Who We Are
Dr. William Campbell founded Church Discipleship Services in Virginia, in 1998. As a young man, thirty years ago, Dr. Campbell watched Community Bible Study develop from his parents’ living room in northern Virginia into an international ministry serving many thousands of people. Using the model developed by his parents, Bill began writing material for the churches he pastored so that he could connect Sunday sermons to weekly devotional reading and small group Bible studies. He tested and improved the Bible study material over a sixteen-year period while serving as pastor in two different congregations. Once Church Discipleship Services was recognized as a 501(c)3 organization in September of 1998 Dr. Campbell began planning to launch Connections.
In January of 2006 the board called Stephen Eyre as executive director and began the dissemination of Connections materials on a pilot basis. Stephen Eyre has a Masters of Divinity from Covenant Theological Seminary and 30 years in ministry. He is the author of two books and over twenty Bible studies with IVP and Zondervan. Stephen served as a pastor and Intervarsity Staff Director before joining Connections. Through his ministry experience, both in the church and on the college campus, he witnessed the spiritual power generated and released in a community of Christians engaged in Bible study together. He is committed to bringing the study of scriptures into the daily lives of church congregations around the country.
Connections is guided by a Board of Trustees, consisting of four members, who meet quarterly to review ministry activities, develop overarching goals and objectives, and manage funds.
Dr. Tom Tarrants, has been the president of the C.S. Lewis Institute since 1998. He is an ordained minister, has co-authored two books and has served as co-pastor of Christ Our Shepherd Church and Director of The School for Urban Mission, both based in Washington, D.C.
Mr. James McIlvaine, works in Washington D.C. in the field of commercial real estate development and management.
Dr. Bill Campbell, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church located in Hendersonville, North Carolina, is the founder and primary author of Connections studies. He has a Masters of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.
Stephen Eyre is Vice President and serves as the Executive Director of Connections.
Stephen's Publications