The biography page is always changing! Check regularly!
My name is Stephanie Krier and I was raised in Northern California but for that past 4+ years, I have lived in Boston with my husband Bobby and our Siberian Husky, Luther! We moved for my husband’s job as the Music Director at Citylife Church in downtown Boston. This spring, I will graduate from The University of Massachusetts, Boston with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Psychology and a Music Minor (and plans for a Masters in Counseling). I love to study how individuals are shaped and influenced by society… which I plan on writing about. I also hope to write on topics such as: self esteem, social justice issues, the city, theology and philosophy, marriage… and I’m excited to explore and find how the Gospel truths can be found in all of these topics.
Jessica Huber and her husband Ryan are from Ft. Lauderdale, but they currently live in Boston, MA while pursing their education. Jessica received her BA in Communications, History and Women’s Studies from Florida Atlantic University. She is currently studying Film Scoring and Video Game Scoring from Berklee College of Music. Jessica loves to watch films, travel, taste snobby beers and white wines, and blog for Culturemaker(s) and jessicaraehuber.com. You will probably see Jessica blog about: music – especially how it relates to visual mediums, and social media – how it shapes the society and relationships. Jessica is a deeply honest and thoughtful friend.
“Teach me some melodious sonnet sung by flaming tongues above.” – Robert Robinson
Lyndsay Wilkin lives in Northern California with her husband, Wyley, and their adorable beagle, Indiana (Indie). She received her BA in International Relations at CSU Sacramento and might just go to Law School one day. Lyndsay works for Visiting Angels Homecare Services, helping families find caregivers for their loved ones as an alternative to placing them in nursing homes. For fun, she does a little acting on the side. She loves movies, history, traveling, trying out restaurants, volleyball, etc. A couple of years ago, Lyndsay was diagnosed with Leukemia. This past fall, she finished her very last chemo treatment and is cancer free! As a friend, Lynds is absolutely loyal and thoughtful… and she would do anything for her friends.
“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
Originally from South Carolina, Mary Ellen currently lives in Boston, MA with her handsome husband Jarred. She’s an educator by day having been trained at the finest educational institute on the planet, Clemson University, but by night she dabbles in such fine arts as monogramming and embroidery, baton twirling, and fitness walking. The areas of ministry and organizations closest to her heart include worldwide deaf missions, Young Life, The Gideons International, and the people of Eastern Africa.
“Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen everyday.” – H. Jackson Brown Jr.
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Lydia Hejny was born and raised in California, but lives in Nashville with her husband Don and her 3 kids. In her heart, however, she lives on the beach! Beside being a mother of 3, she is a visual artist and a party planner. For fun, Lydia likes Zumba, GNO, Zumba, going to the park with her kids, basking in the sun, making a mess with canvas and paint, and dreams of participating on a Travel Channel reality show, where she and her family travel all over the world… Lydia may write about topics such as- personalities & temperaments, prioritizing, and definitely art! Lydia is a spontaneous and social friend, who throws great parties! She is a loyal, honest, respectful and generous friend.
“Surely, you and I are beyond speaking, when words are clearly not enough.” -Mansfield Park
Adrienne Sandvos, is a native Texan but lives in Northern California with her husband, Joel, and their two sons. Adrienne is a freelance writer, helps run an Etsy shop called Eloise and Rue, and works with her husband who is a documentary filmmaker. She is a loyal friend and a great listener. She is passionate about women’s issues and plans to write about things such as beauty, friendship, sexual identity, marriage, human rights issues, justice and culture.
“I am not the same, having seen the moon shine on the other side of the world.” -Hershey
Stephanie VanTassell did a lot of moving around as a kid, but calls Northern California her home. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing and Advertising from Point Loma Nazarene University. She currently works as the Marketing Director for Agape International Missions, which is a ministry that runs multiple projects to fight child sex trafficking and bring restoration to those who have been victimized by it. Steph’s friends describe her as very supportive and highly talented, particularly as a musician and in making everyone laugh…a lot.
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Nikki Reif was born in Reno and raised in the Sacramento area where she currently lives with her husband, Zack, and their three children, Aiden (3), Liam(2) and Zoe (9 months). While her husband works as a firefighter, as you could guess, Nikki is pretty busy at home with 3 kids, 3 years and younger. She loves spending time with her friends and family, loves traveling, shopping, and art museums… Nikki is an artist herself, taking after her late father who was also an artist. As a friend, Nikki is loyal and so genuine.
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Noelle Ritter grew up at the ocean in Pacific Grove, CA. She currently lives in Portland, OR with her husband, Chris, who is a full-time seminary student. Noelle received her Bachelor’s Degree in Athletic Training from Azusa Pacific University. She works as an Athletic Trainer at Oregon Health and Science University, teaching classes, working with rehab and physical therapy, and working as athletic coverage at local high school sports games. At the end of the day, Noelle comes home to cook dinner, which she loves to do. She also loves to write, play guitar, hike, play tennis, golf, wine taste and play board games. Noelle is an encouraging friend who is faithful… and has a great sense of humor.
“That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil- this is the gift of God” Ecclesiastes 3:13
Jenelle Mears is proud to be a California native. About four years ago, she and her husband, Joel, moved from Sacramento to a college town called Newark, Delaware (Joel’s hometown). Together, they planted a church on the University of Delaware campus of over 20,000 students. Jenelle if the mom of a sweet little girl, named Sydney… who will be the sister to a little baby boy coming in May! Jenelle is an amazing cook, interior designer and party planner. She loves to travel, visit big cities and vacation at the beach. She is a thoughtful and caring friend who listens well and will always be honest.
“You have to be hungry & empty in order to be filled.” Matthew 5:6
Melissa Lester was raised in Northern California. She knew from a young age that she was going to be a missionary, which is why she currently lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She and her husband, Rich, adopted a little Ethiopian boy, Endale (5), almost two years ago! He is an absolute joy. Melissa is finishing her Bachelor’s degree online in Christian Ministry while working hard on the mission field. Melissa and Rich pioneered a ministry in Ethiopia called Kallao. Its main focus is to rescue children, in Southern Ethiopia, who are deemed minigi (cursed), before they can be killed by their tribal leaders (you can read more on their ministry website). Melissa, who is my sister and my best friend, is amazingly compassionate, tender hearted, yet so driven to see the gospel proclaimed to all of the world.
Emily Inouye grew up in Northern California, but moved to Southern California and then onto Boston to pursue her educational goals. Emily earned her undergraduate degree in Political Science and International Development at UCLA. She went on to study Law at Harvard. She recently settled back in Northern CA where she passed the CA Bar. Emily now works for a couple of nonprofits which aim for the abolition of prostitution and other forms of violence against women and children. Emily loves to read, write, hang out with friends, spend time with family, she is an Ultimate Frisbee player, runner, backpacker and do anything that will allow her to be outside.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Beth Goad grew up in various part of the U.S. because her dad was in the Air Force, but she often claims Colorado as her home since she was there for about 12 years. Beth received a BA in Communication at the University of Northern Colorado, and an MA in Communication at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She now lives in the Boston area with her husband, Brandon. Beth works as an administrator in the Campus Center at a state university. Although Beth has many talents, her spare time is most recently spent helping her husband renovate their 90 year old home. She loves to decorate, amongst other crafty things which you can read about on her blog. Beth is a very loyal, responsible and thoughtful friend.
“Home is not where you live, but where you feel most understood.” -Christian Morgenstern
Andrea Negron grew up in a little town in Northern California called Marysville. She currently lives in the Sacramento Area with her husband, Chris, and their little boy. She is living her dream of being a wife and mother. Andrea is a part-time administrator for her church. She loves to spend time with family and friends, loves to cook, enjoys organizing and doing crafty things. As a friend, Andrea is most definitely a good listener, encouraging and so very faithful. (Andrea’s photo is credited to http://www.sarahmaizland.com)
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Sarah Lee is a native Texan from Corpus Christi. She and her husband, Jonathan, live in San Francisco, and gladly call it home. They absolutely love the beauty of the city, the weather, the people, and the culture. Her favorite place to run is Golden Gate Park. Sarah graduated from Texas Tech University with a BA in Advertising. She moved to the Boston area, where she started her Masters in Counseling degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary and is currently finishing up her clinical hours at a Christian counseling center, in SF, for her degree requirements. On the side, she works at a running store in Oakland and Berkeley. Sarah spends a lot of time running and training for races. Besides being an amazing runner who just qualified for the Olympic trials (I hope she doesn’t mind that I’m bragging on her!), she likes to spend time with friends, explore the City, cook and bake, spend time with her husband, and travel. We hope to read some posts from Sarah about running, and mental health and Christianity.
“People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anyone.” Audrey Hepburn
“I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure” Eric Liddell
Beth Hamstra lives in Highland, IN, just south of Chicago, with her husband David and their two children, Calvin Whitefield and Sophia Grace. She completed her undergraduate studies at American University, with a BA in International Studies. Later, Beth received her MBA in Human Resources Management from DePaul University. She didn’t receive a degree from her years of world travel and serving on the mission field, but it was a life-shaping experience for Beth. After working in Corporate America for a few years, and more recently as an Executive Assistant in a large consulting firm in Chicago, Beth currently finds herself getting adjusted to live as a full-time mother of two. She is also a Pastors Wife, at the church that her husband Pastors. For fun, Beth loves reading, play dates with her kids and eating out. She also loves to watch mind-bending movies that make you think, inspiring and educating docudramas, and an occasional chick flick- as long as it makes her laugh hysterically. 🙂 Beth plans to write about motherhood, women’s issues, books and … Jesus. Beth is a loyal and honest friend, who will make you laugh.
Evita Gahagan lives in the New York City with her 3 daughters and her husband Adam, who is a pastor at All Souls Christian Church. She loves to explore the city, and finds herself falling in love with it over and over again! When she is not busy homeschooling her daughters, she like to read books on adoption, motherhood, child sexual exploitation, international relations & urban culture, cookbooks, and most of the “classics”… which are all things she loves to blog about! Evita is a caring, confident and joyful friend.
Faith Gong has lived in many places, most recently NYC and Berkeley, CA. She currently resides with her family in Middlebury, VT, where her husband teaches at Middlebury College. She received a B.A. in Psychology from Williams College, a M.A. in Elementary Education from Manhattanville College, as well as a M.A. in Studio Art from NYU. She has worked as an elementary school teacher, freelance photographer and non-profit manager. Currently, she is a full-time, stay-at-home mom for her 3 beautiful daughters, Fiona, Campbell and Georgia. While the girls are napping, Faith likes to drink a cup of coffee while she writes for her blog. She loves spending time with her family. And when she can, she loves to do active things outdoors, yoga, sewing and reading. We may see Faith write about womanhood, motherhood, community… and God. Her friends say that she is a great listener and keeps secrets, she is funny and generously babysits for her friends!
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