Washington Township, New Jersey
Weekend Adult Attendance: 2,500
www.gcccpray.com
"The problem was that we became enablers…it wasn't that we weren't making disciples.
It was how we made them."
Rev. Dr. J. Bruce Sofia began the Gloucester County Community Church in Washington Township, New Jersey, in July of 1982 with the purpose of meeting the needs of people young and old in all areas of living, from the spiritual to the physical, from worship to entertainment as the Lord so provides and directs. Pastor Sofia felt the call to return to where he was raised, and GCCC's original congregation has now grown to thousands, including many of Sofia's high school classmates, who found Christ through his church. Aside from his many distinguished degrees, he is the founder of Prayer Ministries, Inc., which is the corporation name of all the church's outreaches, including the radio and television programs "Changed by the Word" and "The Other Side" respectively. Sofia and his wife, Sheryl, have two children and two grandsons.
Birmingham, Alabama
Weekend Adult Attendance: 3,500
www.worddome.org
"We have Word-hungry people."
After attending the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, for only one semester, Dr. Michael D. Moore was called into full-time ministry. It was November 1978, and Moore decided to quit school and pursue the call of God on his life—in January 1979, he preached his first sermon, and six months later he began pasturing his first church. In April of 1981, Pastor Moore began Faith Chapel Christian Center (FCCC) with four people and a Bible. Moore now leads the more than 6,400-member church with a prophetic teaching ministry founded on the simple truth that "the Word of God is the answer." He is the founder of Mike Moore Ministries, the outreach arm of FCCC, and has written three books on financial prosperity. Dr. Moore is happily married to wife and ministry partner, Kennetha, and has two children.
Dallas, Texas
Weekend Adult Attendance: 4,800
www.watermark.org
"You don't have to pretend here that you're all in until you're all in. But when you're all in,
this is what the Scripture says "all in" looks like."
As Senior Pastor of Watermark Community Church in Dallas, Texas—one of the most innovative and exciting churches in America—Todd Wagner is a much sought-after speaker and teacher at conferences and camps around the country. He has extensive experience in both church and para-church ministry, including service with Young Life and K-Life and 10 years with Kanakuk, where he served as Assistant Director for K-2. He and his wife, Alex, are busy investing in their six kids, so although he is often asked to speak, he currently says no more than yes. Pastor Wagner is a coach much more than a conference speaker, and purposes to be a better dad and faithful husband more than a hero on the road.
Orlando, Florida
Weekend Adult Attendance: 7,500
www.firstorlando.com
"Our goal is to get you out of a bib and into an apron." - David Uth, Senior Pastor
Jimmy Knott, a Tennessee native and graduate of the University of Tennessee, was working as an engineer for the Dupont Company in Nashville when he felt the Lord calling him into the ministry. He enrolled at New Orleans Theological Seminary, earned his Master of Divinity degree in 1976, and following graduation moved back to Nashville to serve in full-time ministry. The Teaching Pastor at First Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida, since 1980, Pastor Knott is a much sought-after Bible teacher, revival speaker, and conference leader. He lives in Orlando with his wife, Linda, and their four children, and enjoys family- and sports-related hobbies, including golf, reading, coaching, and basketball.
Southlake, Texas
Weekend Adult Attendance: 9,000
www.gatewaypeople.com
"People want to be part of something that's healthy and vibrant…Health is not absence of
conflict…it's moving collectively toward a common vision."
As the Founding and Senior Pastor of Gateway Church in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, Robert Morris leads a congregation of more than 15,000 active members. He is featured on the weekly television program The Blessed Life, seen in more than 60 million homes in the United States and over 200 countries worldwide, and is the bestselling author of five books, including The Blessed Life, From Dream to Destiny, and The Power of Your Words. Robert and his wife, Debbie, have been married for 28 years and reside in Southlake, Texas.
