We're so grateful for your listenership and hope that the Transforming Lives Podcast is an encouragement to you each week. Please enjoy this special edition on rest. We look forward to connecting with you again in August 2026.

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Rich and Cherry Smith are graduates of Dayton Christian School and Cedarville University. Before entering full-time ministry, Rich spent 30 years as a business and finance executive, while Cherry worked for many years in Christian education. Their daughters, Bailey and Bradee, were raised in Christian schools and graduated from Grace College, a foundation the Smiths credit with preparing their family spiritually and emotionally for their current mission.

In 2017, the Smiths moved to Antigua, Guatemala, to serve with Global Action, where Rich currently serves as CFO. Their work focuses on training national pastors and leaders through a Biblical Foundations program. Shortly after arriving, they met their now-adopted son, Edwin, who had aged out of the local orphanage system.

Inspired by Edwin’s journey, the family founded Casa de Gracia, a ministry dedicated to supporting vulnerable young people. The organization provides a transition home and a two-to-three-year program for girls and young men aging out of orphanages, focusing on three pillars:

• Discipleship
• Life skill training and mentorship
• Educational and occupational development

The Smiths view their lifelong involvement in Christian education and local church ministry as the essential preparation for the mission God has entrusted to them in Guatemala.

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Kent Austell lives in Memphis, Tennessee, with his wife, Jenni, and their three daughters. A former collegiate track and field athlete, Kent holds a bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and Biomechanics, a master’s in Business Administration, a master’s in Educational Leadership and Administration, and is currently a PhD candidate at Columbia International University. After 16 years in education—including serving as Head of School at Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia—Kent recently transitioned to Harvest Church in Memphis, where he serves as Director of Adult Ministries. He is also a resilience researcher and coach, helping individuals and organizations more effectively face adversity well and grow stronger through it. Kent loves spending time with his family, traveling globally, and playing guitar and piano.

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Billy Hutchinson (M.Div., Christian Apologetics) is the Director of Colson Educators at the Colson Center. Before joining the Colson Center, he spent over a decade in Christian education as both a classroom teacher and an administrator, focusing
on academic excellence, digital education, and the worldview formation of
teachers and students. He is passionate about equipping others to engage and
shape today’s culture for Christ. To learn more about Colson Educators, visit https://colsoneducators.org/TL.

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Chad Dirkse is in his third year as Head of School at Annapolis Area Christian School (AACS) in Severn, Maryland. Before joining AACS, he served for 14 years as President of Chattanooga Christian School in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and for five years as Superintendent of Westminster Christian School in Illinois.

Across more than three decades in Christian education, Chad has served in a wide range of leadership and instructional roles, including middle and high school teacher, principal, athletic director, and high school basketball and soccer coach. He is also a Senior Fellow with the Center for the Advancement of Christian Education (CACE), where he supports schools nationwide through board governance, operational guidance, and strategic planning.

Chad holds a bachelor's degree in education from Covenant College and an MBA with a specialization in school leadership from LeTourneau University. He and his wife, Heather, have been married for 32 years and have three children. Together, they enjoy hospitality, the outdoors, Premier League soccer, and an active lifestyle.

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Dr. Lynn E. Swaner is the President, US, for Cardus. A public scholar and organizational strategist, Lynn joined Cardus after two decades of executive leadership in non-profits and educational institutions. Lynn holds a doctorate in organizational leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a diploma in strategy and innovation from the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School.

Lynn’s professional experience spans several sectors and encompasses roles in academia, sponsored research, associations, and independent schools. As a result, she is passionate about building bridges within and across fields. Lynn’s work brings thinkers, researchers, funders, and doers together to shape paradigms and practices for greater flourishing.

Her own research is interdisciplinary and focuses on how individuals, organizations, and communities can better thrive together. Lynn is the editor or lead author of several books, including “Future Ready: Innovative Missions and Models in Christian Education” and “Flourishing Together: A Christian Vision for Students, Educators, and Schools”. Her work has been published in the International Journal of Educational Development, Eton Journal for Innovation and Research in Education, and Liberal Education, as well as featured in multiple book chapters and monographs.

Lynn also serves as a non-resident scholar at Baylor University’s Center for School Leadership, is a senior fellow for the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI), and a trustee or advisor for several non-profit boards.

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Becky Hansard serves as the head of school at Silverdale Baptist Academy, a PreK-12 school in Chattanooga, TN. She has been in this role for over 25 years and has been instrumental in the school's leadership for nearly its entire 26-year history, guiding the institution from its early years to its current status with approximately 1,300 students. She is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga for her undergraduate and Trevecca University for her Master’s Degree.

Since 1999, Silverdale has partnered with families to help their children impact the world. Becky’s son is a 2015 graduate of Silverdale, and because of the investment that the Academy’s faculty and staff poured into him, he is a thriving young adult. Becky and her husband knew that a Christian education would be a foundation that they wanted for their child before he was even born. Now more than ever, it is crucial to have strong Christian leaders pouring Truth into our children.

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Dr. S. L. (“Doc”) Sherrill founded North Raleigh Christian Academy in 1996, serving as its only Superintendent for 22 years and assisting Dr. Kevin Mathes for 2 years. He stepped down in 2018, honored as Superintendent Emeritus. Under his leadership, NRCA grew to 1478 students, over 1400 for 12 years, and now nearly 1600 under Dr. Mathes.

Doc’s 55-year Christian education career began in 1971 as Youth and Bus Pastor at Neuse Baptist Church. He served as youth pastor, teacher, camp director, and principal at various churches and schools, including Greenwood Baptist, Twin City Christian Academy, Lima Baptist Temple, and Central Fellowship Baptist Church, where he grew the church to 500 and school to 700.

He became Head of School at Temple Heights Christian School in 1990, with 900 students, then returned to Raleigh as Administrator of Friendship Christian School, where enrollment doubled. In 1996, he founded North Raleigh Christian Academy, which grew to 1478 students, and reached nearly 1600 under Dr. Mathes.

Retired in 2018, Sherrill now serves as ACSI Field Director for Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, aiding 240 schools. He was Interim Head of Cresset Christian Academy in 2023 and served Bethesda Christian Academy as Interim Head from 2023-2025, overseeing accreditation, program expansion, staff growth, and school finance. He is also a Senior Consultant for NACS and Renewanation and has worked with Herzog Foundation.

A strong advocate for Kingdom education linking family, school, and church, he served as ACSI District 3 Representative for 20 years. He has been president and board member of Joshua Expeditions and the National Alliance of Christian Schools for over 10 years. He consults on governance, accreditation, and curriculum through KingdomEd101, NACS, and Renewanation.

Doc Sherrill has led Christian School 101 seminars for 18 years, establishing 76 schools, and helped create over 300 via SchoolBox by Herzog Foundation.He holds Doctor of Theology and Doctor of Christian Education degrees, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Tennessee Temple University.

Married to Debbie in 1974, they have two daughters, Joy and Jennifer, and four grandchildren. Debbie passed away in 2025.

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