We have been blessed by the speakers who have spoken at the Chapel through the years. Here’s a quick reference to help you find additional information about each guest.
Fred & Betsy Eiler
Fred and Betsy Eiler represent World Missionary Press, an interdenominational ministry that prints 6 million Scripture booklets each month, and has printed in over 337 languages.
Kenneth Elisapana
www.southsudanhope.org | kenneth@SouthSudanHope.org
Kenneth Elisapana was born in Sudan and endured severe hardships during his childhood. After studying in the U.S., he founded the organization South Sudan Voices of Hope with the goal to “empower marginalized Sudanese people to be self-sufficient through sustainable development.” He remains very active in his native country, and helped coordinate the Chicago-area vote for South Sudan to achieve independence.
Bill Federer
www.AmericanMinute.com | wjfederer@aol.com | 1-888-USA-WORLD
William J. Federer is a nationally known speaker, bestselling author, and president of Amerisearch, Inc., a publishing company dedicated to researching America’s noble heritage.
A former U.S. Congressional candidate, Bill has appeared on hundreds of radio and television interviews, including CSPAN, Hannity & Colmes, The O’Reilly Factor, NPR, MSNBC, Fox, ABC-Time Warner Affiliates, ClearChannel, Focus on the Family, Truths that Transform, Janet Parshall’s America. He has been referenced in USA Today, Human Events, The New York Times, The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. He has spoken on military bases, universities, colleges, state capitols, political conventions, and television documentaries.
His book America’s God and Country Encyclopedia of Quotations has sold over a half-million copies, and his AMERICAN MINUTE radio feature, recalling events of American significance on the date they occurred, is broadcast daily across the country and read by thousand on the Internet.
His works, which have been used by politicians, leaders, journalists, teachers, students, and in court cases, include: George Washington Caver: His Life and Faith In His Own Words, Treasury of Presidential Quotations, The Ten Commandments & Their Influence on American Law, Three Secular Reasons Why America Should Be Under God, There Really is a Santa Claus: A History of Saint Nicholas & Christmas Holiday Traditions, The Interesting History of Income Tax, Saint Patrick, American Quotations CD-ROM, Library of Classics CD-ROM, and his recent book BACKFIRED: A Nation Born for Religious Tolerance No Longer Tolerates Religion.
John Mark Henry
John Mark Henry is a professor of mathematics at a community college in central Illinois where he has been teaching since 1992. He graduated from Wheaton College with a BA in Mathematics in 1980. He received an MAT in Mathematics from Indiana University in 1983 and an M.A. in Mathematics from Indiana University in 1986. John then worked for the Department of Defense for 6 years and was certified as a Cryptologic Mathematician in 1990. John became interested in the creation-evolution debate while in graduate school. A committed creationist, he has given many talks on different aspects of this debate.
Carl Kerby
www.rforh.com | Facebook | Twitter | Vimeo
Carl Kerby grew up in a liberal church that taught evolution could be mixed with God’s Word. In 1987 Carl Kerby became a Christian after attending a crusade in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Carl was an air traffic controller in the military in the late 1980’s. After riding in the cockpit on a flight to see his father, the creation vs. evolution issue came up during a conversation with the pilots. The co-pilot merely showed him from the Bible that evolution was a totally different worldview that could not be in harmony with the Scripture. He introduced Carl to Ken Ham’s book The Lie: Evolution. After reading it,Carl’s faith was totally changed. He learned that from the very first book, God’s Word stands true.
Carl has been an air traffic controller at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, one of the busiest airports in the world.
Carl has a particular burden to reach the people of Japan. Carl met his wife when he was an air traffic controller in Japan during the early 1980s.
Carl’s passion is to proclaim the authority and accuracy of the Bible and to engage the minds and hearts of believers and unbelievers in todays’ culture so that they may experience the realities the Word of God. This happens every time Carl speaks. Whether he speaks to youth or adult, large or small crowds, churches or schools, Carl has a way of connecting with almost everybody; that is one of the reasons Carl was one of Answers in Genesis‘ most dynamic and sought-after speakers.
Carl was a founding Board Member of Answers in Genesis for 10 years and served there for over 15 years before stepping out in faith to become President and Founder of Reasons for Hope, Inc. Though Carl has played many roles in his life (son of a professional wrestler, air-traffic controller at O’Hare Intl. Airport, and widely known speaker for Answers in Genesis), his most cherished accomplishment is his marriage to his wife, Masami, for over 28 years, and his role as a father to his daughter, Alisa, and his son, Carl, Jr., and grandfather to his grandchildren, Trey, Naomi Joy and Mari Hayashida.
Dr. Jeff Miller
Dr. Miller graduated Summa Cum Laude with honors at Freed-Hardeman University, receiving a B.S. degree in Physical Science with minors in Bible, French, and Mathematics, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). He received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from UTA and Auburn University, respectively, with emphases in Thermal Science, Biomechanics, and Navigation and Control of Biological Systems. While at Auburn University, he also served as an engineering course instructor, teaching courses in Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer, as well as Statics and Dynamics.
His academic honors include membership in several honor societies, including Pi Tau Sigma Mechanical Engineering Honor Society, Golden Key International Honor Society, Alphi Chi National Honor Society, and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. He is an active and recognized member of the scientific community, being a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and the National Society of Professional Engineers, as well as having participated in presentations at the Institute of Navigation Global Navigation Satellite Systems Conference (2007) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Bioengineering Conference (2007). He has also conducted presentations at the Institute of Navigation’s International Technical Meeting (2009), the Joint Service Data Exchange/Institute of Navigation Joint Navigation Conference (2009), and has published articles in the Journal of Biomechanical Engineering and the Journal of Personal and Ubiquitous Computing. He received his E.I.T. certification in 2005.
Travis Lee Puhse
In a society where compromise and conformity seems to be not only a trend but a norm, Travis Lee and a band of multi talented instrumentalist from St. Louis are bent on living set apart-in hopes of showing youth and adults that Christianity demands a radical walk of faith. While some bands focus on music as merely an art form, the Travis Lee Band is ministry minded and challenges their audience through bold words and creative songs to seek a deeper and more real relationship with Jesus Christ.
Jimmy Teigen
www.reflect2gether@blogspot.com | jteigen@mhcoc.org
Jimmy and Amber were married in 2005. Both grew up in the Midwest and love being outside! They love activities they can do as a family (geocaching, cheering for the Cardinals, gardening), but occasionally you can find Jimmy on the golf course.
Jimmy began his ministry with the Maryland Heights Church of Christ in June, 2010. Previously he was the youth minister at the McKnight Road Church of Christ (St. Louis 2003-10) and the Northern Light Church of Christ (Minneapolis, 2001-03). He received his B.A. in English from Harding University in 2000 and his M.A. in Christian Ministry in 2010.
Dr. Carl Werner
Dr. Carl Werner received his undergraduate degree in biology with distinction at the University of Missouri, graduating summa cum laude. He received his doctorate in medicine at the age of 23. He was the recipient of the Norman D. Jones Science Award and is both the author of Evolution: The Grand Experiment book and executive producer of Evolution: The Grand Experiment video series.
Sally Williams
Coming from a devastating personal abortion experience, Sally is passionate to share with a wide variety of groups the truth about abortion and the availability of healing and restoration. Through her ministry, Urban Life Matters, she reaches out to African-American pastors, leaders, and citizens of our city, state, and nation.
Emeritus Members
Praise God for our loved ones who say with Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
Gail McWilliams
www.gailmcwilliams.com | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Gail McWilliams inspires others to see beyond. She has an instinctive ability to capture and lift the spirits of people from all walks of life, empowering them for a renewed reach toward dreams and purpose they once thought impossible. She has a vivacious and engaging personality, effervescent humor and an uncanny ability to deliver her life-message. Gail is met with such broad and energetic response across the nation as she delivers penetrating inspiration that effectively motivates audiences.
Her love for people and her passion for leaders imparts vision and encourages people to reach for more. Because she understands the difference between sight and vision, Gail enables people to see a new perspective on life. Gail’s versatility generates invitations from a wide variety of organizations where she effectively customizes her life-message to benefit any audience. She couples courage with a joyful determination to seize every day for good and blaze a triumphant trail for others to follow. She has extensive experience in public speaking, television and radio, as a recording artist and life-coach, and is a compelling author. Her target audience is men and women of all ages.
Her first book, Seeing Beyond: Choosing to Look Past the Horizon, with foreword by Zig Ziglar, captured the attention of people worldwide, leaving them wanting more. She responded with another book titled Engaging the Heart: Understanding the Treasure Within.
She is a wife, mother, and grandmother and resides in Texas.
Gail’s vision is to see her generation embrace hope and live life on purpose, with purpose.