Barry Grider was reared in Alabama in a home filled with love for the truth. In addition to his family, he was deeply influenced by Ray Melton, his boyhood Bible class teacher, and his maternal great-uncle, Cecil D. Williams, a Gospel preacher.
     Barry graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1988 from the University of Alabama. During his time at the University, Barry preached his first sermon. He then began preaching by appointment at various congregations until he entered Memphis School of Preaching. Upon graduation in 1992, he became the Associate Preacher of the Knight Arnold Church of Christ (now Forest Hill), which oversees the Memphis School of Preaching. During his tenure at Knight Arnold, he preached, worked with young people, led several evangelistic campaigns, and made several missionary journeys.
     Barry has served the Fayette Church of Christ in Fayette, Alabama and the Southwest Church of Christ in Austin, Texas. In 2000, Barry returned to work with the Forest Hill Church of Christ as the pulpit evangelist and as a part-time faculty member of the Memphis School of Preaching.
     Barry is married to Celicia (Cason). They have three children, Cason, Miranda, and Vada. Brother Grider looks forward to the opportunity to serve as co-editor of The Gospel Journal. He is especially excited to work alongside John Moore in producing a monthly periodical dedicated to the edification of the church and of the home.

John Moore is a native Texan. He was reared in the Dripping Springs community which is located near Austin. His extended family members have faithfully served the church for many generations as preachers, teachers, elders and deacons.
      For the past eleven years John has served as a faculty member at Southwest School of Bible Studies in Austin. Before joining the Southwest faculty, he served as the Director of the University Bible Chair at Texas State University in San Marcos. John has wide-ranging practical experience as a campus evangelist, as a local Gospel preacher, and in conducting numerous successful evangelistic campaigns.
     A specialist in New Testament studies, John is a graduate of Texas State University, Austin Graduate School of Theology, and Jerusalem University College, where he earned the Diploma in Historical Geography. He is also an honorary alumnus of Southwest School of Bible Studies, which was awarded for his long tenure at the school, as well as for the outstanding contribution which he has made to the New Testament studies section.
     John is a frequent speaker on annual lectureships throughout the brotherhood, and holds a number of Gospel meetings each year.
     John, his wife, Carla, and their sons, Jordan, Jacob, and Micah attend the Dripping Springs church of Christ where he serves as one of the full-time ministers for the congregation.