Bios of the Speakers
Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor is president of Dimensions Ministries, author of 13 books and has a ministry that has spanned six decades. His travels include conferences, church engagements, revivals and consultations with spiritual sons across North America. Jack graduated from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. He has pastored several churches, has witnessed spiritual awakenings in the local church and continues to travel extensively to declare the promises of God for revival. His heart is in the Kingdom of God and he believes that true revival in the church awaits a rediscovery of the Kingdom in the church. God has gifted Jack with an apostolic insight into the Word of God and the heart to communicate the fullness of God’s Kingdom to all who will hear. He and his wife, Friede, reside in Melbourne, Florida.
Dennis about Jack:
Jack Taylor is one of the great mentors of my life. I was first introduced to his ministry in 1985 through a book called The Hallelujah Factor. This book revolutionized the way I thought of God…and of myself. The way in which I worshipped was forever changed after reading this book. As the Lord would have it, Jack came into my life in a huge way that same year and he has been like a father to me in the faith. My fear is that the coming generation will have no concept of how we arrived at the state of worship in the body of Christ as they now enjoy it. I think it is vital that we not forget those who paved the way for so much of what God has done throughout the Kingdom through the teaching, writings, and ministry of my friend Jack Taylor. The sheer amount of wisdom and the amazing power of the Holy Spirit this man walks in is worth the price of this conference – and then some. Now in his 70s, God uses Jack around the world to bring thousands each year into a deeper understanding of the power of God and the place of worship in our lives. When I am with him I feel I am with a young man – a dreamer. Wouldn’t it be nice to be a dreamer when you’re 70? I want to challenge you to think about this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from someone whom God has used to birth so much of my ministry through. You will be glad you came just for the time you get to share with Jack. I want you to experience what I have experienced very personally for over 20 years now.
Dennis Jernigan
Tom Davis
Tom Davis began his musical journey at the age of seven. By his eighteenth birthday, he was touring the United States playing both clubs and concerts. Following a dramatic and powerful encounter with the Lord Jesus in 1979, the direction of his life and music were forever altered. Entering the world of Contemporary Christian Music, more specifically Worship Music, Tom developed the popular live worship series Touching The Father's Heart and produced more than thirty-five albums for the Vineyard Music Group featuring worship leaders such as Brian Doerksen, Kevin Prosch, Rita Springer and Andy Park. He also played the drums on most of the recordings he produced for Vineyard. During this season, he traveled with John Wimber, founder and leader of Vineyard, to South Africa, Australia and continental Europe where he helped arrange the conference worship music and had the opportunity to minister in the prophetic and healing gifts one-on-one to those in the conference congregations.
By 1993, Tom had become a Platinum Record Award-winning producer. Sensing the Lord was calling him to change direction; he founded Amber Rose Ministries through which he produces cutting-edge, live worship recordings as well as intimate worship albums that bring healing and life. He also organizes and leads worship for healing conferences around the country featuring dynamic speakers such as Jack Taylor, Rick Joyner and Bill Johnson as well as many others. An accomplished songwriter, worship leader and producer, Tom’s own recordings include Restoring Passion and Releasing Power, God Most High, Tears, You Will Have Your Army and Let the Singers Sing. These live worship recordings capture the quality and intensity of his worship as he leads the body of Christ into the presence of the Lord. His most recent work, The Healing, is the first in his brand new series entitled IT IS WRITTEN. Tom resides in the north Texas area and ministers at Lake Country Church in Fort Worth, Texas. He is available for training, teaching and leading worship.
Dennis about Tom:
Like Jack, the Lord has used Tom literally around the nation and around the globe. My friend Tom has produced over 35 recordings the Vineyard through the years…but more importantly, Tom has a heart for worship and has a very unique way of ministering healing through the way he leads others into a deeper understanding of God’s presence. As with Jack, Tom has blessed my life through his consistency and walk – through some of the most trying times of anyone I know. He’s been where you and I have been and has come out shining like gold…and I want you to know this precious gift to the Kingdom. Join me and be blessed by the ministry of Tom and Wendy Davis.
Dennis Jernigan
Dean Briggs
Dean Briggs pastored a vital, non-denominational church in Missouri for eleven years. After cancer took his wife of 16 years, Dean moved nearer to family in Oklahoma to rest and heal. He has since remarried a wonderful woman, also a widow. Together, they have eight great kids. Dean is resuming ministry on an itinerant basis, writing and speaking. His latest novel for young adults is The Book of Names, by NavPress (July 2008 street date). His passion is to prepare the Bride for the return of the King.
Dennis about Dean:
Dean is one of my best friends. Though ten years younger than me (and no, he does not let me forget that!), he has walked through more in 39 years than most will walk in a lifetime. Father of 4 boys, Dean is now married to Jeanie and has become father to Jeanie's 3 sons and 1 daughter. Dean has written 2 medical thrillers for Thomas Nelson Publishing and this summer will have the first in a trilogy of fantasy adventures for young adults published by NavPress. Dean challenges me like very few. Deep in wisdom and wildly in pursuit of a deeper knowledge of God, you will find Dean Briggs has a gift for teaching like few I have heard in the past few years. He is my pastor and friend and he inspires me like few others. Personally, I believe it is only a matter of time before the body of Christ is impacted greatly by this humble man. I want to bless you so much with this conference…and I cannot think of a better way than to introduce you to the heart and ministry of my friend, Dean Briggs.
Dennis Jernigan
Melinda Jernigan
Ladies, how many women do you know who have birthed nine children and has supported a world-wide ministry while remaining, for the most part, in the background? My wife has a world of knowledge and wisdom for women in ministry as well as for women who are called to serve in those ‘behind-the-scene’ roles. Melinda is my greatest cheerleader. She and her encouragement have gotten me through some of the most difficult times of my life. She understands how to minister to the minister she is married to…and I believe it is time to let you in on some of her secrets! Melinda will be sharing exclusively with the women who attend and will be available to answer your questions and to offer you help and encouragement for your heart. Melinda has believed in me when some in the Christian music industry had written me off. Melinda raised 9 very grateful and faith-walking children in spite of the many times I was away for ministry during their growing-up years. Melinda has experienced much pain and sorrow and even physical trials yet come out shining like gold. You want to learn how to minister to others…or just how to better minister to your man? Come and spend a few hours with my wife. I know you’ll be glad you did!
Dennis Jernigan
Brad Henderson
Brad Henderson spent 5 years touring abroad with Up With People as a bandleader, bassist, sound engineer and show manager. Later, Henderson worked for Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma as the manager of the NSU Jazz Lab. Brad honed his arranging skills there while teaching music technology, electric bass and directing various student jazz groups. He is still active throughout the region as an adjudicator and clinician.
He also served for 5 years as the director/pianist of the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Henderson's arranging credits include The Tulsa Philharmonic, The Tulsa Signature Symphony (Sinfonia), the Bartlesville Symphony Orchestra, The Walton Arts Center, FBC Atlanta and literally hundreds of other churches around the world. Brad produced the sound track and orchestral arrangement for Dennis Jernigan's I Salute You. Many of Brad's other arrangements can be found online at www.praisecharts.com in the Henderson Jazz Series and other series for praise team.
He works frequently with his wife Mary Kay, in various musical settings. Brad and Mary Kay have several recordings to their credit. Their latest, Because of Love, is a wonderful collection of new hymn arrangements and originals. They have recently finished work on a Cherokee Hymns recording.
Henderson served 3 years as the Worship Associate at First Baptist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma where his primary responsibilities were arranging and writing for the worship ministry, mostly for the contemporary service and directing instrumental music. Brad is currently serving as the Worship Pastor at Crescent Valley Baptist Church near Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.
Henderson's undergraduate degree is in Instrumental Music Education from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and his Masters from the University of Arkansas in composition.
Dennis about Brad:
I’ve known Brad for a long time now. Brad is one of those musicians that blows your mind…because he is so adept at whatever instrument he chooses to play. His ability to think in different stylistic terms lends a deep versatility to his musical arrangements, whether a slammin’ jazz groove or an orchestral string passage. In our region he is somewhat of a musical legend because he seems to have been around for so long and has been involved in so many regional musical productions. But what makes Brad such a gift to the world is his heart for the Lord. That heart permeates all he says and does. A musician’s musician and a man after God’s own heart: that’s a pretty powerful combination in my opinion. I love Brad and his family and I want you to be blessed by this one who has so blessed my life.
Dennis Jernigan
Dennis Disney
Dennis Disney is the Founder and President of D-Squared Entertainment, a Marketing, Management and Artist/Product Development agency in Nashville. He has recently expanded his company with the launch of a career coaching service for aspiring/developing artists, authors and label executives.
D-Squared’s current client roster includes veteran artists/writers Dennis Jernigan, Wayne Watson, and Marty Magehee (formerly of 4HIM); among others.
Mr. Disney received his Bachelors of Business Administration from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. After serving as publicist for Word Records in the mid-1980s, he launched The Disney Group, Inc., a Christian music marketing and management firm, boasting management clients that included Steven Curtis Chapman and marketing clients including Word Records in Nashville. Subsequently, he served as the Director of Marketing for both Reunion Records (1990-1991) and Benson Label Group (1991-1997). From 1997-1999, Mr. Disney held the office of Vice-President of Marketing/Benson Label Group, a multi-genre Christian record company owned by Zomba Music/Provident Music. He launched D-Squared Entertainment in 1999.
In addition to operating his own agency, Mr. Disney is a published writer with columns and essays in such notable outlets as CCM, Christian Radio Weekly (CRW), About.com, and more. He also pens his own electronic newsletter, Different Is Best, targeting developing/aspiring artists, authors and executives. His first book, First, Best or Different – A Field Manual for Aspiring Artists, Authors and Executives, is currently in development and is expected to be published in 2008 by his newly launched publishing venture, Revelant Studios Press.
Mr. Disney is a frequent speaker and/or panelist at Christian music industry events - including Gospel Music Week, GMA Music in the Rockies, the Academy of Gospel Music - and at developing/independent artist conferences (including “The Connection,” “CIA Summit,” and others).
For the academic year 2006-07, Mr. Disney served as the inaugural “Entrepreneur in Residence” at his alma mater, Belmont University, where he mentored students who had launched or aspired to launch their own businesses.
He currently serves as the Chairperson for Indie Impact, the 2-day “boot camp” held annually during Gospel Music Week. He also sits on GMA’s Gospel Music Week Steering Committee and the GMA Academy Council.
He is also a founding board member of Standing with Hope, a 501 (c) 3 organization that is committed to equipping others to Stand with Hope in Jesus Christ. This work includes getting prosthetic limbs, materials and clinicians into Ghana, Africa and beyond.
Dennis about Dennis:
I have known Dennis Disney since 1998 when he helped launch the release of my recording This Is My Destiny. Working together with someone of Dennis’s caliber gave me a whole new appreciation for what was truly possible in an industry I had come to hold at arm’s length in many ways. In the years since we first met, we have had several opportunities to work together so when I found myself without a manager in 2006 it was quite an easy choice to ask Dennis to serve in that capacity. Dennis’s knowledge of the industry coupled with his sincere heart for ministry have served me and my ministry well. He has such a heart to help those who serve the Lord as independent artists and has so much wisdom to offer. It is my honor and privilege to have Dennis and his wealth of wisdom as a part of this conference.
Dennis Jernigan