Dean Sikes was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee and is the oldest of two children. Raised in a Christian family, he became a Christian at the young age of 7 years old.

Not long after his 15th birthday, he was sexually abused and throughout the remainder of his teenage years, he lived a very fake, painful and oftentimes, unauthentic life.

By the time he turned 21, his life was spiraling out of control. Lie after lie and bad choice after bad choice catapulted Dean into a defining moment where he had a very personal encounter with a loving God.

This defining moment was used by the Lord to help navigate him into
fulltime ministry where he served Grammy-award winning Christian Artist Phil Driscoll. During his time with Phil’s ministry, he coordinated and road-managed over 600 ministry events around the globe.

In December of 1992, at the direction of the Lord, Dean resigned from Phil’s ministry and the next month, launched The Spirit of America Foundation – a nonprofit organization dedicated to freely ministering words of hope to teenagers in high schools across America and in nations of the world.

As the Lord blessed this new ministry, during the first decade of service, Dean ministered to 100,000 students each year, reaching our one millionth student at the end of 2002. Today, The Spirit of America Foundation is known as Dean Sikes Ministries where Dean has now spoken at over 3,600 events, ministered to over 2.4 million teens, and seen over 288,000 students give their hearts to the Lord.

In addition to our road outreach, he has written a number of books including his autobiography, ACCEPTED … MY JOURNEY  and, he hosts YOU MATTER TELEVISION with DEAN SIKES - a national, weekly television broadcast that airs on multiple networks.

Dean and Lori were married in May of 1996 and for now over 25 years, their marriage has been a living testimony of the goodness of God. They have three adult children and four dogs. Although their ministry schedule takes them all over America and into various nations of the world, Dean and Lori continue to make
their home in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

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I am a son of the Most High God, husband of Brittney Jester, father of five children, pastor, preacher and teacher. I have a God-given heart and passion to raise up sons and daughters for the kingdom and to see them manifest the image of the Father. I enjoy ALMOST anything outdoors. I like spending time with my family (immediate and extended), big trucks, reading, and Alabama football (Roll Tide)!

I was born and raised in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia. After high school, I was recruited for competitive speech and debate by the University of Alabama. I came to know Christ as my Lord and Savior and received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit during my sophomore year at Alabama. A close friend who had recently rededicated his life to the Lord was relentless in his presentation of the gospel, and I was in desperate need of the Savior. Shortly thereafter, God called me into pastoral ministry, and I began to serve as the student pastor of a church in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. I was blessed to be mentored by an awesome pastor, several church mommas and daddies, and strong men and women of faith who have spoken into my life over the years. I married Brittney Jester in the spring of 2007, and we have been partners in ministry since then. God has blessed us with so many awesome opportunities! Together we have served in student ministry for more than thirteen years, along with college athletic ministry, music and worship ministry, and youth and adult evangelism. We have been blessed with the opportunity to become spiritual and adoptive parents to several young people, many of whom are serving in pastoral ministry today.

I joined the EMIC staff in January 2014 as the Youth Pastor, overseeing 14Forty student ministries. I am passionate about every aspect of ministry at EMIC, and I am available to do whatever is necessary to see God's vision for our church accomplished.

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Minister Iva Bennett is a prophetic teacher, whose passion is to impart the Spirit of Prayer to the Body of Christ through corporate prayer. She is the Prayer Ministry Director at Eagle Mountain International Church, under the umbrella of Kenneth Copeland Ministries, where she has served on staff for the past sixteen years. She oversees over 50 prayer groups. Her strategic leadership includes mentoring, team building and training others in the dynamics of corporate prayer and small group prayer. Since 2002, she has been traveling nationally and internationally, teaching and imparting to others the Spirit of Prayer and Intercession.

Minister Iva also has a heart for the next generation. Her ministry experience includes founding Wings for Love Christian School, Inc., where she was an administrator and educator, whose vision was to see the “adults of tomorrow” preserved and victorious. Her analytical and leadership skills enabled her to be a wise and dedicated educator, assisting students in surpassing spiritual and academic expectations.

Minister Iva is gifted in the facilitation of Spirit-Led Prayer, that which causes the presence and power of God to come on the scene. She strongly believes that effective prayer is vital to the End-Time Move of God.

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My name is Pastor Kathryn Hanley, and I am blessed to serve as one of the Youth Pastors here at Eagle Mountain International Church. I have had the honor of working with the youth since coming on staff here at EMIC in 2018. My husband, Holden, also serves alongside me as we minister the Word of Faith to teenagers. Holden and I were married in May of 2018, became foster parents in 2022, and now have three wonderful little girls that we made part of our family through adoption in January of 2024.

I was raised most of my life in Tulsa, Oklahoma and grew up in church. My dad was a Rhema Bible College graduate and my mom was a Children's Pastor, so I grew up around the Word of God. I met Jesus at a young age and was blessed to have been raised in a home where the gift of faith was deeply instilled in me. I grew up listening to the teachings of Kenneth Copeland, Keith Moore, Jesse Duplantis, Kenneth Hagin, and many more. I accepted Jesus as my Savior at a young age and was later baptized in the Holy Spirit during my freshman year of college at Oral Roberts University. I was water baptized in the Jordan River in Israel in 2015. While at ORU, I recognized the call to fivefold ministry on my life. I had the privilege of ministering the Word of God all over the world on the mission field in Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, and the Middle East. However, I sensed the call to pastor on my life. I am passionate about the discipleship of the Church, about ministering identity and purpose through the Word of God, and about bringing truth and hope to the body of Christ and to the next generation through teaching and discipleship. While at ORU, I received my degree in Ministry and Leadership with a double minor in Missions and Humanities, and I met my husband, Holden. It was right after that when the Lord led our family to Fort Worth, TX to be a part of what God is doing here at the Revival Capital of the World!

Working with teenagers is one of my favorite things. My biggest passion is to see the next generation of young people on fire and hungry for more of the Presence of God in their lives. In the midst of a world where teenagers are searching for answers, belonging, and identity, I am passionate to show our students who they really are in the Word of God so they can be victorious in every area of life! We teach them how to live by faith in His Word in practical ways, whether that's through creative illustrations, discussions, or simply walking with them in each season. There is nothing more exciting than seeing our teenagers following after God and learning more about Him, as they truly take ownership of their faith. What an honor it is to serve here in the House of God!

My life Scripture is Galatians 2:20 (ESV). “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

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My name is Holden Hanley and I have the wonderful privilege and honor to serve at Eagle Mountain International Church as a Youth Pastor. My heart and passion is to see people grow in their love for Jesus! At the end of the day, that is what it is all about. The avenue by which the Lord has called me to do so, is by teaching believers the elements of faith and prayer. I learned early on in my walk with the Lord that the depth of one’s relationship with the Lord is directly proportionate to the depth of their prayer life.

I gave my life to Jesus on April 3rd, 2013. Immediately I gave myself to studying the Word and to prayer. I would spend hours a day listening to Brother Kenneth Copeland, Brother Jerry Savelle, Brother Jesse Duplanits, and Pastor Terri Pearsons. Their teachings truly laid the foundation for my walk with the Lord! I also had the honor of graduating from Oral Roberts University in 2017 with my Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Literature. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at ORU and truly had the experience of a lifetime. Not only so, but I also met my amazing wife, Kathryn Hanley, there as well. Kathryn and I are both blessed to work here at EMIC, as she serves here as a Youth Pastor as well. While what I studied at ORU was phenomenal, the thing that impacted me the most was the opportunity to learn, lead, and practice both private and corporate prayer. It truly was a season that set the direction for the ministry the Lord has called me to.

It truly is a blessing to be able to come alongside Brother and Sister Copeland and Pastors George and Terri Pearsons to accomplish what God has called this church to do.

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My name is Ara (sounds like Sarah, with no “S”) Veney and I am blessed to be one of the Youth Pastors here at Eagle Mountain International Church. My wife, Ashley, and I were married in 2006 and we have three wonderful children. We moved to Texas in 2016 and immediately became members of EMIC. In addition to family and faith, I love anything that involves making music, sports, and working with my hands.

I was born and raised in the Los Angeles, CA area and grew up in a God-fearing home with my parents and younger brother. I can’t remember a time when Jesus Christ wasn’t a part of my life and I was baptized, both in water and with speaking in tongues, at the age of 13. Both of my parents work in education, teaching and coaching, so when God called me to work with children, I was ready. I have worked in education for over 15 years as a classroom teacher, athletic coach, and program director. I attended Azusa Pacific University, a Christian college in Southern California, earning a bachelor’s degree in child development and a master’s degree in education. Prior to moving to Texas, I also served as the Worship Pastor for my local church and have written, produced, and recorded dozens of faith-filled music projects.

Although I loved teaching and working in schools, the Lord placed a strong desire for full-time ministry on my heart. My wife and I prayed for direction and the door opened with an opportunity to join the 14forty team. I am humbled, honored, and excited to combine my love for God with my love for teaching youth. Growing up, there were adults whose guidance made a major impact on my life, so it is my desire to sow those same seeds by doing what Proverbs 22: 6 commands, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

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Greetings, my name is Ashley Veney. I am a Middle School Minister at Eagle Mountain International Church. I am happily married to my best friend Ara (Youth Pastor at EMIC) for 17 ½ years. (yes, the ½ matters) We have three AMAZING children and lots of spiritual children. Our family moved to Texas in 2016 and we immediately became members of EMIC.

I was born in Indiana and due to my dad’s job, I moved around quite a bit. At the age of 12 I gave my life to the Lord, was baptized, and was filled with the Holy Spirit at 14. When I was 16 my family and I attended a church that had a youth group, and this is when I began connecting with God. My Youth Pastors cared for all of us and taught us how to live for God and have fun doing it! At the age of 18, I became the Youth Pastor’s Assistant because I had a hunger for the Lord and wanted to help the ministry with whatever was needed. From that point on, I have always worked with youth. Whether it was time spent with my husband when he was a high school teacher, at church teaching Sunday school, or volunteering on the PTA, working with young people is clearly in my DNA.

Along with ministering to our youth, I am currently a student at Kenneth Copeland Bible College and will graduate in May 2025. In the future, I have the desire to continue educating myself in the field of Biblical Counseling. Seeing parents and children walk in their kingdom identity and knowing who they are IN CHIRST JESUS is the greatest desire of my heart. I am looking forward to bringing the Word to 14forty during SWBC this year.

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