Home | Featured General Session Speakers | Seminars | Registration | Travel | Hotel | Area Info | Help Promote FOL | Exhibitor Info Featured General Session Speakers Updated Aug 18, 2010 Mark Finley General Vice President A native of Connecticut, USA, Finley became a vice president at the 2005 General Conference Session in St. Louis, after serving nearly two years as general field secretary at the world headquarters, directing the Center for Global Evangelism. As a vice president, Finley continues to work with evangelism and television as his primary portfolio. Evangelism is where Finley made his mark on the world, presenting more than 150 evangelistic meeting series around the globe in about 80 countries with the resulting baptisms numbering in the thousands. His best known association is as a television speaker: for the current series Experience Hope, a weekly broadcast of the Hope Channel; for the It Is Written telecast of 20 years; and also for the first NET evangelism satellite series broadcast in North America (1995) and subsequent satellite NET broadcasts in 1996, 2000, and 2008. He has preached about 20 NET evangelism series broadcast throughout the world. He uses his preaching and evangelism gifts to teach others in seminars, field schools and evangelism institutes. He has written more than 70 books, as well as numerous seminar presentations, major evangelistic series sermons, teaching manuals, and magazine articles. His recorded seminars and series number about 20 and are available for purchase in various media formats. He also writes a Bible study lesson published monthly in Adventist World. Finley and his wife, Ernestine “Teenie,” have teamed up in ministry throughout the years and also share a family of three grown children; Deborah, Rebecca, and Mark Jr. Two grandchildren blessed the family, both being born within a couple of weeks of Christmas 2008. Dr. Sung Kwon Director, Adventist Community Services North American Division Sung Kwon has served as the national executive director of the North American Division Adventist Community Services since 2001 and is an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, having served in Ohio and Allegheny East Conferences. He studied business administration at the University of Maryland; received a bachelor's degree in theology from Columbia Union College in Maryland; earned a master's degree in public administration, concentrated in nonprofit management from Wright State University in Ohio; received a Milton Murray Fellowship for Harvard University Executive Education; and earned the designation of Certified Senior Advisor. Currently, he is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Leadership at Andrews University in Michigan. Kwon served as the executive director of the Good Neighbor House, an ACS agency in Dayton, Ohio, for eight years. He also was the president and vice president of the North American Association of Community Services Directors (NAACSD) during that time. He was recognized in the "40 Under 40 - Dayton's Brightest Young Business Leaders" by the Business News of Dayton, Ohio in April, 2000. He had the privilege of planting the Korean congregation as a company, serving as its interim pastor, under the favoring influence of the Kettering Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dayton, Ohio. In addition, He has served as youth pastor for Stillwater Adventist Church in Ohio Conference and administration pastor for Miracle Temple Adventist Church in Allegheny East Conference. He has served on the board of the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) and currently serves on the board of the Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations, and National Interfaith Coalition of Aging (NICA). Sung Kwon is married to Me, his childhood sweetheart, and together they have two children, Teresa and Joshua. Carol Barron Adult Ministries North American Division Carol Barron works for the Headquaters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland, U.S.A. She is the administrative assistant in the Adult Ministries Department of the North American Division. In April 2005, she graduated from the North American Division Evangelism Institute, Andrews University Seminary, Berrien Springs, Michigan, U.S.A., completing a four year training program, Lay Minister of Evangelism, in the areas of Evangelism, Church Growth, and Pastoral Ministry. Carol also co-authored the children's devotional Quiet Time with Jesus, and has contributed articles to various perdiodicals. She travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad, teaching the pure Word of God, conducting prayer conferences, seminars and giving concerts. Her seminars are motivational, inspirational, spiritual, lively and fun. "Life is exciting," she says, and "the pathway to heaven is an exciting journey and I can't wait to see my Jesus face-to-face." José Rojas Director, Adventist Volunteer Ministries Network North American Division José Vicente Rojas serves as the Director of the Office of Volunteer Ministries for the North American Division. Based at the Office of the Secretariat, the Office of Volunteer Ministries brings together church, institutional and supportive organizations for shared goals in volunteer ministries including: student missions, taskforce missions, literacy programs, community projects, Bible work, evangelism, and a host of other outreach activities. José holds to a firm belief that the time for the fulfillment of Joel 2:28 has come. The "dreamers and visionaries" spoken of in scripture have arisen. He points to a growing volunteer movement in North America in which over 70,000 young people and adults have mobilized for outreach in communities both in North America and abroad. José's vision for the next five years includes the objective of an even larger network of missionary volunteers of all ages experiencing the power of God through a movement of discipleship. An accomplished musician and recording artist, Jose is also an author and a passionate preacher of the Word. José holds an Honoris Causa Doctor of Divinity degree from Southwestern Adventist University, as well as Bachelors and Masters degrees in Religion from Loma Linda University. His numerous honors include the Maryland Governor's Citation for leadership in community action and the privilege of carrying the official Olympic Torch into Washington D.C. as the flame made its journey to the Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996. José serves as a member of the U.S. national organization, The Alliance for Youth, founded by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, resulting in over 183 Adventist tutoring sites for underprivileged children in 26 states and provinces in North America. He has also worked with the White House over several years, assisting two Presidents of the United States with domestic policy initiatives for humanitarian leadership in the U.S.. He and his wife Ruthie have four children: Veronica, Angelica, Gabriel, and Maria. James Black, Sr. Director, Youth Ministries North American Division Pastor James Black is a native of Savannah, Georgia. He is a graduate of Oakwood College with a Major in Theology and a Minor in Biblical Languages. He also attended the Andrews University Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, MI. Pastor Black began his ministry in the Southwest Region Conference where he served as youth pastor and senior pastor.  He served as conference youth director from 1991-2000. His responsibilities included teens, young adults, pathfinders, adventurers, singles, NSO and camp ministries. During this same period he served as a member of the NAD Youth Committee and Secretary for the NAD Pathfinder Committee. He also served 4 years as president of the Black Adventist Youth Directors Association. This group is responsible for planning a United Youth Congress every four years and has drawn over 30,000 youth. Currently he is serving his second term as the Director of Youth Ministries for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North America.  Many youth initiatives have been launched and training resources developed under his leadership. He organizes one of the largest bi-annual leadership training conventions in the world church with over 3000 leaders attending from around North America and the world. However, God has given him a vision to go deeper with today’s youth. In April 2007, the 2nd NAD World Youth Prayer Conference will convene in Columbus, Ohio. Over 15,000 youth and young adults will worship through prayer and mission service under the theme “Just Claim It.” He is convinced that it is time for Adventist Youth to claim their entire cities for Christ. Pastor Black is married to Maxine and they have 3 grown children; James Jr., Raquel (husband William & daughter Elyse), and Stefani. (They are the real youth department).  He enjoys fishing, golfing, biking, boating, horses, camping and motorcycles. Pastor Black lives to show young people that JESUS truly is the WAY. His favorite quote: “The quality of your preparation will determine the quality of your performance.”. Frank D. Bondurant VP for Ministries Development Columbia Union Conference Born at Washington Adventist Hospital, and raised in the Takoma Park, Md., community, Frank has deep roots in the Columbia Union. He attended John Nevins Andrews elementary school, Takoma Academy, Shenandoah Valley Academy, and graduated from Columbia Union College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology. In 1985 he earned his Master of Divinity from the Seventh-day Adventist Seminary at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich. He was a pastor for 11 years in the Chesapeake Conference and then served an additional 10 years as a member of the conference staff. During his service in Chesapeake’s office, he provided leadership in the Adult Ministries, Adventist Community Services, Evangelism, and Communication departments. He also served as the assistant to the President. Frank considers himself both a beneficiary and a product of our union’s institutions and ministries and is grateful for the opportunity to serve the very union that has invested so much in him. He is married to Stacey who serves as the Children’s Ministries director for the Chesapeake Conference. They have been blessed with two incredible children, Grace and Grant. Dr. Carlton P. Byrd Pastor Dr. Carlton P. Byrd, an ordained minister of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, is a graduate of Oakwood University (formerly Oakwood College) in Huntsville, AL with dual degrees, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. He is also a graduate of Tennessee State University in Nashville TN, where he earned the Master of Business Administration Degree, and a graduate of Andrews University (SDA Theological Seminary) in Berrien Springs, MI, where he earned both the Master of Divinity Degree and the doctor of Ministry Degree with an emphasis in African American Religious Studies. Since his arrival in August, 2006 as the Senior Pastor of the Berean SDA Church in Atlanta, GA, over 1,200 persons have been baptized (with over 400 individuals being baptized in 2009 alone), church attendance has doubled, and the church building has been remodeled. Dr. Byrd is happily married to the former Danielle Mounter, who is also a graduate of Oakwood University. Dr. and Mrs. Byrd are the proud parents of two girls, Christyn and Caileigh. It is Dr. Byrd’s desire to be saved when Jesus Christ comes, and to be instrumental in leading others to realize this most precious reward of everlasting life with our soon coming Savior through innovative, seeker-sensitive, Christ-centered ministry. Dan Jackson President North American Division Dan Jackson, the president of the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists, was elected June 28, 2010, by delegates of the world church at their business session in Atlanta, Ga. Jackson was appointed by the church's 246-member Nominating Committee and confirmed by the General Conference Session delegation, which is an international body of 2,410 appointed members and the highest governing body in the church. He replaced Don Schneider, who has served as President since 2000. Jackson is a native Canadian and, with the exception of five years of service in the Southern Asia Division, has lived and ministered in Canada. He is a graduate of Canadian Union College (now Canadian University College) and Andrews University, from which he holds an M.A. in Religion in Systematic Theology. During his career, Dan has served the church as a pastor, teacher and administrator. He is currently the president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada. Dan and Donna enjoy the three children and four grandchildren the Lord has given them.