Brooks served in the United States Army for 27 distinguished years before recently retiring as a brigadier general. He commanded units in virtually every echelon of the Army including an Airborne Brigade in the famed 82nd Airborne Division, Deputy Commanding General of 1st Armored Division in Germany, and Commandant of Cadets at the United States Military Academy. His last assignment prior to retiring was as the Vice Director of the Army Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, in the Pentagon. In that capacity he was the principal deputy to the Director of the Army Staff, responsible for integrating, coordinating, and synchronizing the efforts of the Army staff to support Army and Combatant Commands in the global war on terrorism.

Brooks holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Military Academy; and a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma. Brooks is a Senior Fellow of the Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Government, National Security Studies Program. Additionally, he has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the New England School of Law.

Brooks is married and has four children.  The Brooks family resides in Clifton, Virginia.

Dr. Horne is a graduate of Lyon College (formerly Arkansas College) in Batesville, Arkansas.  He earned a master of divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, and the doctor of ministry degree from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.  A native of Bastrop, Louisiana, he grew up in Camden, Arkansas.

In addition to his service as pastor of Immanuel, he has pastored churches in Texas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana.

Dr. Horne currently serves as a trustee for Baptist Health.  He was president of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention from 1995 to 1997, and has served as a trustee of Ouachita Baptist University and Lyon College.  For ten years, Dr. Horne was a columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He also hosted Conversations, a live talk show which appeared weekly on Victory Television Network.  He has authored three books, “Potluck Dinners and Other People Parables,” “Our Conversations,” and “Insights from Kingdom Builders.”

He is married to Becky Horne, and they have four grown children.

He received his undergraduate degree with summa cum laude honors from Wheaton College (Illinois) in 1985, a juris doctorate with magna cum laude honors from Harvard Law School in 1988, a master of philosophy in English from Oxford University in 1990, and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Virginia in 1999.

Dr. Pollard came to JBU from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he was a tenured faculty member teaching 20th-century literature. Dr. Pollard has published frequently, including a recent book from the University of Virginia Press.

In addition to his teaching and scholarship, he has also practiced law. Dr. Pollard served as a corporate and tax associate for the international law firm of Latham & Watkins in Chicago, Illinois.

Dr. Pollard has had extensive experience with non-profit boards, including the Wheaton College Alumni Association, ServiceMaster Foundation, Lake Geneva Youth Camp Foundation, and Ada Christian School. As president of the Ada Christian School Board, he led a $12.5 million capital expansion project.

Dr. Charles W. Pollard began his tenure at John Brown University on July 1, 2004.  He and his wife, Carey, have four children, Chad, 19, Benjamin, 16, Emma, 14, and James, 9.

After backing up well-known quarterback Boomer Esiason for three years, Frank became a starter for the University of Maryland. His hard work and patience had paid off, and he was eager to make the most of the opportunity. But when he got injured in the fourth game of his senior season, the chance to play professional football seemed lost. Profoundly disappointed and confused, Frank wondered about God’s plan for his life.

Then, in a game against the Miami Hurricanes, Frank came off the bench to play a key role in the high point of the season. Down by a daunting 31 to 0, Frank entered the game, directed Maryland’s first points and led the team to a remarkable 42-40 victory. Reflecting on the entire season, Frank began to recognize how God was building and refining his character.

He could not have known that history would repeat itself eight years later. Frank started for the Buffalo Bills in the playoff game against the Houston Oilers, where the losing team would be eliminated from the race to the Super Bowl. Stunned as the Oilers charged to a 35-3 lead, Frank looked to stop their stampede one play at a time. Although no team had ever won after being down by 32 points, when the Bills scored two quick touchdowns in the third quarter, Frank recalled his college comeback. Buffalo captured the lead in the final minutes of the game and eventually won in overtime 41 to 38 – an NFL comeback record that still stands today.

After that dramatic victory, Frank took his faith from the field to the locker room where he delivered a powerful message to an unusually responsive media. While each camera continued to roll, he gave God the glory for his part in this historic win.

Less than a month later, the Bills made it to the Super Bowl XXVII. In the second quarter, starting quarterback Jim Kelly had to leave the game due to injury. Frank came in, buoyed by his confidence that God would hand them a victory. If they won, Frank would have the world’s attention to again honor his Heavenly Father. But God had other plans. The Buffalo Bills lost 52 to 17, one of the most lopsided Super Bowls of all time.

Frank had gone from the highest mountaintop to the deepest valley in three weeks. But in that painful journey, he still discovered victory – not victory on the field, but victory over disappointment and devastation. It’s a life-changing lesson he embraces today, saying, “Whatever happens in our life – defeat in a championship, loss of a job, death of a loved one – these are overwhelming circumstances that can cause deep despair. But Christ is our hope. Christ is our strength. He is how we can get through difficult times.”

Recognizing now that God will get the glory whether he himself wins or loses, Frank plays every game with 100 percent effort and trusts God with the results. He applies the same principle to his family. Continually reminded of his commitments and privileges as a husband and father, Frank humbly realizes that he has one place to go for strength and wisdom – his knees. In Super Bowl games as well as in day-to-day responsibilities, he says, “God is in control, working things out for our good and His glory.”

As a speaker, Frank draws from his extraordinary experiences to encourage anyone who faces adversity. His inspiring story demonstrates how Jesus is the only hope, especially when faced with inevitable hardship. Just as God helped Frank come back from tremendous odds one play at a time, He helps His children rise above their circumstances one step at a time. With sincerity and conviction, Frank shows audiences of every age and background that there is powerful promise in victory as well as in loss.

Drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 1985, Frank and his wife, Linda, have three daughters and make their home in North Carolina.

Not only is Ike a successful businessman, but he’s also been instrumental as a pastor leading New Hope Baptist Church in Fayetteville, GA to a membership of over 5,000. As Founding Pastor of Northstar Church in Kennesaw, GA, Ike built the denomination’s 2nd fastest growing church in America to a membership of over 2,000 in record time.

Ike earned both a Doctor of Ministry and Master’s of Divinity from Luther Rice Seminary along with a Bachelor’s degree from Mercer University.  He is a published author of three inspirational books and a highly sought-after speaker for both church and business functions. He has been married for 20 years and is a loving father of two daughters.

Don was a driving force behind Wal-Mart’s rise to greatness. He was Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer and ultimately became Senior Vice Chairman as Wal-Mart rose to become the largest company in the world. Known as the “Keeper of the Culture” after Sam Walton passed away, Don firmly believes that business ethics are not a luxury, but an essential element in creating a high-performance organization; he also knows that the responsibility for creating an ethical organization belongs to its senior leaders.

Don received his BA degree in Business Administration in 1955 from Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois. He was awarded Honorary Doctors Degrees from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, from John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, and from Judson College in Elgin, Illinois. In 1990 he received the Outstanding Business Leader Award from the Northwood Institute in Palm Beach, Florida, and in 1996 Don was inducted into the Retailing Hall of Fame.

He currently serves on the Board of Directors & Trustees of ARVEST Bank, Salvation Army, NWA Community Foundation and John Brown University, where he is also a past chairman.

In addition to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., he has also previously served on the board of ServiceMaster, Inc., and served on and was a past chairman of the boards of the International Mass Retail Association, the Children’s Miracle Network and Steward’s Ministries.

In 1998, John Brown University created the The Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics (SCLE) in his honor. As an Executive in Residence, Don provides direction and inspiration to the SCLE team. The Center provides ethical leadership training for corporate, not-for-profit, and student organizations around the world. Don also serves on numerous local charitable boards.

Joe attended college at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas where he won the Heart Award as a two-year starting defensive tackle nose guard for the SMU Mustangs. At SMU, Joe received a B.S. in Biology and also met and married his wife of 30 years, Debbie Jo. He received an honorary Doctor of Education from Southwest Baptist University in 1991 and was ordained by University Baptist Church in Fayetteville, AR on May 3, 1992.  Joe coached at Texas A&M University before moving to Branson, Missouri to run Kanakuk Kamps with Debbie Jo.

Joe has been working with teenagers for over 30 years and is a speaker to Promise Keepers, Focus on the Family Radio, Life on the Edge Conferences, NFL football and professional baseball chapels, and AFTERdark college crusades across the country. Joe knows personally and loves to share the meaning of God’s amazing grace. Joe has also written 16 books, including Looking for Love and What Kids Wish Parents Knew About Parenting, that are designed to reach teens and their families. Joe founded Kanakuk Haiti, which funds the operation of 20 Christian schools and 1 orphanage, providing the children with a food and vitamin program and an education.

Joe is a proud father of four- Brady, Cooper, Jamie-Jo, and Courtney and a wonderful grandfather of three- Hays, Maggie, and Dax.

“Joe White knows more about teenagers than anyone in North America”
Dr. James Dobson, Focus on the Family

Day has ridden winners of the U.S. Triple Crown races nine times, in the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, and the Belmont Stakes.  In 1991, Pat Day won the Canadian Triple Crown and the Breeders’ Cup Distaff atop the now famous filly Dance Smartly.  Day ranks second all-time in Breeders’ Cup winners, with 12 from the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Breeders’ Cup Distaff, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies, and Breeders’ Cup Turf.  In 1989, Day set a North American record when he won eight of nine mounts in a single day at Arlington Park.

Early in his career, Day acknowledged a serious substance abuse problem.  He credits becoming a Christian and his faith in God for being able to overcome the drugs and alcohol.  He has been involved with the Race Track Chaplaincy of America since his conversion and is on the board of that organization.

Day announced his retirement on August 3, 2005 after a 32-year career with numerous wins, fourth on the all-time list, and set a North American record for prize money won.

Day and his family reside in Crestwood, Kentucky.

He is the author of 6 books, the most recent being Do the Right Thing, which spent its first 7 weeks of release in the top ten of the New York Times Bestseller list.

From 1996-2007, Huckabee served as the 44th Governor of Arkansas and was recognized as a national leader, having been honored by several renowned publications and organizations for his numerous accomplishments.  Governing Magazine named him as one of its ‘Public Officials of the Year’ for 2005, Time Magazine honored him as one of the five best governors in America, and later in the same year, Huckabee received the American Association of Retired Person’s Impact Award.  In 2007, he was presented with the Music for Life Award by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) for his commitment to music education.  He served as the Chairman of the prestigious National Governors Association as well as the Education Commission of the States and the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission.

Huckabee became governor in July 1996.  He was one of the youngest governors in the country at the time.  Huckabee was elected to a full four-year term as governor in 1998, attracting the largest percentage of the vote ever received by a Republican gubernatorial nominee in Arkansas, and was re-elected to another four-year term in November 2002.

Huckabee first was elected lieutenant governor in a 1993 special election and was elected to a full four-year term in 1994.

A significant part of his early adult life was spent as a pastor and denominational leader.  He became the youngest president ever of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, the largest denomination in Arkansas.  Huckabee led rapidly growing congregations in Pine Bluff and Texarkana.  He said those experiences gave him a deep sense of the problems faced by individuals and families.

Huckabee’s efforts to improve his own health have received national attention.  Diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2003, he lost 110 pounds. Barely two years later, he had completed four marathons: The 2005 and 2006 Little Rock Marathons, the Marine Corps Marathon and the ING New York City Marathon. As a result of his accomplishments, The Road Runners Club of America named him its ‘Southern Region Runner of the Year’ and USA Track & Field has named him their ‘Athlete of the Week’ for the country.

Continuing to call for a national emphasis on living a healthy lifestyle, Huckabee completed his fourth book, Quit Digging Your Grave With A Knife and Fork.  This 12-stop program is a no-nonsense approach to managing one’s health through lifestyle change rather than a simple diet and exercise plan.

Huckabee, 53, was named one of the 25 most influential people for conservation by Outdoor Life magazine, and has was named as Man of the Year by the American Sportfishing Association in 1997.

The former governor and his wife, Janet, live in North Little Rock. They have three grown children: John Mark, David and Sarah.