Speaker Bios

Bill Willits is the Executive Director of Ministry Environments and one of the founding staff members of North Point Ministries, the parent organization for North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, GA.

Bill is the co-author with Andy Stanley of the book Creating Community: Five Keys to Building a Small Group Culture. His passion for community has helped create a system where over 22,000 adults are enjoying the benefits of group life through their campuses and partners. He is a graduate of Florida State University and Dallas Theological Seminary.

Keith Stanley is The Pastor of Local Disciple-making at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, AL. He is responsible for developing a small group ministry for adults, developing and overseeing all urban ministries in Birmingham through small groups, and implementing principles from David Platt's Radical in the Local Disciple-making Ministry.

Today, Keith oversees more than 200 small groups focused on disciple-making both locally and globally. He is responsible for applying the vision of Radical Together: Unleashing the People of God for the Purpose of God.

Tommy Gray is Lead Pastor of Friendship Church in Athens, AL. He has served as a United Methodist pastor for 28 years and holds high regard for discipleship through small groups. Tommy planted ClearBranch Church (Trussville, AL) as a small group and provided point leadership as the church grew to over 1,600 in worship attendance.

Tommy served as District Superintendent and continues to provide leadership over new churches, campus ministries, and church revitalization in North Alabama. He holds a D.Min. in leadership from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Dave Treat is Discipleship Pastor of Friendship Church in Athens, AL. He led the adult small groups ministry at Granger Community Church as a volunteer before joining the staff of Willow Creek Community Church as a Division Leader and Area Pastor.

Dave became Director of Innovation for Adult Ministries for the Willow Creek Association, selecting speakers and developing content for the Group Life Conference and Small Groups Advanced Training. He speaks and trains nationally on small group topics, blogs at thinkingsmall.net, and writes for SmallGroups.com.