Conversation participants:
TRILLIA NEWBELL (Website)
Trillia is the author of United: Captured by God’s Vision for Diversity (Moody Publishers, March 2014). Her writings on issues of faith, family, and diversity have been published in the Knoxville News-Sentinel, Desiring God, True Woman, The Resurgance, The Gospel Coalition, and more. She currently is the consultant on Women’s Initiatives for the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission for the Southern Baptist Convention. Newbelll is the Lead Editor of Karis, the women’s channel for the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. In November 2011, she launched a Christian women’s blog-style e-zine, Women of God Magazine, where she was the managing editor. In addition to her first book, United, Newbell has a second book with Moody Publishers slated for 2015 on the topic of fear and faith. Her greatest love besides God is her family. She is married to her best friend and love, Thern. They reside with their two children near Nashville, TN.
TRAVIS TYLER (Website)
Travis Tyler is Thi’sl from Saint Louis, Missouri. He discovered rap at the age of fourteen and when he was sixteen years old he made his first demo. His rap career got a boost by winning a battle from a famous local rapper called L.O.S. of Bullet Proof Records. Thi’sl took a year and a half to study the bible and made the choice to rap the gospel and be an instrument of God himself by doing concerts at churches, high schools, colleges and prisons. In 2006 Thi’sl started the Ezekiel Project and released a CD with the same title. Thi’sl sees rap music as an effective ministry tool to reach the youth with the gospel. The vision of the project is based upon Ezekiel 37:4-5. In 2007 the rapper re-released his 2004 debut album This House I shall Live, with additional new tracks. He is currently working on his next project The Chronicles of an X-Hustler.
PETER COURT (Website)
Peter is currently the Editor for Q Ideas, a learning community that mobilizes Christians to advance the common good in society. He previously led social and artist relations at Upfront Media Group. Clients included deadmau5, Maxwell, and Hillsong United among others. Peter has also worked with World Vision, GOOD and sits on the Board at Shared Justice. He received a B.A. from Wheaton College, and currently resides in Nashville.
ROGER JOHNSON
Roger was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (when it was called Zaire). Roger's parents were missionaries for 10 years. This early life experience shaped his worldview significantly. Following college, Roger worked in Campus Ministry with the Coalition for Christian Outreach for 11 years, first working at Juniata College in PA and then in several strategic leadership positions with the CCO. Within those years, Roger had several significant life shaping experiences that stocked a passion for racial reconciliation. "Over the years, God has continued to put people and experiences in my path to challenge my thinking, expand my worldview, and draw me into a Kingdom perspective."Roger has lived in the greater Nashville area for 9 years with his wife, Julie, and a growing family. Roger and Julie have three kids and have adopted their fourth child from the DRC.