Meet our Article Contributors
Kelly Arabie currently serves on staff with Grafted Life Ministries, inviting believers into deeper relationship with God through intentional engagement with him and the Body of Christ. Kelly has served in pastoral ministry in the local church and parachurch ministry for more than two decades. She graduated with an MA in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary with a focus on ministry to women.
Kelly enjoys writing, care for the soul, honest heart conversations and a hot cup of tea. You can connect with her at kelly@graftedlife.org.
Kay Daigle
Dr. Kay Daigle loves to teach the Bible and develop women as servant-leaders. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Ordinary Women Ministries, purposed to prepare Christian women for leadership by providing resources to inspire and equip them to influence others, from one person to an entire ministry.
Kay spent ten years leading women’s ministries on church staffs, most recently at Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, Texas. Kay is the author of From Ordinary Woman to Spiritual Leader: Grow your Influence, a practical and simple guide to help all Christian women apply foundational leadership skills in every area of their lives, and a number of Bible studies for women. Kay earned a MACE from Dallas Theological Seminary and a DMin from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Effective Ministries to Women.
Kay’s family includes her husband Gary, two grown children and their spouses, two granddaughters and an entertaining Goldendoodle. She loves Tex-Mex, seafood, books, movies, travel, the Texas Rangers, and especially time with family and good friends. Look for her in the Dallas area driving her sporty little car.
Natalie Eastman
Dr. Natalie R. W. Eastman knows, because she researched the heck out of it and because she lived it, that a lot of women who love the Lord and want to serve him with their whole lives don’t feel confident entering into theological or biblical conversations that involve biblical interpretation. Too often they have not been taught to discern Scripture’s answers for themselves and depend on what their pastor, denomination or commentary says. The big questions always lead back to this central one: “How do I know what to believe?”
At God’s prompting, Natalie distilled her MDiv (’02) and DMin (’05) degrees from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, seven years of full-time youth ministry, and 23 years of volunteer ministry into a book Women, Leadership, and the Bible: How Do I Know What to Believe? A Practical Guide to Biblical Interpretation. She is also the founder and host of free online training opportunities called Your Biblical Breakthrough: Training Summits for Women. She also writes and curates training articles from other biblical scholars at natalieeastman.com. Her focus in on teaching women best practices in Bible study and interpretation, so they can stand on “their own two interpretive feet” in nearly any theological conversation.
Natalie loves traveling cross-culturally; singing; teaching singing (ahighernote.com); dark chocolate; sailing; walking among trees; the fresh smell of dirt and leaves; hiking in pretty places; a great book; all beaches everywhere; hydrangeas; leafy-green vegetables; lifelong friends; extended family; family in Christ; and seeing life in Christ afresh through a young believer’s eyes. If you’d like to connect with Natalie, please reach out: natalie@natalieeastman.com.
Brenda Eaton
Brenda is a wife, mother, and grandmother who loves to study God’s Word and equip others to serve the body of Christ. She went to Dallas Theological Seminary as an empty-nester and graduated with a degree of MA in Biblical Studies in 2006. Since then she has been the director of Women’s Ministry at Waxahachie Bible Church for the past eleven years. She loves to play games, exercise, watch live plays and musicals, and see God work in the lives of her family members and the women she serves.
Sue Edwards
Dr. Sue Edwards, Professor of Educational Ministries and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary, has taught at DTS for 20 years. She has a doctorate from Gordon-Conwell seminary in Boston, a masters in Bible from DTS, and bachelors degree in journalism from Trinity University She also has over 40 years experience as a Bible teacher, overseer of ministries to women, and author.
Sue is the co-author of six leadership books: Leading Women Who Wound; Mixed Ministry, Working Together as Brothers and Sisters in an Oversexed Society; Organic Ministry to Women; Organic Mentoring, A Mentor’s Guide to Relationships with Next Generation Women; Invitation to Educational Ministry and 40 Questions About Women in Ministry (to be released in October 2022).
Author of the Discover Together Bible Study Series featuring 17 books of the Bible (DiscoverTogetherSeries.com), Sue’s newest studies are:
- 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Discovering Hope in a Promised Future
- Isaiah, Discovering Assurance Through Prophecies About Your Mighty King
Married for 50 years, she and David are members of Northwest Bible Church and are the proud parents of two married daughters and the grandparents of five. David is a retired computer engineer who serves the Lord as a lay prison chaplain. She loves chocolate, strong coffee and taking walks with their westies, Quigley and Emma Jane.
Sandra Glahn
Dr. Sandra Glahn earned her ThM at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and her PhD at the University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) in Humanities—Aesthetic Studies. A professor in the Media Arts and Worship department at DTS (and also on loan to Pastoral Ministries), she teaches courses in writing, medieval art and spirituality, gender, and sexual ethics. She is the author of more than twenty books, including the Coffee Cup Bible Study series. Her latest book is Vindicating the Vixens. Her areas of expertise are in Bible books, first-century backgrounds, women’s issues, the history of ideas about gender, and writing for publication.
Virginia Grounds
Virginia Grounds is an author, Bible Teacher, former radio host and effective communicator. She has a love for women’s ministry and a passion for God’s Word.
Virginia served with her husband in full-time ministry for twenty years helping to meet the needs of hurting people which motivated her to write her first book, Facing Fears, Quenching Flames, a devotional book for overcoming fear and anger.
Her second book, Rock Solid Trust: Trusting God When Life is Hard is available on Amazon. Her latest released book, co-authored with Donna Skell, is titled Living Your Glory Story and is a Bible study concentrating on knowing God’s Word for sharing your story.
She served on the Women’s Ministry Team at one of the largest churches in the nation for years and writes for the purpose of growing women in their faith and teaching life lessons for survival in our world today.
Virginia is married with three adult children and grandchildren. Her website is Virginiagrounds.net. She has received an honorary Master of Ministry. She also has a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Liberty University and is a Certified Coach for those with a story to tell in writing but unsure of where to begin. You can reach her at vgrounds770@outlook.com.
Sheryl Graves
Sheryl Graves is the Women’s Ministry Director at Coppell Bible Fellowship where she has been on staff for 3 years, after serving 4 years as a volunteer in the area of spiritual and leadership development for women. Sheryl provides insight into leadership in a small church setting.
Susie Hawkins
Susie Hawkins earned an MA in Christian Leadership and Theology at Criswell College and is the author of From One Ministry Wife to Another: Conversations about Ministry Connections (Moody, 2009). Previously, she served as the Director of Women’s Ministry at Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas.
Susie and her husband O.S. have two daughters and six grandchildren, keeping her life full of craziness and joy.
Cheri Hudspith
Cheri is engaged in training the Life with God Leaders for Grafted Life Ministries. She is excited and grateful that her current role allows her to invest in the lives of church leaders.
In 2003, the Lord led Cheri to step away from her first career as a Certified Public Accountant and enter seminary. She completed a Master of Arts in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary in 2008, there discovering the art of listening to the Lord and to others through prayer. She received additional training after Fuller, including becoming a Recommended Facilitator for Listen To My Life and completing spiritual direction training from Selah, a ministry of Leadership Transformations near Boston, MA.
Cheri lives with her husband Dave in Highland Village, TX. They have entered the “empty nest” stage and enjoy every opportunity they have to share life with their son, Matt.
Gwynne Johnson
Gwynne Johnson currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc. where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She previously served as Senior Director of Women’s Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from D.T.S. and presently teaches Joy of Living studies in Huntsville, Texas where she is active in mentoring women with University Heights Baptist Church. She also serves on the leadership team for the women’s page of bible.org. Gwynne loves to read and browse antique stores.
Crickett Keeth
Crickett Keeth is the Women’s Ministry Director at First Evangelical Church in Memphis, Tennessee, where she writes and teaches the women’s Bible studies. She is the author of The Gift of Rest, Sumatra with the Seven Churches (co-authored with Sandra Glahn), On Bended Knee and her newly released study from Moody, Before the Throne.
Crickett was on staff with Cru for ten years and is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary.
In addition to teaching regularly at her own church, she also speaks at women’s conferences and retreats. Learn more at crickettkeeth.com.
Kelley Mathews
Kelley Mathews has ministered to the church through writing and editing for over 25 years. Co-author of eight books, including 40 Questions about Women in Ministry (2022), she also serves on the publishing team at RightNow Media.
A former women’s ministry director and Bible study teacher, she has been married to John, a local school administrator, for 25 years. They are parents to four active, mostly grown children.
Kelley earned her Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2000 and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Women, Theology, and Leadership from Northern Seminary.
Claudia McGuire
Claudia McGuire built a ministry career at Chase Oaks Church in Plano, Texas, beginning in 1997 and served in several roles including Women’s Ministry Pastor, Connections Pastor, First Impressions Pastor and Venue Pastor. She retired as Leadership Development Pastor in 2014. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, Claudia is also a Certified Life Purpose Coach, enjoying coaching others in their various life stages, teaching Bible Studies and speaking at workshops, trainings, seminars and retreats.
Claudia is a native Texan who loves spending time with her two daughters, sons-in-law and five wonderful grandchildren.
Dianne Miller
Pursuing her life passion to teach the Word of God, train leaders, and connect people in community, Dianne Miller has dedicated years as a teaching leader in Bible Study Fellowship as well as directing women’s ministries at the Church of the Apostles in Atlanta and Northwest Bible Church in Dallas, where she also served as Minister of Community. Dianne earned a Master in Biblical Studies from D.T.S. Dianne celebrates 45 years of marriage to Brad, and they have three children. Her greatest joy is her six grandchildren.
Michelle Pokorny
Dr. Michelle Pokorny developed a passion for women’s ministry while serving as a counselor at Pine Cove Christian Camps. Her desire to see women thrive in their gifting led her to Dallas Theological Seminary to gain a solid biblical and theological foundation. After receiving her MACE in Women’s Ministry, Dr. Pokorny began working with East-West Ministries, International, where she served in Human Resources and on the Women’s Ministries Training Team. She presently serves as the Associate Director of Spiritual Formation at DTS, where her primary role is to help women on campus facilitate authentic community and cultivate their spiritual lives. She also teaches doctoral classes in the Spiritual Formation cohort.
Michelle is married to Mark and their favorite hobbies include: traveling, exercising, and enjoying food and laughter with friends and family.
Kristen Pool
Kristen Pool has the honor of serving as the Women’s Minister at Dallas Bible Church. Originally from the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, she has called Texas home for the last fifteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cedarville University and her Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary. She enjoys writing and speaking, and you can follow her at kristenzionpool.com.
Kristen is married to Andrew, a high school teacher and instructional coach, and they have two beautiful boys, Auburn and Macallan.
Gail Seidel
Dr. Gail Seidel is a native of Texas, a graduate of the University of Texas and Dallas Theological Seminary. She received her Doctor of Ministry Degree in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is a trained Spiritual Director.
Gail served as Women’s Director of Spiritual Formation in the Department of Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Dallas Seminary for seven years as an Adjunct Professor in the DMin studies’ Spiritual Formation track and as the Co-Director of Christian Women in Partnership-Russia, a ten-year training program.
Gail is a contributor to the book Foundations of Spiritual Formation and to the Engage Women’s Collective, a blog site of Bible.org. One of her greatest pleasures is accompanying and encouraging others to become all God intended them to be.
Gail is married to Dr. Andy Seidel, also a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. They have two married children and six grandchildren. They now live in Fredericksburg, Texas.
Kari Stainback
Kari Stainback graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary with a Masters in Biblical Counseling. She serves as Director of Women’s Ministries at Park Cities Presbyterian church in Dallas, Texas where she oversees seven women’s Bible studies and co-teaches a study reaching young professional women.
Sharifa Stevens
Sharifa Stevens is a conglomeration of intersections: Bronx wisdom and prep-school code-switching; smoke shop Now-and-Laters and church peppermints; hip-hop and hymns. She graduated from Columbia University in New York with a bachelor’s degree in African American Studies before earning a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Sharifa is a writer and editor. She contributed to the books Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, & Marginalized Women of the Bible and Rally: Communal Prayers for Lovers of Justice and Jesus.
Sharifa is married to a Renaissance man, and mother to two lively boys.
Jill Williams
Jill is currently the founder and president of 2Step Executive Coaching, LLC, her third career. Her first was technology and training focused, initially serving as an IT professional. Then she served IT professionals and the industry professionals they served with a training company focused on establishing respectful and prosperous working relationships.
After that Jill moved into her next career, which she continues to this day: serving her family. Her children are now in high school and college.
God gave Jill a natural coaching mindset that has only deepened over the years through Bible study, Bible teaching, being discipled, learning to be a friend and allowing others to be a friend to her. Cross-country moves have also taught her much about the value of relationships and her need for the grace and power of Jesus.
Jill is married to Phillip and together they are the grateful parents of Mitchell, Grant and Suzanna.
You can reach out to Jill at Jill@2StepExec.com
