2026 Guest Speakers

“Call out to me and I will answer you and will show you great and mighty things, secrets you do not know.”  Jeremiah 33:3. This scripture has encouraged Donna and motivated her to seek God’s Word and God’s will for her life.  Donna Childs was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in the Christian home of Deacon Martin Childs Sr. and Mother Gleneva Childs.  She commenced and attained her Christian roots at the Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, where she is still a current and faithful member.  Presently, Donna serves as the Senior Pastor of Tabernacle. She was called to that position in September, 2020. In the past, she has served as Interim Pastor, Associate Minister, Christian Education Ministry Leader, New Members Orientation Teacher and associate Bible Study Teacher for Tabernacle.
Donna has always exhibited a gift for teaching and a desire for motivating and inspiring other individuals through her words and the Word.  She has always possessed a hunger and love of the Gospel. The Lord nurtured and flourished this hunger and called Donna to preach the Gospel in 2000. She was licensed in 2002 and ordained to formal ministry in 2013

Dr. Mark Andrew Croston, Sr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Three years after the death of his first wife, Dr. Croston married his current wife, Brenda. This blended family has four children; Candace, Juliette, Mark, Jr., and Antonio.

He is a sought-after Conference Presenter, Revival Preacher and a man on Mission, Dr Croston has traveled in almost 40 countries. 

Dr. Croston served four years as Christian Education Director at the Christian Mission Fellowship Baptist Church is Philadelphia, PA; three years as Minister of Youth at the First Baptist Church of Jeffersontown, Kentucky; and twenty-six years as Lead Pastor, East End Baptist Church in Suffolk, Virginia. He currently serves as National Director of Black Church Ministries at LifeWay Christian Resources in Nashville, Tennessee; General Editor for the YOU Urban Bible Study curriculum; Executive Editor of Deacon Magazine; Teaching Pastor of Christ Fellowship, Miami, Florida; and Executive Pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church, Nashville, Tennessee.  Additionally, Dr. Croston has been conferred the title of Pastor Emeritus of East End Baptist Church, Suffolk, Virginia. 

Dr. Croston has served as President and Treasurer of the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention; President of the Baptist General Association of Virginia; and President of the Virginia Baptist State Convention.

Dr. Croston believes as Henri J.M. Nouwen said, "Nobody can minister to his fellow man when he is unwilling to deny himself in order to create the space where God can do His work." (Creative Ministry, p.50)

Dr. Delvin Atchison serves as the Senior Pastor of Westside Baptist Church in Lewisville, Texas, bringing over 40 years of ministry experience to the pulpit. A former Director of the Great Commission Team for Texas Baptists, Dr. Atchison is a celebrated leader known for his ability to bridge deep theological study with relatable, heartfelt application.

A lifelong student of the Word, Dr. Atchison holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Divinity with honors from George W. Truett Seminary at Baylor University. His academic pursuit of excellence led him abroad, where he studied at the Vatican in Rome and at Regent’s Park College, Oxford University, under the tutelage of his mentor, Dr. Joel Gregory.

Dr. Atchison’s influence extends far beyond his local congregation. A prolific writer and orator, his sermons and articles have been featured in Christianity Today, CommonCall, The Truett Pulpit, and Epitome. Passionate about the craft of preaching, he mentors the next generation of ministers through his “Page to Pulpit” seminars, which focus on expository preaching and exegetical preparation.

A native of Hearne, Texas, and the fifth of six siblings, Dr. Atchison is grounded in family and love. He is married to his wife, Dr. Brenda Atchison; together, they are the proud parents of five children and grandparents to two. His life and ministry are guided by a singular vision: to Serve God by Sharing Christ and Loving People.