Engage Authors

Sara Alexander

Seventeen years ago, Sara’s life was transformed from hardened and hopeless to full and free by the baffling and irresistible Jesus of Nazareth. She enjoys in-depth Bible study, snuggling with her newly awake children, and good British television. Sara has a degree in English literature from Dallas Baptist University and should have been born in the nineteenth century. Like one of her heroes, C.S. Lewis, there’s not a cup of tea strong enough or a book long enough to suit her. Sara follows Christ in Durango, Colorado, with her pastor-husband, Rob, and their two children, Ani and Jude. She earnestly hopes that Jesus returns today!

Sara’s Blog Posts

Kelly Arabie

Kelly most enjoys heart-level conversation and guiding women in soul care. Her desire to study God’s Word and help women apply it to their lives led her and husband Tre to Dallas from their home in Louisiana. She earned a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary and served on staff as both Women’s Ministry Director for Coppell Bible Fellowship and Women’s Ministry Counselor at Insight for Living. Kelly’s experiences of shepherding by godly women have given her a deep desire to see women cared for in the Body of Christ worldwide, especially in cross-generation relationships.

Kelly’s Blog Posts

Lael Arrington

Lael writes and speaks about faith and culture and how God renews our vision and desire for Him and his Kingdom. She earned a master’s degree (MAT) in the history of ideas from the University of Texas at Dallas, and has taught Western culture and apologetics at secular and Christian schools and colleges. Her long-term experience with rheumatoid arthritis and being a pastor’s wife has deepened her desire to minister to the whole person—mind, heart, soul and spirit. Lael has co-hosted a talk radio program, The Things That Matter Most, on secular stations in Houston and Dallas about what we believe and why we believe it with guests as diverse as Dr. Deepak Chopra, atheist Sam Harris and VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer. (Programs are archived on the website.) Lael has authored four books, including a March 2011 soft paper edition of A Faith and Culture Devotional (now titled Faith and Culture: A Guide to a Culture Shaped by Faith), Godsight, and Worldproofing Your Kids. Lael’s writing has also been featured in Focus on the Family and World magazines, and she has appeared on many national radio and television programs. Lael and her husband, Jack, now make their home in South Carolina.

Lael’s Blog Posts

Amy Leigh Bamberg

Amy Leigh is an Alabama native, but never drinks sweet tea or cheers for the Crimson Tide. Ever. She grew up working on her family’s cattle and catfish farm, shucking corn, slinging cow patties, and singing in the church choir. But, she longed for more.

She attended Auburn University and studied horticulture. She worked for several years in the commercial and residential sectors of the green industry. Then she joined the staff of a local church, where she developed systems and structures for various ministries with the goal of equipping and empowering the church to serve effectively while being pastored personally. 

She attended Dallas Theological Seminary to study theology. Her coursework focused on subjects such as the theology of the body, theology of beauty, and the role of women in ministry. This season confirmed her passions for writing, preaching, and pastoring and provided a cohesive biblical framework for their expression. Amy Leigh works as a free-lance landscape designer, consultant, author, and teacher. She endeavors to equip believers to accurately handle Scriptures, edify them through educational ministries, and encourage them throughout their spiritual transformation. And she still longs for more, which is why her articles address topics such as faith, culture, creation, the church, and relationships.

Amy Leigh’s Blog Posts

Beth Barron

Beth and her husband have worked cross-culturally for 32 years, first in the Middle East and now in the U.S. She teaches English to refugees and has written and edited extensively for her cross-cultural agency. Beth enjoys writing, biking, vegetable gardening and connecting heart to heart with other women. She is involved in her church’s women’s ministry. She and her husband have three adult children.

Beth graduated from Rice University in Houston and is committed to life-long learning. She is currently enrolled at Dallas Theological Seminary.

Beth’s Blog Posts

PJ Beets

PJ is passionate about encouraging women through the Scriptures and life to see the compassionate God who redeems the rejected by acceptance, the silenced by expression, the labored by grace, and the lonely by love in order to set them free to serve in His ordained place and way for them individually and corporately. She has served the Lord through Bible Study Fellowship and her home church in various capacities with women. Upon turning fifty, she sought the Lord on how He would have her finish well which began her journey at Dallas Theological Seminary. She has a Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies as well as a Doctorate of Educational Ministry in Spiritual Formation, both from from DTS. PJ is married to Tom, has three children, and one grandchild.

PJ’s Blog Posts

Sue Bohlin- Engage coordinator

Sue is a speaker/writer and webmistress for Probe Ministries, a Christian organization that helps people to think biblically. She loves teaching women and laughing, and if those two can be combined, all the better. She also loves speaking for MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) and Stonecroft Ministries (Christian Women’s Clubs) on the topic How to Handle the Things You Hate But Can’t Change, based on her lifelong experience as a polio survivor.

She has a freelance calligraphy business in her home studio; hand lettering was her “Proverbs 31 job” while her children were young. Sue also serves on the board of Living Hope Ministries, a Christ-centered organization that helps people struggling with unwanted homosexuality and the family members of those with same-sex attractions.

Sue never met a cruise ship she didn’t like, especially now that God has provided a travel scooter for getting around any ship! She is happily married to Dr. Ray Bohlin, writer and speaker on faith and science with Probe Ministries, and they have two grown sons. You can follow Sue on Twitter @suebohlin.

Sue’s Blog Posts

Eva Burkholder

Eva has been teaching and mentoring women for over thirty-five years. Her experience as a missionary kid in Papua New Guinea, cross-cultural worker in Indonesia, women’s ministry director, and Bible College adjunct professor adds a global dimension to her writing. Eva is the author of Favored Blessed Pierced: A Fresh Look at Mary of Nazareth, the co-author of Grit to Stay Grace to Go: Staying Well in Cross-Cultural Ministry, and blogs regularly at Pondered Treasures.

She and her husband live in Richardson, Texas and promote the well-being of global workers in a church planting mission agency. A graduate of Baylor University, she also has a Master of Christian Education from Columbia International University in Columbia, S.C. Crafting and spending time with her two sons and their wives rejuvenates her soul.

Eva’s Blog Posts

Brittany Burnette

Brittany, a Georgia Peach, became a believer at the age of seven. As an army brat, she lived in Seoul, Korea for two years, where she picked up her black belt in Tae Kwon Do. During her travels, she fell in love with the Korean people and culture. After returning the States, Brittany pursued her B.A. in Religious Studies from Yale then felt called to Dallas Seminary, where she got a Masters of Theology in New Testament Studies and Systematic Theology. Maybe … just maybe … she’ll get that Ph.D. one day. She’s an avid student of the Scriptures and has an unusual affinity for orthodoxy and apologetics. It is her passion to pursue truth so that she can be a part of sharpening and building up the body of Christ. She’s also a fan of other super spiritual activities like hanging out with friends, family and watching Battlestar Galactica.

Brittany’s Blog Posts

Jody Capehart

Education is in Jody’s blood. She started and administered several private Christian schools in the Dallas area over the past 35 years including Grace Academy, Prestonwood Christian Academy, and Legacy Christian Academy. She served as a minister to children for 8 years, including 6 years at Grace Bible Church. Jody is the author or co-author of 15 books/video series on education and parenting. She formerly served as the Director of the Hope Biblical Counseling Training program for Hope for the Heart, as the Founder and Ambassador for Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, and the host of the Education Channel for the webtv4women. Jody’s wisdom, experience in education, warmth, humor and wealth of practical ideas make her a much-in-demand speaker for conferences for schools, churches, MOPS, and women’s organizations. Jody’s true passion is her family. She is married to Paul Capehart, who has retired from tooting his own (French) horn with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Their personal lives revolve around their ministries at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco and three grown children and four beautiful grandchildren.

Jody’s Blog Posts

Joy Dahl

Dr. Joy Dahl is a Jesus girl transformed by God’s grace. Through many trials she has learned to rise above the depths of real life by holding fast to truth and hope. Today Joy passionately helps believers embrace their calling as Christ’s ambassadors in the world.

Much of Joy’s career has focused on startup and high-growth companies in Washington, D.C. and New York, and for 10 years she provided Chief Financial Officer services through her consulting practice. Joy earned three degrees from Dallas Theological Seminary: Master of Christian Education, Master of Biblical Studies, and Doctor of Ministry. Her emphasis on the integration of faith and work led to her current role as Executive Director of Polished Network which gathers women to navigate the workplace and explore faith together in authentic community.

Joy and her husband, Gordon, call Dallas home. Joy’s favorite things include: God’s Word, international travel, dark chocolate, horses, flowers, beach getaways, running, big dogs, and adventure!

Joy’s Blog Posts

Kay Daigle

Kay is a life-long Texan who loves to teach the Bible and develop women as servant-leaders. She is the Founder and Executive Director of Beyond Ordinary Women Ministries, which provides free and low-cost resources to prepare Christian women for leadership. (beyondordinarywomen.org)

Kay spent ten years leading women’s ministries on staff at Northwest Bible Church and Prestonwood Baptist Church. 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 free online Bible studies for women. Kay earned an M.A.C.E. from Dallas Theological Seminary and a D.Min. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Effective Ministries to Women.

Kay’s family includes her husband Gary, as well as two grown children, a son-in-law, two granddaughters, and two Westies. She loves Tex-Mex, books, movies, travel, the Texas Rangers, and especially time with good friends. Look for her in the Dallas area driving her sporty little car.

Kay’s Blog Posts

Amanda DeWitt

Amanda is passionate about women, worship, and the Word. She loves sharing God’s story of redemption with others through writing, speaking, and leading worship at women’s shelters and conferences around the area. A native Texan, Amanda likes it so much here, she’s never left. She completed her bachelor’s at Dallas Baptist University and holds a M.A. in media and communication from Dallas Theological Seminary. She is currently working on her first book project and spends her Friday nights in the fall watching her husband coach high school football.

Amanda’s Blog Posts

Carol Dowsett

Carol Dowsett is a career missionary with Wycliffe Bible Translators and a professional communications consultant, having worked for nearly 25 years in global communication leadership roles. She has served with agencies such as Wycliffe International, SIL International, Forum of Bible Agencies International, Bible League International, Christar, and the Well Community. She is a frequent teacher of Reflective Bible Studies and has been a lay leader of women’s discipleship and prayer ministries in various churches. An advocate to the Church for mental health awareness, she has served as a support group leader with Mental Health Grace Alliance. With her family, she lived in Nairobi, Kenya for three years and now makes her home near Dallas, Texas. Married for 45 years, she and Jim have four adult children and six grandchildren.

Carol’s Blog Posts

Sue Edwards

Dr. Edwards is Assistant Professor of Christian Education (Specialization: Women’s Studies) at Dallas Theological Seminary and holds degrees from Trinity University, DTS, and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is the author of New Doors in Ministry to Women, A Fresh Model for Transforming Your Church, Campus, or Mission Field and Women’s Retreats, A Creative Planning Guide. She has 30 years experience in Bible teaching, directing women’s ministry, retreat and conference speaking, training teams and teachers, and writing curriculum. Married to David for 34 years, she especially enjoys extended family gatherings and romping with her four grandchildren.

Sue’s Blog Posts

Sandra Glahn

Sandra, who holds a Master of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and a PhD in The Humanities—Aesthetic Studies from the University of Texas/Dallas, is an adjunct professor in Media & Worship and Pastoral Ministries DTS. She is also the former editor of the school’s award-winning magazine, Kindred Spirit and is the author of the Coffee Cup Bible Series (AMG) for women, based on the NET Bible. Additionally, she is the author of Informed Consent, a medical suspense novel that explores bioethical issues. And she has co-authored seven other non-fiction and fiction works—including the CBA bestselling novel Lethal Harvest—relating to reproductive ethics. Having served for more than a decade as a women’s Bible study teacher and ministry director, she currently teaches women’s Bible study at Centerpoint Church in Mesquite, Texas. You can follow this wife of one husband and mother of one child on Twitter @sandraglahn or on Facebook at Aspire2.

Sandra’s Blog Posts

Ann Golding

Ann is a graduate of Baylor University and Dallas Theological Seminary. Ann has a passion for coming alongside others in times of grief and crisis and has written a curriculum titled “The Ministry of Presence” which she has been teaching since 2003. Ann has Clinical Pastoral Education training from Methodist Hospital System, Dallas; Victim Relief Chaplain’s Association Certification; Dallas Police Department Volunteer Chaplaincy training and has worked as a volunteer chaplain at DFW Airport Interfaith Chaplain’s Office. Ann also enjoyed several years in Bible Study Fellowship in various capacities. She has recently worked for RREACH ministries as a program developer and Global Proclamation Academy coordinator. Currently she is enjoying serving as the chair for Association of Women in Ministry Professions, and employing her passion at UTSW Clements Hospital as a volunteer chaplain.

Ann loves spending time with her family: husband Steve, son Garrett and wife Elizabeth, daughter Mallory and her husband Brian, and especially her first grandchild Quinn Rebecca.

Ann’s Blog Posts

Heather Goodman

Heather A. Goodman graduated from Dallas Theological Seminary (Th.M) where she studied cultural anthropology and story structure. She’s a writer and speaker on Christianity and the Arts, living creatively, and the adventure of the Christian life. Her writing can be found in If:Equip, Art House, and other publications. She currently homeschools her three children.

Heather’s Blog Posts

Catharine Griffin

Catharine was born and raised in Covington, Georgia. After calling a few places home, including a position as a missionary in Germany, she landed in Dallas, Texas, where she earned an M.A. in Biblical Counseling from Dallas Theological Seminary. There, she met her devoutly Texan husband at DTS and has been his helpful cheerleader, as he has served with the Texas Baptists as a collegiate minister for the past 12 years. She has enjoyed mentoring and discipling college women along the way, and is currently doing so at East Texas Baptist University.

She loves teaching and writing. Among other things, she loves camping, fishing, hiking and the outdoors in general. She loves to cook wonderful meals but does not discriminate against the mediocre.

Just when she thought she would be a mother to only 2 strapping boys, the Lord saw fit to add one more before He would release her from the joys of mothering young children. She is currently navigating what feels like a second go-‘round at child raising and a deep desire to teach Biblical truth to her children and women alike.

She has been coordinating ministry to women for several years in various churches and longs to equip women to serve the church with biblically sound teaching. She seeks to help women discover their spiritual gifts, learn from their experiences in life and the Lord, and grow exponentially in their walks with Christ. As motherhood seems to seek her out, she hopes to encourage a few Moms along the way.

Catharine’s Blog Posts

Salma Gundi

American-born Salma (MBTS student, Dallas Theological Seminary), grew up in California miles from the Pacific Beaches.

She led a women’s Bible Study for five years, and now leads a group for women who grew up in dysfunctional homes. Salma enjoys speaking at women’s events, and is known by the catchphrase, “Stop faking the funk—start keeping it real.” She hopes to continue ministering to women through writing, speaking, and teaching.

Salma came to saving faith in 1991 after a Creation vs Evolution debate. The (unofficial) black sheep of her family, she graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Feather Ruffling. Her consanguineous relatives consume a strict vegetarian diet, and were it not for lobster with lemon butter sauce, she would do the same. Salma’s husband is a marriage counselor, and DTS graduate.

In high school Salma was known as the Trigonometry-Geek-Varsity-Cheerleader. Thirty years later, Salma is known for prodding women towards authenticity by “keeping it real.”

The loves of her life include Jesus, her husband, and shea butter.

Salma’s Blog Posts

Susie Hawkins

Susie enjoys teaching the Bible, speaking, and working with ministry wives from her home base in Dallas, Texas. She has an MA in Theology from Criswell College, and serves on the board of Baptist Global Response (associated with the International Mission Board of the SBC), LifeSavers Foundation. She is the author of  From One Ministry Wife to Another, and has contributed to blogs and various publications. She especially enjoys Tex-Mex lunches with friends and spending time with her grandkids who are beyond awesome. 

Susie is married to Dr. O.S. Hawkins, president of Guidestone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. They have two daughters and six grandchildren.

Susie’s Blog Posts

Kelsey Hency

Kelsey holds a Masters in Christian Education from Dallas Theological Seminary. Between caring for her two small daughters, she schemes up ways to write and teach about the Bible and Christianity in culture. She happens to have strong affections for the places she and her family have called home–Arkansas, Texas, and London. So watch out for sentences that contain the words “cheeky” and “y’all.” Before attending seminary, Kelsey worked as an account planner at a Dallas-based advertising agency where she learned the art of story and the value of a great practical joke. She hopes to continue to spur others on to inextinguishable curiosity in Jesus.

Kelsey’s Blog Posts

Cynthia Hester

Dr. Cynthia Hester teaches, writes, and speaks on topics of faith and women, both women in the Bible and church history. A graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry (DMin, 2022), Cynthia writes at cynthiahester.com and is a contributing author to the book 40 Questions About Women in Ministry (Kregel, 2023). She has also written articles published at Fathommag.org, Parker County Today, heartstrongfaith.com, and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. In 2021, Cynthia founded Theology of Women Academy.® In this online academy, she teaches Christ-followers, including ministry leaders, the spectrum of orthodox views on women and the church to equip them to develop their beliefs—their theology of women. You can follow her on FacebookInstagram, or Twitter.

Cynthia’s Blog Posts

Christen Jacobs

Christen is a wife and mother of two. She earned her Masters in Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary in 2014. She has served as the youth coordinator at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas. She now serves as the Women’s Coordinator for Small groups and she is member of the leadership team for the Life on Life Women’s Bible Study.

She has a passion for exegetical teaching and has had the pleasure of speaking at various conferences as well as teaching Bible classes.

Christen’s ministry passion is empowering women to be curious readers of the word of God. She also has a strong emphasis in engaging generational and cultural differences, as she has a background in missions traveling extensively in Asia, and Latin America. She enjoys writing her blog, cooking, dancing and cuddling up with her family and Netflix.

Christen’s Blog Posts

Gwynne Johnson

Gwynne currently serves on the Board of Entrust, Inc., an international education and training mission where she authored the Entrust curriculum, Developing a Discerning Heart. She recently served as Co-Chair of the training project, Christian Women in Partnership, Russia and as Senior Director of Women’s Ministry at Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas. Gwynne has a M.A. in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.

Gwynne’s Blog Posts

Marnie Legaspi

Marnie is a Maine-born passport stamp collector, French press coffee connoisseur, carbohydrate consumer who recently relocated from California back to Maine. She has been happily married to God’s most unexpected gift to her, Josué, since 2014. Her great joy is being a full-time mama to their son Judah and daughter Elena Esperanza. She received her BS in Bible from Lancaster Bible College and her Master of Theology degree in Systematic Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary. Her experiences serving the church as a missionary in Eastern Europe, Africa, and India propel her passion to understand and communicate the gospel of grace to the overlooked and forgotten among us.

Marnie’s Blog Posts

Kelley Mathews

Kelley (Th.M., Dallas Theological Seminary) is a former women’s ministry leader who currently stays home with her four young children. In her “spare” time, she works as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Dallas Seminary, writes articles, and edits for a variety of ministry publications and web sites. She has partnered with Sue Edwards to coauthor Mixed Ministry, Women’s Retreats, and New Doors in Ministry to Women.

Kelley’s Blog Posts

Melanie Newton

Melanie is the founder of Joyful Walk Ministries, an online ministry that helps women learn to study the Bible for themselves and grow their Bible-teaching skills to lead others on a joyful walk with Jesus. Melanie has written many Bible study guides (available on Bible.org and her website) and presented insightful messages to large groups of women. She’s also recruited and trained other women to become speakers and Bible Study discussion leaders. Melanie is wife to Ron Newton (“Integrity at Work” ministry), loves to be outside in her garden, and enjoys her yearly fix of boiled crawfish.

Melanie’s Blog Posts

Gail Seidel

Gail served as Mentor Advisor for Spiritual Formation in the Department of Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) and as an Adjunct Professor in the D Min in Spiritual Formation in the D Min Department at Dallas Theological Seminary. She has a BA in English from the University of Texas, a Masters in Christian Education from Dallas Seminary and a D Min in Spiritual Formation from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She is a contributor to the textbook, Foundations of Spiritual Formation, Kregel Academic. She served as co-director for Christian Women in Partnership Russia with Entrust, an international church leadership-training mission. She and her husband Andy live in Fredericksburg, Texas. They have 2 married children and 6 wonderful grandchildren—Kami, Kourtney, Katie, Mallory, Grayson, and Avery.

Gail’s Blog Posts

Tiffany Stein

Tiffany is the Women’s Ministry Coordinator at Irving Bible Church, and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. A proud, native Texan, she and her husband, Jason, live in Grapevine, Texas. She is passionate about advancing the God-given value of women and helping women to embrace their unique identity in Christ. She serves as a board member for the Association for Women in Ministry Professionals (AWMP) and served for the past 3 years on the leadership team for Polish Ministries, a ministry dedicated to helping young professional women connect their faith with their career.

Tiffany’s Blog Posts

Raquel Wroten

Raquel (MAMC, Dallas Theological Seminary) was born in McAllen, Texas but has lived in the Dallas/Fort Worth area most of her life. Raised by a single mother, Raquel grew up knowing the meaning of diversity, creativity, and chaos through her four brothers and three sisters. The greatest gift she ever received came from her mother who taught her that living as a believer doesn’t mean perfection, it means grace.

Raquel met her husband Rick at a church retreat in Oklahoma on a cold November weekend. They dated for a year and got married in June 1992. A couple of years later, Rick graduated with his ThM, and they welcomed Joshua. . .then Abby. . .and surprise, it’s Anna! Intermixing their cultures, the Wrotens have established a variety of traditions along with interesting combinations of food. Raquel believes that ministry begins at home so she finds new ways of serving those she calls her own. Raquel serves as editor of DTS Magazine and enjoys writing (in English, Spanish and Spanglish), cooking, coffee, education and serving up a feast for her friends and family.

Raquel’s Blog Posts

Karla Zazueta

Karla is an architect-turned-discipleship-leader serving alongside her pastor-husband in Hispanic ministry both locally and abroad. She loves all things Guatemalan—coffee, cookies, and especially engagement rings. God used her itch for international travel to turn her surrendered single life into one of marriage and ministry. She sums up her and her husband’s love story in this way: “I got engaged in Guatemala to a Mexican I met in Israel.” Many countries visited and several years later, she is now a Hispanic pastor’s wife, educator, writer, and mother to one furry feline and one adorable little boy.

Karla has a M.A. in Christian Leadership from Dallas Theological Seminary and a B.S. in Architectural Studies from Southern Illinois University. She is the author of Discipleship for Hispanic Introverts and was a featured contributor in the Fall 2015 Issue of DTS Magazine with the article, “From the Garden to the Garden: Tracing Our Sobremesa through the Bible.” She was also a contributing author to the book, Vindicating the Vixens, with the essay “Mary Magdalene: Repainting Her Portrait of Misconceptions.”

Karla’s Blog Posts