Jonathan De La O

Jonathan de la O is lead pastor at Starting Point Community Church, a multi-generational bilingual ministry located in Chicago’s northwest side. Pastor Jonathan’s passion for sharing the gospel and serving communities, particularly Latino communities, led him to plant SPCC 9 years ago.

Pastor Jonathan currently serves as a board member on IBSA’s Strategic Planning Committee and in the Admin Council of the local association, Chicagoland Baptists.

He is involved in expanding and supporting Hispanic ministries in Chicagoland, including providing leadership and creating fellowship opportunities for IBSA Hispanic churches and contributing to the recently launched church planter residency program of SEND Network Español. Most recently Pastor Jonathan and SPCC have responded to the migrant crisis in Chicago by directly serving asylum seekers in police stations across the city and opening the church doors as temporary housing to Venezuelan migrants.

He has been married to his wife, Emely, for 15 years. Emely is a clinical psychologist serving Black and Latino communities on Chicago’s west side. Together they have 3 bright and energetic children, Sofía, Esteban, and Johana.

Bob Dickerson

Bob Dickerson has served as Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Marion, IL, for the last 16 years. He was born and raised in Southern Illinois and has spent his 40 plus years in the ministry serving the Lord in Illinois through various ministry opportunities. He is the husband of Robin, the father of Joshua and Lucas, and the grandfather of Kaito and Sora.

Jamus Edwards

Jamus is the Lead Pastor of Pleasant Valley Community Church (PVCC) in Owensboro, KY (a church he replanted in 2006). He is married to Annie Leigh and they have 3 children (16, 14, and 12). He holds degrees from Murray State University (B.S.), and Southern Seminary (M.Div. and Ph.D.).

In addition to pastoral ministry, Jamus serves as a professor of Organizational Leadership at Western Kentucky University and professor of religion at Kentucky Wesleyan College. Additionally, he has the joy of working as a Doctoral Supervisor at Southern Seminary. He loves all things University of Kentucky sports, roller coasters, Cherry Coke, Johnny Cash, and bluegrass music.

Stephen Love

Stephen Love is the Lead Planting Pastor of Redemption City Church in South Bend, IN (planted in September 2020), the husband of his beautiful wife Mandy (married 13 years), and the father of their 4 kids (ages 5 through 10). Stephen received his bachelor’s degree from Moody Bible Institute, his masters from Reformed Theological Seminary, and a certificate in history from University of Oxford, England. He has a heart to see disciples of Christ made in the city of South Bend. He is the self-proclaimed biggest Notre Dame and Denzel Washington fan!

Ryan Rice

Pastor Ryan Rice Sr. is a native of New Orleans. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Dillard

University, where he studied Mass Communications graduating Magna Cum Laude.

After studying Mass Communications at Dillard University, Ryan proceeded to utilize his skills

for communications by working in Corporate Communications, as well as, Training and

Development. In 2014, Ryan and his family moved back to New Orleans to plant Connect

Church in the community of Algiers, where he grew up. Pastor Ryan has a passion for expository preaching and has served as a speaker at the 2017 Southern Baptist Pastor’s Conference, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Send Network, and the Refresh conference hosted by Sherwood Baptist. Currently, Ryan serves as the New Orleans Send City Missionary and Pastor of Connect Church. Ryan is married to his wife Seane,’ and they have four children.

James Westbrook

Pastor James Westbrook has been Shepherding for over 15 years, and he has a deep love for God, for his wife and children and for his neighbors of all ethnic groups, Nationalities groups and backgrounds. Pastor Westbrook has served in intercultural ministry for over twenty years and he is the Send City Missionary for the San Francisco Bay Area.

James has been married to his high school sweetheart Desireé for nearly twenty years and they share three beautiful children together. James and his family love God and the Nations, sharing the Gospel, reading the Bible and stories like LORD of the Rings, learning about various people groups, enjoying international cuisine, and traveling and learning as a family whenever possible.