Amazing Grace for Survivors

Jeff Cavins is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the most effective and engaging speakers in the Church today. Few can communicate their love for Jesus Christ with as much zeal, clarity, and enthusiasm as Jeff Cavins. In addition to his outstanding presentations related to Catholic Bible study, Jeff is available to speak on a variety of other faith-formation topics.

After twelve years as a Protestant pastor, Jeff returned to the Catholic Church under the guidance of Bishop Paul Dudley. His conversion story, one of the best known and most inspiring stories of its kind, is chronicled in the best-selling book, My Life on the Rock. After his conversion, Jeff received an MA in Theology from the Franciscan University of Steubenville.

Over the past several decades, Jeff has dedicated his life to developing The Bible TimelineⓇ: The Story of Salvation, a practical, interactive program that helps people read the “big picture” of God’s plan of salvation in Sacred Scripture and understand its meaning for their lives.

For 2025, The Bible Timeline has been refreshed with new videos filmed on location in the Holy Land, Greece, Rome and several other locations, and new presenters such as Fr. Mike Schmitz, Mary Healy, and Dr. Marcellino D’Ambrosio. The Great Adventure Bible Timeline presents the entire sweep of the Bible in a way that is easy to understand and genuinely fun to engage. As the foundational element of The Great Adventure Learning System, the Bible Timeline has revolutionized Catholic Bible Study for hundreds of thousands of Catholics.

Matthew Pinto founded Ascension in 1998 and was the president and chief executive officer from 1998 to 2021. He is a recognized leader in Catholic marketing and communication in the Church in the United States. Matt has been at the forefront of several Catholic ministries and initiatives since he began full-time service to the Church in 1991, including Ascension Press, CatholicExchange.com, the Theology of the Body Institute, and Spark Catholic Communications.

He is a best-selling Catholic author, whose books include the teen question-and-answer books Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons?, Did Jesus Have a Last Name?, and Do I Have to Go: 101 Questions about the Mass, the Eucharist, and Your Spiritual Life, as well as the Amazing Grace series. Matt also co-authored A Guide to the Passion: 100 Questions About “The Passion of the Christ“, which went on to sell more than a million copies and reached #6 on the New York Times Religion Best-Seller List.

Matt is a recipient of the Catholic Leadership Institute’s Award for Outstanding Catholic Leadership (2004). He has served or presently serves on the boards of the Theology of the Body Institute, the Association of Catholic Publishers, and John Paul the Great University.

Matt and his wife, Maryanne, live in Pennsylvania, and are the parents of six children.