Participant Biographies
April 28, 2011
Welcome to the 1st Annual Summer Seminar Series! Joining is easy – simply respond to this post via the “post comment” box at the end of this post with a little biographical information about yourself. Things like your name, family status, occupation and a bit of what might draw you to a conversation on Bonhoeffer. After you share a little about yourself, feel free to respond to any or all of the chapter thoughts… Blessings!
My name is Darrin Crow, and I am very excited to be leading out in this Summer Seminar Series. I hope this is the first of many years of joining “the great conversation.” I am 48 years old and have an amazing wife, Stephanie, and two kids Liesen (16) and Blythe (15) who both play basketball at Grand Junction High School (there is no end to Summer basketball obligations, so it seemed appropriate to mention…). I am the founding pastor at HEART of Junction (sbc) church and have served there since 1998. I have also served as director of Christian Challenge, a discipleship ministry to Colorado Mesa University (Mesa State College up until last week) since 1985. I have taught ethics, worldviews and many Bible courses at Colorado Christian University since 1999. My undergrad degree is a BS in Human Resource Management, and I have an MA in Counseling Psychology. I have taken a scattering of Seminary courses but never pursued a degree in theology. I served for two years as the program director of an in-patient drug and alcohol treatment facility for adjudicated male offenders. I have traveled quite a lot, mostly to the country of Belarus where I led more than fifteen mission teams.
My interest in Bonhoeffer has spanned nearly 30 years since I read “The Cost of Discipleship.” My interest in the seminar is egg-headery – I have always wanted to sit in a dark corner of a noisy tavern debating the big ideas of what many refer to as the great conversation. I hope, that iron sharpens iron, we might become more effective and more true through the examination of the words and actions of those who came before. Bonhoeffer will be a great place to begin.
Hi, my name is Roger Hicks. I’m 30 – married to my beautiful wife Crystal and have six (almost seven – she’s due in June) great kids. I’m the owner/operator of Integrity Technology – an IT services company that extends to cover my various business pursuits. I’m part of Heart of Junction (Darrin’s church) and have also helped lead a house church for the past few years in our home. My hobbies include theater and game design.
I’m a bit of a history buff – particularly when it comes to studying the unique personalities of history, their motivations, and their character – so I’m very much looking forward to this study as (prior to the reading) I haven’t really taken a close look at Bonhoeffer before.
My name is Tom Valles, I have a wonderful wife, Linette and two children ages 14 (going on 21) and 12 (going on 10). They have brought many joys and challenges to life as well as reminders of how our heaven Father must view us. I find parallels-a-plenty in the ways my children behave, and the ways believers respond to challenges in their lives. My hope is that MY responses as a husband and father will grow to be more like my heavenly Father.
I hold degress in Business Management and Economics, and attended Southwestern Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. My current line of work is in financial aid with the University of Idaho, where I am currently serving as an Associate Director. I enjoy writing poetry, leading small group studies and time with my family. I look forward to the discussions here on Bonhoeffer. We can learn much from him.
Hey I’m Sheila – I’m super excited for this series
Hi. I’m Kevin Thomason. I’m the busiest unemployed guy on the planet. I volunteer at Homeward Bound homeless shelter 4-5 mornings a week. I honestly don’t know how rewarding it is. I just know that Jesus wants me to do it and I love it. I have an eclectic circle of acquaintances who keep me fairly occupied. It seems that almost daily I find myself in the middle of situations where somebody needs encouragement, direction or just a willing ear and a closed mouth. It’s a great way to fill up my weekly lunch schedule and an excuse to eat more Sushi than I should. I am on the board of directors at Inner Journey Substance Abuse and Counselling Center as well as being the self-proclaimed spelling and grammar Nazi of Facebook. I have absolutely no idea what to expect from this but I am looking forward to it nonetheless.
As you can see my name is Bryant. This is my VERY First Blog time ever. I do not do Facebook I do not do twitter. I am 36 and single, likely to remain so with my predisposition’s and eccentricities. I have had several classes with Professor Darrin at Colorado Christian University. I am currently writing a book of which I have just exceeded 282,000 words in the primary lexicon. It is an enormously important thing in my life. My own Theology is coming out in it. I dare not compare myself to a man who believed so much in his ideals that he died for them, so I am looking forward to learning about Bonhoeffer.
I have never before done much on Bonhoeffer or any other theologian. I have just ordered the book and I hope to read it and start responding to the posts as well as join in on the debates Wednesday evenings.
Darrin mentioned not only in his post but his invitation to me that he wants it to be an “Egghead” affair. Those of you that have met me my know I fit the bill. And for those of you that haven’t I am Eclectic, enigmatic, erratic, passionate, logical, and Just all the way around “ODD” (I have no social life and I don’t care).
So if you’re brave enough to meet me, I look forward to meeting you all.
My name is Zach King. My wife Jessica is also amazing, wonderful, and beautiful. I could say the same for my 1 year old daughter Elly since she seems to somehow be the same person as my wife, only 1/4 the size. I am 28 years old. In 2005 I graduated to Mesa State College with a degree in Human Performance and Wellness. For the last six years I have been an assistant director with Darrin for Christian Challenge at Mesa State. I have also taken a few seminary courses but do not have a degree. Currently the bulk of my working life is spent at Crossroads Fitness Center as a personal trainer. Any time I don’t spend with my family, hanging at HOJ, or making disciples at the college is usually gobbled up with my various interests in the sports world. I do maintain a fair amount of reading these days, but this series is especially thrilling. I do not classify myself as an egghead, and I don’t think I am in much danger of gaining that classification, but I have previously read Cost of Discipleship. Bonhoeffer has the kind of intensity that challenges me because I am not that way naturally.
I am not from Colorado. I will not be at the seminar. I will like to see the rest of the discussions. I read the book when I got it for Christmas. I never heard Bonhoeffer before the book. I found this blog by google. I don’t really want too much info about me yet. Maybe later.
“My mother was a Lutheran missionary from Scandanavia and my father, a deacon of Mexico. They tried to convert each other, but got married instead.”
“Well, my favorite color is light tan. My favorite animal is puppies. I like serving the Lord. Hiking, play volleyball…”
“I don’t wanna get paid to lose! I wanna win!”
That is the greatest two sentence love story I have ever heard.
I’m a 48 year old homeschooling mother of seven and I work for the school district as a Resource Consultant. I’ve been invited by my son-in-law to join in this conversation after having given him a copy of Bonhoeffer.
Hey there everyone, my name is Melisa Ackerman and I just finished my first year at Mesa State and I attend Heart of Junction as well as Christian Challenge, or I did all school year. I moved back to Golden Colorado for the summer to spend some time with my family and so I really appriciate this online discussion. I am 19 years old and majoring in Elementary Education up at Mesa. My degree’s concentration is in social science so I guess you could say I like to learn about people, and I can’t wait to meet this Bonhoeffer guy
I love to learn. End of story. So I can’t wait for this train to get rollin’!
Hey all.
I am native to Grand Junction, but moved back last year after being away ten years for school, work and travel.
I am a little bit egghead and a little bit artistic non-linear thinker. This means I went to seminary and liked pondering the concepts in class; but when things became too theoretical I would draw pictures and write poems instead. Somehow, I came out with an MA anyway.
I think Dietrich is the man. I mean what an inspiration to stand by conviction. I see him as a modern day Daniel or sorts. Call me a martyr complex, but I want to have faith like his. Cost of Discipleship and Life Together are fabulous.
I don’t have the book and don’t know how much I’ll be involved due to other commitments, but I support support Christian intellectualism in this place and want to show support.
I’ll be praying for fruitful, refining discussion in this community and visit if and when I can.
My name is Andrew. I have read the Bonhoeffer Bio by Eric Metaxes. It has changed my opinion of Bonhoeffer (prominent German theologian who was part of the plot to kill Hitler). The book made me reflect on a big part of my life (White guy growing up in “apartheid” South Africa.) I am planning on participating in the summer seminar. Given the subject, I anticipate that the conversation will be challenging and thought provoking.
Hi everyone. I’m jumping in late, but hope to catch up in time to take part in section 2. I have a bio on my blog if you’d like more info on me. I’ve heard a lot about Bonhoeffer, have a general biographical knowledge of his roll in secret seminary training, assassination plotting, and ultimate death, and have often read his ideas quoted and summarized, but have never actually spent any time with the man himself. I’ve always thought I should, and this seemed like a good excuse.
Hey everyone. I am jumping late as well. Nick (and what I am sure are his ulterior motives) has convinced me to join this group. I am a church planter in Calgary, AB, Canada. I have a wife and a 10 month old daughter, and they are both great. The best class that I took at seminary was undoubtedly the class on Bonhoeffer and Ethics. I have had a keen interest in Bonhoeffer for sometime and I am looking forward to engaging with all of you as well as with the new book by Metaxas. I know I am late in the game, but I will get cracking on the book and hopefully be able to engage in some interesting discussions.
Hey man, glad to see you jump in here. Now we can hold our own tavern meetings here in the north country to take part in the great conversation. I’ve found a resource we can use to set those up.
Hello all. My name is Cameron. I received a copy of the The Cost of Discipleship for my birthday. And once I discovered this seminar, I thought it might interesting to kick around some ideas with y’all. I have been curious to learn more about Bonhoeffer ever since I first heard about him three years ago. He sounds like a man who ran his race well.
Hi my name is Rene Crow – I hope this doesn’t post more than once, but I seem to be going in circles here (my first blog). I’m signing in late, but joined the discussion from the earliest class session. I live in Grand Junction and I’m a member of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church where I am also 2 years into a 4 year EFM course. I finally completed my BA in Criminal and Social Justice in 2009, after a long break from studies during which time I served as a missionary in Honduras. When I left my professional career to serve in another country and culture, I used to joke that my Paralegal degree and years of work in law offices really prepared me well for the mission field, but then I finally realized that it actually did – the Lord had a plan for those skills that were not included in the course description of classes! Now my interests are more clearly focused on social justice issues, particularly bicultural matters. Bonhoeffer’s teachings and influence have been intertwined with my growth as a Christian and it now seems that the time is right for me to enter this conversation more directly. I’ve never blogged, not sure I could be called an egghead, but it just might it turn out to be so.
Hello! My name is Vicki Tucker and I live in Colorado with my husband and two dogs. I work at a hospital and try to be as involved in ministry at Mesa State… ahem… Colorado Mesa University as possible.
I, too, was finally convinced to join this gathering of minds by Nick. Thank you, Nick.
As a medical biller, much of my time is spent sitting and listening to elevator music while on hold with insurance companies. So, I decided to listen to the biography.
My father is an American, but of German decent; making me half (plus a bit from my mother) German. I find myself having a curious affinity to all things German, and therefore am really interested in this subject, Bonhoeffer being German and all.
Also, I find that I am incredibly nervous to post any thoughts on a public forum as I also was raised “anti-stupid.”
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