Featured Speakers
Jonathan PokludA
Lead Pastor, Harris Creek Baptist Church - Waco
Jonathan “JP” Pokluda is the Lead Pastor of Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, a 145-year-old congregation where he has served since 2019. Before moving to Waco, he led the largest weekly young adult gathering in the country.
Although raised in church, JP didn’t come to understand the grace of the Gospel until his early twenties. That encounter with Christ ignited a passion to see the next generation radically follow Jesus and be unleashed to change the world.
He is the author of several best-selling books, including Welcome to Adulting, Outdated, Why Do I Do What I Don’t Want to Do?, and his most recent release Your Story Has a Villain (2025), which equips readers to recognize spiritual warfare and stand firm in Christ.
JP and his wife, Monica, his partner in ministry since 2004, have the joy of raising and discipling their three children: Presley, Finley, and Weston.
LEVI SKIPPER
Senior Pastor, Sagemont Church
A native of Georgia, Dr. Levi Skipper has served as Sagemont Church’s Senior Pastor since January 2024. Prior to coming to Sagemont, Levi pastored in Georgia for 22 years before serving in leadership with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board.
During his tenure with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, he developed and wrote The Domino Effect: Building an Evangelistic Culture in the Life of Your Church, and No Sweat Evangelism. With these tools for personal evangelism, over 10,000 people have been trained across the state. In addition, he wrote several resources for church leaders, including: No Sweat Discipleship, Ride the Waves, Your Ministry Zone, and Time Management Training, as well as Marriage In the Red, a resource tool for married couples. His most recent book is Welcome to Witness, a resource for evangelism training.
Levi is a graduate of Shorter College. He went on to receive his Masters of Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and then completed his Doctorate in Ministry at Luther Rice University.
Levi is married to his wife Christa, and they have four children: Garrison, Mattie, Gavin, and Marlee.
Breakout Speakers
ANDREW BUCK
Andrew Buck has a passion for helping men find freedom from pornography and walking deeply with Jesus so they can run their race with endurance. He serves as the Director of Operations for the Freedom Fight ministry, enjoys hunting and fishing, and lives in Pearland, Texas, with his wife, Kaitlyn, and two kids.
Chuck Davenport
Chuck Davenport serves as the Executive Director of Leadership Development and Young Adults/Sagemont U and has been a pastor at Sagemont Church for 8 years. He is married with three children and is passionate about serving the church, his wife, and his kids. Chuck’s heart is to help others embrace a life of consistent, Christ-centered service, at home, in the church, and in everyday moments.
Joe Dougharty
Joe Dougharty brings over two decades of pastoral experience and a deep heart for men navigating life’s hardest seasons. As a former single dad and now a father in a beautifully complex blended family of ten children—biological, step child, adopted, and kinship care—Joe knows firsthand the silent battles men face: the pressure to lead while carrying emotional wounds, the strain of stepfamily dynamics, and the spiritual isolation that often comes with fatherhood. Joe currently serves as Minister to Single Parent & Blended Families at Houston’s First Baptist Church, where he equips and encourages men and families through discipleship, support, and biblical truth.
Jeff Lynn
Jeff Lynn is the Senior Strategist for the Church Health and Leadership Team at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention. In this role, he provides resources and fosters connections among church leaders statewide, focusing on cultivating healthy churches and leaders. With over 40 years in ministry, Jeff has a diverse background, including time in itinerant Christian music ministry as a songwriter, concert and recording artist, and 25 years as a Senior Pastor. Most recently, he served as the pastor of Yorktown Baptist Church in Corpus Christi, Texas, for twelve years.
Stuart Rothberg
Stuart Rothberg serves as Director of Pastoral Guidance & Consultation at Sagemont Church. He came to faith in Jesus Christ while serving in the U.S. Air Force and is a Licensed Professional Counselor. His ministry experience includes serving as a military chaplain, missionary with The Navigators and Jews for Jesus, and pastor of churches in Louisiana and Ohio.
Stuart and his wife, Sue, have been married for over 47 years. They have three sons, three wonderful daughters-in-law, and seven grandchildren.
Rick Wertz
Rick Wertz is the Founder and President of Faithful Fathering. Prior to his call into ministry in 2000, Rick was in the corporate world for 15 years. He provides biblically-grounded studies and workshops for dads and a comprehensive strategy for churches.
We're finalizing our starting lineup of breakout speakers! Check back soon to see who's joining the team and what they've got planned for GAMEDAY.