2011 Revival Speaker Bios |
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Bishop Fisher’s call to ministry came at the age of 16 and her career in the United Methodist Church has been one of significant achievement. From her ordination as a deacon in 1988 and an elder 1990; she has served in pastoral roles in the Philadelphia area, as District Superintendent, and was consecrated as Bishop in July, 2000. She has received numerous awards, honors, and citations including being named Black United Methodist Preacher of the Year for the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference. Although retired, she has also served in several capacities within the United Methodist Church at large and is profiled in and has contributed to many publications. In addition, Bishop Fisher has served as a short-term missionary in several foreign countries as well as the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Conference. She is known to be a very enthusiastic, energetic people-person with a strong spirit and strong leadership skills. She holds two Master’s Degrees- one in Education and the other in Divinity -- and a Doctorate in Divinity s well as two other honorary Doctoral Degrees. Bishop Fisher resides in Wilmington, Delaware and has a large extended family in the Maryland and Delaware area. |
Rev. Jerry Ruff serves as Lead Pastor of Sharptown North, a recently established campus church of Sharptown United Methodist Church in Pielsgrove, New Jersey. He hails from Steubenville, Ohio. He received his BA from Asbury College in 1971. Sensing a call from God to devote his life to pastoral ministry, he enrolled at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky where he graduated in 1974 with a Master of Divinity degree. Following God’s call to New Jersey, he transferred to the Southern New Jersey Annual Conference where he was ordained elder in 1975 while serving the Sea Isle City United Methodist Church. Prior to his current assignment, he served as Senior Pastor of Sicklerville United Methodist Church for nearly 28 years. Rev. Ruff has a casual style coupled with a high level of energy which is characterized by the Sharptown North services which are both welcoming and casual with contemporary music. He has been married to Sharon Hartman Ruff for over 35 years. They have two children; Stephanie who holds a masters degree in counseling and is Director of Titus Women’s Ministries; and Stephen who is currently a graduate student at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Chicago. |
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Rev. Dr. Paul J. Jaw is the Senior Pastor of Flemington United Methodist Church in Flemington, New Jersey. Dr. Jaw's passion is evangelism and spiritual growth. In addition to his pastoral duties, he has served in numerous tasks in all levels of the United Methodist Church. He has also taught subjects related to evangelism and leadership for the Church and adjunct at two seminaries. A native of Taiwan, Dr. Jaw earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Taiwan Theological College in Taipei, Taiwan. After arriving in the United States in 1973, he earned Bachelor's Degrees in Theology from Calvin Theological Seminary and in Divinity from Lexington Theological Seminary. Dr Jaw was awarded his Ph.D. degree from Drew University in 1989. He resides with his wife, Amy, who serves as Director of Music Ministries for the church. They have three children: Karen, Timothy, and Christine. All have grown to be active members in their church communities. |
Jason Guynes is Senior Pastor of the Six:Eight Community of Faith in Ardmore, Pennsylvania just outside of Philadelphia. He is passionate about the Gospel and the role of the Church in, and relevance to, the local community. He wants to see walls broken down, and the Church to serve the community in loving action, enabling us to once again have a voice for the name of Jesus Christ with our neighbors. Jason's spiritual journey began with the ownership of a live music/art cafe, and ministering in the inner city of Philadelphia. After which, he and his wife, Kim, sensed a call to the missions field where they served for 9-1/2 years in Indonesia. Their last 6 months in Sumatra was spent serving to help rebuilding for those hit by the 2004 tsunami in Banda Aceh, Sumatra. After returning to the U.S., Jason served as Pastor forYoung Adults at the Church of the Savior in Wayne, Pennsylvania. He, and his wife, Kim, planted Six:Eight in early 2009 and he is presently pursuing his Master of Divinity Degree from Palmer Theological Seminary. Jason and his wife, Kim, reside in Ardmore, Pennsylvania and have four children: Aidan, Madison, Senah, and Tanner - three of whom were born in Indonesia. |
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Dr. DeForest B. Soaries, Jr. is the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Lincoln Gardens in Somerset, New Jersey. His pastoral ministry focuses on spiritual growth, educational excellence, and economic empowerment and faith-based community development. In addition to his pastoral duties, Dr. Soaries is a popular speaker at colleges, universities, conferences and churches around the world, as well as, a frequent advisor to major corporations in the areas of diversity, philanthropy, and community relations. He is also special advisor to His Majesty the Okyenhene (King) of the Akyem Abuaka Traditional Kingdom in Gahna, Osageyfuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II. Dr. Soaries earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Fordham University, a Master of Divinity Degree from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry Degree from United Theological Seminary. He has also received six honorary Doctorate degrees from institutions of Higher learning. Dr. Soaries resides in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey with his wife Donna and twin sons, Malcolm and Martin. |
