Torrey Memorial Bible Conference 2022

Carmen Imes

Dr. Carmen Imes is an associate professor of Old Testament at Biola, and brings a passion for helping students and other laypeople engage the Old Testament, and discover its relevance for Christian identity and mission. Since the release of her book, Bearing God's Name: Why Sinai Still Matters (IVP 2019), Imes has appeared on more than 50 podcasts and radio shows and launched her own YouTube channel where she releases weekly Torah Tuesday videos. She is a guest blogger for Christianity Today, The Political Theology Network, and The Well (InterVarsity's blog for women in the academy and professions). Imes is also a frequent speaker at churches, conferences and retreats. Before earning her Ph.D. from Wheaton College, Carmen and her husband served as missionaries in the Philippines with SIM International, reaching out to ethnic minorities. Imes loves introducing students to the rich insights of the global church.

Christine Caine

Christine Caine is an Australian born, Greek blooded, lover of Jesus, a sought-after international speaker, author and activist. Known for her ability to effectively communicate a message of hope, Christine has a heart for reaching the lost, strengthening leadership, and championing the cause of justice. Together with her husband, Nick, she founded the anti-human trafficking organization, The A21 Campaign — a recipient of the Mother Theresa Memorial Award for their work combating human trafficking among refugees. They also founded Propel Women, an organization designed to celebrate every woman’s passion, purpose and potential. Christine and Nick make their home in Southern California with their daughters, Catherine and Sophia.

Brian Peterson

They say that life begins outside of your comfort zone and Brian Peterson is a true testament to that theory. Art is nothing new for Brian. His artistic skills were discovered by his 4th grade teacher in Miami, FL and he’s had a passion ever since. Brian attended art programs throughout elementary school, middle school, high school and later graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2009 with a degree in Industrial Design. His industrial-focused career left his desire to paint on the back burner as he pursued his dream job as a Sr. Automotive Designer at Kia Design Center America. Through his car design endeavors, Brian has had the privilege to design multiple Kia cars and travel around the world to present his work.

In 2015, Brian discovered his acceptance of faith in Jesus which ultimately reignited his passion for creativity and the desire to create alongside God. This re-emergence of artistic life started by addressing the “elephant in the room.” For the first time in his life, Brian was able to connect his love for art, his community, and Jesus together to form The Faces of Santa Ana, a non-profit organization that focuses on homelessness and the rehabilitation of our neighbors in Santa Ana, CA.

As Brian continues to pursue his devotion for art, his private collection of work is inspired by his relationship with the Creator and the beauty that he finds in nature. (Fun Fact: Brian loves nature and animal shows.) Brian has currently expanded his portfolio of services to include personal commissions, large-scale murals and public speaking engagements.

Jay and Natalie Hewitt

Jay Hewitt is an Ironman battling brain cancer. He has become a resilience expert through his own experience and achievements. He has learned how to overcome the odds and believes anything is possible. As a national speaker, he enjoys helping others find opportunity in obstacles, strength and in weakness.

Jay is a pastor in Orange County, California. He and his wife Natalie are enjoying being young parents, and their daughter Hero has enough energy to light up the world and keep her parents busy as they try to keep up.

Natalie is a literature professor and Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Hope International University. She believes that textual materials have the power to transform lives. Her ultimate teaching goal is to expose students to higher levels of critical thinking and literary analysis. With an expertise in Shakespearean and Gothic literature, she extends her hermeneutical approach to help others interpret all kinds of textual materials: from historical documents to works of fiction and film.

For All Seasons

For All Seasons began as a group of friends in college that started a band with a shared passion for serving Jesus, making music and using their gifts to serve others. They write songs from their personal stories, placing an emphasis on fusing biblical truth with the passionate expression of original music. 10 years and six records later, the heart is still the same: to lead you in authentic worship and encourage you to worship God with honesty and surrender — because a genuine encounter with the living God will truly change your life forever!

Vivian Mabuni

Vivian Mabuni is a national speaker, author, bible teacher and podcast host. Her writing has appeared in Christianity Today, SheReadsTruth, Our Daily Bread and Propel Sophia, and her teachings have been featured on the YouVersion Bible App’s “Verse of the Day”. With over 30 years on staff with Cru, Viv loves teaching about the Bible and its practical application to ministry and life. She has been a keynote speaker at IF:Gathering, QCommons, Cru Winter Conferences, and Family Life’s “Weekend To Remember." Author of Open Hands, Willing Heart, she also serves on the Board of Trustees for Denver Seminary, and is the founder and host of “Someday Is Here” — a podcast for AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islanders) leaders. Viv loves drinking coffee with her husband of 31 years, Darrin, and marveling at their three young adult kids and brand new daughter-in-law.

Grace P. Cho

Grace P. Cho is a Korean American writer, poet, speaker and a senior acquisitions editor at Revell, an imprint of Baker Publishing Group. She creates space for people to be known, nurtured and challenged through her work, and desires to elevate women of color’s voices in the publishing industry. Grace has authored several Bible studies and devotionals and most recently contributed to a powerful compilation called Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice.

David Francisco

Singer-songwriter David Francisco was riding his bicycle in Nashville in 2016 when he was t-boned by a distracted driver, which paralyzed from the waist down. He was told he would never walk again but through intense physical therapy, he not only learned to walk again but went back and finished the audio engineering school he was attending, reconnected and fell in love with his now-wife Kristi, and has found purpose in sharing his story to inspire and encourage students all over the world. He encourages students to own their choices, on and off the road, and has received amazing feedback from students and teachers alike.

Rev. Dr. Swarup Bar

Sponsored by the Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today

The Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today is excited to present Rev. Dr. Swarup Bar, our Global Scholar in Residence, this Fall from October 5th through October 14th. Dr. Bar comes to us with an extensive list of accomplishments and experience, such as, but certainly not limited to, a doctorate in systematic theology from the University of Edinburgh (UK), and expertise in pneumatology, ecclesiology and Christian theologies. As an author and associate professor of theology, Dr. Bar has dedicated his work to the movements of the Holy Spirit within the country of India, resulting in deeper explorations of what this might mean for its people, its ecumenical landscape, and its relevance to the global Body of Christ.

Dr. Katrina Greene

Sponsored by Cook School of Intercultural Studies

Dr. Katrina Greene directs the international development minor and emphasis/concentration within the Cook School of Intercultural Studies (CSICS) at Biola University. She is a socio-cultural and applied anthropologist who has conducted ongoing field research among women, including female entrepreneurs, in the black townships of Cape Town, South Africa since 1997, including doctoral research as a Fulbright Scholar. She attends Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, CA, where she is active in the Mass Choir, Women’s Ministry and Single Adults Living Triumphantly (SALT) Ministry.

Kevin McGill

Kevin McGill is the lead pastor at Harvest Community Church, a multi-ethnic church in Orange County, and has served in pastoral ministry for nearly 20 years. He received his Th.M. at Dallas Theological Seminary. A native of central California, he comes from a family passionate about creativity and the church. Kevin is a children's and young adult author and is passionate about the power of story through God's Word. Kevin is happily married to Jenny, and both are proud parents of Malachi. In his free time, Kevin enjoys writing, traveling internationally with his wife and son, running, and most recently, 3D printing.

Esther Hwang

Ogres are like onions. Onions have layers. Esther (though obviously) is not an ogre — is definitely an onion. Born, raised and still residing in Cerritos, CA, her experience growing up as a child to Korean immigrant Christian parents created complexities about her faith, heritage and culture that she would then later unpack in her twenties. Esther experienced a radical call to repentance during her final semester at UC Riverside in 2013, which led her to attending Talbot School of Theology where she obtained her Master of Divinity (in Pastoral Care and Counseling) in 2018. She's an avid believer in quarterly self-retreats, enjoys adventures of any kind and enjoys loving others through sharing her gift of empathetic counseling. Esther currently serves as the Associate Director of Commuter Life for Biola and is working on her second masters (M.M. Non-Profit) at the Crowell School of Business.

Joy and Todd

Joy and Todd have been living among — and learning from — an unreached people group in sub-Saharan Africa for nearly 27 years. With a degree in education and a Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, they currently lead a rural ministry team seeking to bring the gospel where it has not yet been heard. Based largely on Jesus' instructions in Luke 9, the team goes out two-by-two, walking from village to village, bringing newly translated portions of the Bible in the local language, praying for people in Jesus’ name, and sharing the Good News of Jesus in word and deed. They engage in health advocacy, provide lifesaving burn and wound care and participate deeply in the lives of their village neighbors. Although life and ministry in this context is complex and challenging, it provides a great place to see God’s hand at work, and experience his sovereign grace and consistent faithfulness. Hosting numerous interns over the years, Todd and Joy also pour into the lives of young people from around the globe, who learn what it means to work out their salvation in a completely non-Christian context as they purposefully and respectfully engage face-to-face, day after day, with those who do not yet know Jesus. As they experience the Holy Spirit working within and through them, many of their former interns have gone on to take up the call to bring the gospel to the hardest, most unreached parts of the world. Join us as we explore how God shapes his people when we follow him into the unknown, along potentially difficult paths.