These are the speakers for EMNR national conference, scheduled for August 23–24, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. Plenary speakers are still being sought, and will be listed as soon as their schedule is confirmed. Speakers are listed alphabetically by last name. Dates and times of messages are being determined. (Go to the Program Schedule.)

Plenary Speakers

H. Wayne House is Distinguished Research Professor of Theology, Law, and Culture at Faith International University. He holds six degrees, including a doctorate in Law from Regent University and a doctorate in Exegetical Theology from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis.  

Dr. House has authored or edited nearly 40 books and directed study tours to Israel, Greece, Turkey, and other biblical sites. He is the founder of Christian Perspectives International, a non-profit organization committed to helping believers grow in their spiritual walk through biblical education. He is also a founder and the first president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and served as president of the Evangelical Theological Society. 

Steve Matthews is a cult researcher who has closely studied the established sects (Mormonism, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Christian Science, the Baha’i Faith, etc.) and is strategically focusing on more recent movements which must be dealt with by the next generation of Christian researchers (such as the International Churches of Christ, the World Mission Society Church of God, Shincheonji, and Soka Gakkai Buddhism). Having looked at several high demand/high control groups, he is convinced that to understand and respond to these movements, one must evaluate them from both a theological and a behavioral perspective. Steve is involved in several apologetics projects and holds an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Trinity International University.

John V. Morgan is an ordained bishop in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN). He has been the lead pastor of the Restoration Church in Jacksonville, Florida, since 1998. He is a Bible teacher, camp meeting and crusade speaker, writer, and music recording artist who brings a word of encouragement, healing, and restoration to those who are wounded and hurting.

Details about other plenary speakers will be posted at the earliest opportunity.

Workshop Leaders

Names, topic, and details are subject to change.

Ivani Greppi was introduced to the Umbanda (Yoruba) Religion in Brazil at the age of fourteen. She was considered a medium from birth due to her psychic “gifts” of seeing the spirit world from early childhood. Then she found deliverance through Jesus Christ. Her testimony, From Spirit Guides to the Holy Spirit, is available in English and Portuguese from her website, ivanigreppi.com

Bill Honsberger is a missionary with Haven Ministries and has been sharing the Gospel with New Agers, Buddhists, Hindus, Witches, Mormons, JWs, Scientologists, atheists and anyone else he can talk to! He has reached ABD status at the University of Denver in Theology, Philosophy and Cultural Theory. He has taught for many years at Colorado Christian University, Denver Seminary, Colorado Early Colleges, Colorado Community College, Arapahoe Community College, Calvary Chapel Training Center in the Philippines and other Bible Colleges in the Denver metro area. His wonderful wife Terri and he have eight children and thirteen grandchildren.

James Lopez spent 35 years in a hyper-charismatic, Spanish-speaking Pentecostal church. In 1996, he began the study of Christian doctrine and apologetics with Midwest Christian Outreach, and in 1999 began attending Calvary Chapel, which has a more traditional approach to Christian spirituality and interpretation. He has been involved in bilingual worship music ministry for most of his life. James is the Executive Director of EMNR.

Rafael Martinez is a licensed minister with the Church of God (Cleveland) movement and has been involved in countercult work since 1983. He has a bachelor’s degree from Lee University and double majored in Pastoral Studies and Christian Education. His countercult and apologetics studies aided his ministry as a pastor, intercessor, evangelist, and Christian educator and podcaster. He directs Spiritwatch Ministries and was the main consultant for the HBOMax docuseries “The Way Down” (trailer) on Gwen Shamblin and the Remnant Fellowship cult. He currently assists the pastoral ministry at the Central Church of God in Portage, Indiana.

Steve Matthews is a cult researcher who has studied the established sects and is strategically focusing on more recent movements which must be dealt with by the next generation of Christian researchers. Having looked at several high demand/high control groups, he is convinced that to understand and respond to these movements, one must evaluate them from both a theological and a behavioral perspective. Steve is involved in several apologetics projects and holds an M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Trinity International University.

Bill McKeever is the founder/director of Mormonism Research Ministry (mrm.org) based in the Salt Lake City area. For over four decades he has worked among the LDS people, presenting the Gospel of Grace. Bill is the host of the daily radio show Viewpoint on Mormonism, and co-author of the books, Mormonism 101 (Baker) and Answering Mormons’ Questions (Kregel).

Mark Tabladillo Ph.D. is a Cloud Solution Architect at Microsoft, where he focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning. He has been involved in the rollout of the Azure OpenAI Service, and represents Microsoft in presenting key ideas about OpenAI. He is one of four leaders, worldwide, for Microsoft’s internal Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Connected Community (11K members), where he organizes events, community calls, and hackathons. Mark is also a volunteer Regional Director for Ratio Christi.

L.L. (Don) Veinot Jr is co-founder and President of Midwest Christian Outreach, a national apologetics ministry. He and his wife of 51 years, Joy, have been missionaries to cults and new religious movements since 1987. Don is co-author of Richard Rohr and the Enneagram Secret; A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life; and a contributor to Preserving Evangelical Unity: Welcoming Diversity in Non-Essentials. He co-hosts “The Unknown Webcast” each week on YouTube for Midwest Christian Outreach. Don is a charter member of the International Society of Christian Apologetics and is also the current President of EMNR.