Main Speakers
Jack Cottrell, Professor, Cincinnati Christian Seminary
A Kentuckian by birth and in spirit [go Big Blue!], Jack Cottrell comes from the Minorsville Christian Church, near Stamping Ground,
KY. In his early years, his church life -- including two-week revival meetings and Christian camp -- brought him into contact with such stalwarts of the faith as R. J. Kidwell, Ivan Odor, Wayne Smith, Bob Shannon, and E. Ray (Cotton) Jones. After committing to vocational Christian service he enrolled in the original Cincinnati Bible Seminary, from which he received two degrees (A.B., Th.B.).
Brother Cottrell has been teaching at CBS (the graduate school) since 1967, building the theology program from scratch. He has also carried on an extensive writing ministry, authoring twenty books thus far. His books include Baptism: A Biblical Study; a systematic theology, The Faith Once for All; a commentary on Romans; and a three-volume set on the doctrine of God as Creator, Ruler, and Redeemer; What the Bible says About the Holy Spirit. His most recent published book is Set Free: What the Bible Says about Grace.
Rubel Shelly, President, Rochester College
Rubel Shelly (Ph.D., philosophy / Vanderbilt University) has spent his adult life in Christ-focused ministry through preaching,
teaching at graduate and undergraduate schools, and writing. His commitment is to a non-sectarian presentation of the gospel.
In 2005 Brother Shelly ended a 27-year ministry with the Family of God at Woodmont Hills in Nashville. He also taught at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Tennessee State University while in Nashville. Two of his recent publications are Divorce & Remarriage: A Redemptive Theology and I Knew Jesus before He Was a Christian . . . and I Liked Him Better Then.
Since moving from Nashville in 2005, Shelly has served as Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Rochester College in Rochester Hills, Michigan. He is particularly interested in showing the relevance of the Bible to daily life for his students. In May of 2008, Shelly was named President of Rochester College.
Larry Carter, President, Great Lakes Christian College
and Instructor in Christian Ministries
Mr. Carter received a B.S. in Biblical Studies from Cincinnati Bible College. While a student, he served as Youth Minister of the New
Burlington Church of Christ and the Felicity Church of Christ, as well as Youth Coordinator of an inner city Salvation Army. He then received a Masters of Christian Ministries degree from Huntington College, graduating Summa Cum Laude.
Mr. Carter served as the Senior Minister at Coburn Corners Church of Christ, Indiana, for four years (1973-1977), Senior Minister of the Delta Church of Christ, Ohio, for seven years (1977-1984), and then served as the Senior Minister at the Kentwood Christian Church, Michigan, from 1984 until 1999, when he accepted the position as President of Great Lakes Christian College. Mr. Carter also teaches classes in Personal Spiritual Formation, and other Christian Ministries classes as the need arises. He and his wife, Judy, have three grown children. B.S., Biblical Studies, Cincinnati Bible College M.C.M., Huntington College.