Next Man Up – Men’s Conference

Sponsorship

This is an outreach event and the goal is to provide all of this for FREE! We will be seeking individuals and businesses to sponsor this event. Click here to learn more about being a sponsor.

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Saved in a prison cell and transformed into a minister of the gospel, John Stroup shares a testimony of God’s grace. Once homeless and on drugs, John is now being used to make disciples and reach the lost for Christ. God has given him a burden to see communities ravaged by drugs and crime be transformed through the power of Jesus Christ.

Since 2011, John has helped to develop an outreach design that is targeted at reaching ONE BROKEN LIFE AT A TIME by partnering with local churches to reach the marginalized. With the help of the local church, Freeway Ministries ministers to the overlooked and forgotten in society. With training, churches can effectively reach this people group and play a major role in transforming lives and communities negatively affected by drugs and crime.

Freeway Ministries is a non-profit organization that reaches an average of 1,000 people weekly with the Gospel of Jesus Christ in nine locations across the globe. They are committed to providing care, counseling, and discipleship to transform the addict’s life from hopelessness to hope. Weekly, Freeway provides meals, clothing, and Bible services to this hard-to-reach population, extending to within the walls of prisons and jail cells.

Along with the affiliate programs, The Freeway Ministries Discipleship Houses can house up to 68 men and women nationwide, and the program is recognized as an alternative to prison in seven counties in Missouri. The houses help provide an environment fostering self-sufficiency and a relationship with Christ.

John Stroup is passionate about preaching revival throughout the United States. By stirring the people’s hearts, John believes the local church is one of the most effective tools to reach the lost. John shares the Hope that he has found in Christ through revivals, high school assemblies, and outreach events; he believes every individual can be a part of reaching one broken life at a time. John continues to be recognized throughout the community by local and state government officials for his contribution to making real change. His story has been highlighted on multiple media platforms. He is a published author with two books: From the Pit to the Pulpit and Stop Loving Your Kids to Death. John currently lives in Springfield, MO, with his beautiful wife, Sharla. They have four children: Ashlyn, Chase, Keith, and Zynleigh.

Dr. Bradford serves as dean of Texas Baptist College, associate professor of evangelism, and the Malcolm R. and Melba L. McDow Chair of Evangelism. He frequently partners with local churches, assisting in evangelism training.  

Dr. Bradford has contributed chapters to the History of Evangelism in North America (Kregel, 2021), “Sufficiency of Scripture in Evangelism” in The Sufficiency of Scripture (Seminary Hill Press, 2022), And You Shall Be My Witnesses: 31 Devotionals to Encourage a Spirit of Everyday Evangelism (Seminary Hill Press, 2019), Evangelism Takes Heart: A 9-Week Journey to Cultivating A Heart For Evangelism (Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, 2019). Additionally, he has written journal articles for the Southwestern Journal of Theology.  

He is married to Andrea, and they have two children, Carl Jr. and Abigail. Dr. Bradford and his family are members of Christ Fellowship Church in Mansfield, Texas.

Spared for a purpose: to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, and to remind the broken that God still writes redemption stories.

Cooper Roy grew up a church kid, for many years he walked in spiritual blindness. But, on September 8th, 2019, Jesus Christ opened his eyes and saved him. This being the most pivotal decision in his life that would help him in so much. This salvation he had always heard as a kid became real — he was born again.

For three years, Cooper lived saved but not surrendered, not understanding that salvation is the starting line of the race. Then God guided him to the joy in serving. Cooper learned that in Christ we are called to be His “hands and feet”. Cooper’s life was full as he walked closely with the Lord. But on September 24th, 2024, everything changed.

Driving home from a church conference on Highway 65 in Springfield, Missouri, a wrong-way driver struck him head-on. This 140 MPH collective impact tore apart Cooper’s body and his car. By all worldly accounts, he should have died.

But God.

Cooper’s life was preserved, and preserved for a purpose. He now travels around proclaiming the Goodness of God to all peoples. There is no greater joy in his life than to proclaim the name above fatal car wrecks, the name above all names… the name Jesus Christ!

Cooper’s story has been made known through multiple news stations in Missouri, many news papers (including the Missouri Baptist Conventions news letter The Pathway), and by word of mouth… but now it’s his turn to share the miracle God has done in his life!