Conference Speakers

Michael Brown, Ph.D.
Dr. Michael Brown is the director of the Coalition of Conscience and president of the FIRE School of Ministry in Concord, North Carolina. He holds a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Literatures from New York University and is the author of 20 books. He has spoken throughout America and in more than 25 nations, and he has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows, including Donahue, Prime Time Justice, Fox News, Hard Copy, Inside Edition, Lars Larson, and Bob Grant. His work has also been featured in newspapers such as the Washington Post, the Charlotte Observer, and the Baltimore Sun.

Dick M. Carpenter, II, Ph.D.
As a veteran and award-winning teacher, principal, public policy analyst and college professor, Dr. Carpenter brings a wealth of wisdom and skill to bear on his work with Love Won Out. He writes and speaks frequently on legislative and cultural issues in both popular media outlets and in academic venues. Dr. Carpenter currently serves as assistant professor of educational leadership in a major research university system.

Alan Chambers
Alan Chambers is one of world's leading experts on homosexuality and is the president of Exodus International, the largest Christian organization dealing with this issue in the world today. Alan has shared his own story of breaking free from the unwanted same-sex attraction with audiences around the world and with countless media outlets including the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Newsweek, TIME magazine, ABC, NBC, the Fox Network and CNN.  Under his leadership, Exodus has expanded its outreach to include teens and young adults wrestling with their sexual identity as well as pastors and church staff desiring to help hurting individuals affected by homosexuality. Alan is the author of God's Grace & the Homosexual Next Door and is currently writing a second book entitled Leaving Homosexuality.  He and his wife, Leslie, and their two children make their home in Orlando, Florida.

Joe Dallas
Joe Dallas is a pastoral counselor, author and public speaker who directs a Biblical counseling ministry in Tustin, CA. He directs a men's seminar on sexual purity titled "The Game Plan" and speaks regularly at churches, universities and conferences nationally and internationally. He and his wife Renee have two sons and reside in Southern California.

Scott Davis
As the director of Student Ministries, Scott oversees a division of Exodus International that helps teens and young adults struggling with unwanted same-sex attraction to find life and healing in Christ. His goal is to encourage the evangelical church to reach out to youth grappling with their sexual identity with God’s radical grace and unswerving truth. Scott is a writer and frequent speaker at colleges, churches and conferences, including the Teen Mission Conference and Cornerstone Music Festival. He has been interviewed by many media outlets across the country including Time magazine and ABC’s The View. Scott graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institutes & State University. He and his wife, Caryn, make their home in Orlando, Florida.

Melissa Fryrear, M.Div.
Melissa Fryrear serves as the director of gender issues for Focus on the Family's Government and Public Policy division. She is actively involved in public speaking, writing and educating Focus constituents on a wide range of subjects related to homosexuality. Much of the insight Melissa offers comes from her own experience having lived homosexually, as well as having counseled thousands of individuals and families affected by same-sex attraction. Over the last 15 years she has had the opportunity to share her overcoming testimony with tens of thousands, including Focus on the Family’s daily radio broadcast. Her story has also been featured in numerous articles and books. She is committed to proclaiming biblical truth with regard to the issue of homosexuality, complemented with grace and compassion. Prior to joining Focus, Melissa served as executive director of an Exodus-International member ministry in Kentucky. She holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Nancy Heche, D.Min.
In the past 15 years Nancy has earned her master and doctorate degrees in pastoral counseling and psychotherapy. She established a private practice in Chicago and taught at Loyola University Chicago, Judson University, and Indiana Wesleyan University. She recently moved to southern California where she has a counseling practice with Journey Christian Ministries and a teaching position with Bethel Seminary where she is developing a course on Christianity and homosexuality. Nancy has been a Bible teacher for more 25 years and is the author of the recently published book The Truth Comes Out.

Jeff Johnston
Raised in a Christian home, Jeff struggled with homosexuality before beginning his journey out in 1986.  He has years of experience teaching and leading support groups for Exodus ministries, having worked with Alternatives, in San Diego, and Regeneration, in Baltimore.  He also served on the board of Exodus International.  He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from San Diego State University with a degree in English and a teaching credential. Jeff and his wife, Judy, recently moved to Colorado Springs with their three boys, where he works for Focus on the Family as a gender issues analyst. 

Bill Maier, Psy.D.
Dr. Bill Maier is an author, a speaker and a vice president at Focus on the Family. He hosts the national "Weekend Magazine" radio program and the "Family Minute with Dr. Bill Maier." His TV news feature on marriage and parenting can be seen in television markets across the country. Dr. Maier received his master's and doctoral degrees from the Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University in La Mirada, Calif. He is a regular contributor to Focus on the Family magazine and his editorials on family issues have been published in several leading newspapers. He is co-author of the book Marriage on Trial: The Case Against Same-Sex Marriage and Parenting (InterVarsity Press). Dr. Maier lives in Colorado Springs with his wife, Lisa, and their three children.

Please note that speakers may change without notice.