Meet Members of Blessing of the Elders Steering Committee
Rev. A.R. Bernard Sr.
Pastor of the Christian Cultural Center
Rev. A.R. Bernard Sr. is the pastor, founder, and CEO of Christian Cultural Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Christian Cultural Center is one of the largest independent churches in the U.S. with over 37,000 members. A former banker, Pastor Bernard left his career to start the CCC with his wife, Karen. He represented 1.5 million Protestants, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians when he served as the president of the Council of Churches of the City of NY. Bernard and his wife built the CCC from a small bible study and their small community in Brooklyn to what it is today.
Tony Lowden
Pastor of Maranatha Baptist Church
Rev. Tony Lowden is currently the pastor at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Georgia and in this position, he is the Pastor of President Jimmy Carter. He is also the chaplain for the Secret Service in the southwest region of his state and a consultant for Hope for Prisoners. Raised in North Philadelphia in a single-parent home, Lowden attended the University of Southern California to major in Government and Economics. He then received his M. Div. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Lowden has held multiple leadership positions serving at-risk communities and civic organizations. Governor Nathan deal selected Lowden to serve as commissioner for the State Charter School Commission, on which he still serves today.
Mr. Jon Ponder
Founder and CEO at Hope for Prisoners
Mr. Jon Ponder is the founder and CEO at Hope for Prisoners based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. HFP is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide the formerly incarcerated with long-term support and mentorship as they return to their communities. Having been previously convicted and imprisoned himself, Jon Ponder was determined to create a program that could provide mental, physical, and spiritual support to men and women of all ages during the reintegration process. Hope for Prisoners was born in 2010 and has served over 3,500 clients to date. Jon Ponder was pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2020.
Dimas Salaberrios
Pastor and Film Producer
Pastor Dimas Salaberrios is a missionary, speaker, and co-founder and pastor at Infinity Bible Church in Bronx, New York. Infinity Bible Church’s mission is to serve at-risk youth in the Bronx. The Church’s efforts have significantly reduced crime in the area. He participated in New York City’s “Right to Worship” movement in 2012 where he organized prayer gatherings across multiple church congregations. Salaberrios is an accomplished film producer who has helped create powerful documentaries, such as Emanuel and Chicago: America’s Hidden War. Dimas proudly writes about conversion to the faith in his book, Street God, which details his journey from young drug dealer to reformed Christian pastor.
James Ward
Pastor at INSIGHT Church
Pastor James Ward is the pastor and founder at INSIGHT Church in Illinois. James Ward’s unique concept in the Zero Victim mindset has been sought after by government and corporate leaders to help resolve racial and socio-political issues in the United States. He emphasizes Biblical teachings and Christian leadership development in his public speaking career. Ward founded the Zero Victim Community Development Corporation, an apolitical activist movement, to protect vulnerable Black Americans. He and his wife of 21 years, Sharon Ward, have two children, Hannah and Jonathan.
Roland Warren
Founder and CEO of Care Net
Roland Warren is the President and CEO of Care Net, the largest network of pregnancy resource centers in the United States. He formerly served as president of the National Fatherhood Initiative and speaks regularly on the importance of marriage and fatherhood. A graduate of Princeton University and The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, Warren spent more than two decades in the corporate world before starting his non-profit. Roland Warren, through Care Net, empowers men and women to build strong families and choose life with the help of the Gospel. He and his wife, Dr. Yvette Lopez-Warren, have two children, Jamin and Justin.
Bishop Dale Bronner
Senior pastor at Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral
Bishop Dale C. Bronner is the founder and senior pastor of Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral, founded in 1991 and currently thriving with more than 19,000 members. Bishop Bronner finished as the top student in his field with a degree from Morehouse College, and continued on to receive a Doctor of Ministry degree from Christian Life School of Theology. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Bronner Brothers Manufacturing Company, a multi-million-dollar family-owned corporation. Bishop Bronner is an accomplished leadership trainer and author, as well as a sought-after public speaker. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife, Nina. The couple has five children, four daughters and one son, and two granddaughters.
Dr. Tony Evans
Senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship
Dr. Tony Evans is one of the most respected leaders and speakers in the evangelical community. He has served as the senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas for more than 40 years. During his time as pastor, the fellowship has grown from ten members in 1976 to over 10,000 members today. Dr. Evans is also the founder and current president of The Urban Alternative, which is a Christian bible teaching and resource ministry. Dr. Tony Evans began his radio broadcasting career while studying at Dallas Theological Seminary. His preaching became so popular and highly requested that he was invited to speak at the National Religious Broadcasters annual conference, and more radio stations aired his program. Today, his radio broadcast, “The Alternative with Tony Evans”, reaches more than 1,400 radio outlets and over 130 countries daily. Dr. Evans was married to his wife, Lois Evans, for more than 50 years. The couple has four children, 13 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren.