Jim Cymbala

Jim Cymbala will speak at plenary sessions one through four. Cymbala has served as senior pastor of Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York since 1971. The church is known for its Grammy-award winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and Tuesday night prayer services where nearly 2,000 attend weekly. Cymbala is author of several best-selling books including Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Fresh Power and Breakthrough Prayer.

George O. Wood

George O. Wood will lead the corporate prayer time and plenary session five. Elected to the office of general superintendent of the Assemblies of God in August 2007, Wood has previously served as the church’s general secretary, assistant district superintendent of Southern California and as a pastor in Costa Mesa, California. He is author of the two-volume devotional, A Psalm In Your Heart.

Breakout Session Speakers

Judi Braddy

Judi Braddy is an author, motivational speaker, licensed minister, wife, mom and grandma. She is a regular contributor to magazines such as Enrichment Journal, Today’s Pentecostal Evangel, Woman’s Touch and Side By Side, an online newsletter for pastors’ wives. Braddy is the author of four books–Prodigal in the Parsonage; It All Comes Out in the Wash; True North; and Simple Seasons. Braddy and her husband, Jim–both Central Bible College alums–now live in Elk Grove, California, where he serves as District Superintendent for the Northern California/Nevada Assemblies of God.

James K. Bridges

James K. Bridges was elected general treasurer of the Assemblies of God at the 45th General Council of the church in August 1993. He has served the church in a variety of capacities since 1952, when he began his ministry in the South Texas District. A graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God University (College) in Waxahachie, Texas, Bridges has served several pastorates in Texas and in Wichita, Kansas. He served in district leadership in the North Texas District, including sectional presbyter, executive presbyter, general presbyter, assistant superintendent and superintendent. From 1968-71, Bridges was vice president of academic affairs at Southwestern Assemblies of God University and served as chairman of the university’s board of regents from 1985-1993.

Herbert Cooper

Herbert Cooper serves as senior pastor of People’s Church, a multicultural church plant in Oklahoma City that has grown from 65 to 1,500 people since it opened in 2002. As a scholarship athlete and full-time student, Cooper preached revivals and youth camps across America throughout his collegiate career at Evangel University, Springfield, Missouri. Following graduation, he launched a full-time evangelistic ministry, conducting revivals and crusades and speaking at conferences, youth camps, and youth conventions across America. In Cooper’s last year in full-time evangelistic ministry, he spoke to approximately 30,000 thousand teenagers and thousands of adults in more than 20 states across America.

L. Alton Garrison

L. Alton Garrison was elected assistant general superintendent of the Assemblies of God at the 52nd General Council of the church in August 2007. He served as executive director of U.S. Missions from 2005 until his election to assistant general superintendent. Garrison also served in district leadership in the Arkansas District, including assistant superintendent and superintendent. As superintendent, he launched a district mentoring ministry for pastors with the District Coaching Group and local church leadership through the Arkansas Cohort Group. Garrison served as pastor of First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Arkansas, for 15 years.

Rod Loy

Rod Loy is senior pastor of First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Arkansas. He joined the First Assembly staff in 1992, and served as children’s pastor and executive pastor prior to his election as senior pastor in 2001. Loy has previously served churches in Fargo, North Dakota, and Irving, Texas. Under his leadership, First Assembly has seen significant growth in all areas, including missions, attendance and outreach, and has planted four other churches in Central Arkansas. He is a graduate of Southwestern Assemblies of God University and a member of numerous boards in the Assemblies of God, including U.S. Missions and World Missions.

Dary Northrop

Dary Northrop has served as senior pastor of Timberline Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, since November 1986. Prior to that, he served as a youth pastor for eight years in Colorado. Northrop received his Bible school training at Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. He has a passion to help pastors lead their churches in making changes that are healthy and that will lead them to be able to impact their cities.

John M. Palmer

John M. Palmer was elected general secretary of the Assemblies of God at the 52nd General Council in August 2007. Prior to his current post, Palmer served as Executive Presbyter of the North Central Region and as an AG World Missions representative for the Africa Oasis Project, raising funds to dig wells in East Africa and plant churches in those same communities. In 2006, he founded Come Alongside Ministry, in order to provide encouragement, coaching and consultation to pastors and churches. Palmer served as senior pastor of First Assembly of God, Des Moines, Iowa from 1985-2006. He pioneered New Life Assembly of God, Athens, Ohio from 1974-1985.

Zollie L. Smith Jr.

Zollie L. Smith Jr. was elected executive director of Assemblies of God U.S. Missions at the 52nd General Council in August 2007. Prior to U.S. missions, Smith served as the Executive Presbyter representing the Ethnic Fellowships and as president of the National Black Fellowship. He served the New Jersey District of the Assemblies of God as assistant superintendent (1998-2005) and as executive secretary (2005-07). Smith pastored Eternal Life Christian Center (ELCC) of the Assemblies of God, Somerset, New Jersey for 15 years. Smith has spent his life in service as a former police officer/detective; U.S. Postal Inspector; and Airborne Infantryman in the Vietnam War where he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.