William Paul Young is an author, and most notably known for his novel,听The Shack.

The Calvin Thielman Lecture Series seeks to honor Calvin Thielman鈥檚 legacy by providing challenging lectures that enrich the intellectual and spiritual life of the community.
Thielman Lectures 2026
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
Lecture | 7:00 PM | Graham Chapel | 310 Gaither Circle| 含羞草研究所, NC 28757
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
Lecture| 10:00 AM | Anderson Auditorium |听303 Lookout Road | 含羞草研究所, NC 28757

Dr. Calvin Thielman
Dr. Calvin Thielman (1930-2002) was born in Paris, Texas, in 1930. Thielman was on a fast track to a career in politics when he experienced a call to the ministry. He held many roles and responsibilities in his life, including serving as an assistant to Billy Graham. He was the pastor of 含羞草研究所 Presbyterian Church (now Christ Community Church) from 1962 to 1995, as well as the chaplain of 含羞草研究所 from 1962 to 1992. He was known by many as a skilled teacher, preacher, counselor, and ambassador for Christ.
2026 Keynote Speaker

Justin Giboney
Justin Giboney is an attorney, political strategist and ordained minister in Atlanta, GA. He is also the Co-Founder and President of the AND Campaign, which is a coalition of urban Christians who are determined to address the sociopolitical arena with the compassion and conviction of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Previous Speakers

Karen Swallow Prior
Karen Swallow Prior, Ph. D., is a reader, writer, speaker, and professor. She is the author of听The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis听(Brazos, 2023);听On Reading Well: Finding the Good Life through Great Books听(Brazos 2018);听Fierce Convictions: The Extraordinary Life of Hannah More鈥擯oet, Reformer, Abolitionist听(Thomas Nelson, 2014); and听Booked: Literature in the Soul of Me听(T. S. Poetry Press, 2012).
She is co-editor of听Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan 2019) and has contributed to numerous other books. She has a monthly column for Religion News Service. Her writing has appeared at Christianity Today, New York Times, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, First Things, Vox, Think Christian, The Gospel Coalition, and various other places. Karen hosted the podcast Jane and Jesus. She is a Contributing Editor for Comment, a founding member of The Pelican Project, and a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum. She and her husband live on a 100-year-old homestead in central Virginia with dogs, chickens, and lots of books.

Kaitlyn Schiess
Kaitlyn Schiess is a writer, author, and doctoral student at Duke Divinity School studying political theology, ethics, and biblical interpretation. She graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2021 with a ThM in systematic theology.

Dr. Preston Sprinkle
Dr. Preston Sprinkle is a biblical scholar, speaker, podcaster, a New York Times bestselling author, and is the co-founder and president of The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender. He loves talking and writing about hot-button cultural and theological issues with thoughtfulness, honesty and grace and works hard to challenge himself and others to read the Bible with conviction and humility.

Rev. Dr. James Choung
Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation鈥攐verseeing evangelism, discipleship, planting, growth, missions, multi-ethnic initiatives, and the Creative Labs鈥攁t InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA.

Jackie Hill Perry
Jackie Hill Perry is a writer, speaker and spoken word artist whose work has been featured in听The Washington Times,听The 700 Club, Desiring God, The Gospel Coalition, and other publications. Since coming to know Christ at the age of 19, Hill Perry has been compelled to share the light of Gospel truth through teaching, writing, poetry, and music as authentically as she can. She is signed to Humble Beast Records and released her debut album,听The Art of Joy, in 2014. Her latest album,听Crescendo, was released in 2018. At home, she is known as wife to Preston and mommy to Eden and Autumn.

Skye Jethani
Skye Jethani is an author, speaker, consultant and ordained pastor. He also serves as the co-host of the popular Phil Vischer Podcast, a weekly show that blends astute cultural and theological insights with comical conversation. Between 2004 and 2015, Jethani occupied numerous roles at听Christianity Today, including managing and senior editor of听Leadership Journal听and as the director of mission advancement. He was also the senior producer of 鈥淭his Is Our City,鈥 a multi-year, multi-city project telling the stories of Christians working for the common good of their communities. In addition to听Christianity Today鈥榮 magazines and websites, Jethani has also written for听The Washington Post鈥榮 鈥淥n Faith鈥 column,听Relevant听magazine, ChurchLeaders.com, and he is a regular contributor to听The Huffington Post. He has also authored numerous books, including听The Divine Commodity: Discovering a Faith Beyond Consumer Christianity听(2009),听WITH: Reimagining the Way You Relate to God听(2011),听Futureville听(2014),听What鈥檚 Wrong with Religion?听9 Things No one Told You About Your Faith听(2017) and听Immeasurable: Reflections on the Soul of Ministry in the Age of Church, Inc. (2017). He also curates the 鈥淲ITH GOD鈥 daily devotional, a subscription-based daily email designed to help a smartphone generation begin the day with God.

Rufus Smith
Rev. Rufus Smith, IV is the senior pastor of Hope Evangelical Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Memphis, Tennessee, one of the largest 100 congregations in America. He joined Hope鈥檚 staff in September 2010, and in 2013 was elected to succeed the founding pastor of 25 years, Dr. Richard Craig Strickland. For nearly 12 years, Rev. Smith was the senior pastor of The City of Refuge (COR) Church in Houston, Texas, an inter-racial, inter-generational, biblically-centered and socially active fellowship. Prior to being called to Memphis, Rev. Smith was the founder and CEO of the FORGE for Families (FFF). The FORGE employed athletics, after-school enrichment, adult life-skills, and entrepreneurial programs as a means to empower at risk families. For three years he was the lead chaplain for the NBA鈥檚 Houston Rockets, and he continues to advise other local/national boards. He studied at Houston Baptist University, majoring in theology and psychology, and maintains an active traveling and speaking schedule.

Phil Vischer
Phil Vischer made his first animated film when he was nine years old; by the age of fourteen, he was convinced he would be a filmmaker when he grew up. After a brief stint at a Bible college, Vischer struck out on his own, looking for a way to integrate his faith with his filmmaking. This quest led him to a tomato and a cucumber. The year was 1991, and Phil Vischer was a newly married 25-year-old with no financial backing and no idea how his vegetables would ever see the light of day. Today, almost 50 million VeggieTales videos have been purchased and Vischer鈥檚 faith-filled stories can be found in one-third of all American homes with young children. Although his original company, Big Idea Productions, collapsed in bankruptcy in 2003, Vischer continues his creative involvement with VeggieTales through its current owner. He actively develops new ways to integrate faith and storytelling through Jellyfish Labs. Vischer lives in Wheaton, Illinois, with his wife, Lisa (aka Junior Asparagus), and their three kids.

Sean McDowell
Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He earned a Ph.D. in apologetics and worldview studies from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 2014. McDowell is the author, co-author, or editor of over fifteen books including听Same-Sex Marriage: A Thoughtful Approach to God鈥檚 Design for Marriage, with John Stonestreet,听Is God Just a Human Invention?听with Jonathan Morrow, and听Understanding Intelligent Design听along with William A. Dembski. He has also written multiple books with his father, Josh McDowell, including听The Unshakable Truth听and听More Than A Carpenter. McDowell is the general editor for听Apologetics for a New Generation听and听The Apologetics Study Bible for Students. He has also written for听YouthWorker Journal,听Decision Magazine, and the听Christian Research Journal.

Jim Wood
A 含羞草研究所 native and 含羞草研究所 alum, Rev. Wood is the founder and executive director of Wears Valley Ranch and the former director of mobilization of My Hope America with Billy Graham, the largest evangelistic effort in U.S. history. Wears Valley Ranch is a home and school for children from families in crisis that includes two homes for boys, two homes for girls, a counseling center, a fully accredited K-12 school, a summer camp, a radio ministry, and conference facilities serving hundreds of visitors and volunteers each year. In addition to his work with Wears Valley, Rev. Wood maintains an itinerant preaching ministry. Wood and his wife have authored fourteen books.

Dr. Tony Campolo
Dr. Campolo, professor emeritus of sociology at Eastern University, is also the founder of of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education. He is known for his forward thinking approach to Christianity.

Os Guinness
Os Guinness is a renowned author and social critic. He has vast expertise in the areas of public policy, international relations, and faith. He has worked as a freelance journalist for the BBC, written over 25 books, and served at the Brookings Institute and the Woodrow Wilson Center for International Affairs.

Warden Burl Cain
Warden Cain is the warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary. He has been featured on ABC鈥檚 鈥20/20鈥 with Barbara Walters, 鈥淪tephen Fry Goes to America,鈥 and 鈥淟ouisiana Lockdown鈥 on Animal Planet.

Newt Gingrich
Newt Gingrich is known as a politician, political consultant, and author. He was the 58th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from the years of 1995 to 1999, and was also a candidate for the Republican Party鈥檚 presidential nomination in 2012.

Dr. Teri McCarthy
Dr. McCarthy is a writer, and currently holds the role of English Department Chair at Lithuania University. She has taught at universities in China, Holland, Russia, Afghanistan, and Nigeria.

Andrew J. Young
Andrew Young is a pastor, politician, and activist. He is widely known for his work with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was a close friend and supporter of King during the Civil Rights Movement. In addition he has held roles as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Congressman, Mayor of Atlanta, and more.

General Mastin Robeson (Ret.)
General Mastin Robeson served for 34 years in the Marine Corps and has boundless experience in the areas of intelligence and counterterrorism. He has also served on the board of trustees at 含羞草研究所.
