Nathan Akin serves as the Executive Director of Baptist21 and lives in Wake Forest, NC. Nathan also serves as the Associate Director of the Pillar Church Planting Network.

Nathan earned a Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and a Bachelor’s degree in political science from Murray State University. Nate is married to Kelsey and together they are expecting their first child.

Dr. Jedidiah Coppenger is the lead pastor of Redemption City Church, a church plant in Franklin, TN. Jedidiah earned his B.S. from North Greenville University, Masters of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

He edited and/or contributed to Retreat or Risk: A Call for a Great Commission Resurgence and Theology and Practice of Mission: God, the Church, and the Nations. Jedidiah is married to Melanie and they have three kids: Josiah, Susannah, and Judah. Jedidiah also blogs at jedcoppenger.com.

Dr. Ronnie Parrott is the Lead Pastor at Christ Community Church in Huntersville, NC, a suburb of Charlotte. Prior to pastoring Christ Community, he pastored churches in Kentucky and Arkansas.

He holds a B.S. in Family Ministry from Boyce College, a Masters of Divinity in Evangelism, Missions, and Church Growth and a Doctorate in Executive Leadership from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as an advisor on the Leadership Council for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Ronnie is married to Marci, and they have six children. He is committed to making gospel-centered disciples through the local church for the glory of God.