John (aka Johnny Pepper) is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of St Andrews (Scotland) studying under Professor N. T. Wright (see Academia.edu profile for CV). John was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and later studied Biblical literature at Biola University (’08) and Talbot School of Theology (’10, ’11). He is the author of Esther and Her Elusive God: How A Secular Story Functions As Scripture (Wipf and Stock, 2014) and the co-editor of Insiders versus Outsiders (Gorgias Press, 2014; with Jacobus Kok) and Reactions to Empire (Mohr Siebeck, 2014; with Dan Batovici). John has published articles in Journal for the Study of the New Testament (Vol 36.1), Scottish Journal of Theology (Vol 68.1), Westminster Theological Journal (Vol 73.2 & 74.1), Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Vol 55.1), and Trinity Journal (Vol 32.1); has contributed a chapter to Mohr Siebeck’s WUNT II volume, Sensitivity to Outsiders; has written dictionary entries for Lexham Bible Dictionary; and has written book reviews for Themelios and elsewhere. His current doctoral research is on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, and he’s writing a book on Alcohol in the Bible for Zondervan. He is passionate about teaching biblical languages, hermeneutics, and exegesis; and engaging in interfaith dialogues with Latter-day saints (Mormons). His hobbies include: strumming the guitar, listening to classic metal bands, playing sports, cheering on the SF 49ers and the SF Giants, going snowboarding, reading Harry Potter, watching LOST, enjoying American craft beer, and sipping the finest of Scotch. John can be reached at jad22@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Raymond grew up in southern California, moved to North Carolina (where he met his wonderful wife, Mary Blake), and is now in St. Andrews, Scotland, where he is working on a PhD in New Testament with N.T. Wright. He wants his topic to be Pauline Anthropology (the theological kind) but seems to end up studying a lot of other things instead. In the midst of things he has been a teacher, pastor, barista, window cleaner, and traveled in 28 countries (and counting!) on five continents. His interests include drawing, painting, tabletop gaming, hardcore/metal, reading pulp sci-fi/fantasy, geocaching, and generally hanging out. The best way to directly reach him is here: rm94@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Grace received her B.A. in English from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her M.A. in Bible Exposition and Spiritual Formation from Biola University’s Talbot School of Theology. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, and is second-generation Filipino-American. She currently works full-time in the Purchasing department at Biola University. Grace is interested in culture and how it relates to spiritual formation as she wrote her master’s thesis on shame and how it affects relationships with God and others in the Asian-American community. She loves listening to an eclectic variety of music and enjoys attending concerts and playing her guitar and piano. Grace also really likes good food, good conversations with friends, nature, hiking, Disneyland and the minions from Despicable Me.
King-Ho is a PhD candidate under the supervision of Professor John Milbank at the Centre of Theology and Philosophy, University of Nottingham. King-Ho was born in British colonial Hong Kong. He went to kindergarten in London, primary school in Hong Kong, boarding school in the south of England, followed by a few more years in Scotland where he studied political philosophy at St Andrews. Baptised, brought up, and confirmed Anglican, King-Ho has also worked on several research projects for the Hong Kong Anglican Ecclesiastical Province in the Bishop House in Hong Kong as well as the Lambeth Palace Archives in London.
—He recommends a pinch of salt when you read his posts.
Josh is a PhD Candidate in the NT Department at the University of Aberdeen, UK. More importantly, he is a husband to his awesome wife Melodie and the father of three energy filled young boys. As far as education is concerned, Josh completed his graduate work at Talbot School of Theology receiving two Masters of Arts Degrees (Theology and Spiritual Formation). He spent over ten years in church and other ministry/leadership positions before making the move overseas to study New Testament and 1st Century Judaism under Dr. Andrew Clarke at the University of Aberdeen. Josh’s current interests include: Spiritual Theology/Formation, New Testament and its 1st Century Jewish background, Leadership, Parenting, and a slew of others random things. Currently, Josh is reading through (and studying intensely) the 1st Century Jewish author Philo of Alexandria to see if an understanding of 1st Century Jewish paideia can give us insight into the Apostle Paul’s spiritual development of new Christians within the early Church. Follow him on Twitter @pastorcoolguy.
Logan is currently a Master’s student at University of St. Andrews, Scotland (M.Litt Biblical Languages & Literature; CV). Somehow, after failing out of high school and subsequently dropping out of high school, he graduated from Biola University with a B.A. Biblical & Theological Studies (2014). He grew up in a small suburb of San Jose called Los Gatos, and (if you were wondering), yes it does mean “the cats” in Spanish. Although he dropped his music major for a bible major, he is a passionate guitar player (among a few other instruments) and still plays music when he gets the chance. His other interests include a the peculiar art of fire dancing (poi & fire staff), interfaith dialogue with Mormons, and watching Disney movies, namely Frozen. You can follow him on Twitter and reach him at lw82@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Brandon has a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies from Biola University. He also has a minor in English Literature which means he enjoys reading the classics when he has the time. His passion and his heart is for the Church, with specific focus in integrating academic thought with church life. He also really, really likes coffee. He currently lives in Southern California. Brandon can be reached at brandon.m.hurlbert@gmail.com.
Zac is currently finishing his B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies at Biola University. Born and raised in Bakersfield, CA which is also known as the armpit of the state—and yes he is aware of how bad it is. Zac works at his home church there in the summers as a youth intern and during the school year helps lead Evangelical & Mormon Interaction, a ministry through Biola University. His passion and calling is to teach and preach the word of God. His research interests are doctrine of God, ecclesiology, hermeneutics, Mormonism, and Church fathers. His more normal, or not so normal, interests are the Red Sox, coffee, watching The Office, and reading about JFK. You can reach Zac at zac.handel@biola.edu
Kayle (pronounced “kay-lee” rather than sounding like the tasty vegetable “kale”) is currently a Biblical/Theological Studies major at Biola University and a student in the Torrey Honors Institute. She is from the classy little city of Fullerton where she frequents coffee shops and lives with her family, roommate, and maltipoo. She is an avid reader, practising writer, an artist in her spare time, and a willing adventurer. When Kayle doesn’t have her nose in a book, she is usually spending time with her fiance, Richard. They are excited about getting married, finishing their undergraduate degrees in the next year, and seeing where the LORD leads them. They currently attend Anglican Church of the Epiphany together in La Mirada. Kayle hopes to be attending graduate school in Fall of 2016 to continue studying her interests in literature, art, imagination, and theology. Interesting facts include: Kayle was sorted into Ravenclaw House on Pottermore, thinks grilled cheese sandwiches are classy when made with tomato slices and basil, and believes mayonnaise is disgusting.
Tanner is a graduate of Biola University (B.A.; B.S.) and Talbot School of Theology (M.A.). His academic ambitions are to be equipped for a future in either teaching/ seminary ministry, or in academic leadership and administration, with the desire to serve the growing international church in the development and deployment of its future pastors, leaders, and missionaries. Tanner currently resides in Whittier, CA, serving his community as an assistant branch manager at a commercial bank. He also serves as coordinator of outreach and evangelism at Whittier Hills Baptist Church-Uptown. Tanner’s academic interest lie in the areas of andragogy, homiletics, biblical counseling, spiritual disciplines, New Testament use of the Old Testament, global missions strategy, global economics, leadership, strategic management, and language studies. Tanner grew up in the greater Sacramento area, and for enjoyment, he loves the outdoors, Crossfit, sports, traveling, teaching, and intentional time with friends. Tanner can be reached at tanner.j.gish@biola.edu.
Justin is a freelance writer living and working in Los Angeles, CA. He is the winner of the 2013 Hurston/Wright Award for African-American Writers and was also recently named a finalist in the 2014 Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction. Justin has a MA In Literature from Loyola Marymount University and teaches Rhetoric, English and African-American Studies in the Los Angeles metro area. His essays and fiction on race and identity have been published in The Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, and The African American Review.
Jamie, currently a PhD student at Biola University, is a huge nerd. She received a BA in Political Theory from Brown University, served as campus staff with Yale Students for Christ (Cru), and attended Talbot School of Theology, earning two master’s degrees (Bible Exposition and Christian Education, Children’s Ministry emphasis). For 7 years Jamie has cultivated a passion for “kidmin” as a children’s minister. She met and married her best friend in 2011 and took a year off of working to be a stay-at-home mom to their firstborn. Jamie enjoys hanging out with her awesome family, listening to NPR, and using her OC Parks pass to explore the highly tamed wildernesses of Orange County. You can reach Jamie at jamiedaniellesmith@gmail.com.
Caleb is a graduate of Biola University with a BS in Business and a minor in Biblical Studies. He currently works as an accountant for a real estate investment company in Orange County, California. Caleb’s interests include, but are not limited to, watching, playing, and discussing sports; cultural analysis; traveling; watching good movies (generally defined as those with a score of 75% or higher from Rotten Tomatoes “Top Critics”, excluding most R-rated comedies); discussing Scripture, theology, church polity, and the application of biblical truths to different situations and decisions in life; professional basketball teams from Sacramento; and many different types of music. Caleb attends and is involved in a number of ministries at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo, California. Caleb can be reached at cjohn2003@hotmail.com.
ADDITIONAL WRITERS: Joshua Agan; Carrie Allen; Aaron Argyropoulos; Dustin Arnold; James F. Arnold; Jonathan Baker; Brandon Barr; Brad Blakeley; Bob Buchanan; Trevor Cartwright; Marisa Casias; Kevin Collier; Matthew Emadi; Drew Emerson; Steve Feld; Jeremy Goad; Justin Gum; Jeanette Hagen; Taylor Holbrook; Diamond Kathleen; Clifford Kvidahl; Andrew Linderer; Michael Roy McCoy III; Clayton Milano; Kenny Montano; Sean O’Brien; Kevin O’Farrell; David Osborn; Calvin Sodestrom; Lindsey Stairs; Carolyn Thomas; Lue-Yee Tsang; Ben Walton; Nathaniel Warne; Matt Taylor; Matthew Weinstock; Natasha Weinstock; Matt Wilcoxen.
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