is a contributing author to My Heart Christ Home: Through the Year Devotion.

Donna, a former Cru Missionary, is a Los Angeles native where she attended West Los Angeles Community College. She speaks to women on the topic of marriage and family at women’s retreats, conferences, and seminars. Donna is a contributing author for the book The Story of Us-A Couples Devotional and is a homemaker, mentor, and Bible teacher.

Raymond and Donna are speakers with FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember Marriage Getaways. Their speaking engagements have taken them across the US, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, Bahamas, and Africa. They have been married since 1979 and have four adult children and two grandchildren, residing in Riverdale, GA.

Jim and Angela Davis are from Orlando, Fl where Jim serves as Lead Pastor of Orlando Grace Church (Acts 29) and hosts the As In Heaven podcast for The Gospel Coalition. Jim graduated from Florida State University and Reformed Theological Seminary (Mdiv). Angela graduated from the University of Mississippi and is currently a counseling student at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. They have four children: Turner 14, Collins 12, Ivey, 11, and James 8.

Jon and Teresa live in Phoenix, AZ where Jon is a Pastor at Redemption Church Peoria and Teresa is a softball pitching coach. They met in high school, but didn’t start dating until the middle of college at the University of Arizona. They were married in the summer of 2000 and they both served the ministry of Athletes in Action for 15 years before transitioning to church ministry. Jon recently graduated with his Masters Degree from Covenant Seminary in Missional Theology. The Demeters have 3 kids, Carson, Logan and Ryhan.

Tim and Joy Downs have co-authored two books on conflict resolution in marriage: Fight Fair and One of Us Must be Crazy and I’m Pretty Sure It’s You. Tim is also a corporate speaker, communication trainer, and co-host of the weekly Communication Guys podcast, which can be heard at communicationguys.com. The Downs are graduates of Indiana University, where Joy received a degree in Journalism and Tim received a degree in Fine Arts. The Downs have three grown children.

James and Heidi Drake have helped fulfill the Great Commission with Cru since 2004. James serves as a teaching pastor in the Presbyterian Church in America and chaplain for the Army Reserves. He was recently appointed by the Governor to Florida’s Faith Council. James has been featured on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior and Netflix’s Ultimate Beastmaster.

Heidi is a licensed Physician Assistant and leads the Christian Medical & Dental Association in South Florida. She is headmaster, chief instructor and transportation authority at the “Drake Academy” homeschool.

The Drake family lives in Miami with their four children and foster daughter. They are passionate about faith, family and fitness. You can join them on a journey to optimal health and fulfilling life in Christ at jamesandheidi.com.

Claudaniel and Melody Fabien are relationship coaches, podcasters on their show, Hanging with The Fabiens and speakers.  They are known for their transparency, humor and animated style. Together, they have become strong mentors and communicators on sexual education, manhood and womanhood, healthy relationships, marriage and living with purity and purpose.

Melody and CD married in 2008 and have been featured on Fox News, CNN, Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun Times for their unique love story.

They have three daughters and one son in love. CD & Melody reside in Davie, Florida with their two youngest daughters. Find them online at CDandMelody.com

Dr. Chris and Alisa Grace met in 1986 when they were seated at the “singles” table at a friend’s wedding. He fell in love with her quick wit, she fell in love with his motorcycle, and (after selling the motorcycle to buy her engagement ring) they were married just a year later.

Now, for more than 30 years, the Graces have been writing, teaching, and speaking nationally to thousands of couples, churches, and college students on healthy Christ-centered relationships, dating, and marriage. Together, they co-lead the Center for Marriage and Relationships at Biola University, where Chris is a social psychologist and full professor, and Alisa is an adjunct faculty member. They also co-teach an undergraduate course on Christian relationships and co-host the popular podcast, The Art of Relationships.

The Graces co-authored the Marriage Mentoring Workbook and Video Series, and serve on the speaking team for FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember marriage conferences. Chris and Alisa live in Southern California and have two adult children married to fabulous spouses, as well as their unexpected blessing who is a freshman at Biola University.

Trent Griffith is a Church Multiplication Catalyst with Cru Church Movements and the Great Commission Collective. In 2009, Trent planted Gospel City Church in Granger, Indiana where he served as Lead Pastor for 13 years. Trent has also served as the Vice President of Content Development for FamilyLife and continues to speak nationally with his wife, Andrea, at FamilyLife’s Weekend to Remember Marriage Conferences. Trent is a graduate of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

Andrea Griffith is speaker and writer with FamilyLife. She has ministered to women in hundreds of local churches and spoken at national conferences where she shares her unique story of God’s amazing grace at work in her life. Andrea has a B.A. in Vocal Performance from Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama.

Trent and Andrea have 4 adult children and make their home near Orlando, FL.

Doug is the directional leader/teaching pastor of Fellowship Bible Church in Searcy, AR. Doug received his bachelor’s in Speech Communication from the University of Montana, and Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Susan received a Bachelor of Arts in interior design/housing from the University of Kentucky.

The Grimes have been married for 34 years and have three grown daughters. They share a passion for helping equip marriages and families to be all God intended them to be. They make their home in Searcy, AR.

Brian & Jen Goins live in Melbourne, FL where Brian is the Senior Director of Strategic Projects, helps lead the Weekend to Remember team, and is the host of the podcast, Married with Benefits. He is also a producer of the documentary, “The Brain, The Heart, The World,” a series exploring the dangers of pornography.

Jen serves as the Women’s Director at their local church, loves to lead Bible study groups, and connecting with women through mentoring.

The Goins have 3 kids: Brantley, Palmer, and Gibson. As a family they enjoy making annual treks to Montana to hike and ski and have loved attending Pine Cove family camp together.

Chris and Mary embrace life, all things family, and especially their 3 kids, 2 sons-in-law, and 2 granddaughters. These native North Carolinians have served full-time with FamilyLife for the past 10 years and currently live in Orlando, FL. Chris serves as COO while Mary serves in Women’s Ministry. When not leading small groups or serving other couples in marriage ministry, they can probably be found hanging out with their kids, on the beach, or at a favorite outdoor restaurant.

Bruce and Janet deeply love interacting with couples and have spoken on marriage internationally for 28 years. They have four children and nine grandchildren.

Bruce is a graduate of the University of Nebraska (broadcast journalism) and Dallas Seminary. He has served as pastor at Wildwood Church for 45 years.

Janet is also a Nebraska grad and loved teaching kindergarten, and later English as a second language at Oklahoma University.

Both Bruce and Janet have a long history of ministry in the Eastern European nation of Latvia, including Bruce’s twice weekly broadcast on Latvian Christian Radio. 

Larry is the Marriage Pastor at Fellowship Bible Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. He graduated from Bowling Green State University and spent 10 years as a photojournalist. Larry earned his Master of Divinity from Grace Seminary.

Anne graduated from Bowling Green State University, and spent 25 years caring full-time for their four daughters. Anne worked full-time with special needs children in the public school system for 12 years.

They currently lead a marriage ministry focused on the development of lay mentors. In addition, they have invested many years teaching, training, and encouraging couples in their marriage and in their role as parents.

Jeff and Stacy Kemp married in 1983, early in Jeff’s 11-year NFL career as a quarterback for the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks and Eagles. Jeff founded Stronger Families in Seattle and later worked for FamilyLife. He authored Facing The Blitz & RECEIVE — The Way of Jesus for Men. His mission is soul coaching leaders, speaking to men and helping Men Huddle in friendship and faith. Men can grab his free Level 5 Friendship Playbook at MENHUDDLE.com.

Stacy loves mentoring young wives and moms. She graduated from the University of Southern California and Jeff from Dartmouth College and Pepperdine Business School. Jeff and Stacy have four married sons and nine grandchildren. They enjoy tennis, snow skiing and time with family.

Stephen and Mandy live in South Bend, IN where Stephen is the Lead/Planting Pastor of Redemption City Church (est. 2020). Stephen was born in South Bend but moved to Chicagoland in 5th grade; meeting Mandy 1 year later. Stephen and Mandy have been married for 11 years and have 4 children: Stephen (b. 2012), Elias (b. 2014), Jade (b. 2015), and Simeon (b. 2017).

Stephen received a B.A. from Moody Bible Institute, M.Th from Reformed Theological Seminary and a Cert. History from University of Oxford, England.

Mandy received a B.A. in Social Work from the University of Kansas and has been serving the church and under-resourced communities ever since. Mandy is an avid KU basketball fan and Stephen an avid Notre Dame football fan. Agreeing to cheer for one another’s team has eased division in their marriage.

Darrin and Viv have served on staff with Cru for 34 years.

Darrin has led in various leadership capacities locally, regionally, and nationally. They served ten years on the Epic National Executive team, helping to launch the Asian American ministry of Cru. Now they serve with FamilyLife as speakers for Weekend to Remember. Darrin also serves as a local leader with FamilyLife helping to resource and reach marriages and families in Southern California.

Vivian is a national speaker and author of Open Hands, Willing Heart. She is also the founder and podcast host of Someday Is Here Collective for AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islanders) leaders. You can connect on social media IG/Twitter: @vivmabuni.

Married 31 years, they are parents to three fabulous young adults and recently welcomed their first daughter-in-law to the family. They live in Mission Viejo, CA .

Bob & Judi Maddox live in Portland Oregon. They have been married for 48 years, have 5 children and 12 grandchildren.They were on staff with Cru High School for 13 years.

Since then Judi worked in a Pregnancy Resource Center, local schools and invested in kids & grandkids.

After 13 years with Cru High School, Bob pastored for 30 years. He is now back working with Cru, training ministry leaders all across the world.

Tony served for 30 years in executive roles at organizations ranging from $2 million to $2 billion in revenue. Now retired, Tony serves as an independent board director, national speaker, and strategic advisor (tmLeadership.com). He has also served as the COO of Christian Alliance for Orphans (cafo.org).

Venita has worked in both public and private accounting, served as Women’s Ministries Director, and is a board member, speaker and mentor.

Tony and Venita reside in Atlanta, Georgia and have two adult children.

Tim and Noreen served with Cru for over 30 years. They are the proud parents of three adult sons.

Tim has a Ph.D. in communication theory from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Noreen has her degree in business from the University of Connecticut.

They currently serve at Biola University where Tim is a professor of communication studies and Noreen works in Student Development. Tim’s weekly podcast, Winsome Conviction can be found at winsomeconviction.com.

Bill has been a multi-industry businessman now serving as Mayor of Lakeland, FL. His ministry involvement includes leadership and teaching roles within their church, serving as Chairman of the Florida Family Policy Council, and has provided decades of service to over 20 civic, not-for-profit, and business boards.

Pamela has her Master’s Degree in Ministerial Leadership, mentors women, and leads them in Bible studies. She is a commissioned Prison Fellowship Centurion, serves on the Board of Deeper Walk International, and enjoys art and fitness instruction.

They are passionate about marriage, parenting, and family. Pam and Bill have been married 45 years, are parents of 12 children, and have 31 grandchildren!

Ray’s greatest accomplishment in this life is that he is the husband of one and the father of ten. Ray and Robyn have added to their family 3 wonderful sons-in-law and are also “Lolli and Pops” to 7 grandsons.

Ray is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and served for 10 years as a church planting pastor in Kansas City, MO. He currently lives out his mission as Lead Pastor of Christ for the Nations Church, a multi-Ethnic church in Nashville, TN.

Robyn keeps busy counseling, mentoring and writing. She has finished two books, SOS: Sick of Sex and Say it loud: Becoming Your Husband’s Personal Cheerleader.