Meet our YouVersion Bible Plan Contributing Writers HERE.
Get to know the Wholly Loved Ministry Team below:
Wholly Loved’s Board of Directors
Jennifer Slattery
President, Writer, Speaker, Podcast Host
Jennifer Slattery is a multi-published author, podcaster, and a local and national speaker who’s spoken to women’s groups, churches, at conferences, and to Bible study and youth groups across the nation. Named the Arise Daily Writer for 2019 by the Advanced Speakers and Writers Association, she’s used her gift of writing to serve Christ in numerous capacities, from novel and freelance writing to creating curriculum and Bible studies. She developed pilot programs for Christ to the World Ministries, serving under former Lifeway editor, Dr. Art Crisco. In this capacity, she developed writer’s guidelines, performed editing duties, and wrote Bible studies, Bible leaflets, radio dramas, and scripted in-studio broadcasts. She’s a regular contributor to ibelieve where she writes articles of interest to women, creates video devotions, and functions as one of Croswalk’s featured bloggers. You can find her at JenniferSlatteryLivesOutloud.com.
Stephen J. Slattery
Board of Directors, Treasurer
Stephen J. Slattery has over thirty years of leadership experience in the business arena. With a degree in industrial management and a minor in industrial engineering, he began his career with Union Pacific’s management training program and eventually rose to the position of General Director of Locomotive Facilities. In this capacity, he oversaw locomotive repair shops in Chicago, Denver, North Platte, Kansas City, and South Morrill. He received his certified financial counseling certificate with Crown Financial, has led numerous financial classes and various small groups in the church, and was an active member of a thriving outreach leadership team within the Omaha Metro that mobilized teams of volunteers to serve and better their community.
Stephen has a heart for motivating people to excel and grow and loves to serve in his local church wherever needed, whether that means packaging meals for those in developing countries, investing in his fifth-grade Sunday school class, or mowing his church’s lawn. When not serving, he enjoys playing golf, whittling, and spending time with his wife and their adult daughter.
Kelly Campbell
Board of Directors, Team Manager, Administration, Podcast host
Kelly Campbell survived a massive stroke at 40 that left her physically disabled but with a passion for prayer and other survivors. She holds a Master of Divinity in Healthcare Chaplaincy and serves on the Board of Directors for Wholly Loved Ministries and for the Brain Injury Association of Georgia (BIAG). She is a single mother of adult sons and has two beautiful daughters-in-law. She leads a number of serve teams at her church and loves to use her testimony to help others.
Wholly Loved Team Members
Aneah Epshteyn
Public Relations/Administration/Faith Over Fear Support Group Leader
With a background in clerical and administrative positions, Aneah has an aptitude for organization and creativity while finding options and solutions for challenges presented. Those qualities have been applied to her research into healthy cooking and jewelry design. She is excited to see how the talents and skills the Lord has given her will be of service in ministry. She and her husband reside in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Ava Pennington
Podcast Host, Writer
Ava is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher. She’s also a freelance editor, a certified coach for Christian writers and speakers, and a mentor in Word Weavers Intl. And she teaches a weekly Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) class.
Equipped with an MBA, Ava’s career in human resources spanned 20+ years before she left the corporate world to become a writer and Bible teacher. Ava also received an Adult Bible Studies certificate from Moody Bible Institute and is trained as a Precepts Ministries instructor.
Ava is passionate about mining truths from God’s Word and sharing those truths with others. She is the author of Reflections on the Names of God: 180 Devotions to Know God More Fully, as well as co-author of 2 children’s picture books. She has also written numerous magazine articles and is published in more than 35 anthologies.
Ava was blessed with a joyful marriage for 40 years before her husband graduated to heaven. Now she unwinds by spending time gardening and playing with her too-smart-for-her-own-good boxer. Visit www.AvaPennington.com to learn more.
Beth Dorsey
Online Bible Studies Leader
Beth Dorsey, a licensed Occupational Therapist, is a graduate of Oxford College of Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. She has over 35 years of experience working in various specialty areas including neurological impairments, orthopedics, and geriatrics. She now serves as manager of therapy for a 25-bed rehab hospital. Beth has grown and developed in her teaching and leadership skills through working with countless clients recovering from illness or injury as well as leading her rehab department.
Beth grew up in a strong Christian home with excellent examples of faith put into action. She accepted Jesus at a young age and has been through ups and downs that have tested her faith. More recently, through a time of personal tragedy in the loss of her brother to pancreatic cancer, she has experienced the closeness of God and His unexplainable peace. She has vowed to never go back! She wants to help others learn to experience this closeness and peace.
Beth has also experienced the benefit of Bible study in the online community thanks to an early group organized through Wholly Loved. She wants to share these benefits with more women in the small group setting online. She is proud to be a multi-generational southerner and lives in her small childhood homestead in North Georgia. She enjoys singing in the local community chorus, the creativity of crafts, and learning new things.
Carol McCracken
Online Engagement: Live Video, Book Discussion Leader
Carol Ogle McCracken is a fun-loving wedding planner, speaker, Bible teacher, and author who brings to life the written Word of God to inspire a personal, vibrant relationship with Him. Her authentic challenges faced while journeying through alcoholism, raising a child with special needs, and divorce, equip her to teach, entertain and encourage you.
Dawn Tolbert
Online Bible Study Leader
Dawn Tolbert is a Jesus girl who stays busy as a wife, daughter, sister, and friend. She’s blessed to be doing life with her husband, Larry, who supports her in her dreams. By day, she heads Public Relations at a Christian university. By night (and early mornings), she is a writer who wants to use her talents to honor God. Dawn has a couple of book-length writing projects in the works, enjoys blogging at DawnTolbertWrites.com, and spends way too much time watching crime dramas on TV. She sings in the choir, loves to read and learn, and has three degrees from three universities in three states.
As she writes and leads Bible studies, Dawn aims to be real. She shares her struggles, fears, her struggle with fear, and even what makes her happy. Her prayer is that, as she shares authentically about her life and what God is teaching her, we will all find encouragement that helps us shine brighter for Him.
Jason Thompson
IT
Jason Thompson is a husband, father, and software architect. Jason has over 15 years developing enterprise applications for a variety of organizations including small startups, multinational banking corporations, and a fortune 500 health care company. Jason has a desire to use his unique skill set to serve God behind the scenes by empowering others to reach farther through technology.
Jason has been married to his wife Mary for almost two decades and they have a son and daughter. In Jason’s free time he can be found inventing crazy gadgets, collecting awesome “dad jokes”, studying apologetics, reading comic books, and obsessing over technology from the 1980s and 1990s. You can find out more about Jason Thompson by visiting https://jasonthompson.dev
Jenny Fulton
Writer, Graphics
Jenny is a wife, mother, and writer who enjoys studying God’s Word and sharing what she has learned with others. She is the author of Princess Lillian and Grandpa’s Goodbye, Lil Kingdom Sisters Guide to the Alphabet (to be released Fall 2021), and an upcoming Bible Study on 1 Corinthians. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, Jenny developed an early interest in language and cultures. In 2007, she graduated from Grace University with a B.S. in Bible, a B.S. in elementary education, and an endorsement in K-12 ESL. For the next seven years, she worked as a teacher in a variety of cultural and educational settings, both abroad and in the United States. Her days are now spent raising her three young daughters and writing as much as time and opportunity allow. You can find more of her writings on her website at heart-soul-mind.org
Jessica Brodie
Graphic Design, Editor
Jessica is an award-winning Christian journalist, author, blogger, and editor. She is the editor of the South Carolina United Methodist Advocate, the oldest newspaper in Methodism, which has won more than 118 journalism awards during her tenure. She is the author of two devotionals, Feed My Sheep (2019) and More Like Jesus (2018), and editor of Stories of Racial Awakening (2018) and Called by God (2020), all from her newspaper’s Advocate Press. She also writes fiction, represented by Bob Hostetler of The Steve Laube Agency, and her novel The Memory Garden won the 2018 Genesis contest for unpublished contemporary fiction from the American Christian Fiction Writers. A speaker and contributor to Crosswalk, Christianity.com, and the United Methodist News Service, she has a faith blog at JessicaBrodie.com.
Joanne Sher
Content Editor
Joanne Sher was raised in Southern California but now lives in West Michigan with her husband Marc, and their two teenage children. Both Joanne and Marc were raised in the Jewish faith and came to Christ in their early 30s. Find one version of her salvation testimony here, and another (less “facty” – more “pretty”) here.
Joanne holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and has been editing/proofreading for friends probably since high school (or maybe even junior high). About twelve years ago, however, she started taking on jobs to help supplement her family’s income. She has edited everything from short devotionals to book-length manuscripts to course material, and truly LOVES doing it, and working with people. She volunteers in various children’s ministries at her church and is an avid reader and student of God’s Word.
Jodie Bailey
Writer, Podcast Host
Jodie Bailey is a Carolina girl who believes in the transformational power of the story when God is allowed to hold the pen. She spent fifteen years moving and moving and moving around the country with her now-retired Army husband. As an Army wife, she developed a love for serving and speaking to other Army spouses as a Protestant Women of the Chapel study leader, a Family Readiness Group leader, and an Army Family Team Building instructor.
Jodie began her writing career by creating content for PWOC’s international e100 women’s study and contributing to military family devotions and blogs. She is a multi-published inspirational fiction author who crafts suspense stories infused with the power of God’s love and freedom. If she’s not behind the keyboard, she’s probably teaching high schoolers the power of their personal stories in yearbook class or, better yet, she has her toes buried in the sand and a fishing line in the water on the Outer Banks. She lives in North Carolina with her husband, her daughter, and two dogs who are currently locked in an ongoing battle for the attention of their humans. You can stop by and say hi at http://www.jodiebailey.com.
Karen Greer
Editor, Biblical Vetting
Karen has a BS in Chemical Engineering and an MS in Aerospace Administration and Logistics. She’s been married for over thirty-one years to her husband and they have an adult daughter. In upstate New York, Karen was raised as a Christian and loves the Lord. She recently retired from the US Air Force, where she worked as an active-duty officer, defense contractor, and Air Force civilian, including a seven-year stint as a stay-at-home mother. Karen uses her musical talents in her church orchestra as a clarinet player and has previously played handbells. Karen’s skills include problem-solving and attention to detail, which she will use when vetting the content of Wholly Loved devotionals. She looks forward to what the Lord has planned for this next phase of her life.
Kimi Miller
Writer, Speaker, Video Devotions, Podcast Host
Kimi Miller is a California native who grew up in the Midwest. She is a United States Air Force veteran and former pastor of women’s ministry. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Organizational Communication and a master’s degree in Christian Ministry with a concentration in Theology. She spends most days caring for her home and family, their two high-strung cattle dogs, and working part-time as a secretary at the local police department; although her most favorite pastime is conversing with her friends over coffee. One of her many God-sized dreams is to organize a free city-wide women’s ministry event that spreads the love and hope only found in Jesus. Her laughter is contagious, as is her passion for the Word of God. You can connect with Kimi through her blog www.kimimiller.com.
Kristen Terrette
Writer, Blog Manager
Kristen went back to school to obtain her Master’s degree in Theological Studies as she felt God’s tug towards ministry, but she didn’t know then what God had in mind. After five years on staff at her church, she followed God’s leading to a different kind of ministry- one with words, love, pain, and real-life characters. She now stays home during the day while the house is quiet writing stories she hopes will bring readers to a stronger understanding of how God works and His love for sinners like us. Visit her online: KristenTerrette.com.
Lillian Duncan
Writer
Lillian Duncan is a multi-published author who lives in the middle of Ohio Amish country with her husband and a menagerie of pets. After more than 30 years of working as a speech pathologist for children, she saw how the power of words transforms lives, especially God’s Word. Her tagline for many years was “stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem” since she wrote Christian suspense and mystery novels. In 2012, she was told, “You have bilateral brain tumors.” She had no idea how much those words would change her life, but they did. When life changes for a writer, their writing changes as well. She still loves to write suspense and mystery novels but also has branched out into other genres. In spite of being diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors and a rare genetic disease (Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2), God continues to strengthen her and give her peace and joy as well as the blessing to be able to continue to write.
Her goal is to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about Lillian, visit http://www.lillian-duncan.com.She also has a devotional blog at http://www.PowerUpWithGod.com.
Lisa Walton
Graphic Design
Lisa has been married to her husband for almost twenty-eight years and has three children–two boys and one girl. She was raised as a Christian and loves the Lord and serving Him in any way she can. She has extensive IT experience, graduated from college with a degree in Computer Graphics, and enjoys the opportunity to use those skills to share truth.
Michelle Lazurek
Podcast Team
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award-winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com and crosswalk.com and is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services and is a certified writing coach. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog, Cookie. For more info, please visit her website http://www.michellelazurek.com.
Peggy Schlieker
Content Development
Peggy Schlieker has a passion to connect women with the word and work of God. With a degree in Christian Education, she has written curriculum for children through adults. She leads Bible studies and co-authors discipleship books with her husband. In her position as a denominational district women’s director, Peggy promotes world missions, encourages women in leadership, and implements women’s events.
As a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music Peggy taught piano lessons and accompanied groups for 40 years and still enjoys performing. She and her husband will celebrate their golden wedding anniversary next year. They enjoy traveling and visiting their two grown daughters. They live in Omaha, Nebraska
Shelley Brooks
Writer, Administration
Shelley Brooks is the Early Childhood Director at a large church in Omaha, NE. She has been on staff for 10 years, starting out where her passion was, in Elementary. She recently moved from that position to the Early Childhood position, to take on the challenges of kids ages 0-kindergarten. She has been working with her team to set goals in each area of this ministry so we, and parents, will know what we are ‘teaching’ at each age level. She is also a Licensed Ministry Worker with the Christian & Missionary Alliance. When not working, she loves to be a Grandma to her 5 grandchildren, caters BBQ from their home, and reads.
Sonia Haddad Salfity
Online Community Engagement, Team Leader
A child of God born in Lebanon and raised in Jordan for the first 16 years of her life, Sonia graduated with a BA degree in Mathematics-Computer Science from Sweet Briar College in Virginia. She’s been married for 26 years and is a mother of 3 children. Sonia works part-time at her husband’s Cardiology office in Omaha. She serves as a Stephen Minister at her local church and teaches Arabic and English Women’s Bible Studies twice a week. She also writes two monthly columns one of which is in Christian Divine Perspectives for a family magazine in Jordan. Her favorite Bible Verse is: “The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14 because she always needs that reminder that the Lord’s presence is with her and that is where she rests.
Susan Aken
Writer, Editor
An Oklahoma native who has lived in Nebraska since 1987, Susan is a former school librarian and a current substitute teacher who has been involved in public education for over thirty years. She and her husband have one son whose adoption at two days old when she was 39 was a miracle. They now also have a beautiful daughter-in-law. Susan is a contributing writer to Wholly Loved Ministries and has occasionally written devotions for other blogs. Besides writing she has a passion for special needs ministry and prayer ministry. She enjoys time with family, reading, photography, movies, walking anywhere in nature, and sitting down with a cup of tea.
Susan uses her writing to serve Wholly Loved Ministries in numerous capacities, including creating content for our devotional projects and Bible reading plans as well as writing articles for iBelieve on the ministry’s behalf. She looks to Jesus as her constant friend, Savior, and Lord. She believes life is a journey and we’re all in different places. It’s all about grace. Visit her at susanaken53.wordpress.com or connect on Facebook
Suzette Oxendine
Writer
Suzette has practiced medicine as a Physician Assistant for 12 years, 11 of which have been in pediatrics at Children’s Health of Carolina, and recently changed to
part-time status to devote more time to her ministries. As a pastor’s wife, Susie holds several leadership roles at Pembroke First Baptist, including Worship Leader and Bible teacher of their Princess Warriors Women’s group. She loves encouraging women to find and use their God-designed gifts to serve in kingdom work for the Lord.
Susie’s most recent accomplishment is becoming a published author of the Christian children’s book entitled Little Curly Susie. At the end of each day, Susie treasures most the quiet moments when she is able to tune in to the voice of God directing and encouraging her on this awesome journey. Susie likes to say, “If you wear this many hats in a day, you
either have a big head or serve a BIG God!”
Tami Wittrock
Podcast Team, Speaker
Tami Wittrock is a devoted wife and friend to her amazing husband John and mom to four energetic and full-of-life kiddos. But above all that she is a passionate and fiery follower of Jesus! She sees every moment and event in my life, be it joyous or painful, as a loving journey my heavenly father has her on. It is her passion to share her story with all openness and transparency to bring glory to God and help support, encourage, and draw others into a deeper relationship with Him. Her life is a mixture of love, joy, chaos, peace, frustration, and laughter. Through it all, she has had to learn that it takes time with God to see how He is using everything as a tool to refine and connect with her. These God-given “Ah-ha” moments have become the foundation of her relationship with Him and are the core and heart of what she shares whether I speak, teach or have coffee with a friend. Life with Him makes for some really good stories, which she has the privilege of sharing from noon-3 weekdays on 100.7 KGBI radio. In her free time, she loves Goodwilling (alone), deep conversations (with friends), and laughing (with anyone). She feels so thankful to be on this journey of life alongside you…the wild ride is well worth it!
Teresa Baumbach
Content Development
Teresa is the Ministry Assistant at Christ Community Church, a former Adjunct English Instructor at Iowa Western, and a former Adjunct Faculty at Grand Canyon University.
Yvonne Anderson
Senior Editor of Biblical Studies
More than a half century ago, the hand of the Great Physician pulled Yvonne out of the depths of debilitating depression, and she has walked with Him in joy from that day. Since 1974, she worked as a legal assistant, virtual assistant, and then a church ministry assistant before retiring in 2022. During those years, she wrote and published several Christian sci-fi novels. Now she prefers editing to drafting, and enjoys helping other writers discover their voices and sharpen their focus on the gospel that saves.