Meet The Team

Paul Earl Sheppard has been preaching since his teens and has been in pastoral ministry since 1982. He served as associate pastor of West Oak Lane Church of God in Philadelphia, PA for seven years and as senior pastor of Abundant Life Christian Fellowship in Mountain View, CA for twenty years. Presently, Pastor Paul serves as Senior Pastor of Destiny Christian Fellowship in Fremont, CA. Pastor Paul is a native of Philadelphia, PA. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania, the Center for Urban Theological Studies, and the Southern CA School of Ministry, from which he earned a Master in Ministry degree and was later honored with a Doctorate of Divinity. An effective communicator of God’s Word, Pastor Paul is widely known for his practical and dynamic teaching style which helps people apply the timeless truths of Scripture to their everyday lives. He serves as speaker for the radio and online broadcast Destined for Victory. He’s also an author whose books include Rebuilding What the Enemy Almost Destroyed, Why God Created Dads, and Build a Bridge and Get Over It.  He and his wife, Meredith, have been married since 1982. They are the proud parents of two adult children who work alongside them in ministry, Alicia Greer and Aaron Sheppard.

Dr. Michael Youssef was born in Egypt and lived in Lebanon and Australia before coming to the United States and fulfilling a childhood dream of becoming an American citizen. He holds degrees from Moore College in Sydney, Australia, and Fuller Theological Seminary in California, with a Ph.D. in cultural anthropology from Emory University. He founded The Church of The Apostles in 1987 with fewer than 40 adults with the mission to "Equip the Saints and Seek the Lost." The church has since grown to a congregation of over 3000. This church on a hill was the launching pad for Leading The Way's international ministry. While heard by millions at home and abroad, behind every message preached over the airwaves is a pastor's heart, longing to feed and care for people. God has gifted Dr. Youssef with a bold voice to bring Biblical clarity to today’s issues and speak to a worldwide audience. The path he has walked has given him a thorough cross-cultural understanding and a firm grasp of Scripture. Leading The Way claims Dr. Youssef as the ministry's number one volunteer. He receives no compensation for his time, nor does he receive royalties from the sale of any of the resource materials he produces. Dr. Youssef has authored more than 50 books, including popular titles Saving Christianity, Never Give Up, Is the End Near?, and Life-Changing Prayers. He and his wife reside in Atlanta and have four grown children and 14 grandchildren.

Chip serves as CEO & Teaching Pastor of Living on the Edge – an international teaching and discipleship ministry. For over thirty-five years, Chip has pastored churches ranging from 60 to 6,000 and served as president of Walk Thru the Bible. Chip holds an M.S. degree from West Virginia University and a Th.M. degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Founder and host of Turning Point for God and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church, David Paul Jeremiah, was born February 13, 1941, in Toledo, Ohio. He is one of four children born to James and Ruby Jeremiah. During his childhood, his family moved to Dayton, Ohio, where his father, James T. Jeremiah, served as Pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church. In 1953, the Jeremiah family moved to Cedarville, Ohio, when his father became the President of Cedarville College—which is now Cedarville University.

Al was born in Panama City, Florida in 1955. His father was a career soldier, so the family traveled extensively. In 1973, when Al was seventeen years old, the family returned from a tour in Germany and settled in Colorado Springs. Soon after, Al realized God’s call on his life and began serving in the music ministry as a bass guitarist with a Christian band called, “The Rays of Light.” It was during this time that Al met Norma, and they were married on July 19, 1975. Al attended Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, graduating in 1977 with a degree in Biblical Studies. Several years later he visited Calvary Chapel, which had opened across the street from where he worked. After attending one service, he was hooked, rejoicing to be taught the Word of God.

Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship with campuses in California and Hawaii. He began his pastoral ministry at the age of 19 by leading a Bible study of 30 people. Since then, God has transformed that small group into a church of some 15,000 people. Today, Harvest is one of the largest churches in America, and consistently ranks among the most influential churches in the country.