Ron is the President and Founder of Teen Mania Ministries, a Christian youth organization that reaches millions of young people worldwide. Ron passionately declares the truth of the Gospel without compromise as he challenges teenagers to take a stand for Christ in their schools, communities, and throughout the world.

Raised in a broken home, Ron ran away at the age of 15 and became involved in drug and alcohol abuse before finding Jesus at the age of 16. The life-transforming impact of Christ inspired Ron to dedicate his life to reaching young people. After receiving both bachelor's and master's degrees in counseling and psychology, Ron and his wife, Katie, started Teen Mania in 1986 with nothing more than a hatchback car and a dream to raise up an army of young people who would change the world. He has received an honorary doctorate by Jerry Falwell from Liberty University and was appointed by President Bush to serve as an advisory member for the Commission and Drug free Communities from 2002-present.

Joel Johnson started preaching at the age of fourteen. Since then he has traveled to over fifteen nations around the world to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Joel underwent two years of ministry training at Abundant Life School of Ministry and in 1999 went through a yearlong speaking mentorship with Ron Luce (CEO and President of Teen Mania Ministries). Since 2000, Joel has co-hosted "Acquire the Fire" youth conferences.

In the past two years, Joel has ministered in over four hundred churches Worldwide. He has traveled speaking with such bands as Newsboys, Third Day, The Waiting, Petra, Gospel Gangstaz, and Project 86.  Joel's powerful testimony shows the power of God can take people through the hardest of times. As a young man he faced issues such as: growing up with an alcoholic stepfather, abuse, and obesity.  Joel's side-splitting humor, passion for God, and desire to see the church walk in holiness has blessed and challenged thousands around the world.

Mike Guzzardo grew up in Northern California. After turning his back on the Lord as a young teenager, God grabbed a hold of Mike’s life after high school and began to fashion in him a heart of uncompromising commitment to His savior. Upon graduating college with a degree in Business Administration, he spent the next six years serving full time at Teen Mania Ministries where he helped mobilize over 20,000 students and young adults for short term mission trips.

For the last several years Mike has dedicated the entirety of his energies to traveling the United States and the world inspiring people to a deeper commitment to Christ. Mike is a frequent speaker at conventions and conferences such as “Acquire the Fire” with over 200,000 in annual attendance. He has also proven to be a sought after speaker for retreats, camps and churches both domestically and internationally. Mike also just finished co-authoring his first book entitled “Battle Cry for My Generation” with Ron Luce.  Mike currently resides in Rockwall, Texas with his wife Alicia. His passion continues to be encouraging people to live with a whole-hearted commitment to Christ and to walk in the fullness of the potential that God has placed inside of them.

Grammy-nominated progressive rock act Leeland has been known to deliver songwriting beyond its years and worshipful rock so genuine it disarms the honest cynic. Often quoted as one of Christian music’s most gripping live bands, the 2006 debut Sound of Melodies and 2008’s Opposite Way quickly established Leeland as a leader in the worship community and beyond. While both previous albums were GRAMMY nominated and drew a combined eight Dove nominations, Leeland’s measure of success has always been the human heart. And now Leeland’s third album, Love Is On The Move is a landmark in the deepest sense. “For awhile, we were just this band from Baytown, Texas,” says lead singer Leeland Mooring, “and all we saw was our little church where God had been doing awesome and incredible things. But He’s really been opening our vision to all the hurting people, especially the poor, around the world and making it clear we should help by being a part of spreading His kingdom.”

About the Band: 

The Almost was created in 2005 as a side project of Aaron Gillespie, the drummer for the Christian metal band, Underoath. Though The Almost is very different in musical and lyrical style, the heart is the same: to reach hurting kids. The Almost’s first album, Southern Weather, sold over 200,000 copies within the first six months, reaching #1 on Christian Charts and #39 on the Billboard 200. Songs like “Amazing, Because It Is” and “Say This Sooner” have swept across the country filling the ears of thousands with an important spiritual message: grace.  According to the lead singer Aaron Gillespie, “grace is something that no matter who you are, where you’ve been or where you’re going, how bummed, sick, old, young, poor or rich- or whatever race you are- grace is something that people can’t live without.” Dusty Redmon, another band member feels the same, “It’s such a cool feeling being on stage and playing ‘Amazing Because It Is,’ and there’s 600 to a 1,000 kids singing along to ‘Amazing Grace, You know that a lot of those kids haven’t been to church in a while. It’s hard for me not to believe that God is doing something in moments like that. It’s really encouraging.”  The Almost is not shy in their faith as Gillespie explains, “I think God meant for us to be all things to all people and to tell people who we are as Christians. I’m a Christian, and my life should always reflect who I am…We have such a chance to make an impact”.  Vilardi, who plays lead guitar for the band agrees, “The only difference between us and the folks who live down the street who don’t believe in God is that I know who Jesus is and what He did, and they may not even care, but that’s my job. It’s my job to care, it’s my job to get out there and speak for, and speak to, wounded kids”.  The Almost’s latest album, “Monster, Monster” does just that, reaching kids right where they are at.  The raw, real sounds and lyrics of The Almost acknowledge although no one is perfect, there is a perfect savior.

 About the Band: 

In 2009, Thousand Foot Krutch takes a hard rock hammer the universal matter of hidden emotions-confronting what lies beneath us and, in turn, burning off some major tension on its fifth Tooth & Nail album, Welcome to the Masquerade.  “Take off your masks, and let's let it all out. Release what's undercover 'til the truth comes out,” sings front man Trevor McNevan on a title track that surges with action film adrenaline before cresting to a blunt spiritual admission: I'm not okay. "We all wear masks," says McNevan, setting the stage for his band's theatrical new work. "We hide what we don't want people to know we're thinking or feeling. And that's easy to get away with when life is so busy. A lot of times, we have no idea what's really going on in the life of the person right beside us."

Fireflight possesses the youthful exuberance of fellow female-fronted acts like Paramore and the Distillers, yet lead singer Dawn Michele's commanding vocals recall such bold proto-punk icons as Patti Smith and Runaways-era Joan Jett. From exceptional musicianship to melodic and passionate vocals, the band creates sonic tension that seesaws between anger and remorse, strength and vulnerability, fear and faith. While the production is crisp and the melodies undeniably catchy, the music barely contains the gritty emotional energy that bursts from every note. Fireflight, which self-released an album and EP before debuting nationally with 2006's The Healing of Harms (Flicker), spent years as tireless road warriors on the concert circuit. "We push it as heavy as we can without being metal," says guitarist Justin Cox, yet the band's natural melodic touches helped Harms score Christian rock No.1s with "Waiting" and "You Decide." Music aside, Fireflight is very real about putting their passions into action. The group actively supports causes like To Write Love on Her Arms, which addresses issues like cutting, and they're currently championing The Legacy of Hope International. "The heart of the band is to develop relationships with people," says Wendy, who uses the word "approachable" as a defining trait of the band. "We want to meet people and impact them on a relationship level, not just on a music level." Fireflight's music offers a haven for the accused and beaten down and an inspirational spark to trust and dream again. As the title track proclaims, for all those who are broken and have lost their way, there is a hope and love that is Unbreakable.

About the Band: 

University Baptist Church in Waco, TX was created in 1996 when David Crowder, while attending Baylor University, realized how many of his fellow students were not attending church. Crowder deeply wanted to find a way to connect these college students to the heart of God, so he began writing songs that he hoped the students at his school could relate to. A band began to form, and a few years and some new members later, the current lineup came into being and they all committed themselves completely to the ministry. The group is known for their rock/pop/inspiration/worship music that spans a whole range of spiritual emotions. It ministers to Christians while at the same time reaches and connects with non-Christians. 2005 has brought them two Dove Award nominations: Modern Rock Recorded Song of the Year for "Revolutionary Love” and Rock/Contemporary Album of the Year for The Lime CD. Although the David Crowder Band is comprised of six different individuals, they have all committed themselves to work together in an effort to give hope to those who have left the church, as well as those who have come back. They feel very blessed by the work God has done in their lives and look forward to what He has planned for them in the future.

About the Artist: 

From the Southside of Houston to a leader in the movement of urban reform, a rocky road provides a window into the grace Lecrae experienced through out his life, with every situation molding him into the artist and leader that he is today. As Lecrae continued to make his mark in the music industry, he realized the stage wasn't enough. He wanted to see deeper impact in urban culture. There needed to be a culturally relevant and biblically solid resource center to help train the next generation. Co-founding ReachLife Ministries in 2005, the non-profit organization exists to partner with organizations to equip local leaders with culturally relevant tools and media projects designed to strengthen communities with the word of God. Lecrae has released the groundbreaking album After the Music Stops and the first Christian Rap CD to ever sit in the No. 1 position on Billboard's Top Gospel Charts, Rebel. Rebel released in 2008 and claimed the No. 3 position on the secular iTunes Rap chart. Lecrae is humbled to be a part of leading others towards Christ so that lives can be changed forever just like his changed years ago. With new avenues and strategic partnerships Lecrae prays that the impact from Reach will spread far beyond simply the music and into the lives of believers across the world.

About the Artist: 

Canton Jones began singing at the age of 5 in a vocal group founded by his father. While attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Canton joined the school's renowned Glee Club. The club performed for celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Dr. Bobby Jones, and Ray Charles, as well as performing at high profile events such as the opening ceremony of the 1996 Olympic Games and at the first gospel concert ever held at the US Pentagon. In 2001, Jones launched his own gospel record label, CAJO Entertainment and independently released his first album, 2002's 20 Years, 3 Months & 12 Days, which chronicled his journey to salvation. He released his second independent album in 2004, The Password. Due to the overwhelming response, the Password was re-released nationally at the end of 2005 as The Password: Access Granted and earned him two Grammy nominations. Defining a new genre of music, Canton Jones is one of the most versatile vocalists of our time.  Self-styled with remnants of urban, contemporary, traditional gospel and "old school" flavor, Jones is fast becoming the rhythm & praise mega-force for a new generation. 

About the Band: 

Building 429 burst onto the scene in 2004 with their first project on a major label, Space in Between Us. The album’s breakout single, “Glory Defined,” was a record-breaker at radio, a chart-topper that earned the band a wide mantle of accolades and industry recognition. Topping eight separate charts and declared as BMI’s Song of the Year, the band went on to capture the Dove Award for New Artist of the Year. Now their INO Records self titled debut album, is a testament that the band is ready to go to the next level-spiritually, musically, and otherwise. You could say they’re starting over: with a clean slate, a reinvigorated sound, and a renewed message. Lead singer Jason Roy recalls, ‘People aren’t looking for hooky, poppy songs anymore. They’re looking for life. And life can only come out of an overflow of your relationship with Christ.’ But somber or jovial, rocking or inspiring, Building 429 is no longer operating from the perspective of trying to replicate past fortunes. More so than the music or the sound of things, the band wants fans to remember Building 429 as its most meaningful project thus far, a signpost that testifies to how much the group has come along in its ministry.

About the Band:

Unhindered is a community that is dedicated to tirelessly laboring to lead people to God. A band that has been forming since some of its' members were in high school, Unhindered released their first CD (City Streets. independent) in Fall of 2005 and have since sold over 20,000 copies. Led by front men Ben Smith and Patrick Barrett, Unhindered's unique ability to engage worshippers across age as well as cultural barriers has brought the group in front of churches and conferences nationwide. With a passionate heart for engaging students in worship, the band now travels across the United States declaring that not only does God want to be involved in students' lives while they are at church, but He also desires to play a huge part in their every day activities and decisions. "The same God that you sing to now, in church," says Patrick (Pat), "wants to play a part in every decision you make tomorrow at school, with your friends, at your job, wherever you are, in everything that you do." Leading over 8,000 people at their first international event in Ontario, Canada in the Fall of 2006, the band is excited and humbled by their quickly growing platform for ministry.

Success for Sanctus Real has typically been marked with massive radio singles, including six No. 1 songs and 11 Top 5 hits, albums that have marched up the Billboard sales charts, major tours with some of the biggest names in the business, or draped with various awards, including the Modern Rock Album of the Year Dove Award. Wholeness, family and unity are what Sanctus Real has always been about, but it has never been penned as effectively. Complete with gut-honest lyrics and feel-good melodies from the opening riff to the closing thought, a strong, unyielding sense of unity and community is woven through the very musical fiber of this much-anticipated new album.

 About the Band: 

The Texas-based band was propelled into the national spotlight with their INO/Sony Music Label Group debut I Wish We All Could Win. The project spawned the swirling, melodic hit "Beautiful Love," earning the band an enthusiastic following when the song was selected as the theme track for MTV's "8th and Ocean".  "Beautiful Love" was also the most downloaded track of 2006 on the iTunes Inspirational charts. Whether singing about a romance that sprouted at a burger joint or exploring the complexities of life's most vulnerable moments, The Afters never shy away from exploring every facet of life's amazing journey. "We want to transform and figure out what life is all about," says Dodd. "That transformation process can be a good thing." When that process inspires music this good, it's a great thing. "We really took our time writing this record,” said guitarist Matt Fuqua. “We really believe in every single song.  That was really important to us."

About the Band:

If you were in a genre-leading rock band that had sold nearly one million albums, tallied 10 No. 1 radio singles, 13 additional top five hits, a GRAMMY nomination, four Dove Awards and headlined nine national tours on your way to performing for three million people, what would you change about your band's approach? That's easy: Absolutely nothing. Yeah? But you're not Rob Beckley, founding front man and leader of Christian music's premier alt-metal-come-hard-alternative band. He knows change has played a recurring and pivotal role in Pillar's success since its formation. Lyrically, Pillar's new album picks up where the profound "Confessions Tour" left off. "Every song on this record could be broken down to 'If you just confess,'" says Beckley. "Confess your secrets." "I believe God's going to use these songs to touch people in ways I haven't even thought of," he says with both anticipation and humility. All things considered, Pillar may be more intentional about ministry than ever. One thing's for sure, Beckley & Co. are committed to mentoring an audience seeking deeper relationships with God and others by using confessions as an entry point for a real faith.

About the Band: 

The core elevating factor of the band's presence, much like on their debut record, is the commitment to lyrical innovation that showcases that willingness to strip the artifice of success away and focus their eyes (and through the music, the listener's ears) on the one, true wonder of the world. "As we've been playing the title song already, we'll usually stop in the middle of it and talk about the lines 'Father, how can it be that you are Father to me?' as well as all the other things mentioned: Savior, Healer, One who shows favor on me," Willis says. "I think back to all that time on the road and all the things that have happened over the past year, and I'm still amazed by those facts, that He is Father and Savior and Healer. He's been so faithful to us and at the very least, we should be that back to Him." "We always put our hearts and souls into the lyrics, because if we're going to be writing songs about God, they had better be true, they had better be good and they had better be honest," Huguley says. "It's that creativity in our lyrics and now our music as well, that shows where our progress has been.

As a rising force in the genre of contemporary hard rock, Disciple has achieved great strides by fusing an explicit Christian message with aggressive, well-orchestrated music. The band has released By God (2003), Rise Up (2005) Scars Remain (2006) and Southern Hospitality (2008); each one climbed the charts after its release. Out of these four albums Disciple produced six number one hits and four Dove Award Nominations. Lead singer Kevin Young believes in his music and what it’s doing in the lives of the listeners. “There are so many negative things that go on in life, and so many bands choose to sing about them and be really angry,” Young says. “I’m a supporter of freedom of expression and all, but we choose to express ourselves positively and hope that we can make a real difference on the world. We really feel like we were meant to do this.”

Before Esterlyn released their debut album, Lamps, they worked on the songs for over year to really give thought to their sound and the themes they wanted to address in the lyrics. In the end they discovered they were a pretty simple band. Their heartbeat is to be earnest and sincere in their music and to reflect that with their own form of melody. The lyrics on the album come from inside each band members heart. Each song portrays Christ’s persistent work in their lives and the experiences that make them who they are today. Lead singer Luke Caldwell puts his music like this, “I have a deep desire to write about hope, and wanting life to be more. That's ultimately where we got the title "Lamps". I was reading that verse in Matthew 5 about letting our light shine, and the idea of a lamp as a representation of that light came to mind. In the end, I think that's what we want to be about. Whether it's in who we are, how we tour, or what's in our songs - we want to be a light.”

About the Band: 

Abandon’s sound is a steady rush of uncommon creativity that has both modern flash and worshipful depth. According to ChristianityToday.com it has earned the band ranking among the “Best New Artists of 2008”. The music on Abandon EP reaches out with a rare blend of non-alienating spiritual commentary and artistic relevance. Additionally, the CD combines a message of thinking less about self and more about God points to the meaning behind Abandon’s name as well as its stellar closing track, “Atmosphere.” “We’re excited to talk with people about faith and relate to them on a musical level,” Josh concludes. “We love to see people changed, to bring peace and hope. At the end of the show, if people have more hope, we’ve done our job.” Their musical talent is not all they posses. They are also firm believers in making a change in this generation. Abandon befriended a band involved with the Seven Project, an outreach that visits schools to talk with students about seven different issues—sex, drugs, violence, alcohol, making good choices, etc. The conversations are nonreligious, but the weeklong process culminates with an off-campus rally and concert where faith is freely discussed.

Everyday Sunday has established itself as a staple in the touring market, building a reputation for enigmatic live performances that captivate.  And as predicted with the newest chapter of their journey, they have saved their best for the present chapter. “I guess the message of what we want people to think when they listen through our whole record is that we go through the same things as everyone else,” said lead singer Trey Pearson.  “We are passionate and excited and have fun.  But we believe and trust in a God who created us, gave us life, and sent His son, Jesus, to save us.  And there is absolutely no better way to live life and experience the amazing things in this life than to do it with God as a part of that life.  He can give you amazing things and amazing people in your life.”

On his debut album, Kingdom People, Tedashii a.k.a Tdot, communicates his heart with boldness and authenticity wanting listeners to understand that we are people with a purpose bigger than ourselves. Many have heard him on Lecrae's debut album "Real Talk", and on the 116 Clique Compilation album with tracks like Represent, In Ya Hood, and Impressed, but now with 19 tracks dedicated to unleashing what's been on this brother's heart you can expect a serious album. "Kingdom People to me is a look into the practical side of walking out our Christian faith. From a testimonial and very introspective view, I desire to encourage and challenge us, through my own experiences and struggles which a lot of believers also struggle with, to stand firm in our faith. With roots down in Houston, TX, Tedashii brings a distinct flavor you won't find anywhere else.  

Best known for his work as the producer of Stellar award winning, Grammy and GMA Dove award nominated Christian Hip Hop hits, "Who Am I?" (Da' T.R.U.T.H.) and Jesus Musik (Lecrae), J.R. was nominated for the first time this year as an artist for his Alternative/Pop hit single "Not A Slave," which he also performed to rave reviews on the 40th Annual GMA Dove Awards Pre-show, marking the official transition of his sound--as an artist--from R&B to Alternative/Pop.

Pop-vocal trio Kimber Rising formed in the fall of 2008, and is comprised of sisters Amanda and Brianna Wilcox, and Danielle Cruz. Since their inception, Kimber Rising has performed over 100 concerts and toured with Todd Agnew, Building 429 and 33Miles. Kimber Rising portrays what solid Christian artists should look like. Here is an excerpt of their beliefs and convictions. “We are who we say we are.  We're living what we sing about.  We're living what we write about.  People won't listen to what we say until they have watched what we do and found consistency. We offer our music because we are fully aware that this creative, musical, ministry endeavor is not about us but for Him.”

About the Artist:

Jonah Sorrentino, better known by his stage name KJ-52, is a Christian rapper from the United States. The "KJ" part of his name refers to his old rap alias, "King J. Mac," a name which he later described in one of his podcasts as "horribly cheesy." "52" (which is pronounced "five two", not fifty two) is a reference to the Biblical story of Jesus feeding the multitude with five loaves and two fish. He was awarded the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year for "Never Look Away" and Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year at the GMA Dove Awards of 2007. On July 28, 2009, KJ-52 released "End of My Rope," which is the first single for his album "Five-Two Television." KJ has released 6 albums and done a number of side projects.

Stephanie Smith is an artist who refuses to compartmentalize her life. She can't separate her performance from the song, or her life from the message. Her music, her faith, her calling are so intertwined it is impossible to discern where one stops and another begins. “Life is not about success,” she explains. “It is about following passionately after Christ. I know who I’m going to spend eternity with, so I want to use this life to follow hard and passionately after Him. That’s really what my music is about. It is a reflection of that pursuit. I have a heart to be something refreshing in Christian music, to be like a drink of cold water to a dry and weary generation that is turning on the apathy switch."

"I have one goal and one true destiny," Sarah Reeves declares with an urgency that is palpable, "and that is to bring people to the heart of God, to help them understand His love, His mercy, and the freedom and power of worship. My goal is to lead the nations into His arms. That's my calling." "Sweet, Sweet Sound," the title cut of her album, serves as an excellent primer for Sarah's music and ministry. The breezy, lilting, worship-inducing track is distinguished by Sarah's sweet vocals. There is an abandonment in her songs that compels listeners to dive deep into worship with her. Scripturally grounded songs like the rock-inflected, "Fresh Anointing," and yearning prayer songs like the sweetly melancholy piano ballad, "Come Save," flow in a seamless warp and weave to produce a beautiful tapestry of praise and adoration. The latter, a stand-out track inspired by 2 Chronicles 7:14, is a fervent plea for God's intervention in a broken world. As Sarah explains, "I want this world to know the unconditional love of Jesus. This is a cry of desperation that God would come save our land."

Following on the heels of the internationally acclaimed Glory, Manafest returns with a new mindset, refreshed style and a powerful arsenal of songs aptly titled, Citizens Activ.  "The record is about people taking action in their own lives.  We need to be inspired and active in chasing our dreams". Coming from humble beginnings Manafest has learned this lesson first hand, dramatically increasing record sales 5x over with the release of Glory.  It's the same unrelenting desire and refusal of stagnancy that inspired his message in Citizens Activ. Manafest has shared the stage with a very respectable handful of artists including Stellar Kart, Thousand Foot Krutch, Seventh Day Slumber, LA Symphony, Grits, DJ Maj.

The Spark is a worship project based out of Kenosha, WI. Their desire is to write and play worship songs that are not only relevant to today's culture, but provoke change and ignite passion for God in the hearts of this generation. "We believe that God chooses to use music and times of corporate worship as a means to draw His children closer to Himself, reveal His heart, and awaken a genuine desire for Himself in the lives of His church. Our desire is for people to experience the presence of God in our times spent praising and worshiping Him because we know that when they have a genuine encounter with the Living God, they will never be the same! There is so much more we know God wants to accomplish through these times of worship; such as establish unity in the church; bring healing, restoration and freedom to the lives of individuals; and cause an awakening and a sense of awe to arise within His people! These are the things we long to see and be a part of. It's all about Jesus, for his honor and glory, for the advancement of His kingdom, for His great renown." -The Spark