OUR TEAM
Born from the need to reengage Christians into the public arena, Faith Wins is a 501(c)3 organization founded with the mission of engaging Christians in the public arena.
Chad Connelly
Founder Chad Connelly was the Republican National Committee’s first-ever National Director of Faith Engagement, a key position that influenced the elections of 2016. Having been elected to two terms as the Chairman of the South Carolina Republican Party, Chad set new fundraising records for the party, hosted two nationally televised debates that brought over $50 million in revenue and advertising exposure to the state, and held the largest Presidential Preference Primary at that time in South Carolina's history with over 607,000 voting in the election.
Since 2013, he’s traveled to 43 states and spoke to more than 82,000 pastors and faith leaders about the importance of pastoral leadership in the public arena. His work has led to trusted relationships with a wide variety of denominational and organizational ministry leaders across the nation and resulted in the highest evangelical turnout and vote in modern American political history in the 2016 elections.
He has appeared on numerous national television shows and has been a featured commentator on Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NBC and others.
Chad is well known in political and religious circles around the nation as an effective speaker, relationship builder and prolific fundraiser and is in demand as an inspirational speaker on a variety of topics.
Chad is passionate about his home state of South Carolina, America and her true history but is most passionate about his family: his wife Dana and their four children; CJ, who is 22, Leigha, 20, Bennett, 18 and Summer 17. Chad is a life-long South Carolinian and he and his family live in Prosperity, SC.
Lance Williams
As a graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in Business and an M.B.A. from Brenau University, Lance Williams served on Capitol Hill for over 13 years, most recently as Chief of Staff for both Congressman Jeff Duncan and former Congressman Gresham. He has over 25 years of experience working in banking, finance, political and business consulting and management on both the Fortune 500 and small business level. He also has worked and consulted on numerous successful political and advocacy campaigns at all levels.
Drew McKissick
Elected State Chairman of the SC Republican Party in 2017, Drew is a conservative political strategist with more than 30 years of experience in grassroots politics. With a passion for teaching others how the system work, he most recently worked as the Eastern Director for Faith Engagement for the Republican National Committee, engaging faith community voter registration and issue education. A former member of the the Electoral College (2004, 2012), he has written several books on political education, organization, lobbying and campaigns.
Dave Wilson
For nearly 20 years, Dave has been centered in the world of media and public policy outreach. As a former journalist and award-winning multimedia producer, Dave knows and understands the expanding world of communications. His experience as a television journalist, former Communications Director for the SC Senate Republican Caucus, and political television commentator brings unique insights to engaging discussions in the public arena.
Bob Crawford
As a veteran of four Presidential campaigns, Bob has developed a wealth of relationships with key leaders and activists in every region of the United States. He uses a three-pronged approach of Network – Organize – Activate to mobilize and secure electoral victory. In 2014 he joined the RNC’s new Faith Engagement Initiative as a regional director, mobilizing the faith community in the senate races in IA, SD, CO, MT and AK. In addition to his current political work, Bob serves on the Board of Advisors for a leading non-profit that is alleviating poverty and violence in one of the most dangerous and disadvantaged neighborhoods on Chicago’s South Side.
Joey Deese
Joey Deese pastors in South Carolina and is happily married for almost 14 years. Deese has a passion to see Christians emboldened to preach the Gospel and to stand for truth – believing that we are called to bring truth out to set people free. “Truth not revealed, keeps many Christians in every arena of life silent. We are called to be salt and light. We have believed the lie to shelter in place for too long.” Adopted at nine months old, Joey is also a champion for babies in the womb and regularly speaks for those who cannot speak. Religious freedom, Biblical worldview and the Christian heritage in our country’s foundation are other things that Joey is on fire for during this time in our nation.
Lance Williams
As a graduate of Clemson University with a B.S. in Business and an M.B.A. from Brenau University, Lance Williams served on Capitol Hill for over 13 years, most recently as Chief of Staff for both Congressman Jeff Duncan and former Congressman Gresham. He has over 25 years of experience working in banking, finance, political and business consulting and management on both the Fortune 500 and small business level. He also has worked and consulted on numerous successful political and advocacy campaigns at all levels.
Drew McKissick
Elected State Chairman of the SC Republican Party in 2017, Drew is a conservative political strategist with more than 30 years of experience in grassroots politics. WIth a passion for teaching others how the system work, he most recently worked as the Eastern Director for Faith Engagement for the Republican National Committee, engaging faith community voter registration and issue education. A former member of the the Electoral College (2004, 2012), he has written several books on political education, organization, lobbying and campaigns.
Dave Wilson
For nearly 20 years, Dave has been centered in the world of media and public policy outreach. As a former journalist and award-winning multimedia producer, Dave knows and understands the expanding world of communications. His experience as a television journalist, former Communications Director for the SC Senate Republican Caucus, and political television commentator brings unique insights to engaging discussions in the public arena.
Bob Crawford
As a veteran of four Presidential campaigns, Bob has developed a wealth of relationships with key leaders and activists in every region of the United States. He uses a three-pronged approach of Network – Organize – Activate to mobilize and secure electoral victory. In 2014 he joined the RNC’s new Faith Engagement Initiative as a regional director, mobilizing the faith community in the senate races in IA, SD, CO, MT and AK. In addition to his current political work, Bob serves on the Board of Advisors for a leading non-profit that is alleviating poverty and violence in one of the most dangerous and disadvantaged neighborhoods on Chicago’s South Side.
Joey Deese
Joey Deese pastors in South Carolina and is happily married for almost 14 years. Deese has a passion to see Christians emboldened to preach the Gospel and to stand for truth – believing that we are called to bring truth out to set people free. “Truth not revealed, keeps many Christians in every arena of life silent. We are called to be salt and light. We have believed the lie to shelter in place for too long.” Adopted at nine months old, Joey is also a champion for babies in the womb and regularly speaks for those who cannot speak. Religious freedom, Biblical worldview and the Christian heritage in our country’s foundation are other things that Joey is on fire for during this time in our nation.
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