David Howell is an ordained minister in the PCUSA. He was pastor of several churches before becoming a pastoral counselor (Fellow-American Association of Pastoral Counselors) and a Licensed Pastoral Counselor in VA. In 1989, he launched the very successful Lectionary Homiletics and later GoodPreacher.com. In 1992, he organized the first Festival of Homiletics which became an annual event attended by pastors from all denominations and many countries. David now enjoys being a part of the team leadership of Luther Seminary’s Festival of Homiletics while adapting to a new lifestyle with his wife, Mary Ann, on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. “The success of the Festival was followed by Time magazine, The New York Times, and many others. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Garrison Keillor, civil rights leaders Joseph Lowery and Andrew Young, and many other notable speakers addressed Festival attendees. Musicians included the likes of Sweet Honey in the Rock, jazz sensation Grace Kelly, blues legend Les Miles, members of Jimmy Buffett’s Coral Reefer’s Band (yes, we’ve had fun at the Festival!), and African-American choirs from distinguished congregations like Trinity UCC  in Chicago. Internationally acclaimed storytellers like Donald Davis and Barbara McBride-Smith have thrilled Festival audiences.” – David Howell