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GOD WHO? 2012 SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
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Ed Litton has been the senior pastor of First Baptist North Mobile since July 1994. Prior to coming to North Mobile, Ed served as a home missionary appointed to work in the evangelism office of the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention. From there, he and his wife, Tammy, moved to Tucson and founded the Mountain View Baptist Church. Almost seven years after that work had been established, God led Ed to come to North Mobile as senior pastor. Ed holds a B.A. in Religion & Theatre from Grand Canyon University, a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ed and Tammy have 3 children: Josh, Tyler, and Kayla. Ed was married to Tammy for 25 years when she was killed in an automobile accident August 16, 2007.
After a period of God's grace and healing, Ed married Kathy Ferguson, widow of Pastor Rick Ferguson, who was also killed in an automobile accident. Ed continues to push harder and harder for the Kingdom of God, and North Mobile is proud to have him as its pastor.
Ed was recently a guest star in the new 2012 movie "Courageous."
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George was born the third child of Walter and Lena Anderson in Mobile, Ala., on Sept. 20, 1957. Growing up near the Gulf of Mexico, Georga naturally became actively involved in water sports at an early age. But at the age of 16, something happened that would change his life forever. At a revival meeting at the First Baptist Church of Satsuma, Ala., George accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. From that moment, he possessed an overwhelming desire to share with others the Good News of salvation "by grace through faith!" At the age of 19, while attending the University of Mobile, George heard a very distinct call from God to pursue full-time Christian ministry.
George responded to that call and began preaching at the Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Mount Vernon, Alabama. After graduating in May 1979 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion, he soon married Deborah Huff of Mobile. After their August wedding, George and Deborah became very involved in church at First Baptist of Satsuma, where George served as a deacon, a Bible teacher, and the director of Royal Ambassadors.
In August 1980, the Anderson moved to New Orleans, where George enrolled at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. While in Seminary, George pastoredthe O'Zion Baptist Church in Meadeville, Miss., and worked as a supervisor for the United Parcel Service. In New Orleans, George participated in street ministries in the French Quarter and other areas throughout the city. It was also while living in New Orleans that the Andersons became parents of their first child, Candace.
In 1983, George graduated from Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree in biblical studies. That same year, he was called to become associate pastor of the Warrington Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., where his primary responsibilities revolvedaround a mission of the church, the Bayou Grove Baptist Mission. This inner-city mission church grew from a few workers borrowed from the sponsor church, to a Sunday School attendance of over 80.
After serving in Pensacola, Fla., the Andersons were called to their home church FBC of Satsuma, where George was appointed minister of students. At FBC Satsuma, George initiated a new ministry known as the "YACHT CLUB" (Youth Actively Communicating His Truth). This ministry facilitated the training and involvement of young people in personal evangelism. Meeting every Wednesday night, this ministry attracted as many as 100 teenagers to evangelistic study.
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In 1988, George accepted a call as postor of the First Baptist Church of Samson, Ala. Over the course of five years, this church would grow from a Sunday School attendance of 120 to 375, with an all-time high attendance of 497 - all in a town of merely 1,900 residents. While in Samson, the Andersons were also blessed with two more children, Lana and Taylor.
In 1992, George left Samson to become pastor of the Frist Baptist Church of Graceville, Fla. Almost immediately after his arrival, this church began to experience real growing pains and soon added a second Sunday morning worship service.
Since 1993, George has served as pastor of the Sage Avenue Baptist Church in Mobile, Ala. Sage Avenue Baptist has been the recipient of two Eagle Awards, given by the Sunday School Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in recognition of excellence and record growth. In May 1998, George graduated from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Minstry degree in evangelism and church growth.
To this day, George still enjoyes water sports, along with tennis, softball, and other outdoor activities. His family continues to be one of his highest priorities, and he is deeply committed to five core values on which he bases his life, both professionally and personally: the authority of Scripture, the integrity of doctine, the priority of the mission, the quality of minstry, and the vitality of personal devotion.
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When he was 22 years old, the day after his college graduation Charles Billingsley packed up his red two-door Ford Explorer, attached a little trailer behind it and headed to a church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to perform his first professional concert. Almost twenty years later, after 24 records, 17 years of marriage, two children, and 3,000 concerts, Billingsley is releasing his 25th album. Never Forsaken, releasing early 2012, is a collection of songs ranging from recreations such as “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “Another Day in Paradise” to intimate autobiographical tracks like “Baby I Blinked,” as well as the impassioned truth-telling like “God So Loved the World” and the title track.
Eight years since his last solo artist album, Billingsley is excited to share Never Forsaken with the world, and its catchy tunes are served with a powerful message: “It’s a plea to the church,” Billingsley explains. “Look beyond the four walls of our buildings and get out there and love the world. It’s just a reminder to us all–God actually loves them as much as he loves me.”
Elaborating on that message is the album’s catalyst song, “God So Loved the World.” Written by Billingsley along with Keith Smith, Adam Lancaster and Tony Wood, the song serves as a wake-up call to the church: “Every preacher in the pulpit/Every cynic on the street/Every poet/Every pauper/Every soldier/Every lawyer…God so loved the world.”
Billingsley, with his with his wife Shae and their two boys, recently took an eye-opening trip to Guatemala along with the humanitarian organization Causelife. During their visit, as they journeyed through numerous villages in dire need of fresh water, Billingsley’s inspiration deepened to help build wells across third world countries.
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This trip also grew the inspiration for his new project, especially for its title track. “The song ‘Never Forsaken’ is for those people in the world who are hungry, lost, afraid, malnourished, thirsty, who cry out every day for something called hope,” he shares. “They won’t hear this album. This record is for the people who will hear it to do something about it.”
Billingsley’s message for the record became clear: “Give away today, whatever that means. Your love, time, money, talents, whatever it takes, let God use you.”
With a career spanning two decades, Billingsley has ministered to hundreds of thousands through his gift of song. Two years after graduating from Samford University Billingsley joined Christian music group, NewSong as their lead vocalist. In 1996 he moved on to begin his solo career and traveled the country, performing an average of 200 concerts a year. In 2000 and 2001 he and Shae were blessed with the births of their sons Caleb and Cooper, and when the boys were just babies the family decided to take a step of faith and move to Lynchburg, Virginia where Billingsley became worship pastor at Thomas Road Baptist Church and artist-in-residence at Liberty University, both led by founding pastor and chancellor the late Dr. Jerry Falwell.
In 2005 the family moved across the country to serve alongside Dr. David Jeremiah at Shadow Mountain Community Church and Turning Point Ministries in San Diego, California. Two years later the Billingsleys felt God’s call to return to Lynchburg where the family has been residing ever since. In addition to his roles as worship leader at Thomas Road and his involvement in the worship department at Liberty University, Billingsley has also taken on Red Tie Music, a music publishing company, and several small businesses on the side. Billingsley still makes time to minister to an average of 100,000 people each year by leading worship at conferences all over the country.
In 2009 the future of Charles Billingsley’s music ministry looked uncertain. An aggravated blood vessel burst on his vocal cords leaving the singer with a sizable polyp. Billingsley was told he would have to undergo surgery to remove it and no other options existed. With many fearful questions arising about his voice, questioning if he’d ever be able to sing again, the night before his surgery friends gathered to pray over him. The last man to pray put his hand on Billingsley’s throat and said, “If you never sing again, will you still love God? Will you still serve God? Will you still worship God?” Billingsley replied, in a moment of pure transparency, “I think so.” After surgery and five days of silence Billingsley’s vocal cords healed. Two weeks later he did a concert. Through that faith-trying experience he was reminded that the source of his song is God alone.
“God used that polyp on my voice to refocus me,” Billingsley said. “Before that polyp, I used my voice for success. Now I want to use it for significance.”
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The name Babbie Mason is synonymous with creative excellence in gospel music. One of the nation's most popular singer-songwriters, her ministry and career have blessed countless lives for almost three decades. The daughter of a Baptist pastor, Babbie learned to serve others early in life. From her days as a childhood pianist and choir director in the Lilly Missionary Baptist Church, in Jackson, Michigan, her feet barely touched the pedals of the piano. She often acccompanied her father, the late Rev. George W.Wade, as he preached at home and at churches across the Great Lake States. Those humble beginnings have paved the way for ministry that has taken Babbie Mason around the world where she has sung on such stages as numerous Billy Graham Crisades worldwide, The Crystal Cathedral, The Grammy Awards and Carnegie Hall. Her gifts and talents have brought her before such notorious personalities, preachers and presidents as Bishop T.D. Jakes, Presidents Carter, Ford and Bush, Lady Margaret Thatcher, Bill Cosby, NBA great, Michael Jordan and comedian Jeff Foxworthy.
An award-winning performer and composer, Babbie Mason's heart-felt lyrics and singable melodies have been translated in over twenty languages. She is the recipient of two Dove Awards for her singing and songwriting abilities,and was honored by the Gospel Music Association for the Gospel Recorded Song of the Year and Musical of the Year. A host of other awards and recognitions line her walls, including eleven Dove Award nominations, nominations for the Grammy and the Stellar Awards, including nominations for Female Vocalist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year. Most recently, Babbie Mason received two distinguished awards; The Thomas Dorsey Award, bestowed upon her by the Atlatnta Gospel Choice Awards and Mainstream Female Vocalist of the Year, given to her by The Christian Music Hall of Fame. Babbie is a prolific recording artist with twenty-four recorded projects to her credit.
Babbie's most recent endeavor is a worship event for women called, Embrace. With an ever increasing passion for women's ministry, Babbie speaks to mothers, daughters, sisters and girlfriends and leads worship in this ninety minute concert.
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Women all over the country have encountered Jesus Christ in an atmosphere of encouragement, acceptance, forgiveness and love. At each Embrace event women worship together, rejoice together, hear the stories of other women and are encouraged by the fellowship of Christian sisterhood.
Although Babbie Mason is known all over the world for her music, she remains humble, recognizing where her blessings come from. She doesn't hesititae to share her knowledge and experience with up and coming music artists and songwriters. For the last twenty years she and her husband, Charles have hosted their own music conferences and workshops, most recently at The Inner Circle, where they mentor and minister together, imparting their knowledgeand experience with those desiring to enter the music ministry and business.
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Aaron was born and raised in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma . He grew up singing in church choirs and singing quartet music with his sister, mother and father. Aaron and his wife Malia are the proud parents of 3 boys and 2 girls and currently reside in Canton , GA.
Aaron has directed choirs and led worship all the way from New Mexico to Georgia. He is a licensed and ordained minister and is currently serving as the Worship Pastor at First Baptist Church - Canton.
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Since graduating from Jacksonville University and Liberty University, Scott has been teaching the Bible and pastoring in churches for nearly 20 years.
His life passion is to get the Word out. He is a family man who has had 18 thrilling years of marriage to Alison. Both Scott and Alison were born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and met at Liberty U.
He and Alison will tell you that their great calling and love in life is being the parents of their sons: Scott (11), Ethan (9), and Jonathan (8).
Scott and Alison reside in Ball Ground, Georgia.
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