Dr. Joe Allen

Dr. Joe Allen earned his Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary in 1988 and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1994. He has pastored for over forty years, mainly in Georgia, his home state. Lindsey, his high school sweetheart, and Joe celebrated fifty years of marriage on June 26, 2026!

The Allen’s have two married children, Joey and Bethany, who both serve in vocational Christian ministry, and three grandchildren. Joe recently retired from serving as the third Chaplain at Dallas Theological Seminary. During his downtime, he enjoys playing with the grandchildren and watching University of Georgia football.

dr. Willy Rice

Dr. Willy Rice, and his wife, Cheryl, are invested in building relationships to bring people to dynamic life in Christ! Willy has pastored churches in the southeastern United States for more than 35 years, and he has a passion for teaching the Word of God in an engaging and understandable way.

Willy is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Church in Clearwater Florida since 2004. He is a graduate of Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama with a B.A. degree and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree and a Doctor of Ministry degree.

Willy and Cheryl have three children, Amanda, Anna, and Stephen, and six beautiful grandchildren.

Dr. Ken Whitten

Ken Whitten serves as national director of pastoral leadership at the North American Mission Board. In this role, Ken aspires to help Southern Baptist pastors come together and to encourage them and their churches toward health so they can make an impact for the sake of the gospel.

Dr. Ken Whitten is Ginny’s husband of 49 years; Dad to four adult children (Tara, Andy, Kimberly, and Philip) who all serve and follow Jesus; and “Poppy” to 14 grandkids.

Key highlights of Pastor Ken’s 49 years in ministry include serving for 33 years as the Senior Pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, Florida Baptist Convention President, President of the SBC Pastors’ Conference, IMB Trustee, Fellowship of Christian Athletes National Board Member, Guidestone Board Member, Member of the Great Commission Task Force, Chaplain of Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, Chaplain of the Tampa Police Department, Liberty University School of Divinity Board Member, and many other local and global SBC initiatives. His 33 years of ministry at Idlewild included two campus build outs and seven church plants.

As the late Pastor Adrian Rogers mentored Pastor Ken, he too loves mentoring pastors. The strength of Pastor Ken’s ministry is Jesus and Ginny, in that order. Pastor Ken is an expository Bible preacher with a busy global speaking schedule. He is excited about his new role with NAMB to be a connector, a counselor, and a comforter to ministry leaders across all stages and seasons of ministry life.