Diane J. McDougall believes that the best articles result from a trusting partnership between creator and editor. She specializes in magazine writing/editing and memoir editing, with clients ranging from the faith-based nonprofit world (including numerous EPA members) to higher education. She’s now available via McDougall Editorial for freelance writing and editing, and the coaching of writers and editors.
Sam George researches and teaches migration, diaspora missiology, and World Christianity in several seminaries across Asia, Africa, and North America annually. He also directs the Global Diaspora Institute at Wheaton College, and he serves as a catalyst for diasporas for the Lausanne Movement. He is of Asian Indian origin, has lived in five countries, and currently makes home in the suburbs of Chicago. He is an author/editor of a dozen books, including the three-volume series Asian Diaspora Christianity (Fortress, 2022).
Joyce Dinkins is the director of Publishing in Color after serving as Our Daily Bread devotional executive director and founding executive editor of VOICES. Formerly she was founding editor of the Echoes curriculum and served in various editorial capacities for David C. Cook. She was a magazine editor for NavPress and managing editor for New Hope Publishers. Since 2023 she writes, edits, and networks through Joyce Dinkins Publishing LLC, and consults with partners who open opportunities for many on their publishing journeys, including the Academy of Christian Editors, and the Evangelical Christian Publishing Association.
Erin Hayes is a professor of the practice of journalism at College of the Ozarks. She began her teaching career in 2013, after retiring from her role as a national correspondent for ABC World News Tonight. A 30-year veteran of broadcast news, she has been honored with numerous awards for her reporting — which covered subjects ranging from breaking news to poignant stories of life in America. She reported from the midst of dozens of the nation’s historic hurricanes, blizzards and floods. The subjects of her investigative reporting have included gang crime in Chicago, terrorism, aviation disasters and government blunders. Hayes is the recipient of three Alfred I. duPont Columbia Awards, four Edward R. Murrow Awards, the National Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting, the Ohio State Award, the National Investigative Reporters and Editors Awards and an Emmy Award, among others. Hayes began her broadcasting career in 1976 at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. From 1979 to 1981, she was a reporter and anchor for KTHS Radio in Berryville, Arkansas. From 1981 to 1986, she was a reporter at KYTV in Springfield, Missouri, where her work was awarded the duPont-Columbia Silver Baton. From 1986 to 1988, Hayes’ work as an investigative reporter at WSMV-TV in Nashville earned her a second Silver Baton from the duPont-Columbia judges. From 1988 to 1989, she worked at WDAF-TV in Kansas City as an investigative reporter. From 1989 to 1993, she was a correspondent for the CBS News network. From 1993-2013 she was a national correspondent for the ABC News network. In her current role as a journalism professor, Hayes works to lead a new generation of journalists to seek the truth with integrity.
Jared Boggess is the Senior Designer for Christianity Today’s print magazine. In addition to an extensive background in design for churches and brands, he has illustrated, designed and art directed many projects for Fish Coin Press—a publishing studio that works with artists across the globe to bring academic rigor and visual theology to Bible illustration. As their founder, he has successfully crowdfunded a variety of comics, trading card collections, and books, including an ongoing series illustrating the entire Bible one book at a time.
Todd Nettleton is the Vice President of Message for The Voice of the Martyrs–USA and host of The Voice of the Martyrs Radio. He serves as a voice for persecuted Christians, inspiring Christians with the faithfulness of Christ’s followers in 70+ nations where they face persecution for wearing his name. During more than 25 years serving at VOM, Todd has traveled the world and conducted face-to-face interviews with hundreds of Christians who have endured persecution in more than 30 nations. He is the author of When Faith Is Forbidden: 40 Days on the Frontlines with Persecuted Christians (Moody, 2021), which was awarded the Christian Book Award for biography and memoir.
John Plake has been with the American Bible Society since 2017, where he is currently the Chief Innovation Officer. Prior to that he was Associate Professor of Intercultural Studies and Director of Spiritual Life and Campus Pastor for Evangel University.
Mary DeMuth has been writing for 30+ years. She has written more than 50 books, translated into five languages, with such publishers as Bethany House, Regnery Faith, Salem Books, Thomas Nelson, Harvest House, and Zondervan. She has mentored many writers and continues to do so through the Rockwall Christian Writers Group and some of her instructional books. In 2022, she pioneered the Mary DeMuth Literary Agency, where she shepherds writers toward traditional publishing.
Sarah Eshleman earned her MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Converse College. After teaching writing courses for seven years at Pensacola Christian College, she moved to Northern Kentucky where she now serves as editor in chief of Answers magazine and Kids Answers. Her writing has been published at Ruminate blog, Ekstasis, and Brevity. She resides in Northern Kentucky with her two ridiculous dachshunds, Dudley and Derby.
For over 45 years, Steve Lopez has created design and illustration for Assemblies of God publications and curriculum. Currently he is the designer for Influence magazine, a publication for ministers. He studied art at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri.
Mark M. Yarbrough, Ph.D., serves as president and professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. As an author, speaker, and academician, his practical communication leads him to conferences, classrooms, and churches throughout the U.S. and around the world.
Marianne Stewart has worked in the printing and publishing industries for 17 years — 11 years as an in-house graphic designer and 6 years as a full-time freelancer. Her design work has been published by D6 Family Ministry (formerly Randall House), ONE Magazine, and The Salvation Army. She has served as lead designer for five publications with over 140 issues printed. She’s received several EPA and PIAS awards for her work. Additionally, she draws and designs Scripture art prints and gifts for her product business, Thy Word In My Heart.
Dustin W. Stout is a Christian entrepreneur, speaker, and digital marketing expert who has dedicated his career to helping others share their stories effectively in the digital age. After serving as a Youth Director and discovering his passion for combining ministry with digital communication, Dustin has become a respected voice in the intersection of faith, technology, and storytelling.
A devoted husband and father of three, Dustin built and led a successful digital marketing agency, consulting for Fortune 100 brands and establishing himself as a thought leader in the marketing space. His expertise has been featured in numerous publications such as Forbes, particularly for his insights on marketing strategy and artificial intelligence.
Most recently, Dustin founded Magai, the world’s premier all-in-one AI platform that brings together over 30 powerful tools under one roof, helping organizations maximize their technological potential while minimizing costs. His unique blend of faith-based values and technical expertise makes him particularly adept at helping Christian organizations navigate the digital landscape while maintaining their mission and message.
Drawing from his background in ministry and his success in digital entrepreneurship, Dustin brings a fresh perspective on how Christian organizations can effectively communicate their message in today’s digital world.
Sarah Gordon began as an editorial designer at Christianity Today a decade ago, and now serves as creative director for the organization. Before she found her true passion in the world of magazines, Sarah bounced between creative firms and local churches exploring branding, wayfinding, web design, and more. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and twin sons.
Emily Gehman is assistant professor of English and Communication at Grace Christian University in Grand Rapids, MI. She also serves as managing editor of Journey magazine, telling stories of God at work through Grace students and alumni. Emily was previously the director of storytelling for a media company in Huntsville, AL. She holds a master’s degree in English and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Communication.
Bishop Paul Lanier founded Hope Community Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, in 1990 with his wife Debbie.
Bishop first met Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein in the same way so many Christians became acquainted with The Fellowship and its founder—encountering him late one night on television. In that moment, Bishop Lanier felt called to join The Fellowship, realizing that helping the Jewish people “is the most Christian thing I can do.”
In 2019, Bishop Lanier was named Chairman of the Board of Directors for the organization. Since then, he has traveled the world many times over—including countless visits to the Holy Land, to Ukraine, Moldova, Morocco and beyond—always with the goal of helping feed the hungry, shelter the frightened, bringing prayers of faithful friends to the Western Wall, and building bridges of faith between all of God’s children.
An author, composer, and recording artist, who also received his Doctorate of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary, Bishop Lanier has made it his lifework to bring his many gifts from God to his friendship with God’s people.
Dr. Marquita Smith has a background in journalism and worked in various newsrooms in Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi and Virginia for 16 years. Her last newsroom position was Virginia Beach bureau chief at The Virginian-Pilot. In 2008, Smith went on leave from The Pilot to complete a Knight International Journalism Fellowship in Liberia. In 2012, Smith, an associate professor, was named to the JournalismDegree.org list of Top 50 Journalism Professors. Prior to moving to Ole Miss, Smith served as the Communication and Fine Arts Division Chair and Coordinator of Diversity Relations at John Brown University.
Michael F. Ryan is a career journalist, speaker and author of the internationally published The Last Freedom, a novel on legendary Holocaust survivor Viktor Frankl. A native of Kansas City, Michael was a reporter and editorial page editor at the Topeka (Kansas) Capital-Journal, editorial page editor of The Augusta (Georgia) Chronicle, and opinion editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram before becoming an opinion writer at his hometown Kansas City Star in June 2019. He has been named best editorial writer multiple times in Kansas, Georgia and Texas.
In February 2022, Michael left a 40-year newspaper career to become executive editor of The Lion, a national Christian news site of the Herzog Foundation in Smithville, Missouri, which exists to advance the cause of Christian education. He also is executive editor of the secular news site HeartlanderNews.com, covering Missouri, Kansas and national politics.
Michael has been a frequent speaker and guest on radio and television programs, including The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, and in 2014 was privileged to address an international conference in Vienna, Austria, on the life and teachings of Dr. Frankl.
He has an incredible wife, Susie, and they have two beautiful grown children, Amanda and Kevin.
Aaron Cline Hanbury is the founding editor of the award-winning Common Good magazine, a title published by Made to Flourish. He was previously the editor of RELEVANT magazine, during which time the print title underwent a complete redesign, and the magazine reached upward of 75 million people across all media channels, including record numbers of monthly online readers. Through his publication firm, NXTPG, he works with nonprofits and schools to reimagine or develop new print magazines. His writing appears in various publications in print and online, including The Atlantic. He makes the podcast Writers and Writings, and he writes an occasional newsletter about books and writing. He is the author of a book about technology and culture, which comes out in the Fall of 2025.
Amber Weigand-Buckley is an award-winning author, speaker, and multi-award-winning magazine editor and art director. As the founding editor of Leading Hearts magazine, she has led the publication to receive over 35 Evangelical Press Association awards, including recognition for a publication she initiated in her spare time without a budget, driven by her mission-focused passion.
In addition to her publishing achievements, Amber has served as a fundraising consultant for Asia Pacific Media for over a decade, witnessing firsthand how digital content facilitates evangelism, discipleship, education, and outreach, particularly among individuals who may never enter a physical church. Her international experience includes teaching media missionaries across the Asia Pacific region on launching impactful Christian publications.
Beyond writing, Amber co-hosts the “Coffee Chat with Amber & Lisa: Real Life, Real Influence No Makeup Required “ podcast, where they engage in authentic conversations with women about purpose-built success from a kingdom perspective.
Her contributions to the field have been recognized with multiple honors, including the 2015 Advanced Writers and Speakers Association Member of the Year and the 2018 Evangel University Distinguished Communications Alumni of the Year.
Edward Lee Pitts is the Executive Director of the World Journalism Institute. As Washington Bureau Chief for WORLD magazine, Lee’s assignments sent him from Capitol Hill to the White House to the Supreme Court. But his reporting also took him beyond the Capital Beltway. Leading up to the 2010 elections, Lee embarked on a 10-day, 4,225-mile cross-country trip through competitive congressional districts in 16 states. In 2004-2005, as a reporter for the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Lee was embedded with a National Guard Regimental Combat unit in Iraq for nearly seven months, going on combat and humanitarian missions. Before joining WORLD, Lee served as press secretary for U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander. Now in his fifteenth year in the media world, Lee earned a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and is currently an associate professor of communication at Dordt University.
Cheryl Odden is the Vice President of Publishing and Executive Editor at The Voice of the Martyrs. She has served in numerous roles since first joining the ministry in 1994, when she worked directly with VOM founders Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand. Her primary focus has been sharing the inspiring stories of persecuted Christians with the global body of Christ in order to lead Christians into a deeper commitment to Christ and the Great Commission. In addition to leading the Publishing division, which includes Editorial, Creative and Publishing Logistics, Cheryl also functions as Executive Editor for VOM Books, the publishing arm of The Voice of the Martyrs.
Lisa A. Crayton is the co-author of Only Light Can Do That – 60 Days of MLK – Devotions for Kids (Sharifa Stevens, co-author; Camilla Ru, illustrator). An award-winning freelance writer she pens articles, profiles, devotionals, Bible study guides, and other material. She is the author of 18 books, including 17 children’s books. An editor and collaborative writer (“ghostwriter”), Lisa provides writing and editing services to book publishers and independent authors. She earned her MFA in Creative Writing from National University and her dual BS degree in public relations and journalism from Utica College (now Utica University). Acting on her passion to help other creators succeed, Lisa is a co-Regional Advisor for the MD/DE/WV Region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
George P. Wood is executive editor of Influence Magazine, for which he writes the Book Reviews section. He has reviewed over 800 books on Amazon, garnering more than 19,000 likes, and was rated a Top 500 Reviewer. He lives in Springfield with his wife, three children, two dogs, and way too many books.
Adrienne N. Wartts holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and sociology and a master’s degree in American cultural studies. Her background includes serving as a news correspondent, managing editor in the medical publishing industry, communications director in higher education, and adjunct professor at Webster University’s School of Communications. Additionally, Adrienne has contributed faith-based articles to David C. Cook Ministries’ Power for Living, Hallmark Mahogany, Inspire Christian Writers’ Honor Anthology, and Our Daily Bread Ministries’ Forever Faithful devotions. As a poet, her spiritual poems have appeared in Black Magnolias, Diverse Voices Quarterly, Encounters, Entropy Magazine, Fahmidan Journal, Frogpond, Green Black Tales, Journal of Pan African Studies, Kweli, Lost Pen Magazine, Ocean Voices, Pangolin Review, PEN, Planisphere Q, Reverie, The Deronda Review, and The Poet Magazine.
As Assistant Director of WORLD Journalism Institute and co-founder of WORLD Journalism Institute Network, Naomi connects, equips, and encourages journalists and communicators at all career stages. She is a graduate of Columbia International University and WJI.
A Baptist minister with a Ph.D. in communication, Brian Kaylor has served as president and editor-in-chief of Word&Way since 2016. He has won numerous awards (including some from EPA) for news and editorial writing, photography, podcasting, newsletters, and more. He hosts the Word&Way podcasts “Dangerous Dogma” and “Baptist Without An Adjective.” Brian is also the author or co-author of five books, the most recent of which is “Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestants Helped Build Christian Nationalism.” He previously served on staff at churches and denominational bodies and was an assistant professor of communication studies at James Madison University. Brian currently serves as chair of the Resolutions Committee for the Baptist World Alliance. He lives in Jefferson City, Missouri, with his wife Jennifer, son Kagan, and dog River.
Warren Smith is the president of MinistryWatch. He has held leadership positions at The Colson Center for Christian Worldview and at WORLD Magazine. Newspapers he edited are multiple prize winners from the Evangelical Press Association and the Fellowship of Christian Newspapers. He is the author or co-author of more than 10 books, including A Lover’s Quarrel With The Evangelical Church, Faith-Based Fraud, Prodigal Press: The Anti-Christian Bias of the American News Media and Restoring All Things.
Rachel Forrest is passionate about the power of stories to connect and inspire others. As the Director of Content and Deputy Editor for The Voice of the Martyrs, she leads a team of writers and photographers to help draw the global body of Christ into deeper fellowship with one another through VOM’s award-winning magazine and other media. With more than 15 years of professional writing experience, Rachel’s work has covered a variety of topics—including religion, law, mental health and finance—and she has been published by LifeWay, IF:Gathering, Woman’s Missionary Union and The Baptist Messenger.
Michael Ray Smith either can’t hold a job or he gets around. He teaches for Olivet University in Washington, D.C., Regent U. in Virginia Beach and LCC International University in Europe. He’s written a couple of how-to books on freelance writing and two books on an editor who edited a mainstream newspaper by asking “What would Jesus do?” Smith conducts research with others on news credibility and he writes for Religion Unplugged news site. He and his Lithuanian wife, Dalia, live outside of Washington, D.C., not far from Gettysburg.
Mary is co-host, legal affairs correspondent, and dialogue editor for WORLD Radio. She is also co-host of the Legal Docket podcast. Mary is a graduate of World Journalism Institute and St. Louis University School of Law.
Lora Campbell is a seasoned graphic designer with nine years of service at One Mission Society (OMS). As Assistant Creative Producer for OMS’ One Mission Kids (OMK) ministry, she focuses on visual storytelling and brand creation. Her expertise covers content creation across digital, print, video, and social media platforms. Since embracing Canva in 2016, Lora has become highly skilled at using this tool to enhance design effectiveness, having led workshops and provided essential one-on-one support for business and ministry leaders seeking to improve their graphic design capabilities.
Lora’s professional journey is enriched by 13 years of classroom teaching across various disciplines, including early childhood, special education, and elementary education. Her multifaceted background enhances her work in mission strategy and curriculum development, bringing a holistic approach to her creative endeavors. Located in Greenwood, Indiana, at the OMS World Headquarters, she serves in the Communications Department with her husband Jason (OMK Creative Producer) leading the One Mission Kids ministry, developing innovative educational content and programs that inspire a mission-driven mindset among children.
Combining her deep industry knowledge and creative experience, Lora is well-prepared to effortlessly guide attendees through Canva’s secrets to transform their publications and engage audiences.
Dr. Joshua Mann has been the managing editor of The Lion, a news publication of the Herzog Foundation, since it launched in 2021. Under his leadership, the publication has grown to produce over 70 articles per week and reach millions of readers monthly across its social media channels. Prior to working for Herzog, Josh worked for a language-learning startup specializing in biblical Hebrew and Greek, and in academia as a biblical scholar. He received his Ph.D. in New Testament from the University of Edinburgh in the United Kingdom, where he and his family resided and worked for five years before returning to the Kansas City, Missouri area.
Josh Smith is the Director of Publishing Logistics for The Voice of the Martyrs, where he leads the Project Management Office, Digital Asset Management and Audio/Visual Teams to facilitate collaboration and timely delivery of assets for multiple stakeholders in the production of VOM media. Prior to his employment at VOM, Josh worked at a law firm in Northwest Arkansas in administration and management. With more than a decade of managerial experience, Josh’s expertise in leading people and processes ensures the smooth production of VOM media.
