About Our 2018 Annual Meeting Speakers

Dr. Johnny Hunt, Pastors’ Conference (Open to all pastors, church leaders and interested attendees)
Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Georgia

Biography:
Others. That singular focus summarizes the last 29 years of contagious passion that “Pastor Johnny” has imparted to First Baptist Church, Woodstock, and the countless lives across the globe his preaching and shepherding have touched. While the church has experienced significant growth under his leadership, it is growth of the person, not the platform, that continues to energize a ministry that sees its best days ahead.

Foremost among the “others” he lives for are his wife of 45 years, Janet Allen Hunt, his two daughters Deanna Carswell and Hollie Hixson; and his four grandchildren, Katie, Carson, Hope and Addie.

Before coming to the Woodstock, Pastor Johnny served at Lavonia Baptist Church in Mooresboro, N.C., Falls Baptist Church in Wake Forest, N.C., and his home church, Longleaf Baptist Church in Wilmington, N.C.

Pastor Johnny’s educational credits include a bachelor of arts in religion from Gardner-Webb College where he was voted “Ministerial Student of the Year” in 1979. He continued onto Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where he earned a master of divinity degree in 1981. Southeastern honored Pastor Johnny in 1997 by naming The Chair of Biblical Preaching in his honor in 1997. He has also received several honorary doctorates over the years for his work in ministry.

Dr. Christina H. Edmondson  (Ministers’ Wives & Women’s Conference)
Dean for Intercultural Student Development, Calvin College

Biography:
Blessed by an array of academic, professional and lived experiences, Christina is committed to bringing diverse people together to promote personal and team flourishing.

Christina holds a Ph.D. in counseling psychology from Tennessee State University, a master of science degree in family therapy from the University of Rochester, and a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Hampton University.

Currently, Christina serves as the Dean for Intercultural Student Development at Calvin College. The Intercultural Student Development Center (ISDC) is committed to inspiring, challenging, and equipping Domestic and International students to engage in meaningful and intentional intercultural interactions within a global society.

Additionally, a Certified Cultural Intelligence facilitator, public speaker, and mental health therapist, Christina is often contacted by churches to consult about both diversity and mental health issues. Her writing has been seen and referenced in a variety of outlets, including Essence.com, YourBlackWorld.com, and Gospel Today magazine.

Christina is a native of Baltimore, Md. She is married to Pastor Mika Edmondson of New City Fellowship Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., and she is the mother of two wonderful little girls.

Tony Merida
Pastor for Preaching and Vision of Imago Dei Church in Raleigh, N.C.

Biography:
Tony has an extensive itinerant ministry and has written several books including The Christ-Centered Expositor, Ordinary, Orphanology, and eight volumes in the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series. He is happily married to Kimberly, and they have five adopted children.