Speakers

We are excited to announce a dynamic lineup of speakers for NACCAP 2007. While not exhaustive, the list on this page should give you an idea of what to expect when you arrive.

“Opening Session”
Dr. Erik Thoennes
Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Biola University

Dr. Erik Thoennes loves people and teaching them the Bible. He is Associate Professor of Theology at Biola University and also serves as a pastor at Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada, CA. Thoennes has a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology, as well as Master’s in Biblical Studies, Evangelism, and Philosophy.

Before coming to Biola, Thoennes taught theology and evangelism at Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Among other things, he has hitchhiked around America, worked with developmentally disabled adults and troubled youth, and played professional football in Europe.

Thoennes recently published the book, Godly Jealousy: A Theology of Intolerant Love (Christian Focus, Mentor Press). His primary goal in life is to know God and make him known, by His power and for His glory.

“Faith Sustainability”
David Kinnaman
President and Strategic Leader, The Barna Research Group

As President and Strategic Leader of the Barna Research Group, David Kinnaman has worked on more than 400 research projects with such clients as the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Easter Seals, Focus on the Family, World Vision, and many others. He is often quoted in major media outlets and is in high demand as a speaker on ministry trends.

At NACCAP 2007, Kinnaman will unveil the latest research on the faith sustainability of students over the course of their late teenage years and 20’s. Kinnaman, a Biola University graduate, resides in Ventura, California, with his wife and three children.

“FOCUS: Achieving Your Highest Priorities”
Mike Bechtle
Author, Professional Speaker, Former Professor, Talbot School of Theology

Mike Bechtle, a former Talbot School of Theology professor, has a unique blend of ministry and corporate experience – eighteen years teaching in churches and Christian universities and more than 2,000 time- and life-management seminars delivered, many to Fortune 500 companies.

Bechtle’s articles have appeared in publications such as Discipleship Journal, Moody, Eternity, Pastors.com, and Entrepreneur. He has been speaking at churches and conventions since 1974. After receiving his Master’s from Talbot School of Theology, Bechtle received his Doctorate in Higher and Adult Education from Arizona State University.

At NACCAP 2007, Bechtle will deliver a special all-day FranklinCovey time- and life-management session.

Note: This session, usually priced at $299, will be available for $88 per person. Space is limited, and it is recommended you sign up early via the conference registration page.

“Racial Reconciliation”
Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil
Founder and Principal, Salter McNeil Associates LLC

Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil is the featured speaker for the closing session of NACCAP 2007. Dr. McNeil, who was a keynote at both Urbana 2006 and the 2006 CCCU Forum, is a gifted communicator with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the area of racial and ethnic reconciliation. She is founder and principal of Salter McNeil Associates, LLC, a reconciliation training, consulting and leadership development company that serves academic, religious and civic organizations.

Previously, Dr. McNeil served on the staff of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship for 13 years, where she prepared and directed training programs and seminars designed to empower participants to effectively engage in racial reconcilement and cross-cultural ministry. She is the co-author of The Heart of Racial Justice: How Soul Change Leads to Social Change (InterVarsity Press).

“Reflections on the Presidency”
Dr. Clyde Cook
President, Biola University

At NACCAP 2007, on the eve of his retirement, Dr. Clyde Cook, Biola’s longest-serving president, will share his “Reflections on the Presidency.” Cook assumed the position of President in 1982, bringing with him experience in education, administration and missions. During his 25-year tenure, Biola has flourished, adding three new graduate schools, doubling enrollment, and becoming the only evangelical school ranked as a “National University” by U.S. News & World Report.

President Cook earned his D.Miss. from Fuller Theological Seminary, a Th.M. and M.Div. from Talbot Theological Seminary, and a B.A. from Biola University. He has been married to his wife, Anna Belle, for nearly fifty years and has two children and six grandchildren. On July 1, 2007, he will become President Emeritus.

“Ethics in the Workplace”
Dr. Scott Rae
Chair, Department of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics, Talbot School of Theology

Professor and noted ethicist Dr. Scott Rae will be speaking on “Ethics in the Workplace” during NACCAP 2007. Dr. Rae will be presenting to the chief enrollment officers as well as middle managers who are in attendance at NACCAP 2007. In an initial session, he will speak to both groups, providing tools for identifying and resolving ethical dilemmas in the workplace. Later in the day, Dr. Rae will meet separately with each group, walking through case studies that will illustrate the use of these tools. Participants will have the opportunity to extensively discuss ethical issues faced in the Admissions Office – and on the college campus – and leave with some concrete steps to resolve them.

Dr. Rae’s primary interests are medical ethics and business ethics, dealing with the application of Christian ethics to medicine and the marketplace. He has authored 6 books in ethics including Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics and Beyond Integrity: A Judeo-Christian Approach to Business Ethics. His work has appeared in numerous publications such as Religion and Liberty, Journal of Markets and Morality, and Ethics and Medicine.

Rae earned his B.A. from Southern Methodist University, a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Southern California. Rae has served as consultant for ethics for four Southern California hospitals. He is a fellow of the Center for Bioethics and Human Dignity and a fellow of the Wilberforce Forum. Rae has taught at Talbot School of Theology since 1989 and is chair of the Department of Philosophy of Religion and Ethics.

“StrengthsQuest: Building Your Life Around Your Strengths”
Eric Lapointe and Julie De la Ossa
Lapointe, Director of Student Leadership, Biola University
De la Ossa, Director of Academic Advising and Retention, Biola University

Eric Lapointe, Director of Student Leadership Development at Biola University, is a graduate of Biola University where he also earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership. He has filled roles in the Admissions, Academic Advising, and Student Retention Departments at Biola. Eric and his wife of three years, Ashley, live in southern California and are expecting their first child this summer.

Julie De la Ossa is the Director of Academic Advising and Student Retention at Biola University. She is also a graduate of Biola and holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication. De la Ossa serves as an adjunct instructor in the Communication Studies department at Biola.

Eric and Julie were introduced to the concept of strengths development at a Student Retention conference in 2003. After experiencing the transformational power of strengths in their own personal and professional lives, Eric and Julie decided to start their own “strengths revolution” on the Biola campus. Since that time, Eric and Julie have helped over 500 students, staff, and faculty discover and build their lives around their strengths.

Note: The fee for participation in the StrengthsQuest session is $25, which will cover the cost of your StrengthsQuest Profile Code. The Code will be emailed to you upon registration for the session via the conference registration page.

“From the Mouth of Homeschoolers: A Forum with Students & the Parents Who Guided Their Education”
Lydia Knopf and Jeanne Gowen Dennis
Knopf, Director of Biola Youth
Gowen Dennis, National Speaker and Author of “Homeschooling High School: Planning Ahead for College Admission”

Lydia Knopf is a graduate of Biola University with a B.S. in Business Administration and an M.A. in Organizational Leadership. She served as the Director of Undergraduate Recruitment for nine years prior to pioneering the department of Biola Youth, now in its eleventh year. While the Director of Undergraduate Recruitment, she served as a NACCAP Southwest Regional Representative and was a recipient of the NACCAP Regional Service Award.

As Director of Biola Youth, Lydia leads such programs as STAR Homeschool Courses, Torrey Academy (Classical Education for homeschool teens), Biola Youth Theatre, and Biola Youth Ministry Outreach. In addition to serving churches and the community at large, these programs currently enroll over 1000 home educated students annually. Lydia has been a presenter for the Christian Home Educators Association of California and Southern California homeschool independent study programs on the topics of Admissions, College Preparation and Financial Aid. She has also been a member of the Home School Legal Defense Association for nine years.

In addition to leading and managing, Lydia especially enjoys coaching and mentoring her staff toward professional and personal growth, conflict resolution, and healthy change. She often presents and consults on her life passion topics of personal and organizational mission, vision, and values. Lydia and her husband Greg home educate their four sons, Geoffrey, Joshua, Jacob, and Jeremiah.

As an award-winning author, national speaker, and Wilberforce Forum Centurion, Jeanne Dennis partners with Christian families to help equip the next generation to hold fast to faith. Her publications consists of eleven books, including Homeschooling High School: Planning Ahead for College Admission, as well as articles, stories, illustrations, and greeting cards. Her periodical credits include Campus Life, several homeschool publications, and Focus on the Family’s children, parent, and teen magazines and newsletters. She also edits two online magazines. Jeanne has interviewed on radio stations throughout the country and on national television. She has worked with children of all ages for over 25 years, and is a wife, mother, grandmother, and veteran homeschooler.

Devotional: “Olympic Christians”
Dr. Marla Campbell
Associate Professor, School of Intercultural Studies, Biola University

Prior to serving at BIOLA University as a current faculty member in the School of Intercultural Studies where she directs the PhD program, Marla held the position of the Dean of Students at Bethany College. There she also worked in the missions department teaching and sending short term teams. Her B.A. degrees in English and Speech Communications/Pathology were earned at Cal State University at Fullerton. She completed both her M.A. and her Ph.D. at BIOLA University before joining the faculty.

After years of teaching in Christian High Schools, Marla had a vision for taking drama ministry teams nationally and internationally. The development of Parable Drama Ministries opened the door for her to do so. She then went on to obtain appointment as a full time missionary to the Balkan countries primarily working in Bible colleges. Her missions’ opportunities have taken her throughout the USA and to over 50 countries primarily in Eastern Europe and Asia-Pacific. Abroad her work involved much the same as did the secondary and collegiate level stateside education. She designed and revised curriculum did teacher training, developed ESL and other educational programs. Along with these areas, Marla continues to enjoy working with women’s ministries, missions, and being a seminar or retreat speaker.

Devotional
Dr. Walt Russell
Professor of Bible Exposition, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University

Dr. Russell’s areas of expertise are exegesis, hermeneutics, and New Testament theology, especially as they relate to world evangelism and the spiritual growth of the church. He has an extensive background in collegiate ministries, university teaching, and the pastorate, having planted two churches. He authored The Flesh/Spirit Conflict in Galatians and Playing with Fire: How the Bible Ignites Change in Your Soul. Dr. Russell has contributed articles to Bibliotheca Sacra, Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Grace Theological Journal, Westminster Theological Journal, Trinity Journal, and Christianity Today. His life themes are the primacy of the Great Commission in the life of the church, the renewal of the church through the development of dynamic community, and the strengthening of the church through vibrant teaching of the Scriptures.