Speaker Bios

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Special Series:

Presidents' Lectures

The Presidents' Lectures are named in honor of the seven Presidents in the history of Biola University, whose commitment, as expressed in the mission statement of the University, has been biblically centered education, scholarship and service -- equipping men and women in mind and character to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ. This commitment and passion of these men intentionally shapes these lectures.

Reconciliation Chapels

The purpose of the Racial Reconciliation Chapel Series is to provide students with a diverse worship experience in the midst of a diverse group of believers. The program's aim is education about the diversity in the Body of Christ, celebration of different styles of music in worship, and enhancing the process of Christian racial reconciliation.

Lloyd Oglivie Series

This series is funded by a private grant, allowing Biola to bring excellent Bible expositors to our chapel program.

Spiritual Renewal Week

Spiritual Renewal Week is designed to allow the Biola Community to experience a series of messages from a godly communicator who speaks several times in one week. Hopefully, this allows both messenger and listener the opportunity to develop rapport as the speaker builds one message upon another. Placing this series early in the semester, our desire is to schedule individuals who have a heart for spiritual renewal on the university campus.

Torrey Memorial Bible Conference

R. A. Torrey (1856-1928) was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. He graduated from Yale University (B.A., 1875) and from the theological department there (B.D., 1878), and studied at the universities of Leipzig and Erlangen. Inspired by D.L. Moody, he held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charles Alexander, and at age 33 was called by Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now the Moody Bible Institute). He would later become the first Dean of the Bible Institute of Los Angeles (BIOLA), from 1912- 1924. His pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and the Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. He wrote more than forty books. At his funeral, it was said that “... those who knew Dr. Torrey more intimately knew him as a man of regular and uninterrupted prayer. He knew what it meant to pray without ceasing. With hours set systematically apart for prayer, he gave himself diligently to this ministry.” A short biography of Torrey is available at www.believersweb.org/view.cfm?ID=62

2008-09 Speakers (alphabetically):

Associated Students

AS exists to serve you, the student. As an entirely student-led organization we seek to represent your best interests to the Administration while also communicating its activities to you. While we constantly strive to provide events and services that enrich your Biola experience, we ultimately hope to be an organization that brings unity to a campus that is seeking to impact the world for the Lord Jesus Christ.

Betsy Barber

Rachel Clark

Co-Director, Residence Life, Biola University.

John Coe

Director, Institute of Spiritual Formation, Biola University. Dr. Coe teaches and writes in the areas of spirituality, theology and psychological maturity, and gender issues as well as the integration between theology, psychology, philosophy and ethics. His articles have been published in Baker Encyclopedia of Psychology, Journal of Christian Education, Journal of Psychology and Theology, Journal of Psychology and Christianity, Faculty Dialogue, and Ethics and Medicine.

Barry H. Corey

Dr. Barry H. Corey became the eighth president of Biola University on July 1, 2007. He holds a BA in English and biblical studies from Evangel University, an MA in American Studies from Boston College, and a PhD from Boston College in curriculum, instruction and administration. Corey, a Massachusetts native, came to Biola from Gordon-Conwell Seminary, where he served as vice president/chief academic officer and academic dean. Corey was also a Fulbright Scholar and lived in Bangladesh among the rural poor from 1990 to 1991. He has served on a number of non-profit boards including "Convoy of Hope," and "The Boston Theological Consortium." He has also completed two Boston Marathons. He has been married to his wife, Paula, for 17 years, and they have three children: Anders, 15; Ella, 13; and Samuel, 9.

Shelly Cunningham

Associate Professor, Christian Education. Dr. Cunningham is a Christian educator whose ministry experience includes staff positions in youth ministry and Christian education in the local church. She was a contributor to The Life Recovery Bible; Foundations of Ministry: An Introduction to Christian Education for a New Generation; Baker Dictionary of Christian Education; The Journal of Higher Education; and Theological Education. She continues to be involved in the local church, serving as a consultant and retreat speaker. Dr. Cunningham is an Instructional Consultant for the Center for Faculty Development at Biola University.

Murray Decker

Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies. Dr. Decker has taught at Biola University since 1993. His field experience includes serving in Cameroon, West Africa as an educator, as well as numerous trips to Eastern Europe and Latin America. He has served as a missions consultant to churches and has spoken at numerous missions conferences at churches, schools and seminaries. Murray's passion over the years has been to mentor students and journey with them in life as they prepare to impact the world for Jesus. Murray is married to DeAnn, and has two children, Nathan and Lauren.

Bruce Demarest

Professor of spiritual formation, Denver Seminary. Among his many books, he is perhaps best known for co-authoring Integrative Theology with Gordon Lewis. He has also authored many articles in journals and magazines and is a contributing editor to the Renovaré Spiritual Formation Study Bible. Dr. Demarest presents workshops and retreats on spiritual formation, the spiritual journey, and spiritual mentoring and direction. He holds a Ph.D. in biblical and historical theology from the University of Manchester, England, an M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and an M.S. from Adelphi University.

La Nej Garrison

Speaker, “Teaching Like Jesus Ministries.” La Nej Garrison earned her MA in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Talbot.  She has worked in teen ministry and taught at churches and conferences around the world—from South Africa to Japan, using her unique blend of philosophy mixed with theology and a healthy dose of dry humor. La Nej is married to pro basketball player Matt Garrison.

Matthew Hooper

Associate Dean for Campus Life, Office of Student Development, Biola University.

Rob Hoskins

President and Chief Executive of Book of Hope International, whose purpose is “to affect destiny by providing God’s Word to the children and youth of the world.” The Book of Hope is the gospels of the Bible (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) harmonised and in chronological order along with the first two chapters of Acts. It includes 100 study questions and concludes with the plan of salvation and how the reader can ask Jesus into their heart and life. More than 230 million copies have been provided free of charge in over 60 languages directly through the public school systems. 

Andrea Humphrey

Co-founder and co-pastor, H.O.P.E. (Hope, Opportunity, Purpose and Encouragement) House Ministries. H.O.P.E. began in 2001 as a bible study at Cal State Northridge; by 2003, it had grown into a church. Affectionately known as Pastor Dre), she holds a bachelors degree in Finance as well as an MBA from Cal State Dominguez Hills. Professionally, she has been an International Finance Manager for Walt Disney Imagineering's Tokyo DisneySea Theme Park. She also facilitates Executive Leadership training for Disney Imagineering. She has ministered the Word and taught financial seminars for local churches and various college campuses.

Joanne Jung

Assistant professor of Spiritual Formation, Biola University; conference speaker.

Jon Lunde

Dr. Lunde's main interests lie in the study of Jesus, both as He is presented in the gospels and in the more specialized Historical Jesus field, as well as how the New Testament writers use the Old Testament. He has contributed articles to The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels and The New Dictionary of Biblical Theology. His passion is to present Jesus to his students in such a way that they personally respond to Him as their Suffering Servant and as their King.

Pete Menjares

Associate Provost for Diversity Leadership, Biola University. Dr. Menjares has been charged with leading the University in taking steps toward becoming more diverse. Dr. Menjares specializes in literacy; educational psychology; and cross-cultural, bilingual methodology, including the role of the Christian university in preparing teachers for the urban school setting. A former pastor and public middle school teacher, Dr. Menjares has taught in both the United States and Hong Kong.

Sherry Mortenson

Lead pastor of Spiritual Formation at Whittier Area Community Church, helping the body of Christ grow in loving God and loving others, while serving on the teaching team on weekends and overseeing women's ministries. Dr. Mortenson previously served for nearly 23 years at Bethel College, St. Paul, Minnesota, as Associate Dean of Campus Ministries and Pastor of Spiritual Formation. She is a well-received speaker in churches, college chapels, workshops, and retreats, and a nationally-recognized expert in spiritual formation and discipleship.

Tim Muehlhoff

On the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for 20 years, Dr. Muehlhoff teaches in the Communications dept. at Biola. While at the University of North Carolina he received his department's highest award for teaching, and has been recognized by the International Communication Association for outstanding teaching. Tim has been published in Discipleship Journal, Mars Hill Review, Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, and the Journal of Religion and Communication .

Keith Phillips

President of World Impact, a Christian missions organization dedicated to ministering God's love to the inner city. Dr. Phillips is the author of They Dare to Love the Ghetto, The Making of a Disciple, No Quick Fix and Out of Ashes , which chronicles the history of the urban poor in America and explores their present needs and future hope. He currently supervises World Impact's inner-city ministries in 11 cities.

Todd Pickett

Associate Dean for Spiritual Development, Office of Student Development, Biola University. 

Steve Porter

Associate Professor of Philosophy and Theology, Biola University. Dr. Porter teaches theology and philosophy for Talbot's Institute for Spiritual Formation and at Rosemead School of Psychology. His areas of interest include theological methodology, the doctrine of sanctification, philosophical theology, and the integration of psychology and theology. He has contributed articles to the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, Philosophia Christi, Faith and Philosophy, and the Journal for Psychology and Theology. Dr. Porter's book on epistemology, Restoring the Foundations of Epistemic Justification, was recently published by Lexington Books.

Dan Siedell

Assistant Professor of Modern and Contemporary Art, U of Nebraska-Omaha; Former Curator of the Sheldon Memorial Art Gallery (U of Nebraska-Lincoln), where he worked closely with a number of contemporary artists. He is particularly interested in the history and development of art criticism and the relationship between religion, spirituality and contemporary art. He is the author of numerous essays on art criticism, contemporary art, and museum pedagogy; his book on religion and contemporary art is due out in the fall of 2008. Dan holds an M.A. in art history, criticism, and theory from SUNY-Stony Brook, and a Ph.D. from The University of Iowa.

Student Missionary Union (SMU)

SMU is the largest student-run missions organization in the world. The Student Missionary Union motivates and mobilizes students to align their lives toward the completion of the Great Commission. "Our desire is to see students offer their lives to Christ and to His mission to see the Father glorified in all nations. God desires for each member of his Body to be active in taking the Gospel message to the world, because the scope of Christ's love extends to include all the peoples of the earth."

Donna Thoennes

Assistant Professor, Torrey Honors Institute. With a Ph.D. in Educational Studies from Trinity International, her specializations include philosophy of education, educational leadership in Christian community, and theological presuppositions of education. Donna has authored several articles and two chapters of the Women's Evangelical New Testament Commentary. She has received several awards for excellence both inside and outside the classroom, including excellence in mentoring students.

Erik Thoennes

Associate Professor of Theology, Biola University; Teaching Elder, Grace Evangelical Free Church in La Mirada. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology, and other degrees in biblical studies, evangelism and philosophy. Erik has received the University award for faculty excellence and professor of the year. His research interests include godly jealousy, the atonement, the exclusivity of Christ, and theology of culture. Whatever he is doing, his primary goal in life is to know God and make him known, by His grace and for His glory.

Mike Wilkins

Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Dean of the Faculty, Talbot School of Theology. Dr. Wilkins specializes in New Testament theology, Christology, and discipleship. A southern California native, upon graduation from high school he spent three years in the U.S. Army; on New Year’s Eve 1970, not long after returning from a year of combat in Viet Nam, he received Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior. He is author of several books, including Matthew (NIVAC); Following the Master: Biblical Theology of Discipleship; and Discipleship in the Ancient World, and co-editor of Worship, Theology and Ministry in the Early Church and Jesus Under Fire. He lives and surfs in San Clemente with Lynne, his wife of 37 years.