Leadership
Rev. Dr. Priscilla Pope-Levison
Project Director and Co-Principal Investigator
An award-winning author of eight books, Dr. Pope-Levison is Research Professor of Practical Theology at SMU Perkins School of Theology. Her years of prior experience as a pastor and professor have given her a heart for helping Christians overcome fear and embarrassment about expressing their faith in word and deed.
Her most recent book, Models of Evangelism (Baker Academic Press, 2020), distills several decades of research and teaching experience into a compelling resource for churches and schools.
After a successful career in undergraduate and graduate teaching, Priscilla came to SMU Perkins School of Theology in 2015 to launch the newly-created Office of External Programs (OEP). She put together an energetic, highly competent team, which plans and hosts a year-long cycle of public events, whose participants number in the thousands. OEP offers educational certificates in practical ministries for church staff and laypeople, including the Certificate in Evangelism.
Bart Patton
Co-Principal Investigator
Bart is Director of the Office of External Programs at SMU Perkins. Before coming to Perkins in 2016 as the Director of Youth and Young Adult Education, he served churches as a pastor, youth minister, congregational leader, worship leader, and teacher. His extensive ministry experience spans three states and seven congregational settings, including churches both large and small, located in rural, urban, and suburban communities.
Bart travels the country as a consultant for churches and parachurch organizations. As an author and curriculum developer of Fathom Bible Studies and Bible Lessons for Youth (Cokesbury/Abingdon Press), he provides high-quality teaching resources for youth ministers and congregations.
With his passion for congregational and youth work, Bart was instrumental in revitalizing of the Perkins School of Youth Ministry (PSYM) and in inaugurating the PSYM Foundations “On the Go” National Training Program.
Jeanette L. Cordova
Administrative Assistant
In her pivotal role for Testimony HQ, Jeanette deals with all aspects of operational support, social media, annual reports, and travel arrangements, as well as the translation of all our materials into Spanish.
She joined the team after working for five years as an Administrative Assistant for the Allstate Wickman Insurance Agency. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelor’s degree in Integrative Studies (Business, Economics, and Sociology).
Jeanette and her family are active members of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Rowlett, Texas.
Testimony HQ Advisory Board
Rev. Dr. Edgar Bazan
Senior Pastor, New World UMC, Garland, TX
Rev. Dr. Charles Fuller
Consultant and Coach, The Center for Healthy Churches, Clemmons, NC
Rev. Dr. David Lee
Pastor, Community Baptist Church Tulsa. Consultant, American Baptist Churches, OK
Rev. Dr. Elias Lopez
Associate Director of the Intern Program, SMU Perkins, Dallas, TX
Rev. Dr. Brad Morgan
Senior Pastor, Memorial Drive United Methodist Church, Houston, TX
Rev. Denise Peckham
Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Sherman, TX
Ms. Sharon Walker
Youth Director, Salem Institutional Baptist Church, Dallas, TX