Main Session Speakers
Jim Rinella
Jim and Linda have been with The Navigators since 1984. Jim was the Navigators Campus Director for Illinois State University during their years in Normal (1990-1999) at which time they attended Grace. Jim currently has two leadership roles, Campus Director at Colorado State University and helping to train young staff at CSU. The Rinellas have two sons. Their oldest son Michael is in Denver working with an accounting firm, and their youngest son Matthew is living at home due to having a traumatic brain injury.
The CSU Navigators ministers to roughly 175 students who come every Friday to learn about God. Roughly 100 of these students work in leadership roles, where they lead out in evangelism or in leading Bible Studies on campus. Jesus says the need is for laborers
(Matthew 9:37-38), and the Rinella’s ministry strives to raise up student leaders who have a passion for Christ, who will reach the lost, and who will make disciples.
Craig Etheredge
Craig Etheredge is a skilled communicator, accomplished author, and passionate Bible teacher. He is an ardent proponent of people coming to know and follow Jesus, and he pursues this on a variety of fronts. Craig is the lead pastor at First Colleyville, the President and founder of DiscipleFirst Ministries, and the author of Morning Thrive, daily devotionals online. Pastor Craig earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Pastor Craig is a contributing author to Lifeway’s Disciple’s Path project, he also currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Discipleship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to leading the local church, Craig is involved in the local community, serving as the President of the Board of Trustees for Baylor Hospital, Grapevine. Pastor Craig and his wife Liz moved to Colleyville, Texas in 2007 to serve as lead pastor of First Colleyville. They have two daughters, Leah Beth and Abbie, and one son-in-law, Campbell.
Mark Thomas
Was a student and then a staff member with Campus Ventures at the University of Wyoming. Spent more than 15 years in the Arab world with the mission agency, Frontiers. Is currently the Fieldprep Director with Frontiers, overseeing the Frontiers long-term sending process. Married 30 years to his best friend, Megan. Has two adult kids and one granddaughter.
Dr. Christopher Yuan
Dr. Christopher Yuan graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005 and received a master’s in biblical exegesis in 2007 and a doctorate of ministry in 2014. Christopher taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for twelve years and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. He speaks at conferences, on college campuses, and in churches.
Dr. Yuan has co-authored with his mother their memoir, Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope, which has sold over 100,000 copies and is now in eight languages. Dr. Yuan’s newest book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story, was named 2020 Book of the Year for Social Issues by Outreach Magazine.
Jim and Linda have been with The Navigators since 1984. Jim was the Navigators Campus Director for Illinois State University during their years in Normal (1990-1999) at which time they attended Grace. Jim currently has two leadership roles, Campus Director at Colorado State University and helping to train young staff at CSU. The Rinellas have two sons. Their oldest son Michael is in Denver working with an accounting firm, and their youngest son Matthew is living at home due to having a traumatic brain injury.
The CSU Navigators ministers to roughly 175 students who come every Friday to learn about God. Roughly 100 of these students work in leadership roles, where they lead out in evangelism or in leading Bible Studies on campus. Jesus says the need is for laborers
(Matthew 9:37-38), and the Rinella’s ministry strives to raise up student leaders who have a passion for Christ, who will reach the lost, and who will make disciples.
Craig Etheredge
Craig Etheredge is a skilled communicator, accomplished author, and passionate Bible teacher. He is an ardent proponent of people coming to know and follow Jesus, and he pursues this on a variety of fronts. Craig is the lead pastor at First Colleyville, the President and founder of DiscipleFirst Ministries, and the author of Morning Thrive, daily devotionals online. Pastor Craig earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate of Ministry from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Pastor Craig is a contributing author to Lifeway’s Disciple’s Path project, he also currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Discipleship at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition to leading the local church, Craig is involved in the local community, serving as the President of the Board of Trustees for Baylor Hospital, Grapevine. Pastor Craig and his wife Liz moved to Colleyville, Texas in 2007 to serve as lead pastor of First Colleyville. They have two daughters, Leah Beth and Abbie, and one son-in-law, Campbell.
Mark Thomas
Was a student and then a staff member with Campus Ventures at the University of Wyoming. Spent more than 15 years in the Arab world with the mission agency, Frontiers. Is currently the Fieldprep Director with Frontiers, overseeing the Frontiers long-term sending process. Married 30 years to his best friend, Megan. Has two adult kids and one granddaughter.
Dr. Christopher Yuan
Dr. Christopher Yuan graduated from Moody Bible Institute in 2005 and received a master’s in biblical exegesis in 2007 and a doctorate of ministry in 2014. Christopher taught the Bible at Moody Bible Institute for twelve years and his speaking ministry on faith and sexuality has reached five continents. He speaks at conferences, on college campuses, and in churches.
Dr. Yuan has co-authored with his mother their memoir, Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son’s Journey to God, A Broken Mother’s Search for Hope, which has sold over 100,000 copies and is now in eight languages. Dr. Yuan’s newest book, Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story, was named 2020 Book of the Year for Social Issues by Outreach Magazine.
Breakout Sessions
