Board of Advisors

J.R. Briggs

J.R. Briggs is the Founder of Kairos Partnerships, an organization dedicated to equipping and partnering with hungry leaders in their health and development. He also serves as an affiliate faculty member at Missio Seminary in Philadelphia and on the Board of Directors for Jerusalem University College. He has authored several books including The Sacred Overlap and Fail.

Andy Crouch

Andy Crouch is a partner for theology and culture at Praxis, and serves on the governing boards of Fuller Theological Seminary and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. He is the author of multiple books including The Tech Wise Family, Strong and Weak, and Culture Making. For over ten years he was an editor and producer at Christianity Today, including executive editor from 2012 to 2016.

Carolyn Custis James

Carolyn Custis James is an author, international speaker, and activist. Her 2015 book Malestrom: Manhood Swept into the Currents of a Changing World won the Christianity Today 2016 Book of the Year Award in the Her.meneutics category, and was named to the Best 10 Books of 2015 list by Missio Alliance. Carolyn also serves as an adjunct faculty member at BTS (Biblical Theological Seminary) in Pennsylvania and as a consulting editor for Zondervan’s Exegetical Commentary Series on the New Testament. She blogs at www.carolyncustisjames.com, HuffingtonPost/Religion, and as a Missio Alliance Leading Voice.

Greg Jao

Greg Jao serves as the Executive Vice President, Communications & Mobilization for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA. Prior to his ministry with InterVarsity, he was an employee benefits attorney in Chicago. He is the author of Your Mind’s Mission (IVP) and The Kingdom of God LifeGuide Bible Study (IVP) and a contributing author to Following Jesus Without Dishonoring Your Parents (IVP), Educating about Religious Diversity and Interfaith Engagement: A Handbook for Student Affairs (Stylus), Telling the Truth (Zondervan), and Voices of Conflict (Adama Books) and Voices of Hope (Adama Books). Greg currently serves on the boards of Wheaton College and the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Glenn Packiam

Glenn Packiam is an associate senior pastor at New Life Church and the lead pastor of New Life Downtown in Colorado Springs, CO. He was one of the founding leaders and songwriters for the Desperation Band and has written and co-written several well-loved worship songs like “Your Name” and “My Savior Lives.” Glenn has also authored several books including Blessed, Broken, Given, Discover the Mystery of Faith, and LUCKY: How the Kingdom Comes to Unlikely People.

Michelle Sanchez

Michelle T. Sanchez serves as Executive Minister of Make and Deepen Disciples for the Evangelical Covenant Church, a vibrant multiethnic denomination of 900+ congregations. Michelle is the author of Color-Courageous Discipleship, Color-Courageous Discipleship Student Edition, and the picture book, God’s Beloved Community. After studying international business at NYU, Michelle worked as an investment banker with Goldman Sachs and ministered to international students with Cru. She has served in various capacities with the Institute for Bible Reading, the Pelican Project, and the Lausanne Movement for world evangelization. Michelle completed an M.Div. and Th.M. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, spiritual direction training at the Boston College School of Theology, and field studies on the life and times of Jesus in Jerusalem.  She is a frequent conference speaker and a regular columnist for Outreach Magazine. Find her at MichelleTSanchez.com

Meritt Lohr Sawyer

Meritt Lohr Sawyer has given executive leadership to non-profit organizations for over thirty years as the International Program Director for Langham Partnership International, Vice President of John Stott Ministries, and co-founder of FACT (global leadership development), managing programs in almost 70 countries. Most recently she served as the Executive Director of the Paul Carlson Partnership affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church, an organization dedicated to medical and economic development in the Congo – DRC. Meritt is also active on the boards of Fuller Theological Seminary, Development Associates International, Able Works, and Scholar Leaders.

Efrem Smith

Efrem Smith currently serves as Co-lead Pastor at Bayside Midtown Church in Sacramento, California. He consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership, and community development, and has written several books, including The Hip Hop Church, Jump, and The Post-Black and Post-White Church. Efrem speaks and preaches internationally, equipping people for a life of transformation.

Philip Yancey

Philip Yancey is a Christian author of over twenty books, including ECPA Christian Book of the Year Award winners The Jesus I Never Knew and What’s So Amazing About Grace? His books have garnered 13 Gold Medallion Awards from Christian publishers and booksellers and have been published in 35 languages worldwide.