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Authors

Rob Barrett

Rob Barrett is Director of Forums & Scholarship for The Colossian Forum. He has PhDs both in Applied Physics from Stanford University and Theology from Durham University in England. He worked as a research scientist at IBM for over ten years, as a professor of Old Testament and Hebrew in England, and as a postdoctoral researcher of Old Testament in Göttingen, Germany. He has numerous publications in fields ranging from biblical studies to physics, data storage technology, and human-computer interaction, and holds many patents. He has also earned degrees from Washington University in St. Louis and Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. His varied background is unified by his longstanding interest in the intersection of faith, Bible, science/technology, and culture. Rob and his wife Crystal have two young children.

Heather Beaudoin

Heather Beaudoin is a National Organizer with Equal Justice USA, a national organization working to build a criminal justice system that is fair, effective, and responsive to everyone impacted by crime. She is also one of the coordinators for Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty. Heather joined EJUSA after three years of working for the Montana Abolition Coalition. Previously, Heather worked for the Helena Pregnancy Resource Center, the National Republican Congressional Committee in Washington DC, and for the Michigan Republican Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema. Heather graduated with a political science degree from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She currently resides in Three Rivers, Michigan with her husband Matt and their daughter Grace.

Janet Beldman

Janet Beldman is a member of Bethel CRC in London, Ontario. She is a worship committee member, hostess extraordinaire, and Oma to 2 (and soon 3!) beautiful grandbabies. She drives a bus for city transit to facilitate her addiction to books and reading. She has never been able to pass a bookstore yet.

Jill Benson

Jill Benson is the Dwell Curriculum Coordinator with Faith Formation Ministries. She has previously interacted with Dwell as a teacher, parent and Children’s Ministry Director and is passionate about bringing the big story of the Bible to kids of all ages. Jill enjoys in-depth study of God’s Word and holds degrees in Biblical Languages and Old Testament from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She lives just outside of Pittsburgh, PA with her husband, Steve and their two children. Jill fills her spare time with reading, drinking coffee, knitting, writing and enjoying God’s beautiful creation with her family.

Christine Berghoef

Christine Berghoef is a published author, speaker, and independent consultant. She teaches classes and leads workshops on how to engage in civil discourse. Her experience in civil discourse training began as a consultant for The Faith & Politics Institute in Washington DC, which works to build bridges of understanding through dialogue between polarized members of Congress across the partisan divide and between traditionally polarized national faith leaders. She currently lives in Holland, Michigan where she is laying the ground work to launch The Institute of Faith, Justice & Dialogue.

Roy Berkenbosch

Roy Berkenbosch attends Fellowship Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton and has worked at The King’s University in Edmonton since 1995. He has a wide range of experience at the University, including campus ministry and student life. Roy has a M. Div. and Th.M. from Calvin Seminary and has served churches in Canada and the U.S.  Roy has lived and worked in Bangladesh and maintains active involvement with numerous organizations addressing global poverty and hunger.  In addition to working with the Micah Centre and Interdisciplinary Studies, Roy teaches in the theology program at King’s.

Bethany Besteman

Bethany Besteman is a worship coordinator and church administrator at Silver Spring Christian Reformed Church in Maryland. She also works as the intake editor at Reformed Worship. She has a Ph.D. in English Language and Literature from Catholic University of America.

Hannah Biggs

Hannah Biggs is a student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After completing her studies in the field of international development, she hopes to work in the church. Hannah and fellow student, Emily Cole, were inspired to write the article and accompanying stories during a semester spent studying justice in Honduras.

Bryan Blakely Sr.

After a successful heavyweight boxing career and a series of misfortunes, Bryan Blakely Sr. and his wife Toresa found themselves without work, and then without a home of their own. Together, they experienced the social system of assistance, including public welfare, homeless shelters, and food pantries. By relying on their faith in God, their faith in each other, and the help of various agencies, community organizations, and friends, they were able to find employment. They now own a home in the Bates Place neighborhood. Bryan has been the Executive Director of Bates Place Ministries since its inception.

Jeffrey Bloem

A 2013 graduate of Calvin College, Jeffrey is currently working in Kenya as a research assistant with Partners Worldwide at the Africa Theological Seminary evaluating the impact of a church-based business development program. In the fall of 2014, he will be beginning graduate studies in economics at Michigan State University. Follow him on Twitter (@JeffBloem) and on his blog (www.jeffbloem.wordpress.com).

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