Get to know the writers!
Margaret Bagwell
Brian Berger
Brian is originally from Arnold, MD and has always lived within an hour of his hometown. He graduated from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD) in May 2007 where he majored in Philosophy and minored Jewish Studies. Brian is currently studying to be a pastor in the United Methodist Church at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He is currently in the process to be ordained as an Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference of the United Methodist Church and has a passion for teaching and preaching God’s Word: the Bible. Few things delight him more than studying the Bible. Among Brian’s other interests, he has a deep interest in current affairs in the Middle East and pays close attention to the Arab-Israeli conflict in the Holy Land, where he was fortunate enough to have been able to visit for two weeks on an intercultural immersion in January 2010; Brian also loves sports including playing basketball and going running (and he especially loves University of Maryland Terps football and basketball).
Megan Crumm
Megan is a second year Master of Divinity student at Wesley Theological Seminary from Canton, Michigan. Megan studied English and Sociology at Albion College in Michigan and will be appointed as a pastor in Michigan this July.
Andrew Greenwood
Josie Hoover
Thomas James
John Lucy (editor)
Originally from the Boston, MA area, John spent four years studying English and Religious Studies (and some Math) at Saint Michael’s College in Burlington, VT. He is currently working on finishing his M.T.S. at Wesley Theological Seminary. Some of his passions include enjoying Creation, biking, hockey, and fighting against human trafficking.
Joanna Marcy
Born and raised as a native Virginian, I believe that it is the best commonwealth. Raised under the roof of a UMW president and a dedicated Sunday School teacher it was hard not to go to church. My parents have the legend of living in the church kitchen by some of the young children that go to the church and I might agree. My older brother, who wanted to return me to the hospital after the first couple of days saying “she’s nice, but when does she go back?” has quickly learned to love my sense of humor, laughter, and arguing abilities. I really love to cook, have painted toe nails, read books not about religion, and travel. Growing up in Beamer-town and after attending college at the University of South Carolina (where I majored in International Studies) I have a religious belief in football and have moments of holy anticipation for Saturdays in the fall. It was at the University of South Carolina at my campus ministry that I also began to understand my call that had been placed early in my life and respond to a gospel that witnesses to a God on the side of the poor. I will be a May 2011 graduate of Wesley Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity, and from there will continue to live in the unexpected good news and ways of a Living God. So in general, I am a Southerner in the Methodist Church that loves football, liberation theology, make up, and blogs about food!
Jake Paysour
Jake is originally from Troutville, VA, and is currently a first-year Masters of Theological Studies student at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC. He has a degree in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and is spending his two years at Wesley finding theological and ethical grounding before continuing his study of the the “dismal science.” He hopes to bring the Christian perspective to bear on economic policy and development. Jake is an avid basketball fan (to say the least) and will compete with you at anything. Seriously, anything.
Brett Pinder
Charla Sherbakoff
Charla is a second year Masters of Divinity student at Wesley Theological Seminary from Knoxville, Tennessee. She brings a quirky, southern, married, parent, female, middle age voice to the Jesus Venture blog. She graduated from the University of Tennessee, spent 23 years as a real estate broker and co-owner of a real estate company. She did not see a great light flashing from heaven as Paul did (check out Acts 9:3-4) but she did sense a calling from God into ordained ministry. She closed the company door, packed her bags, and moved to DC (It was not as simple as 1-2-3). She likes experiencing God’s presence while running, hiking, watching movies and eating popcorn, watching the sun rise, and worshiping on Sunday mornings. Her preferred spiritual discipline for the moment is journaling.
Jen Southworth
Hannah Tucker
Hannah Tucker grew up in New Concord, OH as part of the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church. Following a college career in Western Pennsylvania, she moved to DC to attend Wesley Theological Seminary. She plans on returning to the East Ohio Conference following graduation in May 2012.
Rob Ulmer
Will Waller
Will Waller is a second year at Wesley Theological Seminary. He’s a native of the South and loves anything fried: Snickers, Pickles, Oreos, Possum (just kidding about the oreos). Will is passionate about rural ministry, small churches, and anything written or inspired by the best-selling author, God.
Joel Walther (web designer)
