Bio forthcoming

PASTOR CHRIS (PC) BETNER serves as the lead pastor of Delval East, The Lifehouse Church. He is a passionate preacher and effective administrator of ministries in the local church. Pastor Chris  holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland, Eastern Shore, an earned master of business administration from Washington Adventist University, a master of theological studies degree from Palmer Theological Seminary, and an earned doctorate of ministry degree in biblical exposition from Missio Theological Seminary.

Pastor Chris is married to the love of his life, April, and they are the proud parents of four children: Christopher Jr., Jeremiah Anthony, Christlyn Aniya-Joy, and James Louis (LJ).

JOSH CRANS, pastor of Providence Church in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, has dedicated much of his life to discipling young men in the urban context. He’s a basketball coach and mentor and leads several youth mentoring programs in public schools, including “Ways of Gentlemen” and Pointman Leadership Institute. For the past 18 years, he and his wife, Jordan, have served at The Bridge Academy and Community Center, where they minister to youth and families.

WAYNE MORGAN has been serving students with his wife, Karen, since 2000. Wayne is a youth ministry veteran with experience in rural church, parachurch, multi-site, and urban ministry and is a highly sought after camp and conference speaker.

As National Ministries Director, Wayne oversees the National Network of Youth Ministries (NNYM) staff development, develops national partnerships, coordinates communications for NNYM while serving as an advocate for church-community partnerships in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Bio forthcoming

REVEREND DR. THOMAS DAWSON JR. has served as the senior pastor of the SOAR Church since 1998. For the prior 13 years, Dr. Dawson held a data control analyst title at the Philadelphia Stock Market and various management titles in the Automatic Data Processing Brokerage Division, providing client support to major brokerage firms such as Merrill Lynch, Smith Barney, and Prudential. He successfully managed an entire department with a $1.5 million budget. Under the leadership of Dr. Dawson, the SOAR Church has become multicultural and has grown from a membership of 50 to over 500 and serves residents in three counties. His vision has enabled the SOAR Church to impact its community, assisting in Autism Awareness, providing coats, school supplies and food, sponsored school trips for local schools and provided financial support to families in need. 

Dr. Dawson is a current member of the FBI Citizens Organization, Coalition for a Safe Community, Cape May Regional Health Alliance, Cape May County Mental Health Alcohol & Drug Abuse Board, Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition, and Atlantic/Cape May Vicinage Diversity Inclusion, and Community Engagement Committee. Dr. Dawson has received numerous awards and honors for his industry, leadership, support of philanthropic activities, and community service. His greatest value is spending time strengthening his bond with the Lord, his family, and his community.

JOHN COPE is founder and senior pastor of Keystone Fellowship and Send Network Director of Pennsylvania & South Jersey for the North American Mission Board. Having grown up in Arkansas, John served as a student pastor there for 16 years before taking on an executive pastor role in Lakeland, Florida. A few years later God began drawing him toward church planting, then one phone call from a connection in Pennsylvania opened the door for ministry in the Northeast. As John puts it, “I almost said no, but God said yes.” He and his family moved to Pennsylvania in 2001 and began meeting in a home for Bible study. Since then Keystone Fellowship has continually grown and are currently in the process of planting their eighth church.

John has a bachelor of arts degree in education from Ouachita Baptist University and a masters in religious education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. John has written and developed a highly effective church-growth, small group development tool titled, “Nothing But Net.” Based on Jesus’ outreach and ministry examples laid out in the book of Acts, this strategy has been used very successfully in every ministry that John has been involved in. He has taught and trained thousands of ministers and lay people in this biblical approach to ministry through empowerment of lay leadership in fruitful small groups. John is married to his wife, Teresa, and they have three adult sons — two of whom are church planters and a third who serves as an international missionary in the Middle East.

CHRISTY KRAUS is a dedicated and passionate leader in ministries that impact the next generation. She has spent over twenty years serving in student and kids ministries, most recently as Kids’ Ministry Director at Wrightsdale Baptist Church in Peach Bottom, Pa., where she focuses on children from preschool through 5th grade. She has been blessed with a front-row seat as the ministry experienced significant growth in both attendance and volunteer engagement.

Before joining the church staff, she served as a Behavior Support Technician in local public schools, serving children living with trauma and special needs. Her journey in education began by teaching for seven years and ultimately serving as the preschool director at a Christian school. Christy holds a certification in early childhood education and is currently completing her certification in children’s ministry. Her passion for making disciples drives her work, and she is eager to serve churches, families and children through VBS and beyond.