Forge’s Founder and President Dwight Robertson is known nationally as a dynamic and gifted communicator. His life calling and mission—to challenge Christians to the role of laborership—is shared passionately as Dwight communicates with evident excitement and urgency. The goal of his message is to see individuals moving toward deeper levels of spiritual intimacy and to gain a world-changing vision while assuming their role as laborers for God’s Kingdom.

Todd Bright helps grow people and things for the glory of God. His passion is to help fuel God’s Kingdom by handling well the people and resources entrusted to him and to help others do the same. In many ways, Todd lives the title “Stewardship Evangelist” as he guides people and resources toward God’s Kingdom agenda and goals. Todd’s 20 years of extensive business leadership and management experience enables him to carry out his calling at a high level.

Todd is married to Heather, and they have six children, Daniel, Lauren, Noah, Seth, Hannah, and Samuel. Todd and his family, formerly from Florida, reside in Parker, Colorado.

Speaking with intensity, urgency, and passionate stories, Charlie Marquis challenges Christians to fully engage in God’s heart and world-wide mission: whether across the street or across the sea.

Through discipleship-focused and missionally-oriented messages, Charlie equips diverse groups of listeners to surrender to the deep love of Jesus, daily seek to hear His voice, and then radically and lovingly obey Christ—no matter the place, no matter the people, no matter the cost!

He is passionate about seeing the Kingdom of God advanced among the unreached, unengaged, and frontier regions of the world. Charlie’s heartbeat is Romans 15:20: “to preach the gospel where Christ is not known.” And so, he has put his feet to his faith, traveling extensively to unreached people groups as a participant, leader, and even on his own.

Currently, Charlie and his wife Dara reside in Denver, Colorado. Dara serves as an anointed worship leader and occasionally joins him to play music during itinerant speaking ventures—she is often available to join upon request. Charlie is a former youth pastor, graduate of Colorado Christian University and an Ordained Minister of the Gospel.

Travels from: Colorado

Adrian Despres combines passion, intellect and wit as he urges audiences—especially high school, college and young adults—to pursue their highest calling: to know and follow Jesus Christ wholeheartedly.

A gifted Forge speaker, he delivers inspiring and challenging messages to reach those who are spiritually lost and in need of God—and likewise to engage those who are believers and in need of revival for a fully surrendered life.

Adrian became a Christian while playing football for Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and from 2000-2015, he served as Chaplain for the University of South Carolina’s football team.

With speaking engagements that span the globe each year, Adrian’s ministry reaches thousands with the gospel.

He holds a Master of Divinity from Columbia International University.

Adrian and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters and two sons.

Travels from: South Carolina

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When you say the phrase ‘Missionary to the Unreached’, Nathan is not the person you picture in your mind. He is not particularly boisterous, gritty or adventurous. In fact, for most of his life you would have been far more likely to see his picture next to words like homebody, awkward, or cautious. Jesus changed everything for him though.

He may not be the stereotypical risk taker, but he has seen God move in some crazy ways around the world.

His love for Jesus and passion for people to know Him has taken Nathan to numerous remote and difficult locations. Places he never thought he would go to. Places where the road ends but the Spirit of the Lord says, “keep going”. He has seen God move mightily, drawing people to himself. He has seen tribal people meet the living Jesus and be changed. He has seen Muslims open to hearing the message of Jesus and respond. He has seen God open doors among people groups who are guarded under lock and key. He has seen as the good news and presence of the living Jesus utterly changes lives.

Nathan is a follower, missionary, teacher, encourager, and Kingdom equipper who, along with his wife, Taylor, longs to see God’s Church fully alive and beating in rhythm with His heartbeat and mission. He also longs for more people in more places to encounter the living Jesus.

Nathan lives in Colorado and is a graduate of Colorado Christian University with a bachelor’s degree in theology. He currently serves as a youth and missions pastor at his local church and travels as an itinerant missionary.

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Melissa Motschenbacher is passionate about serving God and people and lives to advance the Kingdom of God at home, locally and globally. She lives by the scripture, “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord!” Melissa is the Director of Deep Camp and Connections here at Forge Kingdom Building Ministries where she loves to create an atmosphere through events and connections for people to encounter the very heartbeat of God and lock arms with us to pursue our mission of “Forging Kingdom Laborers with Hearts on Fire and Lives on Purpose”.

Melissa is married to her amazing husband, Scott, and together they have three incredible, God-loving children: Makenzie, Peyton and Makayla. When not a Forge, her family seeks to find ways they can advance God’s Kingdom. They have had the honor of traveling to many nations to share the Gospel, helping to open a children’s orphanage, opening a water well and opening a soup kitchen. They are working on establishing a non-profit organization to help feed hungry children around the world. In their free time, which they have learned to prioritize through the years, they love traveling anywhere around the world graced with palm trees, sand and saltwater to enjoy scuba diving, snorkeling and sailing! One more fun little fact…”sparkle” is Melissa’s favorite color!

Lisa Despres has a deep love for the Word of God and desires to spur others to dig deep, study, absorb, love and live out His truth. Lisa is the Itinerant Coordinator here at Forge. She is uniquely equipped as she has been the wife of an Itinerant Speaker for more than thirty years. She finds great joy in coming alongside the ministry and using her organizational abilities to serve and support. Lisa has a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Furman University. She is also a trained Precept Bible Study teacher and a licensed Realtor and loves how the Lord has combined a wide variety of skills and training throughout her life and led her to use it all for His glory.

She and her husband, Adrian, have four grown children (Rachel, Branson and his wife Harlan, Kaitlyn and Benjamin) and live on their small farm in Columbia, SC. They are thrilled to soon be entering the world of grandparenting! Most days after work, you can find her in the barn (her happy place) with her horses and dogs, enjoying the blessing of God’s creation. She lives to take hold of the “hope set before us…an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast…” (Heb 6:19) and to share that hope with those God puts in her path.

Jaaziel knows the power and purpose of a name. His name, traced back to the musicians who accompanied the Ark of the Covenant with song and celebration, means “whom God strengthens.” Jaaziel knows firsthand the God who gives him strength. Trials and events along Jaaziel’s relatively short journey have taught him to depend on God’s power and provision. What’s more, like the Apostle Paul before him, Jaaziel is discovering daily that all things are possible through Christ who gives him strength (Phil 4:13).

With great joy, tenacity, and single-minded purpose, Jaaziel continues to grow in His love for God and others. Helping to lead The Newness of Life Youth Group in Aurora, Colorado is just one of many ways Jaaziel is putting his faith into action.

Jaaziel is brother to three siblings and enjoys all kinds of sports, especially basketball. Other interests include hiking, camping, cooking, photography, videography, and cars. Add family and a little laughter to the mix, and Jaaziel thinks life gets even better!

If a picture paints a thousand words, then Justin’s right arm tells a book full of stories. From the phrase Ama La Vida (“love life”), to the thought-provoking word Story ; to the film strip encircling his forearm, Justin’s story is as colorful and nuanced as his tattoos. Justin isn’t just a curator of body art, he’s also a videographer, photographer, avid traveler, and storyteller. Most of all, Justin is a disciple of Jesus who is passionate about sharing God’s goodness through stories. He believes every photo he captures and each video he creates points to God and carries a lasting, life-impacting experience.

In 2016, Justin participated in Forge’s summer equipping program, The Experience . God’s impact on Justin was immense, so he returned the following summer to serve as an intern—yes, to use his camera skills—but more profoundly, to help participants experience God in tangible and loving ways. In 2019, Justin backpacked through Europe, exploring God’s creation and further appreciating the vastness of God and others. His experience broadened his worldview as he volunteered his skills and shared Kingdom life with many along the way.

When Justin returned to the States, he began asking, “Lord, what do you expect of me?” God’s answer has become Justin’s commission: “Go and make disciples of all nations…” which has led him to serve as the Creative and Communications Coordinator at Forge.

Justin lives in Denver, is a graduate of the Colorado Film School with a degree in Writing and Directing for Film, and serves within his local church.

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Christy loves to serve others. Her heart has always been to take care of those around her. Whether it is volunteering at a church conference, cooking dinner for her family, taking care of her elderly parents, or running errands for her neighbor, she is always willing to rearrange her day to accommodate those that need her.

God has grabbed her heart and daily reminds her that His love is best shown to others through lovingly meeting their needs. Christy has an engineering degree, loves to figure out how things work and how to best solve a problem. She learned several years ago that you can apply these skills to almost every area of life. She has served for many years in several different capacities at the local church. She also passionately serves God through her work at Forge.

You can find Christy on her farm in Mid-Michigan with her incredible husband Rich and several miscellaneous animals; chickens, ducks, cows, cats, dogs and a rabbit. She also loves to be outside tending a huge vegetable and herb garden, or enjoying the many flowers planted around their 80 acres. She has two amazing children, Jeremy and Elise, that have grown into wonderful young adults that love the Lord and are finding their own ways to daily witness to others.

Life is a journey and God calls us to find Joy in all things. Christy’s goal is to find the joy in every moment along that journey and to joyfully serve those she encounters so that they may know Jesus, His Love, Forgiveness and Joy!

John Boyd is a writer, teacher, equipper, and mentor who longs to lead those hungering and thirsting for “more” to places of greater depth and intimacy with Jesus. John is married to Shannon and they have three adult children.

John’s has twenty-five plus years of pastoral and campus ministry experience. Add the life-perspective gained from having lived in seven states across the U.S. and it’s easy to see why others say of John, “He has a knack for connecting the real God to the heart and needs of real people.”

John and Shannon live in Kentucky along with their faithful Lab, Journey. They enjoy welcoming others into their off-the-beaten-path home for rest, retreat, nuanced conversation, and joyful celebration of all that is good, right, beautiful, and difficult about life and living.

Why would Paul Epperson ever leave the security and comfort of an established teaching and chaplaincy position to hit the road as an itinerant speaker? Two reasons alone: calling and passion. God placed a calling and passion in Paul’s heart to teach others how to walk with God in ways that connect the truth of His Word to a practical, everyday life of faith.

God knew that Paul’s Bachelor’s Degree in Biblical Languages from Columbia International University, his training received at Reformed Theological Seminary, and his experience in helping plant an inner-city church in Jackson, Mississippi would be just the right preparation to help train and equip the next generation of Kingdom Laborers. Paul loves discipling college students, young adults, married couples, and ministers just getting started—from one-on-one encounters to large group settings.

Paul and his wife, Natalie, along with their five children (Emma Grace, Levi, Chloe, Mia and Gavin) live in South Carolina

Travels from: South Carolina

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God never wastes time, ours or His. Santiago “Santy” Fuentes graduated with an Industrial Designer degree from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana in Mexico City. God knew Santy’s careful eye for the details of industry would be quite useful in connecting the details and design of God’s Word to the heart-and-life intricacies of everyday people.

Santy’s genuine love for people and His fervent study of God’s Word make him an effective communicator of the gospel. His ability to clearly communicate and translate in both Spanish and English continue to provide ministry opportunities in Mexico, the United States, and many other bi-lingual settings. With a life mission “to exalt Jesus, edify His Church, and evangelize the world through preaching and teaching God’s Word,” Santy engages audiences of all ages with passion, truth, and authenticity.

Santy lives in Mexico City with his wife Raquel. He’s a graduate of Seminario Bíblico Palabra de Gracia and a 1998 participant in The Laborers Institute (TLI), one of Forge’s former equipping programs. Santy loves the NFL in general and the Dallas Cowboys specifically. Most of all, He deeply loves Jesus Christ—and His life, marriage, and ministry reflect it.

Travels from: Mexico

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Jason Roe is a passionate communicator of the Gospel of Jesus Christ with a dynamic ability to preach to and reach all generations.

Jason holds scripture in the highest regard as the authority and the power of God’s word are always at the center of his teaching and preaching. He breaks generational barriers as he clearly communicates that word while challenging and equipping all generations of individuals to surrender their lives to Christ and fulfill their God-given mission. Jason is also passionate about equipping and discipling local church leaders so they can lead thriving active congregations that are sharing their faith with the world and building the Kingdom of God through outreach and evangelism.

Jason is a seasoned youth and adult pastor, conference speaker, christian event planner and consultant. He is dedicated to assisting local churches across the country through preaching, training and bringing the hope of Christ to people globally through mission evangelism.

To learn more about his work on mission field, and to join a trip, visit his missions page.

He holds a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary.

Jason and his wife Holly have three children.

Travels from: Tennessee

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If you’re looking for David, you might want to check in the gym before you stop by the church office. He’s not shirking responsibility. Quite the contrary. He’s engaging in life-on-life ministry! David is passionate about meeting people in their everyday places and connecting them to God’s transformative work and power in their life.

Originally from Ethiopia, David moved to the U.S. when he was six. A significant portion of his life, education, and ministry has been spent in Oklahoma, Texas, and Colorado. From those home base locations, David has traveled abroad to such places as London, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Addis Abba, and Canada to share the gospel with youth and college students. His biblical training and degree in marketing has made him God-wise and street savvy as a pastor, discipler, and speaker.

Along with speaking, David served for ten years in two different church settings (Dallas and Denver) as a youth and young adults pastor. Now, he and his wife, Essey, along with their daughter and son, live in Denver as they continue their family mission of “knowing God and making Him known” through David’s current Kingdom assignment as Associate Pastor at Church in the City.

And one more thing. If you can’t find David at the church or gym, you may want to try an online gaming platform later in the evening. Rumor has it, sports video games are one of his downtime enjoyments after the kids have been snugly tucked in bed.

David travels from Denver, Colorado

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David and Agnes Robertson are passionate about shepherding the Forge staff in prayer, encouragement, and counsel in such a way that the entire staff’s intimacy with Jesus Christ daily shines forth in everything they do.

The Robertson’s, after pastoring churches in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Michigan for 39 years, said “yes, Lord” to a call to “Go West!” and have served as Pastors to the Forge Office Staff for twenty years. Dave’s four decades of pastoral ministry and Agnes’s real estate sales and brokering experience have served them well in loving and leading the staff in everyday, practical laborership.

Dave and Agnes, who live in Denver, have been married for over 60 years, have three adult children, Marcia, Dwight, and David, four grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Amy grew up in church but moved from religion to relationship with Jesus her Freshman year of college at 18 years old. Having attended a church that didn’t share the Gospel, she became passionate about sharing Jesus with others and understanding the difference is a matter of eternal significance. Amy became involved with Campus Crusade for Christ immediately. Within the first week of walking with Christ she was already knocking on dorm doors and sharing Jesus with her fellow students when her love of people, the gift of gab, her enthusiasm and being brave socially was discovered by her fellow Crusade students.

Amy took another leap of faith when it was obvious God was calling her to homeschool her two beautiful daughters. Amy and her husband Jeff knew their biggest mission was teaching their daughters about Jesus and following Him with their whole heart. Amy and Jeff’s oldest daughter felt called to being a missionary at 10 years old. She asked them. “the Bible says you should train me up in the way I should go, when are you taking me on a mission trip?” They signed up for their first International mission trip as a family. After the trip, their family was hooked. Seeing Jesus through a whole new culture and watching Him work, Amy grew closer to Christ experiencing Him on the mission field and seeing His heart for the Nations.

Missions became a big part of their family’s culture and Amy and Jeff quickly stepped into joining the mission department at their church as facilitators training up to 400 people a year to embark on mission trips. The role of mentoring, equipping, and encouraging others to follow Jesus with their time, talent and treasure became their passion.

I am honored to be a part of the Forge team and am thankful God chose me to use my skills for kingdom building purposes.

Josh Lin is an incredible Kingdom networker and proclaimer of God’s word. As a former pastor, Josh has been immersed in the Asian community of Denver working with families and individuals, offering the best he can as a cultural exegete.

Josh grew up in Houston, TX and attended the University of Texas at Austin for undergrad, studying Speech Communications. After graduation, he worked for a few years as a stock broker in Austin. He went on to spend 4 years on staff with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship working with a large Asian-American campus ministry. Josh then moved to Chicago to work at a Chinese immigrant church, first as the youth director, and later the English pastor for 5 years. Afterwards he studied at North Park Seminary pursuing his Masters of Divinity. From 2010-2019, Josh came to the call of being the English Pastor at Chinese Evangelical Church of Denver, a Chinese immigrant church in the Denver metro area.