Dr. David Ireland is founder and senior pastor of Christ Church, a 9,000-member multisite congregation in North Jersey representing over 70 nationalities. Former diversity consultant to the National Basketball Association, Dr. Ireland has led chapel services for the New York Giants, New York Jets, and at the U.S. Pentagon. Ireland has traveled to more than 75 nations and built a reputation of teaching culturally relevant messages that inspire and empower his global audiences. He is a well-respected columnist contributing to such media outlets like Fox News, Huffington Post, and Patheos. Dr. Ireland is the author of over 20 books including One in Christ. Ireland has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows including The Dr. Phil Show, The CBS Evening News, The 700 Club, and Focus on the Family. Through his community development corporation, he offers a home for victims of domestic violence. The Rev. Ireland holds an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering (Fairleigh Dickinson University), a graduate degree in civil engineering (Stevens Institute of Technology), a master’s degree in theology (Alliance Theological Seminary). He has an earned Ph.D. in organizational leadership (Regent University) and completed post-doctoral work at the University of Pennsylvania, and is a candidate for a graduate degree in social innovation from the University of Cambridge in England. Dr. Ireland was recently appointed as a member of the Governor’s Advisory Commission on Faith-Based Initiatives. He serves on the boards of Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Dr. Marlinda Ireland, have been married since 1984 and have two adult daughters and a son-in-law. http://davidireland.org

Simi Shittu
In October 2019, The Chicago Bulls free agent Simisola Shittu to bring the roster to 20 players. In accordance with team policy, terms of the contract were not announced. Shittu (6-10, 240) appeared in one game for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2019 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League. Prior to his Summer League experience, Shittu played one season at Vanderbilt, where he saw action in 32 games (31 starts) and averaged 10.9 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting .468 from the field. A native of Burlington, Ontario, Shittu was a consensus five-star prospect in the 2018 recruiting class, and participated in the 2018 McDonald's All American and Jordan Brand Classic games.

Temitayo Shittu
Temitayo “Tayo” Shittu is an athlete currently playing in Italy’s 3rd division called Serie C. This past season, he had averaged 13.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 assists for Basket Gualdo ‘96. Prior to playing basketball in Europe, Tayo attended St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, NS from 2013-2018 having played three seasons for the X-Men. In 2016, Tayo suffered a “career ending” injury that would have him sidelined for two years. In the meantime, he grew in his faith with the lord during his last two years at St.FX. After graduating with a degree in Business Administration he then finished his university basketball career at Acadia University in Wolfville, NS. Tayo professes his faith all the time and credits the lord for getting him through the storm. Both Tayo and his brother along with a friend started a group called “OMFM” (Our Movement:Family Motivation) to help encourage and develop kids who inspire to play in the United States. Their vision is to show kids that through faith and patience that they can achieve their goals.

Rachael Niles
In her sophomore year (2019-20) Rachael led the FDU Knights to achieve the no. 3 seed in the All-Northeast Conference (NEC) Tournament which is the highest for an FDU women’s basketball team in the NEC since 1993, earning her the NEC Most Improved Player of The Year Award. Rachael was acknowledged by the NEC coaches by stepping up as the team’s starting point guard and finishing fourth in the league in regular season minutes with 34.1 minutes per game. She leads FDU and ranks 13th in NEC with 2.5 assists per game; averages 8.8 points per game (up from 3.0 as a freshman); and leads FDU with 30 steals in the 2019-20 season. The Burlington, ON native has also developed into a ferocious rebounder for the Knights, averaging 5.4 boards per game that includes 4.6 defensive rebounds per game (11th in NEC). Rachael is majoring in Biology; human physiology and is entering her third year at FDU. Influenced by her family and close friends, Rachael hopes to become a science teacher and also hopes to coach while being heavily involved in church ministry.