The Best of '06

Voddie Baucham wears many hats. He is a husband, father, former pastor, author, professor, conference speaker, and church planter. He currently serves as Dean of Theology at African Christian University in Lusaka, Zambia.

Dr. Baucham holds degrees from Houston Baptist University (BA in Christianity/BA in Sociology), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (D.Min.), an honorary degree from Southern California Seminary (D.D.), and additional post-graduate study at the University of Oxford, England (Regent’s Park College).

Voddie and his wife, Bridget have been married since 1989. They have nine children: Jasmine, Trey (Voddie, III), Elijah, Asher, Judah, Micah, Safya, Amos, and Simeon. The Bauchams are committed home educators.

Jennie Bishop, a farm girl from Ohio, was formerly an editor for Warner press and is a home-schooling mom who has authored several children’s books, including the bestseller The Princess and the Kiss. Jennie has enjoyed writing since she was a child. She says her first venture into the world of publishing came in elementary school when her piano teacher ran off some copies of stories Jennie had written for distribution to classmates.

A music and drama major in college, Jennie intended to go on Broadway. Instead, while traveling as a musician with her husband, she took her computer with her, writing stories about her experiences. She says time with her family is a priority now and fits writing in around a homeschool schedule and ministry work.

Jennie’s best-known books deal with issues of purity and family. The Princess and the Kiss is a parable on the topic of purity that is appropriate even for young children. Jennie explains that the idea for this book came when her daughter arrived home one day from kindergarten and announced, “Mom, all my girlfriends have boyfriends. I need one, too.”

Since the publication of The Princess and the Kiss, Jennie has also written The Squire and the Scroll for boys, along with companion Life Lessons devotionals for each of these children’s stories based on purity. Her latest book, The Garden Wall, presents a model for friendship and marriage based on 1 Corinthians 13.

Jennie has also founded a ministry called PurityWorks which teaches strategies for Planned Purity to parents and families all over the world through conferences, speaking engagements, partnerships and relief efforts in countries like the Ukraine, Nigeria, Kenya and Tanzania.

Jennie lives in Orlando, Florida with her husband, Randy, and their two daughters. More information about her books and efforts is available through www.purityworks.org and www.jenniebishop.com.

Susan Hunt is a mother and grandmother, a pastor’s wife, and the former Director of Women’s Ministries for the Presbyterian Church in America. Holding a degree in Christian education from Columbia Theological Seminary, she is coauthor of Women’s Ministry in the Local Church.

Mart Green is CEO and Producer of Bearing Fruit Communications. In this role, he combines his passion for telling true stories with his experience of building well-run, customer-oriented companies.

Bearing Fruit Communications produced the 2006 movie End of the Spear and Beyond The Gates of Splendor. Before starting Bearing Fruit Communications, he built Mardel Christian and Educational Supply, a growing chain of 21 stores in six states. Mart's family founded Hobby Lobby, which now has 370 stores throughout 28 states. Mart serves on the board of Hobby Lobby.

Steve Saint grew up in Ecuador in close community with the Waodani. His father, Nate Saint, was one of five missionaries martyred in their attempt to befriend the Waodani. After graduating from Wheaton College, Steve launched several successful businesses. He has also been a missionary in West Africa, Central America, and South America. At the request of the Waodani elders, he returned to the Amazon in 1995 along with his family. Steve's experiences living in the jungle led him to establish I-TEC, a nonprofit organization that assists the "hidden church" in its journey toward independence, self-sustenance, and maturity.

Bob Lepine is the Lead Pastor at Redeemer Community Church in Little Rock, Arkansas which he helped plant in 2008. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the Great Commission Collective, a church planting ministry connecting more than 150 churches world wide.

Bob also hosts Mornings on Family Radio, a network of more than 70 radio stations in the US. He is also well known to radio and podcast listeners as the long-time co-host of FamilyLife Today® and as the on-air announcer for Truth for Life with Alistair Begg. and as a member of the Revive Our Hearts Advistory Board. In 2022, he was inducted into the National Religious
Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

He is the author of Build A Stronger Marriage (2022), The Four Emotions of Christmas (2022) Love Like You Mean It: The Heart of a Marriage That Honors God (2020) and The Christian Husband (1999). Bob and his wife Mary Ann are the parents of five children and have ten grandchildren

Dennis Rainey cofounded FamilyLife®, a ministry of Cru®. Since the organization began in 1976 through 2017, Dennis’ leadership enabled FamilyLife to grow into a dynamic and vital ministry in more than 109 countries around the world helping families discover the joy God intended for their relationships with God, spouse, and kids.

Dennis has authored or co-authored more than 35 books, including best-selling Moments Together for Couples and Staying Close and has received two Golden Medallion Awards from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association. In addition, he served as the senior editor of the HomeBuilders Couples Series®, which has sold over 3 million copies and has been translated into 47 languages.

A powerful and effective communicator, Dennis hosted the nationally-syndicated radio program FamilyLife Today® through early 2019 on more than 1,300 radio outlets in all 50 states. During his tenure on the program, FamilyLife Today was recipient of the National Religious Broadcasters Radio Program of the Year Award three times. Dennis serves on the Board of Directors of Dallas Theological Seminary.

Dennis and Barbara have been married since 1972 and love laughing with their six children and growing number of grandchildren. In his spare time, Dennis enjoys helping Barbara in their garden, reading great books, and pursuing his passions for hunting and fishing. They live near Little Rock, Arkansas and retired from FamilyLife in 2017.