Featured Speakers

About Pastor Carney

Pastor Jay Carney brings a powerful combination of biblical depth, prophetic insight, and practical application to his ministry. As the main speaker for STEADFAST 2026, he anchors both the opening Friday evening service and the closing Saturday morning service, ensuring the conference begins and ends with conviction, clarity, and a clear call to action.

Known for his uncompromising commitment to Scripture and his ability to communicate timeless truth in relevant ways, Pastor Carney doesn't preach to entertain—he preaches to transform. His messages challenge men to examine their foundations, confront areas of compromise, and commit to living steadfast regardless of cultural pressure or personal cost.

With years of pastoral ministry experience, Pastor Carney understands the real-world pressures men face—balancing work and family, maintaining spiritual discipline in busy seasons, leading with integrity when shortcuts are available, and standing firm when everyone else seems to be falling. His preaching addresses these issues head-on with biblical solutions that actually work.

Men who hear Pastor Carney preach often describe it as "refreshing" and "convicting" at the same time. He doesn't avoid hard topics, but he also doesn't leave you feeling condemned. Instead, his ministry leaves men feeling challenged, equipped, and hopeful—ready to walk out their faith with renewed commitment and practical tools for success.

Whether you're a new believer looking for guidance, a seasoned Christian needing fresh fire, or somewhere in between, Pastor Carney's messages at STEADFAST 2026 will meet you where you are and propel you toward where God wants you to be.

About Pastor Romero

Pastor Larry Romero serves as a vital bridge between cultures at STEADFAST 2026, bringing the Word to Spanish-speaking brothers in their heart language while co-leading the bilingual closing service. His ministry embodies the truth that the Gospel transcends language barriers and unites all men under the banner of Christ.

With a deep understanding of the unique challenges Hispanic men face—navigating between two cultures, maintaining faith in hostile environments, providing spiritual leadership at home, and passing biblical values to the next generation—Pastor Romero speaks with both cultural relevance and biblical authority. He doesn't just translate messages; he brings the Word with power and conviction that resonates deeply with Spanish-speaking audiences.

The Saturday morning Spanish session led by Pastor Romero provides a dedicated space where Hispanic men can worship freely, ask questions, and receive ministry without language barriers. Topics include spiritual leadership in the home, maintaining convictions while integrating into American culture, raising godly children in a secular world, and standing firm when faith is tested by family, workplace, or community pressures.

In the Saturday morning bilingual service, Pastor Romero partners with Pastor Jay Carney to demonstrate the unity of the body of Christ. The service moves seamlessly between English and Spanish, showing that while we may speak different languages, we all speak the same language of faith, commitment, and steadfast devotion to Jesus Christ.

Pastor Romero's passion for men's ministry stems from his own journey of faith and the mentors who invested in him. Now he pours into the next generation, challenging Hispanic men to rise up as spiritual leaders, break generational curses, and establish legacies of faith that will impact their families for generations to come.

About Pastor Horne

Pastor Kevin Horne brings practical, no-nonsense biblical teaching to the general session at STEADFAST 2026. His ministry focuses on helping men apply Scripture to everyday life—not just on Sunday mornings, but Monday through Saturday when faith is tested in real-world situations.

Known for his straightforward communication style and relatable teaching approach, Pastor Horne doesn't sugarcoat the challenges men face. Instead, he addresses them directly: How do you maintain spiritual discipline when you're working 60-hour weeks? What does biblical leadership look like in your home when you're exhausted from work? How do you handle workplace pressures without compromising your convictions? How do you manage finances with integrity in a debt-driven culture?

The general session covers topics relevant to men of all ages and backgrounds. Whether you're single or married, young or seasoned, new believer or longtime Christian, Pastor Horne's teaching provides actionable steps you can implement immediately. He doesn't just tell you what you should do—he shows you how to actually do it, drawing from Scripture, personal experience, and years of pastoral ministry.

Pastor Horne's heart for men's ministry flows from his conviction that the church needs strong, godly men now more than ever. He believes that when men get right with God and embrace their calling, everything else follows—families are restored, churches are strengthened, communities are transformed, and the next generation receives a blueprint for godly living.

Men who attend Pastor Horne's session leave with more than good feelings—they leave with practical tools, biblical principles, and renewed determination to live out their faith with consistency, integrity, and conviction. If you're looking for truth you can apply starting Monday morning, Pastor Horne's general session is for you.

About Pastor Bennett

Pastor Courtney Bennett Jr. leads the young men's session with energy, authenticity, and a passion for investing in the next generation. Understanding that today's youth face unprecedented challenges—social media pressure, identity confusion, cyberbullying, pornography accessibility, and cultural messages that contradict biblical truth—Pastor Bennett speaks directly to these issues with relevance and compassion.

Young men ages 8-17 aren't just the church of tomorrow—they're part of the church today, and they need teaching tailored to their unique life stage. Pastor Bennett doesn't talk down to teens or water down the Gospel. Instead, he challenges them to rise up, take their faith seriously, and become the kind of young men who stand steadfast when everyone around them is compromising.

The young men's session covers topics like developing a personal prayer life that goes beyond "bless the food" prayers, resisting temptation in an age of instant access, honoring parents even when you disagree, choosing godly friends in a peer-pressure world, managing screen time and social media wisely, discovering God's purpose for your life, and preparing now to be a godly husband and father someday.

Pastor Bennett's approach combines biblical teaching with real-world application. He doesn't pretend that following Jesus is easy or that young men won't face opposition. Instead, he equips them with spiritual weapons, accountability structures, and practical strategies for winning the battles they face daily—at school, online, with friends, and even within their own minds.

This session is more than youth church—it's a commissioning service for the next generation of spiritual warriors. Young men will leave knowing they're not too young to make a difference, not too inexperienced to be used by God, and not alone in their commitment to stand steadfast. Pastor Bennett believes in them, and more importantly, God believes in them—and this session will help them believe in themselves.