The Fireside Podcast

Mark Garnett and his wife, Kathleen, recently moved to Joplin, Missouri. Mark has a Bachelors degree with an emphasis in both Spanish and Sociology, and is currently pursuing teaching certification from Missouri Southern State University. He enjoys reading books, writing stories, traveling the world, seeing movies, making videos, and squeezing every drop out of Christmas to be had. This year, Mark published his first book, "From Scattered Ashes", which chronicles his experiences living and teaching in Honduras for six months. "From Scattered Ashes" is available on Amazon (http://a.co/bIAvdtv) and digitally on Kindle.

Matt Stafford is the director of the Worship Arts Department at Ozark Christian College. A faculty member for thirteen years, Matt currently teaches in the area of creative and technical arts, music, worship leadership and the book of Psalms. Matt’s education includes a Bachelor of Theology in Old Testament from Ozark Christian College and an M.A. in TESOL and Linguistics from Ball State University. He and his wife Joy have two college-age sons, Aaron and Ethan, and a dog named Cooper.

Travis is a graduate student and Online Studies advisor at Midwestern Seminary in Kansas City, where he and his wife Lauren love to explore the city, entertain friends, watch superhero movies, and serve their church family. Travis hosts Tool Talk, a biblical studies podcast from exegeticaltools.com, hopes to pursue a doctorate, and is excited to continue serving the Church.

Jackie Rizo is a freelance writer by night and homeschool mom by day. In 2003, she graduated from Ozark Christian College with her bachelor's degree in Christian Education. She has spent the past 17 years serving the church alongside her husband, Sergio Rizo. They have four children ages 7-13 and an 80lb Giant Schnauzer puppy. She transparently shares her life and love for Jesus through her passions of journaling and storytelling. Her heartbreaking story of loss was featured on USA Today. The Rizo Family currently resides in Joplin, MO.

Travis Hurley serves as the Director of Advancement for Watered Gardens, a Gospel Rescue Mission in Joplin, Missouri. He is also the director for the national initiative Dream of Destiny (http://www.dreamofdestiny.com), because he is convinced that visible unity – unity that the world can see crossing ethnic, socioeconomic, generational and denominational lines – is a convincing testimony to the power of the Gospel of Jesus to reconcile people to Him and to each other.

A graduate of Ozark Christian College and Cincinnati Christian University, Travis has been working in multi-ethnic ministry for over 15 years. In January, 2018, he will receive his doctorate of ministry in multi-ethnic ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and he continues to teach and consult on issues of unity and diversity in the body of Christ.

Travis and his wife Dena have been married for nearly 23 years. They have four children, two sons-in-law, and two grandsons they spoil as often as they can.

Houston is the founder and director of Fireside Community. Houston, his wife, and their funny looking dog live in Madison, Wisconsin. He graduated from Ozark Christian College with a bachelors in psychology and counseling and is studying nonprofit leadership through Cairn University. He enjoys reading, writing, and is happiest at the theaters. You can find out more about his work at thefiresidecommunity.com

Rick has worked with youth and young adults for over 30 years. He is 1992 Graduate of MB Biblical Seminary and a 2006 graduate of George Fox University where he earned a DMin in Leadership in the Emerging Culture. He has served as youth pastor in three congregations, as a summer camp director, college instructor, missionary, the Assistant to the National Director for Youth for Christ – Britain, Leadership Development Director - Youth for Christ Pacific Northwest Region, and seminary faculty member, Director of Ministry Quest, and Dean of Students – MB Biblical Seminary. He also served as Lead Pastor of Bethany Church in Northeast Fresno from 2008-2012.

He co-authored, the book Consuming Youth published by Zondervan/YS Academic

Currently Rick serves as Director of Theological Education at Tabor College in Wichita, Kansas.

Rick and his wife Karen have been married 31 years and have two children, Grace and Toby. They live in Wichita, Kansas.

Twitter: @rbb2nd

Blog: [email protected]

About Me: https://about.me/rick.bartlett

Jeremiah Jones is the worship coordinator at Cedar Ridge Christian Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, private music instructor, and the co-host of The Fireside Podcast. He recently graduated from Ozark Christian College, where he majored in Music and Worship. He is currently taking Masters courses at Tabor College Online - Wichita in Ministry Entrepreneurship and Innovation (MEI). He feels that it is pivotal in today's world to be able to interpret culture and present The Gospel in creative ways, and this degree is helping him to do both of these.

In his spare time, you will catch him spending time with his family, writing and rehearsing music, playing board games or Nintendo, reading, writing, playing disc golf, or producing content for The Fireside Community. Ask him about his story. He loves to share what God has done in his life.

[FSP 18] Matt Stafford - Engaging the Psalms by The Fireside Community