SAVANNAH, GA – July 8, 2026 –Asbury Memorial Church has announced the lineup of speakers for their 2026 Summer Preaching Series. Worship services will be held at 11 a.m. every Sunday throughout the summer at church 1008 E. Henry St., Savannah.
The summer series will begin on Sunday, July 12 with Rabbi Robert Haas, a native of McAllen, Texas. received his B.S. from the University of Texas at Austin. He began his first career as an elementary school teacher; then attended rabbinical school, later moving to Savannah in 2012 to serve in his current position as rabbi for Congregation Mickve Israel, the third oldest congregation in America.
Next up, on Sunday, July 19, Asbury Memorial will host Dr. Andrew Young, who has served in Christian ministry and advocacy for 30 years. At the age of 24, he led the turnaround of a suburban Atlanta congregation. In 2008, he returned to Savannah to take the helm of New Covenant Church (formerly Epworth UMC). In 2017, New Covenant relocated and changed its’ name to Mosaic Church. In 2021, he began serving as one of Reverend Senator Raphael Warnock’s outreach field representatives, working with local city & county elected officials, business leaders, and community advocates. Dr. Young holds a Master of Education degree and is employed as a Special Education Teacher at Garrison Middle School.
Sunday, July 26 will feature J.J. Collins, who moved to Savannah in late 2013. Collins has been Wesley Oak’s choir director since 2014 and currently serves on their preaching team. She is currently in seminary, pursuing her Masters of Divinity degree at Mercer University. Collins holds a Master of Music in voice from Peabody Conservatory and is a professional vocalist and vocal instructor. She is also a commercial real estate paralegal at Hunter Maclean.
The series will continue Sunday, Aug. 2 with Rev. August Alderman, who serves as the Associate Minister at Asbury Memorial. He is also a member of the preaching team at Wesley Oak. Rev. Alderman earned his Master of Divinity at Chicago Theological Seminary in April of 2025. He served CPE at Hospice Savannah and completed Field Placement with Asbury Memorial Church as Ministerial Intern. Rev. Alderman was ordained in June of 2025 at Asbury Memorial Church.
Rev. Dr. Katie Callaway will speak to the congregation on Sunday, Aug. 9. Rev. Dr. Callaway is the director of development at BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), where she leads a comprehensive fundraising program to support the work of defending faith freedom for all and countering Christian nationalism. She previously served as the senior director of grants management at The Y in Central Maryland, where she managed a $20 million philanthropic portfolio to advance equity-focused programs in youth development, health, and community engagement.
On Sunday, Aug. 23, Chris Kincade will speak. Kincade has served as Youth Director and Communications Director at Asbury Memorial Church for 10+ years. He is passionate about helping people discover God’s love through authentic community, service, and inclusion. Chris believes the church should be a place where everyone feels welcomed and celebrated.
“We are thrilled to welcome our guest speakers for this year’s Summer Preaching Series. Each one brings a unique voice and perspective that enriches our community and deepens our understanding of faith. It is a privilege to open our doors and hearts to these inspiring leaders, and we look forward to the wisdom and encouragement they will share with us,” said Asbury Memorial Senior Minister Rev. Billy Hester, who will return on Sunday, Aug. 30.
Asbury Memorial Church welcomes all people, no matter their age, gender, race, sexual orientation, economic status, or any other demographic. For more information, please visit www.asburymemorial.org.
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