Steve Carter is the bestselling author of The Thing Beneath the Thing, a book about learning to allow God to heal our triggers, insecurities, and past wounds so we can experience spiritual health and wholeness.

Steve hosts Craft and Character, a Preaching Today podcast devoted to empowering pastors and church communicators who want to work on their craft while learning to lead with character. In each episode, Steve sits down with other ministry leaders to discuss the persistent need to pursue powerful communication alongside godly character and transformation.

He also believes in the power of collaboration and works hard to ensure all who desire to grow in their craft have access to the tools to do so. He utilizes his unique work experiences to serve as a coach at both personal and executive levels. As a personal coach, Steve is a consultant and mentor to communicators discovering their distinctive voice while launching their skills to the next level. As an executive coach, he guides organizations and businesses through transitional seasons, including succession processes and unexpected staff resignations.

Pastorally, Steve’s passion is to bring the way of Jesus into everything he does. From sanctuaries to board rooms to football fields, he believes every moment is brimming with redemptive potential. A gifted teacher, Steve spends his days crafting sermons, messages, blog posts, and books to encourage people in their walk with Christ. He describes his work as humbling and vulnerable—a soul-baring process that keeps him dependent, expectant, and grounded in Christ.

Steve serves as a teaching pastor at Forest City Church and regularly teaches at churches, conferences, and various businesses worldwide. He lives outside Chicago, Illinois, with his wife and two kids.

Lead Pastor of Crossway Community Church

Dave Ripper serves as the lead pastor of Crossway Christian Church in Nashua, NH, and as the chaplain of the Boston Bruins. He’s a graduate of Denver Seminary and recently completed his doctorate in spiritual direction from Fuller Theological Seminary and the Dallas Willard Center at Westmont College. Dave is the co-author of The Fellowship of the Suffering: How Hardship Shapes Us for Ministry and Mission (IVP, 2018), and of the forthcoming book, Reading Scripture Like Dallas Willard (IVP, 2025). He and his wife, Erin, a mental health therapist, have three kids and make their home in Dunstable, MA. When he’s not cheering for the Bruins, or quoting Dallas Willard, Dave is trying to climb all 48 of New Hampshire’s 4,000 foot mountains.

Executive Coach

Regional Vice President of Converge Northeast

Andy is a New England native who has spent the past two decades serving in ministry roles from church leadership, to nationally touring worship artist, to launching and leading conferences. He is now serving in as the Regional Vice President and Associate Director of Converge Northeast. Beyond his work with Converge Northeast, Andy often travels to speak, lead worship, and consult with churches. Andy is married to Bethany, his best friend and a remarkable woman of God. He has two children Josiah (20) and Mercy (18) that keeps his family laughing, praying, and rejoicing. Their beloved golden-doodle, Fenway, rounds out the tribe.