For twenty – years Keiffer Bent has spoken to numerous audiences through-out North American and the Caribbean Islands. He accepted Christ in Sunday school in 1988 in Jamaica.  He began his service teaching and preaching at his local church and in Christian camps.  He served as a counselor and assistant director in the Caribbean Christian Camps; in 1990 he served as a short-term missionary and evangelist in the inner city of Atlanta. His ministry outreach also extends to Chinese-Americans, Cambodians and Antigua’s. Additionally, he has been privileged to serve as associate pastor; pastor of single’s ministry, youth pastor and Chaplin of men.  Pastor Bent also enjoys teaching Bible, Latin and History in the academic setting.

Keiffer Bent is a native of the Caribbean.  Once he came to know the Lord in 1988, his interest in theology grew; subsequently, he attended Carver Bible College in Atlanta Georgia and received a BA in Theology.  While attending Carver Bible College, he had the opportunity to serve with Pastor Charles Stanley’s ministry.  He went on to Columbia International University and obtained a MA in Christian Education.   He is well-versed in the disciplines of comparative religions, cults, evangelism and philosophy; He is pursing a doctoral degree in Christian Counseling.  He received his certificate of ordination in Columbia, South Carolina.

Pastor Bent is presently serving as Sr. Pastor at Berwyn Baptist Church in College Park Maryland. He is the Director of Evangelism for Maryland Baptist Association in Prince Georges County. He teaches and serves as guest speaker in Maryland, Washington D.C. and in the Caribbean.  Keiffer Bent and his wife, Martha enjoys serving together, conducting evangelism, and numerous other outreach seminars. The Bents have a 8 year old son, Jonathan. Pastor Bent’s life long passion is, “Knowing God and making Him known.”  His deepest desire is to tell the world about the greatness of Christ Jesus!

Michael Crawford leads the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware’s church planting team that seeks to discover, develop and deploy church planters through church planter assessment and ongoing church plant support.

He works continually to enhance and streamline church planting procedures, and he is a strong advocate and voice for the planters and for the established churches that support them. Michael is available to share with pastors and church leaders about the various ways they can be involved in the church planting process.

As the state director of evangelism Dooley brings over 37 years of ministerial and pastoral experience to the position. In addition to his ministry as pastor of Leonardtown Baptist Church, he served several terms on the BCM/D General Mission Board (GMB) and is a past GMB president. Recently, Dooley served on the Southern Baptist Convention committee on nominations. On the associational level, he served on several committees with the Potomac Baptist Association. He is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, earning a Master of Divinity.

Reverend William Dwight McKissic, Sr. is founder and Senior Pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas. Pastor McKissic began the church in 1983, in a small garage with fifteen in attendance, a vision and God’s divine favor. The church is blessed now with a weekly attendance averaging over 1000 each Sunday.

He is a 1978 graduate of Ouachita (pronounced “wash-i-ta”) Baptist University in
Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He has recently completed a Master of Theological
Studies degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, TX. In May 2010 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate Degree: Doctorate of Humane Letters from Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Dr. McKissic is the author of four books: Controversial Conversations; Kingdom
Reflections on Biblical & Contemporary Issue, Beyond Roots: In search of Blacks in the Bible, Beyond Roots II: If Anybody Asks You Who I Am, and Moving From Fear to Faith. He has been cited in numerous publications and articles.

Pastor McKissic has recently been appointed as a member of:
1. The Arkansas Baptist College Board of Trustees. Arkansas Baptist College is a private, historically black college in Little Rock, Arkansas.
2. Life Action Ministries Advisory Board.
3. The Executive Committee of The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.

He has also served as guest lecturer for several Baptist State Conventions: The Arkansas Baptist State Convention, Kentucky State Convention, Virginia Baptist Convention and the Southern Baptist of Texas Convention.

Pastor McKissic and his wife, Vera, have four children and thirteen grandchildren. Rev. McKissic and Vera reside in Arlington, Texas.

Dr. Kevin Smith leads the staff of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. He has experience as a pastor, chaplain, church planter, conference speaker, and short-term missionary. He has studied at Hampton University, the Church of God Theological Seminary, and The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, subsequently serving on Southern’s faculty for over a decade.