MEET OUR SPEAKERS
Laura Perry Smalts
Laura Perry Smalts is an author and speaker who shares her story of how Jesus Christ rescued her from a transgender identity. She also speaks and teaches on a variety of topics related to transgenderism and God’s design of human beings as male and female. She has had the privilege to tell her story on a variety of platforms, including radio, video, TV, and more including the documentary "In His Image".
Laura also teaches at conferences, schools, and churches.
Her story is available in her autobiography, "Transgender to Transformed".
Laura and her husband, Perry, now run a ministry called Eden’s Redemption, which aims to teach and equip people to understand gender and sexuality from a biblical perspective.
Ashley Overbo
Ashley Overbo resides in beautiful Glen Rose, Texas, with her husband & best friend, Trig, and their three children. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate, practicing under the supervision of Gina Martin, LPC-S at The Gathering Place in Stephenville, Texas. Her desire is to support and guide others as they walk a healing path with Jesus. She is passionate about sharing the tools to walk in the freedom and beauty of a Christ-centered life.
Ashley worked for several years in child welfare, advocating for children through CASA and offering support through Post-Adoption services. More recently, she has been actively involved in raising her three children, Charlie (18), Ellie (16) & Alberic (15). Her experience as an adoptive parent has given her insights on parenting children from hard places who are walking a healing path of their own.
In her free time, you can find Ashley watching her kids’ sporting events and activities. She loves cooking, gardening, long walks with Jesus, and rocking on the porch with a cup of coffee. She loves all things outdoors—exploring God’s creation never gets old to her.
Melissa Morris & Aryn Lane
Melissa and Aryn are a mother-daughter duo passionate about sharing how God brings redemption, healing, and forgiveness through even the hardest seasons. Having walked through difficult circumstances as a family, they have experienced firsthand God's faithfulness and the freedom that comes through forgiveness.
Melissa has more than 10 years of experience in church ministry, primarily serving children and youth, and now works as a substance abuse counselor at a prison unit.
Aryn serves on W.A.Y. Summit leadership team and works full-time as a graphic designer, where she loves helping others bring their creative visions to life.
Together, they hope to encourage others to persevere through suffering and trust that no family or circumstance is beyond God's ability to redeem.
Billy Cash
Billy has served as the College Pastor at Coggin since 2015. He married his sweet bride, Lindsay, in 2005 and has three wonderful kids who keep them busy. He graduated from HPU in 2001 and served in student ministry for the next ten years. After a while, they moved to Portland, Oregon where he did more schooling and discovered his love for hiking and all things outdoors. He did college and worship ministry up north before moving back to Texas and connecting with Coggin. He enjoys reading, spending time with his family, and anything having to do with Dr. Pepper.
Paul & Taylor Chandler
Paul and Taylor Chandler met at Howard Payne University and married shortly after their graduation in May 2021. The Chandlers served as missionaries in Honduras with 61 Isaiah Ministries for two years and then returned stateside to follow a call to youth ministry. They moved to Hamlin, Tx January of 2024 and have loved serving at FBC and sharing the love of Jesus with the youth in their small rural community. In August 2025, they welcomed their first child, Chloe Fe, and have loved being parents.
Zane & Megan Smith
Zane and Megan met at Howard Payne University, where they served together as interns in the college ministry at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. Shortly after their time at Howard Payne, they were married in the fall of 2024!
Zane began working as a full-time youth minister, and Megan began teaching! Megan is a 3rd-grade math teacher in Cross Plains, and they have recently moved to May to serve at the First Baptist Church, where Zane serves as the youth minister!
Kasey Lucero
Kasey is a Colorado mom of three who enjoys a life filled with family, faith, creativity, and plenty of opportunities to be outside. She recently found a new hobby in trail running and enjoys the challenge of exploring new places on foot. Kasey’s a writer and creator who loves turning ideas into meaningful things, from children’s books to curriculum to thoughtful family experiences. Her faith is central to her life, and she’s continually looking for ways to grow spiritually while balancing motherhood, marriage, and adventures.
Emcees
Addie and Cindy Marshall
Worship Leaders
