STAND STRONG TOGETHER Conference Speakers

Jessica Anderson is a Deputy Political Director for Heritage Action for America. She comes to Heritage Action from the John W. Pope Civitas Institute in Raleigh, where she oversaw their outreach efforts, campaign and new media training. Today, you can find her identifying, equipping and training activists for Heritage Action on the ground throughout the country. She is a University of Florida graduate and an Army wife always on the move.

May be contacted at [email protected].

Leslie Beaver is a noted singer/songwriter/speaker and has been traveling and singing with her family ministry since the age of 3 performing duets, trios, and solos throughout National and International Television Networks such as TBN, the 700 Club, 100 Huntley Street (Canada), TV-40 (Pittsburgh, PA), Dove Broadcasting Network, TV-49 Network (Augusta, GA), Jeff Wood Ministries (Myrtle Beach, SC) and the former PTL Network.

While performing youth concerts across the country with her sister Natalie and watching God change lives, at the age of 22 Leslie began in a new direction competing in the Organization by holding several titles which led her to compete and make top 10, winning talent and interview award at the Scholarship Pageant. Sharing her platform of "Building Character and Self Esteem in our Nations Youth" across the state, Leslie felt a burden to reach out to the youth and let them know that "All things are possible if you just Believe" . . . To believe in the power of Jesus Christ, the only one who makes all things truly possible.

An EXALT, 2011, Vocal Finalist, through the years Leslie has had the opportunity to appear with: Miss America 1980 Salem, Miss America 2003 and other State Titleholders as a guest speaker/singer at several events as well as opening up in concert for Lee Greenwood for a political/patriotic event. Leslie is active in several political functions, appearing as the guest singer at the North Carolina State Republican Convention along with other Congressman and Senators. Leslie has also performed with her family at the Indy Racing League and NASCAR.

Now, Leslie continues to travel with her family to various churches across the country speaking/singing and holding youth concerts as well as appearing with her family on their Television Broadcast. The future looks bright as God continues to use Leslie to share of his love and compassion for those in need.

Just remember with whatever life brings your way, that if God brought you to it, he'll bring you through it.

Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths".

May be contacted at [email protected].

Rev. Mark Creech, L.D.H. Dr. Mark H. Creech currently serves as the Executive Director of the Christian Action League. He has held this position since November of 1999. Before taking this position, Dr. Creech served as a pastor for twenty years, ministering to six Churches: Davis Grove Baptist, Snow Hill, NC 1980-1982; First Baptist, LaGrange, NC 1982-1987; Harmony Baptist, Bunnlevel, NC, 1987-1989; Faith Bible Church, Little Genesee, NY 1989-1990; Antioch Baptist, Middlesex, NC 1990-1997 and Parish Memorial Baptist, Selma, NC 1997-1999.

Serving as a registered lobbyist in the North Carolina General Assembly, Dr. Creech meets regularly with State lawmakers to stop legislation ranging from attempts to promote a homosexual agenda to the advancement of more legalized gambling in the Tar Heel state. His efforts have also been responsible for getting some very important pro-family pieces of legislation through the General Assembly.

Although he wasn’t ordained until age 22, Dr. Creech has been preaching since age 15. His speaking engagements on behalf of the Christian Action League have him regularly criss- crossing the State, preaching relevant, dynamic, evangelistic and issue oriented sermons. William L. Tomlinson, Pastor of Arlington Baptist Church in Rocky Mount when Creech spoke there, said of him: “When Mark Creech spoke at our church it was like a one day revival.” North Carolina Representative Mitch Gillespie heard Dr. Creech speak at his home church and said: “I have been moved by his Holy Spirit inspired sermons. His ability to present the gospel of Jesus Christ and relate it to today’s times is a gift that is no question.” Chuck Kneely, a former State legislator, and former President of Citizens United Against the Lottery commented: “Mark Creech is a dynamic speaker with a wonderful mastery of the English language and a powerful message grounded in his profound Christian faith. His speeches are intellectually honest, carefully thought out and moving. Mark has the knack of blending humor, story telling and scripture into messages that motivate his audiences to act.”

[If you would like to have Dr. Creech as a speaker at your church or event, call the office of the Christian Action League of North Carolina at (919) 787-0606. Whether it's for a worship service, revival meeting, church or civic group, rally, etc. you won't be disappointed. (No honorarium required.) You can also email your request for a speaking engagement to [email protected]. A promotional DVD regarding Dr. Creech and his ministry with the Christian Action League are available upon request.]

The Executive Director of the Christian Action League has also written a nationally syndicated column for the American Family Association’s One News Now (www.onenewsnow.com). Various Christian periodicals and websites across the nation pick up the column and publish it.

Since Dr. Creech took the reigns of the Christian Action League, it’s visibility and impact in North Carolina and the nation have never been greater - enough to garner the attention of some great Christian leaders.

The late Dr. D. James Kennedy, Founder and President of Coral Ridge Ministries (www.coralridge.org), noted: “I applaud Rev. Mark Creech for his courageous and influential work for America as the leader of North Carolina’s Christian Action League. Mark has refused to sit silently as America’s moral foundations are steadily chipped away. By consistently taking his leadership and involvement one step further. Mark is making a powerful difference for Christ in America.”

Don Wildemon, Founder and President of the American Family Association (www.afa.net) has written: “From humble beginnings God has raised up Rev. Mark Creech as a voice in the wilderness that is now beginning to touch lives nationwide…There is no question North Carolina is a safer and more wholesome place to live because of the work of the Christian Action League. Under the leadership of Mark Creech, this organization is having a profound effect for family values.”

Dr. Richard Land, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention (www.erlc.com) has said: “Christian involvement in the moral life of our nation is a crucial imperative, not an option. While many fine ministries recognize this necessity, I believe the Christian Action League is one of the most effective local organizations in the country in bringing Judeo-Christian values to bear on our nation’s life. I am impressed continually by the breadth of involvement of this fine organization and by the astute and godly manner in which Mark Creech directs it. Without reservation, I can say that the call of Jesus to his disciples to be salt and light in their society is admirably fulfilled by Mark and this superb ministry.”

Dr. Creech has also been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards. In 1999, he received the national distinction of the Salt and Light Award for Outstanding Pastor, presented by Dr. D. James Kennedy and Reclaiming America for Christ (www.reclaimamerica.org). In 2002, the Chapel of Four Chaplains (www.fourchaplains.org), in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bestowed him with the Legion of Honor Award. And 2005, he was given the Heritage Award, presented by Congressman Walter B. Jones at the behest of Harvest Baptist Church, Goldsboro, NC, for the earnest contention of the faith in the political process.

Dr. Creech is married to the former Kim Doumar of Norfolk, Virginia. Their more than 32 years of marriage has produced two grown children, Matthew and Meredith. They have two grandsons, Camden Crocker and Wyatt Wright-Creech, and the latest addition to the family is their granddaughter, Eliana Creech.

May be contacted at [email protected] or (919) 787-0606.

Janet Critz is a native North Carolinian who came to the Charlotte area in 1979 to attend Presbyterian Hospital’s School of Nursing. She met and married her husband, Jimmy in 1980 and they will celebrate 32 years of marriage this year. Jimmy has been with Duke Energy for 35 years and is a Radiation Protection Specialist at the McGuire Nuclear Station. They have 3 wonderful children and are expecting their first grandchild this July. Their eldest son, James is 30 years old and is a residential contractor in High Point, N.C. where he specializes in remodeling and is the Operations Manager for Ned Eldridge Inc. Their second born son, John is 27 years old and is a Captain in the Marine Corps. He is a graduate of UNCC with a degree in Civil Engineering. John has been married to his amazing wife Sarah for six years and they are the proud parents of Janet and Jimmy’s first grandchild (baby girl Critz!). They are currently stationed in Hawaii, but hope to return to the east coast soon. John has served one tour in Afghanistan and will be deployed to Okinawa, Japan this spring. Their daughter, Janna is 24 years old and a graduate of Furman University. She is now at Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, M.D. where she is working on her masters in vocal performance and early music. Janet home schooled all 3 of her children through high school (19 years) and taught American History and Government to groups of high school students throughout the community. She is now retired from teaching, but stays active in her community. The Critz family have been residents of Union Co. for 26 years and 13 of those have been in Mineral Springs. Janet was first elected to the town council in 2001 and is now serving her third term. She has served on various county committees and worked directly with UNCC in partnership to create conservation zoning for Mineral Springs. Over the past decade she, along with the rest of the council and mayor, has worked to complete a 2 mile greenway connecting the towns most traveled thoroughfares. She believes that local government is one of the few remaining venues to serve as a true public servant and sees her position as an opportunity into ministry. Janet and Jimmy are members at Christ Covenant Church in Matthews. May be contacted at [email protected].

Mario Diaz, Esq., is Concerned Women for America's (CWA) Policy Director for Legal Issues. Mario has been with CWA for eight years and leads CWA's Legal Studies Department. His focus is on judicial nominations, judicial activism, and individual cases affecting our core issues (religious liberty, sanctity of human life, family, pornography, education, and national sovereignty).

He is a published writer. His columns have appeared on several media outlets including, The Washington Times, Human Events, WorldNetDaily and Townhall. He is a regular guest commentator on numerous radio and television shows, including, CNN and Voice of America, in both English and Spanish. And he is also a public speaker with experience in numerous conferences, including the well-known Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Mario obtained his Juris Doctor from Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law in Washington, D.C., and is an active member of the Maryland Bar. He has a Bachelors Degree in Science of the Recording Industry and Minors in Mass Communications and Marketing.

Mario serves as music minister for a Baptist Church in Maryland, where he lives with his wife, Jennyfer; his daughter, Mia; his son, Mario and new baby girl, Cara.

May be contacted at [email protected].

Tami L. Fitzgerald is the Executive Director of the North Carolina Values Coalition, a 501(c) (4) organization that is leading the charge to get the Marriage Protection Amendment passed in 2012. She helped organize the Referendum Committee—Vote FOR Marriage NC—and sits on its Executive Committee as the Chair. The purpose of the NC Values Coalition is to take the political initiative to promote and protect faith, family, and freedom in the political arena and to create a favorable political climate that will protect families—the basic building block of society in North Carolina. Ms. Fitzgerald is an attorney and has been a lobbyist for six years in the North Carolina General Assembly on business, religious liberty, and pro-family issues, and served as the Finance Director for the North Carolina Republican Party during the 2010 election cycle, where she headed up fundraising efforts.

Ms. Fitzgerald’s experience includes:

Fundraising/Legislative Good Will: Ms. Fitzgerald worked closely with the Republican Party Chairman and Republican legislative leaders to raise funds for the historical 2010 election, which resulted in Republicans taking the majority in both the House and Senate for the first time since 1898.

Lobbying: As a lobbyist in the North Carolina General Assembly for six years, Ms. Fitzgerald has lobbied on pro-family and Christian issues, as well as business issues. She has written many policy papers and articles concerning legal and social policy issues and has spoken across the state on public policy issues.

Marriage Amendment Campaign: As the Executive Director of the North Carolina Values Coalition, Ms. Fitzgerald successfully lobbied to get the Marriage Protection Amendment passed by both houses of the General Assembly. She leads the coalition of public policy and denominational organizations that is working on the ballot initiative campaign for passing the Amendment.

Attorney: Ms. Fitzgerald has received training from the Alliance Defense Fund and is serving as one of their allied attorneys. Most recently she headed a delegation of ADF Allied Attorneys who wrote an Amicus Brief in a case before the North Carolina Supreme Court which struck down second parent adoptions by same sex parents.

Ms. Fitzgerald has been married for 33 years and has two children in their early twenties. She and her husband attend church in Raleigh.

May be contacted at [email protected].

Mary Frances Forrester attended Butler University, Jordan College of Music and Wake Forest University. She is a 1962 graduate of WFU School of Cytotechnology. She has 28 years of political activism and humanitarian community service. Among her honors and awards are Johnson C. Smith University Committee of 100 Women, the North Carolina Republican Party Hall of Fame (2007), and the Gaston County Republican Award as a 2010 Cultural Warrior. She was one of seven national nominees for the Belle Chenault Award and the recipient of the North Carolina Medical Society Belle Chenault Award for political action as an advocate of the practice of medicine. She presently serves on the Board of Directors of Caromont Health, Inc. in Gaston County, NC.

Mary Frances has been a member of Concerned Women for America since 1988. In 1999 she organized CWA of North Carolina and has served in numerous leadership positions as well as serving as a member of the CWA Board of Directors in Washington, DC. In 2011 at the CWA National Leadership Conference, she was awarded the Steering Committee Member Award for 15 years of leadership service. She presently serves as Legislative/Media Coordinator and Associate Director of CWA-NC.

Mary Frances is an American Patriot who believes that patriotism is being personally responsible for the United States as a Constitutional Republic. She was a guest lecturer in the History Department of the University of Rome, Rome, Italy in December of 1999, defending the Electoral College and the 2000 Presidential Election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. She is a member of the National Association of Parliamentarians and the American Institute of Parliamentarians and serves not for profit organizations as a volunteer parliamentarian and organizational consultant.

She is a committed Christian and was a Sunday School teacher and youth leader for 25 years at First Baptist Church in Stanley, NC. She presently serves as church parliamentarian.

Married for 51 years to the late State Senator Jim Forrester, primary sponsor of the NC Marriage Amendment that will be on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot, Mary Frances continues to stand for Judeo-Christian values in the church, in the political process and in the public square. She and her late husband are the parents of 4 grown children and eight grandchildren.

May be contacted at [email protected] or (704) 263-8603.

Dr. Mark Harris A dynamic leader, a passionate preacher, and a tremendous visionary, Dr. Mark E. Harris serves as the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC. A native of Winston-Salem, NC, Dr. Harris graduated from Appalachian State University in 1987 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. Upon answering God’s call to ministry that same year, Dr. Harris enrolled at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC where he would earn both his Masters of Divinity degree and his Doctor of Ministry degree in Christian Leadership. Having served in youth ministry for a short time, in 1989 he was called to his first pastorate at Center Grove Baptist Church in Clemmons, NC, where God blessed in remarkable ways with unprecedented growth and relocation of the church campus. Answering God’s call in late 1999, Harris began as Senior Pastor of Curtis Baptist Church in Augusta, GA in January 1, 2000. Again, God blessed with phenomenal growth and facility expansion as the church entered a time of planning, construction, and occupation of a $7.4 million Preschool and Children’s building. Then, in July 2005, Dr. Harris answered God’s call once again, and came to his current post as Senior Pastor of the 3400 member First Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC.

Dr. Harris was married to Elizabeth Bates Harris on June 20, 1987. They have 3 children, Laura, John, and Matthew. As a gifted leader, Dr. Harris has served in many leadership roles in the local association, the North Carolina Baptist State Convention, and the Southern Baptist Convention. Along with serving on numerous committees and task forces, Harris served from 1999-2009 as a trustee of the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. During that time he served on the Presidential Search Committee, as well as Chairman of the Board from 2005- 2007. Most recently, Dr. Harris served as President of the NC Pastor’s Conference in 2008, Board of Directors for the Biblical Recorder from 2006-2010, and is currently President of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention.

May be contacted at [email protected].

Sheri Miller, State Director for Concerned Women for America of North Carolina (CWA-NC) and motivational speaker, Sheri is recognized for leadership with a servant’s heart, encouraging others through God’s Word and prayer. Sheri is the recipient of CWA National’s Prayer Chapter Coordinator Award, and Outstanding Prayer/Action Leader Award. Under Sheri’s leadership, the North Carolina State Steering Committee received CWA National’s Above and Beyond the Call of Duty Award.

A former television news weathergirl and morning show host, contestant, and Associate Director of A Touch of Elegance Christian finishing school, Sheri’s ministry business, Etiquette Classics, offers seminar life-skills-instruction in etiquette and manners. A U.C.L.A. Graduate in Communications and Mass Media Studies, during her college years, Sheri coordinated the Gerald Ford for President Campaign on campus and served as a Congressional Intern in Washington, D. C.

With a heart for prayer intercession and women’s ministries Sheri organized a CWA-NC Prayer/Action Chapter from her home in 1995, and continues to faithfully serve her chapter meetings, now at First Baptist Church Charlotte. Her testimony of prayer: “A Light in the Darkness” is the Family Voice featured article from the Chairman’s Desk (http://nc.cwfa.org), and her devotion presented at CWA’s Southeastern States Regional Conference, “Standing Strong Together” is published in CWA’s Prayer/Action Newsletter(June, 2009).

Sheri serves as a Bible Study teacher, and on several prayer teams, including the prayer team for North Carolina Representative Ruth Samuelson. She serves on the Board of Directors for Motivations Ministries. A former Resident Coordinator for Lois’ Lodge, Sheri supports the sanctity of life, and faithfully commits to pray at local abortion clinics when CWA-NC joins 40 Days for Life.

Sheri and her husband of 31 years, Tom Miller, a retired NBC Network News Anchor and currently a news announcer for WBT (CBS) radio, have resided in Charlotte for twenty years, and work together to support legislation that upholds traditional family and biblical values. The Millers homeschooled their daughter Elizabeth, an Elon University Graduate in Acting, who now resides in Los Angeles. May be contacted at [email protected] or (704) 542-6984.

Honorable Ruth Samuelson began her public service career on the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners in 2000.Ruth’s political determination and drive actually began in 1999 when she served as co-chair for the bond campaign in support of a new courthouse. As a member of the County Board she kept promises made to voters about the site and cost of the courthouse and has long been a champion of the restoration Little Sugar Creek Greenway – which largely thanks to Ruth’s perseverance the urban sections are scheduled to be completed in the Spring of next year.

As a member of the state House of Representatives since 2006, Ruth now holds the third highest position in the chamber – Majority Whip. Typically the job of a whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline and to ensure an accurate party count prior to important votes being taken. However, Ruth has redefined and expanded that role due to challenges presented in this year’s legislative session.

In her first year as Majority Whip the General Assembly passed 477 bills with 471 of them becoming law. She led the effort to overturn five of the 11 pieces of legislation vetoed by Governor Perdue that required identifying votes beyond her own political party.

Regarding the Woman’s Right to Know Act, Ruth’s comments (from her August 1st newsletter can be found on her website www.ruthsamuelson.com) following the veto override they are as follows: “…we overrode the governor's veto of the Woman's Right to Know Act. Prior to this bill's passage North Carolina was in the minority of states that required no special informed consent for women considering abortion. As a primary sponsor of that bill, I am proud to have been a part of something that will make women safer and abortion more rare in North Carolina.”

Ruth also serves as Campaign Chairman for the GOP House Caucus whose primary responsibility is to maintain a majority by recruiting quality candidates, protecting incumbents and raising substantial funds during a Presidential year election.

She received a B.A. in Speech Communications at UNC in Chapel Hill. She is involved in the Junior League of Charlotte, Sustainer Member; National Board of Peacemaker Ministries, Member; Speedway Charities, Charlotte Trustee; Central Piedmont Community College, President’s Council; Johnson C. Smith University, Board of Visitors; Catawba Lands Conservancy, Board of Counselors and most recently was selected to serve on the Board of Visitors for the UNC Institute for the Environment.

May be contacted at [email protected].

Dr. Frank Turek is a dynamic speaker and award-winning author or coauthor of three books: I Don’t have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, Correct, Not Politically Correct and Legislating Morality. As the President of CrossExamined.org, Frank impacts young and old alike at colleges, high schools and churches with hard yet entertaining evidence for Christianity. He hosts a hour long TV program each week called I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist that is broadcast Wednesday nights at 9pm and 1am Eastern on DirecTV Channel 378 (the NRB Network). His radio program called CrossExamined with Frank Turek airs on 144 stations every Saturday morning at 10 a.m. eastern. Frank also writes a column for www.Townhall.com and has appeared on many TV and radio programs including: The O’Reilly Factor, Hannity and Colmes, Faith under Fire, Politically Incorrect, The Bible Answerman, and Focus on the Family. He has debated atheist Christopher Hitchens twice. A former Aviator in the U.S. Navy, Frank has a Masters from George Washington University and a Doctorate in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary.

To help reverse the exodus of young people from the Christian faith, Frank conducts dynamic I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist outreach events on campus. At these events, Frank presents the evidence for Christianity, cross-examines arguments against it, and answers student questions.

May be contacted at [email protected].