Authors

Maryam Rostampour and Marziyeh Amirizadeh were both born to Muslim families in Iran, they became followers of Jesus, and went to study Christian theology in Turkey where they met. Deciding to join forces, Rostampour and Amirizadeh returned to Iran and began sharing their faith, giving out Bibles and leading house churches. In 2009, they were arrested in Tehran for promoting Christianity and they were imprisoned in notorious Evin Prison where they were subject to eight months of abuse and interrogation. Although sentenced to death, many around the world prayed for their release and those prayers were answered when they were freed in November 2009. They both emigrated to the United States and wrote Captive in Iran: A Remarkable True Story of Hope and Triumph amid the Horror of Tehran's Brutal Evin Prison (2013) to share their story. They continue to bring awareness about ongoing human rights violations and the persecution of religious minorities in Iran. Entering the same fields of study, both Amirizadeh and Rostampour completed their Masters in International Affairs (Georgia Tech) in 2019. LinkedIn: Rostampour. Twitter: @MRostampour. LinkedIn: Amirizadeh. Twitter: @MAmirizadeh.

Bradford L. McCall, B.S. in Biology (Georgia Southwestern St. University, 2000), M.Div. (Asbury Theological Seminary, 2005), grew up on a cotton farm in south Georgia. A graduate student at Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Bradford has particular interest in teleology, causation and early modern philosophy.

Joel McClure is part of a community of Jesus’ apprentices in Hudsonville, Michigan called Water’s Edge, and serves as Community Life pastor at Jenison Christian Church. Joel teaches regularly in both churches. Joel lives in Jenison, Michigan with his wife, Torie. Google+.

Percy McCray is Director of Spiritual/Faith-Based Programs at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. A fully ordained minister for more than 20 years, Rev. Percy McCray is a member of the United States Chaplains Association. He has been recognized as one of the “most influential African Americans in Lake County (IL)” by the People’s Voice newspaper for his religious and leadership roles within the community and was also recognized as one of the most beloved pastors of the Chicagoland area by the Defender newspaper. In addition to his role as Director of Faith-Based Programs at CTCA, Rev. McCray helps lead Our Journey of Hope®, a cancer ministry training and support program.

Scot McKnight, PhD (University of Nottingham), is a world-renowned speaker, writer, professor and equipper of the Church. He is Professor of New Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary and a recognized authority on the historical Jesus, early Christianity, and the New Testament. His blog, Jesus Creed, is a leading Christian blog. Scot McKnight is a member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Society for New Testament Studies. Some of his books include The King Jesus Gospel (Zondervan, 2011), The Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (Paraclete, 2004), and The Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels (IVP, 1992).

Anthony McRoy is a Fellow of the British Society for Middle East Studies and lecturer in Islamic studies at Wales Evangelical School of Theology. He is the author of From Rushdie to 7/7: The Radicalisation of Islam in Britain.

Robert P. Menzies, PhD (University of Aberdeen, Scotland), has lived and served in China for over twenty years. Robert is currently the Director of Synergy, a rural service organization located in Kunming, China. He is editor at the Asian Center for Pentecostal Theology and the author of Speaking in Tongues: Jesus and the Apostolic Church as Models for the Church Today (CPT Press, 2016), Pentecost: This Story is Our Story (Gospel Publishing House, 2013), Making Pentecost Your Story: 50 Days of Reflection and Prayer (Xanesti Creative Solutions, 2015), Spirit and Power: Foundations of Pentecostal Experience (Zondervan, 2011), The Language of the Spirit: Interpreting and Translating Charismatic Terms (CPT Press, 2010), Empowered for Witness: The Spirit in Luke-Acts (Sheffield, 1995), and co-editor of Pentecostalism in Context: Essays in Honor of William W. Menzies (Wipf & Stock, 2008), The Spirit and Spirituality: Essays in Honor of Russell P. Spittler (Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2004), Robert Menzies, Christ-Centered: The Evangelical Nature of Pentecostal Theology (Eugene, OR: Cascade, 2020), and Robert Menzies, The End of History: Pentecostals and a Fresh Approach to the Apocalypse (Hong Kong: Asian Center for Pentecostal Theology, 2022).

Oscar Merlo, Ph.D. candidate (Fuller Seminary), M.A.I.C.S. (Fuller Seminary), M.B.A. (Phoenix University), B.A. (University of La Verne), is the director of the Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today at Biola University in La Mirada, California. He is passionate about empowering the next generation through the Holy Spirit and for illuminating the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has served in executive leadership positions for profit and nonprofit multinational organizations and is a strategic partner with Hope of Life, the world’s largest humanitarian organization, to develop the Hispanic humanitarian branch, Extreme Rescues. Faculty page. Facebook. LinkedIn. Twitter: @Oscarmerlo.

Dean Merrill has been published in over 40 Christian magazines and is the author or co-author of 50 books. His most recent title is 50 Pentecostal and Charismatic Leaders Every Christian Should Know (Chosen, 2021). He has also written Miracle Invasion: Amazing True Stories of the Holy Spirit’s Gifts at Work Today (BroadStreet, 2018), Damage Control: How to Stop Making Jesus Look Bad (Baker, 2006) and seven other solo titles. As a co-author, he is perhaps best known for the award-winning “Fresh Wind” trilogy with Jim Cymbala, pastor of New York City’s Brooklyn Tabernacle, which sold more than a million copies in hardcover (Zondervan). The initial book, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, was named Christian Book of the Year in 2000. He also assisted Gracia Burnham, missionary survivor who endured a year of captivity with a Muslim terrorist group in the southern Philippines. That book, entitled In the Presence of My Enemies (Tyndale), made the New York Times bestseller list and won a Gold Medallion award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). Other notable titles have included a second book with Mrs. Burnham, To Fly Again (Tyndale); More than a Hobby, with Hobby Lobby founder and CEO David Green (Nelson); a book with Compassion International president Dr. Wess Stafford on the value of children, Too Small to Ignore (WaterBrook); and Every Man’s Bible (Tyndale), for which Merrill was the general editor. www.DeanMerrill.com

Ron Messelink left the business world in 1992 to pursue a call to ministry. A graduate of Grace School of Ministry, he founded Grace Life Church where he ministered for 17 years. Ron's passion is for people to know and experience the reality for Christ in you, the hope of glory. Ron currently teaches believers and churches through Ron Messelink Ministries. He is working on several books and developing a discipleship tool to help people connect and grow in the gospel of grace. Ron and his wife Joy make their home in Grand Rapids, Michigan. RonMesselink.org

John R. Miller is an ordained minister with Elim Fellowship of Lima, NY and serves as Pastor of Education with Living Word Temple of Restoration, Rochester, NY. He has a degree from Elim Bible Institute, a B.Div. (Trinity Theological Seminary), C.P.E. (University of Rochester), M.Div. (Northeastern Seminary), and Ph.D. (Regent University). He teaches at Regent University and Elim Bible Institute & College.

Ryan M. Miller is a pastor, John Maxwell certified Coach, Speaker, and Trainer, and works for a non-profit pioneering strategies for reducing multi-generational poverty, especially in rural communities. He has nearly two decades of both human service and faith community leadership. Ryan and his wife, Christy Miller, reside in the beautiful mountains of Western MD with sons Ryan and Jared.

Rev. Catherine M. Miller is a graduate of Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary’s Master of Divinity program (Boston campus) where she received the Division Honor in the area of Christian Thought (Systematic Theology). She is an ordained minister with American Baptist Churches-USA and serves as Associate Pastor for Hill Memorial Baptist Church in Allston, MA.

Gene Mills, MDiv., ThM., (as of 2001) is a PhD candidate at Florida State University. He is Senior Assistant to the editors of Church History: Studies in Christianity and Culture and Senior Pastor of Words of Life Church of God in Tallahassee, Florida.

Bev Mitchell is a retired professor of biology with nearly thirty years of research, teaching and administrative experience at a major Canadian research-intensive university. He grew up in the faith (Wesleyan) has been affiliated with Baptists and associated with two Alberta PAOC (Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada) churches for many years. He and his wife now divide their time between their home province of New Brunswick and their adopted state of Oaxaca, Mexico. He actively participates on his favourite Christian blogs (Roger Olson, Peter Enns and Scot McKnight’s Jesus Creed).

Martin Mittelstadt, M.Div. (Providence Theological Seminary, 1990), Ph.D. (Marquette University, 2000), serves as Professor of Biblical Studies at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He primarily makes his living in the Gospels and Luke-Acts (see his The Spirit and Suffering in Luke-Acts: Implications for a Pentecostal Pneumatology (Bloomsbury, 2004) and Reading Luke-Acts in the Pentecostal Tradition (CPT Press, 2010)). Ongoing interests tend to convergence around Pentecostal / Charismatic studies with a special attention to Pentecostal – Anabaptist relations (i.e. Mennocostalism), and spiritual formation. See his bio and publications on his Evangel University faculty page.

Rachel E. Mock is a writer and a mental health counselor who lives in Florida with her husband. She grew up as a missionary kid in Europe in the 1990s, and she has continued to do international mission and humanitarian work as an adult. Rachel loves to learn and write about people of other cultures. She has worked as a correspondent for The Herald of Gadsden County and has written for several other publications, including Tallahassee Woman and tallahassee.com. She blogs about her thoughts, her cultural experiences, and her spiritual journey at rachelmock.com. Twitter. Facebook. Pinterest.