KEC 2025
Main Speakers
Philip Graham Ryken
Dr. Philip Graham Ryken is the eighth president of Wheaton College, where he studied English literature and philosophy. During his presidency, Wheaton has advanced the strategic priorities of deepening ethnic diversity, enhancing music and the performing arts, and globalizing a Wheaton education. Positive results include a more diverse campus community with students representing more than fifty countries, the state-of-the-art Armerding Center for Music and the Arts, and more than $400 million in new giving for scholarships and other priorities.
Dr. Ryken earned a Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Theological Seminary and a doctorate in historical theology from the University of Oxford. He preached at Philadelphia’s historic Tenth Presbyterian Church from 1995 until his appointment at Wheaton in 2010.
President Ryken has published more than 50 Bible commentaries and other books and has served as a board member for The Gospel Coalition, the Lausanne Movement, and the National Association of Evangelicals.
WATCH Philip’S WELCOME VIDEO
Glen Scrivener
Glen is an award winning author and filmmaker who speaks around the world about the intersection of faith and culture. Originally from Australia, he was educated at Oxford and is now ordained in the Church of England. He has written 9 books including 321: The Story of God, the World and You and The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe In Freedom, Kindness, Progress and Equality. Glen is passionate about people meeting Christ and equipping Christians to share their faith. He’s often found speaking at Churches and Universities, in the studio producing online media or in his office, writing books and other evangelistic material. Glen is married to Emma, and they have a daughter, Ruby and son, JJ.
WATCH Glenn’S WELCOME VIDEO
Kirk Patston
Kirk has a background in speech pathology and Presbyterian ministry and has been lecturing at SMBC since 2000 where he is the Director of the Centre for Preaching and Pastoral Ministry. He’s interested in understanding the Bible well and applying it in a complex world.
Kirk and his wife, Lisa, share an interest in connections between art and faith and enjoy the creativity of the Springwood Presbyterian Churches.
They are the parents of two adult sons and Co-Founders of ‘Our Place Christian Communities’ – a ministry that builds capacity of churches in disability inclusion and nurtures mixed-ability residential communities in living relationships with local churches.
WATCH Kirk’S WELCOME VIDEOSpecial Guests
Anna Powell
Anna Powell is married to Morgan and they have two delightful daughters. They served for 13 years in South America with SIM, in Ecuador and Peru. Since returning to Australia, Anna has continued to work with SIM International, as their Learning and Development Consultant.
Anna will be giving three short biographical talks over the weekend. These talks are for our encouragement, emphasising what it means in real-life, practical terms, to put the Kingdom as top priority in our lives.
WATCH Philip’S WELCOME VIDEO
John Lennox
John Lennox MA MMath PhD (Cambridge) MA DPhil (Oxford) DSc (Wales) MA Bioethics (Surrey) is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford, Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science and Pastoral Advisor at Green Templeton College and former Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School.
John has written extensively on the interface between science, philosophy and theology, and recent titles include: Can Science Explain Everything? Where is God in a Coronavirus World? 2084: Artificial Intelligence and The Future of Humanity, and Cosmic Chemistry: Do God and Science Mix? He has also been involved in high-profile public debates with Richard Dawkins, Peter Singer and the late Christopher Hitchens. He has done many lectures, interviews and debates for the Veritas Forum, particularly in the USA. He is a Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum.
John and actor Kevin Sorbo featured in a full-length documentary film entitled Against the Tide made by Pensmore Films and Kharis Productions. He recently did an invited interview with Dr Jordan Peterson.
He is married to Sally. They have three children and ten grandchildren and live near Oxford.
John will be joining us virtually, live from the UK on Friday night. In this interview, John will discuss the topic of ‘Christians & Worldliness’, looking at the most profound challenges Christians face in our culture and understanding where the opportunities for powerful Christian witness lies.
WATCH Glenn’S WELCOME VIDEOChildren’s Program Speakers
Quiz Worx
Quiz Worx loves sharing Jesus with kids everywhere! Most of the time we do that by performing our live, Bible based, engaging puppet shows in schools (bookings are now OPEN for Easter 2025 assemblies!) But over the Easter long weekend, we partner with KEC to bring wonderful truths about Jesus to the kids in the Primary Program. This year we will be looking at the Book of Acts and seeing that God’s mission for the Good News of Jesus to go the ends of the earth is unstoppable, and we are a part of that mission!
QuizWorx will be teaching the KEC Kids Primary Program.
WATCH Philip’S WELCOME VIDEO
Kohei Yamada
Kohei Yamada was born and raised in Japan. He had no contact with Christianity until age 21. However, the Lord brought him to Armidale and saved his life there. He finished uni and worked in an IT company in Japan for 2 years. Thanks to Covid, he married Grace via Zoom wedding (both were in separate countries!) and moved back to Armidale for MTS. Currently, he is studying at Sydney Missionary & Bible College and hoping to go back to Japan for God’s mission, where there is a great need for the gospel. His wife and two sweetest boys are his treasures. In his free time, he loves playing volleyball and reading/watching anime as a classic Japanese does.
Kohei will be teaching the KEC Kids Junior High Program.
WATCH Glenn’S WELCOME VIDEOJoshua Kim
Joshua Kim is currently studying his Masters of Divinity at Christ College. A long-awaited dream of his, having just finished his Electrical Engineering degree, Josh wasted no time in diving into formal theological training to eventually become a Biblical Scholar. He loves playing and listening to music as well as playing volleyball. He also has a keen passion for board games and debating about any topic, so he loves to strike a conversation about anything with anyone!
Joshua will be teaching the KEC Kids Senior High Program.
WATCH Glenn’S WELCOME VIDEO
Tim Edwards
Tim is currently studying at Moore Theological College while also serving as a student minister, working with youth and young adults, at Norwest Anglican Church.
Tim is married to his amazing wife Maddy, has a two-year-old son named Isaac, and a giant dog named Moseley. In addition to his family, Tim loves Jesus, talking to people about the Bible, and passionately supporting his favourite English football (soccer) team Crystal Palace.
Tim will be teaching the KEC Kids Junior High Program.
WATCH Glenn’S WELCOME VIDEOTim Edwards
Tim is currently studying at Moore Theological College while also serving as a student minister, working with youth and young adults, at Norwest Anglican Church.
Tim is married to his amazing wife Maddy, has a two-year-old son named Isaac, and a giant dog named Moseley. In addition to his family, Tim loves Jesus, talking to people about the Bible, and passionately supporting his favourite English football (soccer) team Crystal Palace.
Tim will be teaching the KEC Kids Junior High Program.
WATCH Glenn’S WELCOME VIDEO