General Session Speakers

Mike is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 2001. He holds a doctor of medicine from the University of Pennsylvania and a master of divinity from Westminster Theological Seminary. Prior to joining CCEF, Mike worked as a family physician for eleven years. He has particular interests in working with ministry leaders and with those who struggle with anxiety, depression, and OCD. He has published numerous books, including CrossTalk (New Growth Press, 2009), Descriptions and Prescriptions (New Growth Press, 2017), and Saints, Sufferers, and Sinners (New Growth Press, 2021).

Gunner is the Dean of Faculty at CCEF, where he has served since 2024. He holds a PhD in biblical theology from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and a master of theology and master of divinity from the Master’s Seminary. Prior to joining CCEF, Gunner served as a lead pastor for seven years, after working for fifteen years in Christian higher education as a resident director, director of student life, associate dean of men, and biblical counseling professor. Gunner has a passion for helping believers live consciously in the story Scripture tells, equipping the local church for interpersonal ministry, strengthening pastors, and biblical preaching and teaching. He has published the Psalms notes for The Grace and Truth Study Bible (Zondervan, 2021), What If I Don’t Feel Like Going to Church? (Crossway, 2020), and numerous essays and articles on the Psalms and adoption.

Nancy (MATS, Reformed Theological Seminary) teaches the Bible at her home church, Cornerstone Presbyterian Church, in Franklin, Tennessee, as well as at conferences around the country and internationally, including through her Biblical Theology Workshop for Women. She is the author of numerous books and the host of the Help Me Teach the Bible podcast from The Gospel Coalition. She and her husband founded Respite Retreats for couples who have faced the death of a child, and they’re cohosts of the GriefShare video series.

Steve is the Executive Director of Biblical Counselling UK. For nearly twenty years he was the senior minister of Christ Church Cambridge, where he continues to serve on the staff part time. Steve is a board member for CCEF and on the board of directors of the Biblical Counselling Coalition. He came to Christ in his first year as a medical student and, after qualifying as a doctor, he worked and trained in psychiatry. Steve has coauthored The Heart of Anger and Mental Health & Your Church, and most recently he is the author of Understanding Trauma:A Biblical Introduction for Church Care. He is married to Beth and they have three adult children.

Aaron is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 2008. He holds a master of science in marital and family therapy from Fuller Theological Seminary and has earned counseling certificates from CCEF. Aaron is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) and has counseled in community mental health, psychiatric hospital, and outpatient settings. He has a passion for building strong relationships with local churches and coming alongside pastoral ministers through consultation, training, and counseling services. In addition to his work at CCEF, Aaron serves on the board of CCEF Montana, an affiliate counseling office in Billings, MT.

Darby is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where she has served since 2003. She has a master of divinity with a counseling emphasis from Westminster Theological Seminary. Darby brings particular passion and expertise in helping the vulnerable and oppressed, especially women in abusive marriages. She has contributed to Church Cares and the PCA Domestic Abuse & Sex Assault church training materials. She has counseled in a missionary church setting and has also held leadership roles in women’s ministry. She is the author of When It's Trauma (P&R Publishing, 2025), Is It Abuse? (P&R Publishing, 2020), has written a handful of minibooks, and has contributed to several other books.

Ed is a faculty member and counselor at CCEF, where he has served since 1981. He holds a doctor of philosophy in counseling (neuropsychology) from the University of Utah and a master of divinity from Biblical Theological Seminary. Ed is a licensed psychologist and has been active in local church ministry for decades. He has written numerous books, including When People Are Big and God Is Small (P&R Publishing, 1997), Shame Interrupted (New Growth Press, 2012), Side by Side (Crossway, 2015), and Created to Draw Near (Crossway, 2020).