Angela Shcherban is wife to Val. Coming from two different places of the globe, they met in Central Asia and decided to continue ministering there after they got married. They currently serve with International Messengers, ministering to global workers and families in member care across three different republics in Central Asia. Angela loves encouraging ministers' wives since they are often the ones to encourage and serve but seldom have others serve them. She loves to write about their experiences and testimonies of faith from the people they meet during their travels on shcherbans.com/blog.

Anne May serves alongside her husband Andrew as operations directors for Hope Prison Ministry in Cape Town, South Africa. She oversees and supports volunteers serving in over twenty correctional centers and leads Bible studies for women who are incarcerated with their babies and young children. Anne loves to see women whose lives have been filled with rejection and abuse come to life as they experience the presence of God and learn who they are in Christ. She also serves on the worship team at her local church and is studying theology at a local seminary. Anne and Andrew have three young children—Evelyn, Jonah, and Nathan—all born in South Africa. They love playing on the nearby beach and visiting the African penguins.

Barbara Kindschi has been privileged and challenged to teach English in nine cities in China, Myanmar, and Laos. In February of 2020, she began teaching in a fourth country: Mongolia. Her classes have been filled with undergrads, professors, accountants, hotel employees, monks, government workers, and beauty pageant contestants. They continue to be both her students and teachers. For over 25 years, Barbara has been humbled to see how the power of God's word is alive and active and not limited by language or culture. She finds it the gift of all time to share scripture with someone for the first time.

Carissa is a speech-language pathologist from California currently living in Virginia with her husband. She has participated on various short-term mission trips and outreaches and is passionate about equipping God’s people with support and community as they live on mission for Him. Carissa is honored to get to learn alongside of such an incredible group of women in the Connections Author team and enjoys writing about topics including God’s powerful grace and joy. In her free time, Carissa enjoys helping her husband lead worship, reading a good book, going for walks with friends, and exploring new coffee shops. Nehemiah 8:10

Carol Schlorff has served as a global worker in Poland since 1990, where she teaches English and helps at evangelistic English language camps. She also regularly writes for her blog about the Christian life at bibleandsoul.com. Carol was an MK who grew up in France until her family moved back to the US when she was 15. She’s a graduate of Penn State University and served four years in the US Army. Carol is single and lives in Cracow with her cat, Tabasco.

Celeste Allen is a writer, retreat leader, and pastoral care provider. A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Celeste has been involved in international Christian work for over thirty years -- first teaching English for summer semesters in Asia, then serving in the United Kingdom from 1999-2011. In 2012 she moved to Italy to host a retreat house for Christian workers. Celeste returned to the US in late 2023 to begin a new role as a staff care provider with Oasis Rest International. Celeste’s passion is to help people connect with God through all their senses. In addition to writing and cooking, she enjoys reading, movies, music, and bringing order from chaos.

Chrissy Winslow is a wife, mom, writer, and world traveler. Her family lived in southern Asia for seven years and have been in southeast Asia since 2017. Chrissy loves connecting with God and people through writing, especially on her blog, finefettledforeigner.com. She writes about health and wellness for expats. Chrissy’s passions are eating, enjoying the outdoors, and creating community for women—especially through participating in and teaching group fitness. A fun fact about her is she nearly had a baby on an airplane.

Colette Correa joined the Thrive author team in 2019. She is passionate about God, His Word, and prayer. Colette enjoys encouraging women to grow into a deeper intimacy with God in their everyday life. Her passions also extend to the love of languages, travel, and unreached people groups. Colette’s vibrancy for life and her adventurous spirit have led her to many different nations where she has learned new languages and faces, immersed herself in new cultures, and loved, served, and helped dispersed families in their resettlements.

Faith grew up as an MK in Hong Kong, then went on to be an ESL teacher in Hainan - China's only island province. Since 2005, she has been a dedicated military wife. Most recently, she enjoyed her role as Key Spouse Mentor for the ladies in the squadron her husband commanded. By the grace of God, she and her husband have maintained a strong Christian testimony throughout their years in service and feel blessed to serve not just their country, but Christ, wherever they go. They relocate every 2 years on average. Faith and her husband have been licensed foster parents at three different assignments and adopted a sibling set on an expedited case. With a strong interest in writing, Faith has completed her first book, a storytelling memoir of her upbringing. She weaves her current life into the book to showcase God's kingdom work all around and within her. Besides writing and moving, Faith enjoys gardening, hiking, eating at authentic Chinese and Korean restaurants, as well as cooking delicious meals at home.

Gail Goolsby holds master’s degrees in professional counseling and educational leadership. She has over 25 years educational experience as teacher, school counselor, and principal, including the K-12 American school in Afghanistan. Her award-winning book, Unveiled Truth: Lessons I Learned Leading the International School of Kabul, details the experience with challenging applications for all readers. As a counselor and ICF certified life coach, Gail is a member of Thrive’s Alongside team and believes there is support and encouragement in God’s Word to help us all learn to live well. Gail and her pastor husband have been married 42 years and have three grown children, two sons-in-law, and four spunky granddaughters. They live where the wind blows over the prairie in south central Kansas, and there really is no place like home. Find her at gailgoolsby.com.

Ginny Lupka spent almost three years in cross-cultural missions working with unreached people groups in New York City after she graduated from the University of South Carolina. She taught at a community center, piloted community outreach programs, and drank countless cups of tea with recently-immigrated women, listening to their stories and helping them adjust to life in a new country. Ginny currently studies at Covenant Theological Seminary in pursuit of her Masters of Arts in Counseling. She lives with her husband, Ryan, and their two cats, Frasier and Niles.

Ginny is an American without a "from". She grew up in Japan as an MK, returning again after studying Elementary Education in University. She has a wonderful husband who she met in middle school and married 11 years later. Together they have spent the last 20 years in West Africa, serving in a village and now in a big city. God has entrusted them with 4 kids — 3 thru adoption and one by a miracle. But as they get older, instead of fewer kids at home, God has given them more! Ginny and her family have other young men live with them as they disciple and love them, and she loves being a mom to so many. She has a heart to care for those who are hurting and is completing her masters in Crisis Care and Trauma for the purpose of being equipped to better serve. She used to have hobbies, but now Ginny spends most of her time with people. When she does have quiet, she loses herself in one of the many books in her “to read” pile.

Heidi J. Smith is wife to Jeff, mom to four blessings, and Iowa friend to many. She and her husband served in youth ministry for over a decade and as global workers in Africa for four years. Sharing God’s Word with others is Heidi’s passion, but a series of events quenched her desire for a while. During this time of doubt and despair, God faithfully carried her. Heidi’s renewed trust ushered in hope, and she started blogging at Rooted and Rejoicing (heidijsmith.com) to encourage others.

Holly Pennington does her best to listen to the Holy Spirit within her, love others deeply, and create something meaningful every day. She lives in Seattle, writes at hollypennington.com, and posts her artwork on her Instagram @hollybpennington. She strives to live out grace and self-compassion as a mother of two precious girls and Duncan, their sweet petite golden retriever.

Janel Breitenstein is a mother of four kids. She and her husband John recently returned after five and a half years in Uganda with Engineering Ministries International, who they still work with from headquarters in Colorado. Janel likes dark chocolate, well-written fiction, anything creative, music, and her husband, but not in that order. She writes for a number of ministries. Her first book, on spiritual life skills for messy families (Harvest House), is planned to release October 2021. Janel blogs at janelbreitenstein.com, where she is faithful to disclose embarrassing realities about her life as The Awkward Mom (because uncomfortable conversations are the ones worth having).

Jessica Jolley is a mobilizer with Via Nations, and she and her husband Taylor lead their Nairobi City Team as they pursue the mobilization of the global Church toward the unreached. Their family has lived in Kenya since 2017 with their two children Lyla and Brayden and most likely a university student, and they are currently awaiting their third kiddo through the adoption process. Jessica's greatest desires are to see believers delight fully in Jesus, embrace their strategic roles in seeing His kingdom come here on earth, and live purposefully in their homes, backyards, and across the world. You can typically find her chasing after sunshine, little feet, and deep conversations all while staying on her toes in the beautiful chaos that is East Africa.

Jillian Kittrell is the co-founder and executive director for Emmaus House, a transition home committed to helping orphaned youth in Cap Haitien, Haiti. After living in Haiti full-time for seven years, she moved back to her home state of Tennessee in late 2017. Jillian is a mom to four beautiful children, only one of which was born in the States. When she isn’t sharing about Emmaus House and Haiti or spending time with her family, you can find her binge-watching Netflix with a carton of Blue Bell ice cream.

Jodie Pine has been married to her college sweetheart, Charly, for over 25 years. Twenty of their married years were spent using chopsticks and experiencing amazing hospitality by the Chinese. Since returning to the US four years ago, they are still adjusting to not taking their shoes off at others' homes. Their three adult biological kids continually seek opportunities for more stamps in their passports, and their two middle-school Chinese boys love to do some damage at a Chinese buffet. Jodie works part-time helping women transition back to the US after serving overseas and is excited to be starting a two-year program with the Soul Care Institute this fall.

Joyce Voelker began freelance writing during her early years of motherhood and enjoyed publication in various Christian magazines and publications. In 2001, God took Joyce and her husband to Portugal. Though their primary ministry was serving at a school for the children of global workers and international students, they also helped to pioneer a ministry to the Portuguese Deaf Community. For three consecutive years, Joyce wrote a weekly devotional column in a secular English newspaper, The Portugal News. Having recently retired after twenty years on the field, Joyce enjoys encouraging global workers and those who support them.  In her free time, Joyce enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family, especially her nine grandchildren. She is a part of the Missions Team at her local church and participates in ladies' Bible study.

Karen Bradley loves the Word and loves words! She's grateful to serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators, having worked alongside her husband Dave in eastern Africa for over 25 years. God blessed Karen and Dave with five wonderful children. Currently, she manages and teaches with the SIL International English Team. This team helps colleagues involved in Bible translation develop the English skills they need to flourish in their work, studies, and the global missions community. She also enjoys getting to know a small group of refugee and immigrant women through teaching English. Karen delights in studying and sharing God's Word with others so that they might know how much God truly loves them!

Katy Brink and her family hail from Memphis, Tennessee, but they have served as global workers in Europe since 2012. Katy's main passions are supporting her husband and being mom to their two children, but she also enjoys reading, writing, drinking cappuccinos, and eating chocolate. She blogs at katybrink.com and, in 2016, published an eBook called Clotheslines and Callings: Home Is Where My Laundry Is, based on her cross-cultural experiences.

Kay L., her husband, and their four daughters have served the unlovable and down-trodden for twenty years. She has a heart to see the broken-hearted healed and to equip others to do the same. Whether amongst street children and their families or within the asylum seeker/refugee communities, she believes all individuals have a place in His Kingdom. Kay has served in the Philippines, Jordan, and currently in Cyprus. She also equips workers in the basics of working with children in crisis and trauma.

Kerri Gupta is a journalist and editor who spent 17 years with her family as global workers in Kyiv, Ukraine. Since their evacuation in January, 2022, they have relocated to Colorado Springs and accepted the role of Directors of the Americas for WorldVenture. In this role, Kerri and her husband, Jason, serve workers in North, South, and Central America.

Laura and her husband Ray have been living and ministering in Fiji since 2001. Through their ministry Island Encounters they run a farm, children's ministry, and student program. They have been blessed with three beautiful girls along the way. Laura loves heart-to-heart conversations about Jesus and eternity, and aims to inspire others to seek Him more. Laura loves reading, writing, and anything having to do with the ocean. Life got a lot more interesting when she picked up a camera over a decade ago, and now she loves connecting with people through photography. She offers an online photography course called "Looking for the Light" at www.laurapittman.co.

Laurie M. has been serving in the international community as a church planter, community developer, and connector since 2004. She is married with three school-aged children. She loves walking alongside other women as they learn to live out their God-given calling with joy and courage. Currently, Laurie lives with her family in France where she is working on learning her fifth language. While she does not love learning languages, her love of people has enabled her to persevere. In her free time, Laurie loves gardening, running, writing, and photography.

MaDonna Maurer has been married for over twenty years to Uwe, a German MK who grew up in Taiwan. They met in China and now reside on the island of Taiwan. They are in the throes of the adventure of parenting adults and high schoolers about to launch into the adult world. She finds this to be exciting and challenging. Her son is in university, one daughter has significant developmental delays and the other daughter is adopted from China. MaDonna finished her Master’s degree in Care and Counseling and hopes to help individuals and families process transitions well. She loves to read a good book while sitting at the beach and drinking a cold passion fruit red tea. She also enjoys taking long walks around the city. You can read about her parenting experiences at www.raisingtcks.com or about transitional issues and self-care at www.globalcrossroadsconsulting.com.

Mandy Post moved to Galway, Ireland, with her husband, Jason, in 2003 for ministry in church planting. They also supervise other global workers in Europe to help support and encourage them in their ministries. Mandy enjoys running, swimming, and cycling, ever ready for a triathlon even though she has only participated in two of them. Part of Mandy's fitness training is keeping up with their four children—Emma, Zoe, Ruby, and Wyatt. When asked what she misses most from her home culture, her answer is always the same...family, especially her twin sister.

Nicolette has been living and serving with her husband and three kids in Beirut, Lebanon since 2008. Her passion is creating safe and loving spaces for children at risk, which she has done through orphan and foster care, refugee ministry, and community outreach projects through her church in Beirut. Nicolette blogs about life as an expat in the Middle East at www.calebandnicolette.wordpress.com

Sheree Jacobs was born and raised on the small island of Bermuda in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. She is an only child to two amazing parents and has had the privilege to be foster mother to three beautiful girls over the years. She is a fully certified middle and high school teacher but has also taught in elementary. Between her stints of teaching full time, Sheree worked for a local youth ministry in Bermuda for 8 years full time and 4 years part time. She loves teaching and encouraging others especially in the ways of the Lord and writing has become a way for her to do both. Her favorite verse is Proverbs 3:5-6 and every day she is learning how to trust the Lord more while relying less on herself and acknowledge His ways first and foremost that she may walk in the paths He has ordained for her.

Paula Roberts entered the field briefly as a single nurse in West Africa. Later, married and with a family of three teenage kids, God directed them to a small Romanian village. From Romania, He sent them to work at their mission's US training base in the mountains of Montana. Recently they moved (again!) to live with, and care for, her mom. They continue being full-time global workers in staff care, teaching, and walking beside those overseas. Paula's heart, regardless of location, beats to encourage and care for women. Two of her children are married global workers in Wisconsin and India, and her son lives in Seattle. Their first grandchild was born in 2019.

Rachel Hendrikson and her husband work overseas with a French church on the outskirts of Paris. She is a mother of three, and their family is eagerly awaiting the adoption of their fourth child. Rachel is passionate about sharing the hope and love of Jesus in Europe. She loves to travel to new places, watch movies with her husband, appreciate the beauty around her, and hang out in coffee shops.

Rachel McDonald Yanac, her husband, Ade, and their two sons live in the Andes Mountains of Peru, where they help minority language groups apply newly translated Scripture and resources to their everyday life and culture. Rachel credits a global worker family from her childhood church with introducing her to the work of Bible translation. She has been a member of Wycliffe Bible Translators since 1997 and has been serving with them in Peru since 1998. She began as a teacher for MKs and later with helping to provide Quechua people in the central Andes Mountains with access to the Scriptures in their own language.

Robin and her husband served as global workers for 23 years in Russia and the Balkans. Her experiences ranged from working with students in a mega-city to living in a village of reindeer herders on a remote peninsula at the end of the road. She speaks Russian with an American accent, Greek with a Russian accent, and English with a Texan accent, with a few Russian words thrown in for good measure. Robin currently lives in Anchorage, Alaska, which resembles her time in the frozen northern regions of Russia. Encouraging women is Robin’s passion. Her heart identifies with global workers, women in ministry, spouses of ministers, and women trying to live a life that glorifies God. She readily identifies with these women because she has lived (and survived) ministering in each situation. Robin is a wife, a mother of two children, and a grandmother of four terrific grandkids. She loves to write, read, quilt, and her drink of choice is a large diet vanilla Coke from Sonic with lots and lots of ice. Overseas, she dreamed about Sonic ice.

Sarah Deal has been involved in cross-cultural ministry with Ethnos360 since 2007. She, her husband, Shad, and their two sons served in Asia Pacific for nine years on the orientation team. They came alongside, equipped, and encouraged over 150 new coworkers to the field. In September 2017, after moving the family back to the US and dealing with uncontrollable seizures, Shad underwent two brain surgeries. Grief was real and recovery slow, but God still had a good plan! Shad (currently seizure free!) and Sarah now serve as mentors at the Ethnos360 Training Center in Missouri and enjoy pouring into the next generation of cross-cultural workers. Sarah is grateful for the opportunity to use her experiences in Asia Pacific as well as their family’s own story to connect, relate, and share God’s goodness with women on the field.

Sarah lives in Cairo, Egypt with her husband and 4 kids. She loves learning about other cultures, especially when that involves trying new food. She has an MA in Marriage and Family counseling and enjoys working with women and families to bring hope and move toward healing. Mentoring young women, engaging in bible study, and simply sitting together to talk life are some of her favorite ways to invest in those around her. She is an avid reader and is always thrilled to recommend a book.

Shawna has been doing full-time ministry in Asia with Go To Nations for 6 years and is currently living at the foot of the Himalayas. Since she was a teenager she has been passionate about reaching the people in hardest to reach places, offering them the gift of the Gospel. She finds joy in sipping a cup of coffee with people she loves, or enjoying a cup of tea at the top of a mountain. She has a heart to see people surrender to God and live out the fullness of their calling, especially to bring His love to their own people. You can find her book and her blog at www.mydesertmygift.com.

Sherilyn Grant was an elementary teacher and principal for over ten years. She holds her bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Sherilyn’s love for teaching the Bible led her to Virginia where she earned her master’s in Biblical interpretation and currently teaches undergrad Bible classes at Regent University. She has traveled to Africa, Thailand, and India working alongside children’s pastors and teachers and sharing the love of Jesus through workshops and children’s outreaches.

Shirley Ralston has a master’s in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is a founding member of the global worker care team at Houston’s First Baptist Church. Shirley hosts a bi-monthly home group for returned global workers. She also serves on the pastor’s research team and teaches life Bible study to single young adults. Shirley and her husband, Jeff, now reside in Houston after several years living in the Middle East and the South Pacific.