Nate Hanson is a former pastor and church planter who, after years of working within the Evangelical model of church, began to question some of the systems he was handed. In doing this work he found his way to becoming one of the founders and hosts of the podcast "Almost Heretical" a show that seeks to give religion and the Bible back to the groups in society that have been marginalized by both. Nate has also dedicated his own life to those endeavors. 

 

You can listen to him at "Almost Heretical" or get in touch with him at nate.fm

Jamal Jivanjee is a graduate of Liberty University where he studied religion. Originally from the Columbus, Ohio area, Jamal and his wife Taylor currently live in Southern California. Jamal’s vision in life is to assist individuals, couples, groups, companies, and nations to become free to love by helping them to identify and heal from trauma and systems of belief that create obstacles of fear, disharmony, and disease which block us from our life’s true purpose and work.

Jonathan Walton is the author of Twelve Lies that Hold America Captive and the Truth that Sets Us Free. He is also an Area Director for InterVarsity NY/NJ focusing on Spiritual Formation and Experiential Discipleship. Recognized as one of Christianity Today's 33 Under 33 and one of New York's New Abolitionists, Jonathan was also the recipient of a Young Christian Leaders World Changer award. He has been featured in media outlets like New York Daily News, the Christian Post, and King Kulture for his work combatting human trafficking. Jonathan earned his bachelor's degree in Creative Writing from Columbia University and holds a master's degree in the Study of the Americas from City College. He is from Southern Virginia and lives in New York City where he attends New Life Fellowship Church. You can follow him on Patreon.com/IVED, Instagram @JonathanWalton655, and Twitter @foreverfocused.

David Zach is the lead singer and songwriter for the rock band Remedy Drive as well as an advocate in the fight against human trafficking.  The band has recorded two concept albums to shine a light on slavery and to celebrate the modern day abolition.  The band's community and fan base has contributed around $350,000 in donations and in-kind donations to the counter trafficking organization The Exodus Road.  When the band is not on tour David volunteers with The Exodus Road as an undercover operative.  He spends time in brothels and in the red-light districts where underage girls and boys are sold by the hour.  His role while undercover is to identify instances of minors being sold, and to capture actionable evidence of their trafficking using covert gear, some of which is funded by the Remedy Drive community and fan base.  Upon returning from deployment overseas David uses the band and his platform to advocate for the victims of human trafficking, to shine a light on slavery and to speak about his time overseas with the goal of recruiting and funding the fight which is the modern underground railroad.  He has spoken at many of the major festivals during talkback sessions, main stages and seminar tents.  He also speaks at colleges, conferences, high school campuses and churches.  David's message centers upon a core belief of both Remedy Drive and The Exodus Road - "Justice is in the hands of the ordinary".   To find out more about bringing David Zach and/or Remedy Drive to an event please contact [email protected].  To find more about The Exodus Road go to theexodusroad.com/remedydrive.  For press inquiries contact [email protected].

Derek and Rachel Myers are a married couple and dynamic duo in content creation under the name "Your Favorite Heretics" on Instagram and Twitter. After they themselves going through faith transitions and deconstructions they decided that they would help pave an easier path for those who came after by creating top of the line content through their social media platforms. 

You can find them on Instagram at @yourfavoriteheretics and on twitter at @yourfaveheretics

As always you can connect with my on 

Twitter @redrawthebath

Instagram @chrisharmanrtb

And on email [email protected]

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Alexander John was part of a large extended family that had emigrated from Lebanon a generation previously. He grew up immersed in the ancient traditions of Middle Eastern Christianity (Maronite Catholicism) and was expected to become a priest, a family tradition since the year 1300. He was led otherwise.

Alexander John attended the University of Notre Dame and received a degree in Cultural Anthropology. Next came a brief time in seminary followed by a Master’s in Counseling Education, a Master’s in Religious Education, a graduate certificate in Pastoral Psychotherapy, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology.

His extensive psychological training across many modalities finally led him to Switzerland where he studied with the Jungian Analyst and founder of Sandplay Psychotherapy, Dora Maria Kalff. Alexander John became the first US man admitted to the International Society for Sandplay Therapy and continues to serve as a senior Certified Teaching Member of the organization.

Returning to the United States, he undertook years of private practice, teaching, parish and retreat ministry and further study. Integrating his life-long practice of prayer with many cross-disciplines—anthropology, psychology, spirituality, and ritual work—has shaped him into a unique thought-leader and a widely sought consultant, trainer, and inspiring keynote speaker.

Then in 2000, Alexander John’s professional life expanded from being primarily a speaker to also that of an author, now with some eight books and more in the works.

He lives between the high Rocky Mountains in Northern New Mexico and the wild Atlantic coast of Northwest Spain. A perfect day finds him in the presence of ancient trees, massive stones, his dog and a book of poetry.

Connect with him and his work at www.quadratos.com

Wm. Paul Young is a spiritual guide to many, a conference speaker and the internationally acclaimed author of the book, "The Shack" a book that has transformed the way people view God's presence in the midst of their darkest moments. He is also the author of "Eve" "Crossroads" and "Lies We Believe About God". Young now lives in Washington with his wife Kim. 

Brad Jersak is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He serves as a reader and monastery preacher at All Saints of North America Orthodox Monastery. He also occasionally teaches at The Bridge in Abbotsford. Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He teaches others how to encounter God through the practice of ”listening prayer,” through which God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.

Mark Van Steenwyk is the Executive Director of the Center for Prophetic Imagination in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

In 2004, Mark and his wife Amy founded the Mennonite Worker, where they still reside. The Mennonite Worker is an urban intentional community committed to Jesus’ way of hospitality, simplicity, prayer, peacemaking, and resistance.

He is the author of A Wolf at the Gate, The unKingdom of God and That Holy Anarchist, the editor of the Missio Dei Breviary, and has contributed to several books (such as Viral Hope, Banned Questions about Jesus, Forming Christian Habits in Post-Christendom, and Widening the Circle). He’s been published at Sojourners, Geez Magazine, JesusRadicals.com, Leadership Magazine, the Mennonite, and Mennonite World Review. His work has been featured in the Minneapolis Star Tribute, the Boston Globe, and on CNN.com.

As the former co-producer of the Iconocast, Mark interviewed Cornel West, James Cone, Bill Ayers, Starhawk, Wazayatawin and many others. These days, he’s usually on the other side of the virtual microphone.

Mark’s has a B.S. in Ministry from the University of Northwestern, an M.Div. from Bethel Theological Seminary, and studied Spiritual Direction at the University of St. Catherine’s graduate school. He is a former adjunct instructor at Bethel Seminary, where he taught courses on applied ecclesiology and Christian radicalism.

For the past decade, Mark has traveled around the continent as a teacher, organizer and spiritual provocateur.

Brad Jersak is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, BC. He serves as a reader and monastery preacher at All Saints of North America Orthodox Monastery. He also occasionally teaches at The Bridge in Abbotsford. Through his books and seminars, Brad shares the good news that God is Love, perfectly revealed in Jesus Christ. He teaches others how to encounter God through the practice of ”listening prayer,” through which God’s love heals wounded hearts and empowers us to heal this broken world.

Brad Jersak’s foundational book, Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God who speaks trains readers in the ways of “Listening Prayer.” This book provides biblical teaching and 33 practical exercises for discerning God’s voice.

On the night of the election, I had the special privelege to sit down and speak with the editors of the new book, "Keeping the Faith: Reflections on Politics & Christianity in the Era of Trump and Beyond." Suzie Lahoud Jonathan Walton,  and Sy Hoekstra about what they hope their book will accomplish and convey to the church in these interesting times. 

 

You can find the book and discussions revolving around it at 

www.keepingthefaithbook.com