Here Like There 2025 is hosted by Pastors John and Cynthia Wallace. Since 2004, the Wallaces have served Bible Center Church in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. John M. Wallace, Jr., Ph.D. is the senior pastor of Bible Center and the founder of The Oasis Project, the community and economic development division of Bible Center. Cynthia M. Wallace, Ed.D. serves as the Executive Pastor of Bible Center and the Executive Director of The Oasis Project. In addition to being a pastor, John is a professor, and university administrator whose work and ministry over the last 30+ years has focused on the well-being of African American youth, families and communities, and the development of leaders in educational, for-profit, not-for-profit, and faith-based organizations. Prior to her roles at Bible Center, Cynthia served as a teacher, the co-founder of a Christian School, a school principal, and an adjunct professor of education. Through The Oasis Project, Bible Center educates young people, creates jobs, equips entrepreneurs, and engages in “withintrification”™ (i.e., community transformation from within the community for the benefit of those who live there). The ministries and social enterprises of The Oasis Project include an early learning center, after-school and summer youth programs, a transportation company, a business academy and coworking space (Own Our Own), and three food-related enterprises: Everyday Café, Oasis Farm, and Oasis Community Kitchen. The Wallaces have shared the theology and methodology of their “holistic faith-based development” model in churches, seminaries, and universities around the country. Dr. Cynthia Wallace is a national trainer and coach for the Made to Flourish network (www.madetoflourish.org) where she equips pastors and congregations to strengthen the connection between faith and work and helps churches to envision and implement strategies that impact not only their congregations but also the economic and social vitality of their communities. Most recently the Wallaces partnered with the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation and the Lilly Foundation funded Charity to Change initiative to train a cohort of pastors and next generation leaders how congregations can invest in long-term, systemic community change. In 2023, the Wallaces launched Kingdom Advancement Consulting Group to equip pastors, not-for-profit leaders, and faith-based community developers to make their pieces of earth [here] more like heaven [there]. Dr. John Wallace earned his AB from the University of Chicago and MA and PhD degrees from the University of Michigan, all in sociology. Dr. Cynthia Wallace earned her AB in behavioral sciences from the University of Chicago, an M.Ed. in educational administration from the University of Michigan, an M.A. in marriage and family counseling from Geneva College, and an Ed.D. in school leadership from the University of Pittsburgh. The Wallaces have been married for over 38 years and are the proud parents of four adult children.