At the Wilberforce Fellowship, young men have the privilege of sitting under teaching from some of the most influential Godly leaders from Georgia and around the world. Their experience and wisdom will help you or your young men grow into a more informed, more passionate, more equipped instrument of social change.
Congressman Jody Hice, a Georgia native, was born in Atlanta and raised in Tucker, Georgia. Dr. Hice graduated from Ashbury College, earned his Master’s degree from Southwestern Seminary as well as a Doctor of Ministry from Luther Rice University. Dr. Hice served as pastor in three Georgia counties for almost 25 years and went on to found the Jody Hice Show, a conservative talk radio program. Congressman Hice and his wife of thirty-three years, Dee Dee, reside in Greene County and have two daughters and several grandchildren. Congressman Hice took office in 2014 as the representative of Georgia’s 10th Congressional District and serves on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee.
Jody Hice
Congressman, GA-10
Born in Wilberforce’s hometown of Hull, England, Dr. Michael McMullen, a Professor of History in Missouri and an avid collector of Wilberforce artifacts, is one of the foremost experts on Wilberforce and his writings. Having spent over a decade transcribing Wilberforce’s unpublished manuscripts, McMullen’s first major volume on Wilberforce should appear 2018/2019. He has authored several books, including Hearts Aflame (Triangle/SPCK), Clouds of Heaven (Triangle/SPCK), The Passionate Preacher (Christian Focus), The Prayers and Meditations of Susanna Wesley (MPH, London), God’s Polished Arrow (Christian Focus), and The Unpublished Sermons of M’Cheyne (Banner of Truth). His 2004 work, The Blessing of God (Broadman & Holman), was a Gold Medallion finalist in the Inspiration category. He is also Associate Editor (Church History) for Oxford University’s New Dictionary of National Biography.
Dr. Michael McMullen
Professor of Church History, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary
Dan Lane is married to Maria Lane, the wife of his youth, for over 30 years. She still effortlessly takes his breath away with intimate brown-eyed gazes. He is the father of 9 children and 9 grandchildren. He and Maria head up the ministry efforts of Family Life Style Ministries, Inc. He is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary (ThM 1997) with a family ministry concentration. Dan was raised in North Carolina. He and most of his family simply adore North Carolina BBQ. He resides in Griffin, GA.
Dan Lane
CEO, Family Life Style Ministries
Drew Meritt started volunteering with Out of Darkness in 2015 and God quickly began breaking his heart for the lack of men involved. In 2016 he created Redeeming Men Ministries with the desire to challenge men to address the issue of Commercial Sexual Exploitation. He also has a heart to see true masculinity restored in America today. In his spare time he enjoys reading and hanging out with his friends and his Golden Retriever Max."
Drew Merritt
Founder, Redeeming Men Ministries
After earning his Doctorate degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, Johnny and Anne relocated in Atlanta to pioneer a new church, the Atlanta Vineyard Church. Under his leadership the Atlanta Vineyard has given birth to 19 daughter churches. In fact the Atlanta Vineyard has been listed among the “Top 25 Church Planting Churches in the United States”.
In January 2012 he resigned from 30 years of pastoral leadership the Atlanta Vineyard to give himself full time to serving the City Of Lilburn as Mayor.
Mayor Johnny Crist and his wife Ann live in the center of historical downtown Lilburn in a turn-of-the-century Georgian home that they fully restored. It was this home’s location in the heart of downtown that engaged him deeply in his community.
In addition to birthing churches Johnny and Anne are parents to 8 incredible kids.
Johnny Crist
Mayor, City of Lilburn
For a period of eight years, from 1997-2005, Tom held the position of Executive Vice President for Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Tom’s work at Focus on the Family followed a long career with General Motors, which included senior sales and marketing positions for GM in both Europe and Canada, as well as the U.S.
Among the positions Tom held with GM were Vice President-Sales, Service and Parts for General Motors Europe, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and Vice President-Sales and Marketing for General Motors Canada, headquartered in Toronto, Ontario.
Early in his corporate life, Tom earned a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree from General Motors Institute in Flint, Michigan, and an MBA from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. In May of 2003, Tom earned a Master of Biblical Studies degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Tom and his wife, Karen, have 4 grown children and seven grandchildren, and he enjoys running and has completed 32 Peachtree Road Race 10K’s as well as numerous half-marathons.
Tom Mason
Former Executive Vice President, Focus on the Family
Lee Truax is a seasoned executive, technologist and communicator. Truax is a proven transformational leader that is experienced in helping implement digital strategies in faith based non-profit organizations. Currently Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, CBMC International. Past President / CEO of CBMC, Inc. (USA). IT/Tech veteran in pre-sales technical positions, management, sales and marketing, and business development roles for Hewlett Packard (HP) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD). NFL – 27 seasons, New England Patriots, NFL Official Stats Crew Stadium Technician. Married 33 years to Lisa, seven children, four grandchildren.
Lee Truax
Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, CBMC International
Marion Ivey lives in Athens, Georgia, with Linda, his wife of fifty years. They are the parents of three grown children and grandparents of six. He is retired from his construction business, is a Bible Study teacher of young adults, and was a Seminar Instructor with Crown Financial Ministries for twenty years. An avid woodworker and chef, Marion and Linda have cooked for every Wilberforce Weekend.
Marion Ivey
Former Seminar Instructor, Crown Financial Ministries