The oldest Jones kid! I grew up in the Ann Arbor community and Catholic Church. Right after high school, I moved to Lansing to be a part of a UCO household… which did not end well. I talk about some differences between Lansing and Ann Arbor communities, my experience with household, and how to provide a support network and stability for my kids outside of community and church. I now live with my boyfriend and three boys in Ann Arbor.

Anna was born and raised in the Ann Arbor charismatic renewal, and spent her childhood and teenage years within the community milieu. After coming out as transgender, she was put through conversion therapy and deliverance prayer to “fix” her gender identity. In the process of living authentically, she lost most of her friends, family, and connections. She started a new life from scratch, and is now a mental health worker, author of fiction, and spiritual explorer.

Isaac Kosel is a husband, father, and nurse. He grew up nondenominational and his relation to covenant community was primarily through Mission Christ and Pine Hills Summer Camp.

Evie and Jacquie Jones sit down to discuss the practice of speaking in tongues - a "gift of the Holy Spirit" that was such a common practice in Covenant Community it often felt like a requirement.

Jules went to the University of Michigan Ann Arbor in 1982 and quickly became a part of University Christian Outreach (UCO). Despite undergoing a targeted conversion therapy designed to suppress her queer sexuality, ultimately she was unwilling to adhere to the homophobic UCO/Word of God Community expectations, resulting in her being unceremoniously kicked out.

Jess Blatchley was recruited into the Antioch Community in London with her parents in 1979 and left around 1998 with her husband Peter and 3 children. She has since carved a career as a singer, singing teacher and writer. She writes about her experiences in covenant community on her blog site MY WASHED BRAIN as well as the process of healing since leaving.

https://jjccbg.wixsite.com/website

Jess and Peter live in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire in the UK.

Marie is a practicing Catholic living in Seattle. She grew up in Washtenaw County and discovered that community she had heard about all her life was still active. She happily joined in college and was suddenly barred after 4 years of devotion to Word of Life in Ann Arbor for marrying outside of the community.

Rachel Montgomery comes on the podcast to discuss personal experiences with consent and sex education, and how different educational approaches on these topics effect young children. Rachel is an early childhood educator, artist, mom and partner. She lives with her husband, 2 sons, 2 kitties and 4 chickens. She loves watercolor painting and power tools. She was involved in community all through childhood and young adulthood and today she leans on her close friend/family community and her Catholic faith. She wants to share that it’s possible to learn autonomy and boundaries within relationships without shame and with abundant love.

Simon (Nic) Mishler was born into the Word of Life Community and remained there until shortly after high school. He is a voice teacher living in South Carolina with his husband and their two huskies. Simon shares that he always felt stuck in community, and yet never felt like he belonged. He hopes that anyone hearing his story will know that they do not have to feel trapped, and they are not alone.

And we're back!! Evie (left) and Jacquie (right) kick off the second season by checking in with each other about what doing the podcast has been like, and how our thoughts around covenant community have evolved from speaking with all of you. We're extremely grateful and excited to continue having these conversations and are excited to be back!