A former atheist who came to faith, Mary Jo Sharp has experienced two worlds of American culture: the post-Christian culture of the Pacific Northwest and the evangelical culture of the Bible Belt. She first encountered apologetics in her own spiritual search while seeking answers. Mary Jo is now an assistant professor of apologetics at Houston Baptist University and the founder and director of Confident Christianity Apologetics Ministry. She has been featured in Christianity Today’s cover story “The Unexpected Defenders” and is an international speaker on apologetics, focusing on love and logic to uncover truth.

Mary Jo is the author of the top-selling Bible study, “Why Do You Believe That?” as well as Living in Truth with LifeWay Christian Resources. She recently released her book "Why I Still Believe." A clear communicator with a heart for people, Mary Jo finds great joy in sharing the deep truths of her Lord and Savior.

Pastor Sharon Beekmann is an ordained minister in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) and Associated Faculty member at Denver Seminary. For many years, she conducted a private practice in individual, marriage, and family therapy. She has counseled people who struggled with spiritual oppression.

Currently, Sharon writes and produces videos on spiritual discernment. She draws from her own experiences and those of others as she teaches Christians to stand with Christ and his Word. She integrates biblical and doctrinal principles of spiritual warfare.

Kevin B. Santiago resides in Colorado with his wife and two boys enjoying a country lifestyle with their many farm animals. 

A South Florida native, Kevin and his family traded their flip-flops for boots and made their way to Colorado in 2012. There he attended Denver Seminary graduating with a master’s degree in Apologetics and Ethics and was a recipient of the Gordon Lewis award for distinguished work in Philosophy of Religion. Through the years, Kevin has served at two of the nation’s largest churches–Christ Fellowship Church in West Palm Beach, FL and 12Stone Church in Lawrenceville, GA–along with smaller, neighborhood churches, where he feels most at home. He also served as a Writer & Project Manager for Dare2Share Ministries and continues to write regularly online. Kevin currently serves as lead pastor for his local church in Aurora, CO.

For more information visit www.ChristianGuard.com

Having worked with churches, charities and not-for-profits in Senior Executive & risk management roles for most of her career, Melodie launched Plan to Protect®, Inc. fifteen years ago with a desire to raise the bar on safeguarding on behalf of the vulnerable sector. She accomplishes this through consulting and training and providing leaders with the tools, training and momentum needed to accomplish their vision and goals while safeguarding the mission of the organization and their people. Melodie is an author of numerous books and journal articles, her most recent book is the 2022 version of Plan to Protect® A Safeguarding Guide for children, youth and adults. As a Victim-Advocate, Melodie is committed to giving voice to victim-survivors of abuse as she stewards the disclosures and stories of abuse on behalf of clients. In 2022, Melodie received her doctorate at the University of Toronto. The focus of her thesis was on nurturing the spiritual healing of victim-survivors of abuse.