SPEAKERS
Founder's Week offers you inspiring biblical teaching from some of the top Christian speakers in the US. We are excited to bring you the following speakers for this year’s conference.
Keynotes

Dr. Mark Jobe
Friday Evening Keynote
Dr. Mark Jobe
Keynote
Dr. Mark Jobe is president of Moody Bible Institute, host of Moody Radio’s Bold Steps, and author of two books. He is also founding pastor of New Life Community Church with 27 Chicagoland locations. A 1984 graduate of Moody Bible Institute, Dr. Jobe has a master’s degree from Moody Theological Seminary and a doctorate in transformational leadership from Bakke Graduate University.

Chip Ingram
Wednesday Evening Keynote
Chip Ingram
Keynote
Chip Ingram is the teaching pastor and CEO of Living on the Edge, an international teaching and discipleship ministry. His direct, practical teaching style helps everyday believers apply God’s truth to relevant issues, relationships and challenges. A pastor for over thirty years, Chip is the author of many books, including Choosing Joy, Holy Ambition, True Spirituality, The Real God, and The Invisible War. Chip holds a master’s degree from West Virginia University and a doctorate from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
Thursday Morning Keynote
Dr. Erwin W. Lutzer
Keynote
Dr. Lutzer is pastor emeritus of The Moody Church in Chicago, where he served as senior pastor for 36 years until 2016. He is a prolific author of over 70 books, including the bestselling We Will Not Be Silenced and One Minute After You Die. He is the featured speaker on the radio shows Running To Win and Songs In The Night, which are broadcast on more than a thousand outlets in the U.S. and across fifty countries in seven languages. He and his wife, Rebecca, have three grown children and eight grandchildren.

Dr. Don Sweeting
Thursday Afternoon Keynote
Dr. Don Sweeting
Keynote
Dr. Don Sweeting, recent President and chancellor at Colorado Christian University, is a noted educator, minister, academic and author. Dr. Sweeting’s college education began at Moody Bible Institute where he majored in Bible theology. He went on to earn a bachelor’s in history from Lawrence University, a master’s from Oxford University in England, and a doctorate from Trinity International University. He was the 2016 recipient of the Alumnus of the Year award from Moody and has co-authored several books, including How to Finish the Christian Life: Following Jesus in the Second Half of Life, which he wrote with his father, the late Dr. George Sweeting, Moody’s 6th president.

Hanibal Rodriguez
Friday Afternoon Keynote
Hanibal Rodriguez
Keynote
Hanibal Rodriguez is a graduate of Northeastern University where he received his undergraduate and master’s degree in education. He has been on staff at Wheaton Bible Church in West Chicago, Illinois, since 2005 serving in several pastoral roles including youth pastor, executive pastor, and head pastor of Iglesia del Pueblo, Wheaton Bible Church’s Spanish-speaking congregation. In May of 2021 he was confirmed as Wheaton Bible Church’s Senior Pastor. He also serves on the Counsel for The Gospel Coalition is currently pursuing a doctorate degree at Covenant Theological Seminary.

Chris Brooks
Thursday Evening Keynote
Chris Brooks
Keynote
Chris Brooks is the senior pastor of Woodside Bible Church, which multiple sites across the Detroit metropolitan area. He graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s in finance, completed his master’s in Christian apologetics at Biola University, and earned a doctorate in the same field from Oxford Centre. He is the author of the books Kingdom Dreaming and Urban Apologetics and is the host of Equipped with Chris Brooks on Moody Radio.

Erin Davis
Friday Morning Keynote
Erin Davis
Keynote
Erin Davis is passionately committed to getting women of all ages to the deep well of God’s Word. She is the author of more than twenty books and Bible studies, including 7 Feasts, Lies Boys Believe, and Fasting & Feasting. When she’s not writing, you can find Erin chasing chickens and children on her small farm in the Midwest. Hear her teach on The Deep Well podcast.
Workshop Speakers

Josiah Jobe
Afternoon Workshops
Josiah Jobe
Afternoon Workshops
Josiah Jobe serves as the Lead Pastor of New Life Community Church in Chicago, a multi-congregational church with 25+ locations across Chicagoland and nearly 10 international churches. After earning his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Moody Bible Institute, Josiah stepped into full-time ministry in 2016 and became Lead Pastor in 2019. He is also actively involved with New Life Centers, a nonprofit that serves Chicago through mentoring, education, sports, peacemaking, and community care. At home, Josiah and his wife Carolina have been married for nearly five years and are raising their three young boys—Saint (3), Dallas (2), and Walker (8 months). When he's not pastoring, he loves reading, working out, playing board games, and taking adventures with his family. Above all, Josiah is passionate about reaching the next generation and seeing a movement of revival sweep through Chicago and beyond.

Mary Hendrickson
Afternoon Workshops
Mary Hendrickson
Afternoon Workshops
Mary Hendrickson serves as assistant professor in the human services program at Moody Bible Institute. She has worked as a pastoral counselor and marriage and family therapist intern in Southern California and Brooklyn, New York. She holds a doctorate in pastoral community counseling and a master’s in counseling psychology. A licensed counselor, Dr. Hendrickson advocates for quality mental health services to underserved urban populations.

Dr. Michael Rydelnik
Afternoon Workshops
Dr. Michael Rydelnik
Afternoon Workshops
Dr. Michael Rydelnik is Professor Emeritus of Jewish Studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute, as well as the host/Bible teacher on Moody Radio’s Open Line with Dr. Michael Rydelnik. The son of Holocaust survivors, Michael was raised in a devout Jewish home in Brooklyn, New York. He became a follower of Jesus the Messiah as a high school student and began teaching the Bible almost immediately. He is the author of several books and is the co-editor of and contributor to The Moody Bible Commentary.

Dr. Sanjay Merchant
Afternoon Workshops
Dr. Sanjay Merchant
Afternoon Workshops
Dr. Sanjay Merchant teaches theology at Moody Bible Institute and is a teaching pastor at Northshore Christian Church in Everett, Washington. He earned a doctorate from Claremont Graduate University School of Religion, and master’s degrees from Biola University. He enjoys helping his students wrestle with hard questions of the faith and teaching courses on philosophy, theology, and apologetics.
Sponsored Workshop Speakers

Matt Knapp
Afternoon Workshops
Matt Knapp
Afternoon Workshops
Matt Knapp is an accomplished executive with over 20 years of experience in the fintech, edtech, and non-profit sectors, known for driving significant revenue growth. As CEO of SmartCare, he achieved a 2400 percent increase in customer engagement and tripled Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) to $7 million through innovative go-to-market strategies. At Smart Tuition, he raised ARR from $20 million to $44 million while successfully integrating the company into Blackbaud. A visionary leader, Matt has also served on the boards of SchoolPass, PeerPal, and iSport360, contributing to successful exits and business expansions. In his personal life, he enjoys traveling, reading, playing pickleball, and practicing MMA, and he lives with his family in Atlanta, GA.

Eddie Morales
Afternoon Workshops
Eddie Morales
Afternoon Workshops
Eddie Morales is the Director of Marketing and Communications at Communio, where he leads growth strategies that equip churches to share the Gospel through the renewal of relationships, marriages, and families. He previously served on staff at two churches—most notably New Life Community Church in Chicago—and brings more than a decade of ministry and nonprofit leadership experience. Eddie now lives in Tampa with his wife and their two young sons, and he is passionate about faith, family, and building a lasting legacy.
