MEET THE SPEAKERS
RYAN NUñEZ
Lead Pastor | Palm Valley Church
Ryan and his wife, Adrienne, were part of the PVC launch team 26 years ago. As a third-generation pastor and proud ASU Sun Devil, he took a fun detour in college by studying to be a scientist before being called to full-time ministry. Ryan is passionate about helping churches get healthy. He is an avid runner and in his spare time he likes to go “VR Fishing” with Adrienne. Ryan and Adrienne have 4 kids — Eric, Isaac, Abraham, and Grace and their family motto is, “Love never fails”.
Dan Steffen
Senior Pastor | Pure Heart Church
Dan has served in ministry since 1988 and has been the Senior Pastor of Pure Heart Church since 2005. He is passionate about equipping churches and strengthening pastors, and has helped launch initiatives that impact schools, churches, and communities across the country. Born in Fairbury, Illinois, Dan and his wife Nicole have been married since 1998, have five children, a granddaughter named Millie, and love family vacations in Oceanside, California.
Des Wadsworth
Lead Pastor | Grace Community Church
Des Wadsworth is the Lead Pastor of Grace Community Church in Tempe, Arizona. Originally from Port Augusta, Australia, Des spent 35 years living in England before making Arizona home. He has been married to his wife, Melanie, for 34 years, and together they have four adult children and five grandchildren. Des is passionate about marriage, leaving a legacy for the next generation, and helping people courageously navigate whatever storms life brings. Des lives by a simple motto: “Live like the bison. Go into the storm.”
Ed Stetzer
Dean/Professor at Talbot School of Theology | Biola University
Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches and trained pastors and church planters on six continents. He has earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates and written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He serves as Regional Director for Lausanne North America, Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, and Scholar in Residence & Teaching Pastor at Mariners Church. He also hosts Ed Stetzer Live on Moody Radio and regularly writes for outlets including USA Today and CNN.
Darius Sanders
Campus Pastor | Palm Valley Church
Darius has been at Palm Valley Church for over 20 years. He and his wife Nicole have 4 kids - Torianna, Tayshaun, Trustin Jaycee, and Tru Blessing. Darius likes to watch his kids play sports and play card games, board games, and dominoes with extended family and friends. If you know Darius, you know he's truly filled with joy and likes to inspire and encourage people. But here's something you may not know, he only wears a contact lens in his right eye, not the left eye. His favorite Bible verse is Ephesians 4:1. "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
Jamin Goggin
Pastor, Author & Theologian
Jamin Goggin served as a local church pastor for 20 years and is currently an Associate Professor at Talbot School of Theology and Co-Founder of Rooted & Grounded Ministries. He is also the author of several books, including Pastoral Confessions and The Way of the Dragon or the Way of the Lamb. Jamin is passionate about investing in the spiritual formation of pastors and ministry leaders. Born in San Diego, he now lives there with his wife, Kristin, and their four children, Emerson, Sawyer, Finnley, and Thatcher. As a family, they love exploring National Parks and seeing how many they can experience together.