The Gypsy Road

The Navigator (Rick Howerton | Small Groupologist) – I am immersed in being… Being a good dad (am the father of two adult sons and one awesome daughter-in-law)… Being a decent husband (am married to the most fantastic woman in the world. In fact, eloped with her when she was 19, 30 years ago)… Being an authentic follower of Jesus (taking off the masks is definitely a difficult part of my journey)… Being an agent of transformation for Christ’s church (we’ve got to redeem her reputation by making Jesus famous. We can do this if we’ll set aside our longings to make our own church or ourselves famous). Oh yeah… have had the opportunity to be a church planter, college minister, teaching pastor, small groups pastor, and a trainer and consultant. And before my being ends I’d like to do sky diving, snow skiing (never have), and become a weight loss success story.

Agonistes (Brian Daniel | editor-in-chief) – For most of my life I have been a huge sports fan—most recently I’ve learned that I can waste a whole weekend on football. But recently God has revealed to me that something I thought was so harmless has been no less an addiction and method of coping and avoidance than some of the worst of social ills that plague us. So I’m doing less of the sports thing. I grew up in Kentucky, but love the mountains of Colorado. That’s where I feel most alive. I’ve come to appreciate relationships more and more, marriage only gets richer and richer, and watching my children move into the teens has been fascinating. These days I long to spend more time with people and would love for life to slow down a little—OK, a lot. It’s a challenge for me to put away the destination for the sake of the journey because my formative years left the metallic taste of malcontent on my heart… but it’s a noble pursuit I intend to continue. The story is the thing.

Philo (Phil Davis | The Marketing Guy) – I’m not just the marketing guy for Serendipity; I’m a case study for small group ministry! My life has been transformed (and reformed) through the power of small groups and being on the Serendipity team for the past few years. I’ve learned how to interpret life. I’ve learned there is a difference between what I say I believe and what my actions show I believe. I’ve learned to view life through the lens of the Larger Story. I’ve learned what it really means to be authentic and that community is much more than a place “where everybody knows your name”. I’ve learned to pay attention to what moves me. I’ve learned how to be a friend, a father, and an ally to a band of “gypsies” unwilling to settle for anything less than redemptive community. This has changed everything for me, and I hope to share some of my journey with you!

Nomad (Brian Gass | editor) – Urban ghetto, Catholic school, rural public university, M1 tank, conservative seminary, small-town church, deserts of Central Asia, jungles (urban and rural) of East Asia, and now mostly an office in Nashville, TN. Those have been the most influential places in my journey, and now it’s exciting to see how God wants to use me to reach the world from here! How about people who have influenced me? My awesome wife of over twenty years, our six incredible children, flocks over whom I have been a shepherd, soldiers I have led, players I have coached, team members with whom I have served, and of course parents and teachers and all of the normal stuff we say at this point in the conversation. All of that has solidified my identity as “Nomad.”

Ginosko (Kris Dolberry | Editorial Project Leader) – In the 10th grade my heart was stolen by Vanessa, the beauty who is now my wife and mother of my 2 boys and 1 princess. Now, after 15 years of sharing ministry together, we have served churches from Alabama to California. Through experience as a youth pastor, college pastor, event speaker, and education pastor, God has deepened my passion to see the the plastic and institutionalization of the American church melt away to leave behind what Jesus intended- a movement that is real, relevant, and life changing. The Greek word “Ginosko” means to know intimately and experientially. Therein lies my heart’s true desire to know Him and make Him known among the nations.

Syeira (Jessie Weaver | Production Editor) – I’m a thinker, a dreamer, a writer, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister. I confuse my husband enormously with my long trains of thought. I’ve been married for 5 years and in October 2008, we were blessed with our first child, our daughter Libbie. We’ve been in transition for years as my husband has worked his way through graduate school, and are on the brink of moving into our next phase of life–and to a new city. I’ve blogged for three years at vanderbiltwife.com. Syeira is the Gypsy word for “princess.” As the feminine perspective here and a beloved daughter of the Highest King, I thought it was only appropriate.