Beth Beechy lives in the suburbs of Winesburg, Ohio. She married her high school sweetheart, Brian, in 1983 and they have five delightful children ranging in age from twenty three to eight. A mostly stay-at-home mom (her hubby would say she has too many 100 mile a day trips to make that statement completely true) she works part-time as a bookkeeper for a local business and spends the rest of her time enjoying being available for her family, friends, and Circle of Friends Ministry. Beth is a founding board member of COF, and gives her time to the prayer ministry, Girls Night Out events, and the COF worship team.

Peg Beechy lives in Winesburg, Ohio with her husband Rick and their four children Stacy, Audra, Mariah, and Joel. She is a member of The Circle of Friends Ministry Board of Directors and also a member of New Pointe Community Church. Peg works part-time at The Butterchurn Kitchenwares at Walnut Creek Cheese and also enjoys traveling, doing yard work, baking, and being together with family and friends.

Angie Brillhart is a publicist with Barbour Publishing, Inc. Her duties include media relations, author relations, coordinating promotional materials for authors and book signings, developing and implementing new publicity campaigns with Barbour’s marketing team, and working with blog tour alliances for book promotion. A current member of the Public Relations Society of America, Angie enjoys representing Barbour authors and likes to hear why they write what they write. Her interests include networking, reading, spending time with her family, and volunteering her time for several nonprofit organizations. Angie and her husband, Scott, live in central Ohio and enjoy working with the youth at their church.

Tanya Brillhart is wife and stay-at-home mom who home schools her 17 year-old daughter, and cheers on her 19 year old son who is in his second year of college. She has a blog that she writes on daily at http://chocolatechic.wordpress.com.  She enjoys photography, baking, knitting and mentoring others.

 Wanda E. Brunstetter enjoys writing about the Amish because they live a peaceful, simple life—something she says we all need in this day and age. Using the knowledge her Amish friends have shared with her, Wanda has also produced several children’s titles in the Rachel Yoder—Always Trouble Somewhere series, an Amish cookbook, and a devotional collection entitled The Simple Life, which was released in July 2010 and celebrates the virtues of the Amish lifestyle. Wanda and her husband are members of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians. Wanda is also a member of the North American Association of Ventriloquists, American Christian Fiction Writers,the Romance Writers of America, The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and the Northwest Christian Writers Association. For more information, visit her Web site at www.wandabrunstetter.com.

As an award-winning author, Mary Connealy lives on a Nebraska farm with her husband and is the mother of four grown daughters. She writes plays and shorts stories and is the author of the Lassoed in Texas series. July 2009 brings the release of her historical fiction novel Montana Rose, the first in her Montana Marriages series. Also an avid blogger, Mary is a GED instructor by day and an author by night. For more information on Mary Connealy, visit her Web site at www.maryconnealy.com .

Andrea Erb lives in Mechanicsville Virginia with her husband, Courtney and three sons. She attended Ashland University and was a Home Economics teacher for ten years. Andrea was on the original board of Circle of Friends and continued to serve until moving to Virginia in 2006. She enjoys interior design, baking, and spending time with family and friends.

Marlena Graves received her Master’s of Divinity from Northeastern Seminary in Rochester, NY. She and her husband are the former Youth Directors at Rochester Christian Reformed Church. In addition, she was the creator, writer, producer, and host for Real-Radio on 102.7 FM The Light. Currently, she is a Resident Director at Cedarville University where she lives on campus with her husband, Shawn, and daughter, Iliana. Marlena regularly speaks to college students and congregations about spiritual formation. In addition, she is a freelance writer. You can find her blog at: http://www.hispaththroughthewilderness.blogspot.com/

Jocelyn Hamsher is a pastor’s wife and mother of 3 sons. She loves to laugh, drink coffee and spend time with family and friends. She is a board certified biblical counselor, licensed chaplain, speaker, author and bible teacher. She enjoys serving on the Leadership team at Circle of Friends Ministries. One of her favorite things in all the world is witnessing the “light bulb” moment as women discover the truths and treasures found in God’s Word. Jocelyn and Bruce live with their sons in Sugarcreek, Ohio.  

Nikki Hamsher lives in Baltic, Ohio, with her husband, Mike, and their daughter, Daisy. She is a school librarian and loves to read, write and cook. Nikki is active in her church, serving on various committees and teaching adult Sunday school.

Missy Horsfall, a pastor’s wife for over twenty-five years, is a Bible Study teacher and public speaker, as well as a published magazine and greeting card writer. She is co-author of the novel Double Honor and her articles and inspirational words have been published in Joyful Woman and DaySpring Cards. Missy is privileged to serve on the board of Circle of Friends Ministries overseeing their writing ministries and producing and co-hosting their radio programs. She and her husband, Ned, live in Sugarcreek, Ohio and have three married children and two adorable grandchildren.

Sarah Hostetler grew up in Strasburg, Ohio. She became a Christian at a young age and has been involved with church her whole life. After marrying her husband Travis she moved to Apple Creek Ohio where she had the privilege of working with the youth at Fairlawn Mennonite church. Two years after getting married Sarah and Travis moved to Sarasota Florida and currently reside in Huntersville, North Carolina. Through all the decisions of relocating and trying to figure out God’s plan for their life, Sarah started writing and studying God’s word more in depth.

Emily Jones is a nineteen-year-old first year student at Butler University, where she is earning a Communication Disorders major and a Religions minor. She hopes to pursue a career in speech pathology specifically to develop door-opening relationships with those who are hearing-impaired. Her heart is to glorify Christ and love His people as they deserve to be loved. She is blessed with an insatiable passion for Him, one for which she does not accept credit!

Faith Jones is a Professional Clinical Counselor and Licensed Social Worker (LPCC-S, LSW) and Director of New Beginnings Christian Counseling, Sugarcreek Office. Faith and her husband Robert have been married for forty-one years and have three adult children and one grandson. She is a member of Winfield United Methodist Church. Faith is on the leadership team of Circle of Friends and feels privileged to partner with them through their counseling ministry. Her hobbies include mission trips, choir and church activities, antique hunting and playing with her grandson.

Randi Klein does God’s work in the world by helping military families.  She is the Executive Director of Dolphin Scholarship Foundation and has been a volunteer mentor and spouse educator to Navy spouses.  This is a natural fit for Randi, since she has been a “submariner’s wife” since 1978.  Moving to a new neighborhood in fall 2005, Randi helped organize the East Beach Bible Study Group.  The group has been proactive in the community, organizing Easter sunrise services and children’s activities.

 

Tammy Koser loves being the wife of Rick, to whom she’s been married for twenty-seven years. They have three children: son Nate, who is married to Kristy, daughter Kaley, and son Josiah. She loves to travel and see the world and different cultures, but also loves their home in Berlin Ohio. She is passionate about children's ministry, the church, friends, her kids, Bible study and prayer. She loves the country of Nepal, and would love to return to the country where she and her family served doing medical mission work. Tammy is on the board of Circle of Friends Ministries.

Brenda Miller is a stay at home Mom who lives in Berlin, Ohio. She and her husband Brian have been married sixteen years and they have two daughters, Brittany, who is twelve and Brooke, who is eight. Brenda has an associate degree in secretarial science from Cincinnati Bible College. She has served on various committees and positions over the years at Walnut Creek Mennonite Church. Brenda attends a moms’ prayer group and a women's accountability group. She also volunteers at the Walnut Hills Retirement Community.

Janine Miller grew up in Holmes County, Ohio. She currently home schools her children, ages five to fifteen and works part-time from her home as a church secretary. Janine and her husband of twenty-three years live in southern Ohio with their four children.

Tammy Miller is a stay-at-home mother and a freelance writer. She is currently involved at Malone University as President of the Executive Alumni Board and the Multicultural Alumni Association. Tammy participates and assists in the leadership of the T.A.P.S. Intercessory Prayer team at her church (The House of the Lord in Akron, Ohio). She has been happily married to her husband Tracy for eighteen years. They have two wonderful sons, Joah and Jordan who never cease in making them laugh with joy. She currently resides in Canton, Ohio. Tammy truly believes the most enjoyable thing in this life is to minister and serve before the Father and His people. Writing about Him and all He has done is a privilege and an honor.

Suzanne Nolt has been married to her wonderful husband Shawn for almost nine years.  They have three girls, Alyssa (seven) Courtney (five) and Emberlynn (three) and had twin boys, David and Benjamin who went to be with the Lord soon after they were born. The Nolts left Ohio to move to Hesston, Kansas while Shawn completes the Pastoral Ministries Program at Hesston College. She enjoys teaching aerobic classes, being a group leader for a Women's ministry and leading songs on Wednesday's for their children's ministry.  As a family they enjoy camping, biking and taking walks together.

Pam Pribanick was raised in a Christian home and thanks her parents and grandparents for teaching her the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ. Pam and her husband, Matt, have been married for thirty years and praise the Lord for blessing them with two beautiful children, Matti age twenty, and Milan age eighteen. Pam has learned that while God does not promise a life free from sadness or disappointments, she can hold onto His Word for He keeps His promises.  Her faith in Him has sustained her during the most difficult times and she cannot imagine life without Him.

 

Julia Proper resides in Millersburg, Ohio with her husband Mike. They have been married twenty nine years and have two grown children who have blessed them with three incredibly sweet grandchildren as well as one whom she looks forward to meeting in Heaven. Julia's life has been impacted by her relationship with Christ and her involvement in a Covenant Discipleship group and Millersburg United Methodist Church, where she currently teaches Sunday school and facilitates the prayer ministry. As a secretary at West Holmes Middle School, Julia uses her gifts of encouragement and organization. In her free time she enjoys reading and being with her family.

Becki Reiser has been a wife to Jeff for twenty-seven years, and is mother to three grown boys and one daughter. After the murder of their seventeen-year-old daughter in 2000, Jeff and Becki began a ministry of traveling the country sharing their testimony of forgiveness. Becki is writing an inspirational book about their experience, and is a contributing author in Standard Publishing’s Devotions magazine.

Dayna Schrock lives in Walnut Creek, Ohio with her husband Michael and is mother to three beautiful children, Lauren, twelve, Hayley, nine, and Tyler, six. . She is secretary at the Berlin Mennonite Church and enjoys stamping, scrapbooking, and attending her children's school and sporting events. She especially enjoys being active in the church's drama ministry, as well as women's ministry.

Melanie Slabaugh is an English teacher at Hiland High School in Berlin, OH.  She is a graduate of Cedarville University, where she studied literature, drama, and music. 

Emily Smith lives in Greenfield , Indiana with her wonderful husband Eric.  Married for two years, the only children they currently have are four-legged.  Emily works for a home health agency and is a weekly blogger for the Circle of Friends website.  She loves reading, cooking, and spending time with family.

Elaine Starner has been given a great gift: time to write. Her own business of commercial copywriting is balanced with inspirational writing -- for her own soul as much as for her readers’. She enjoys cooking and stitching, walking and friends, puzzles and reading, early morning light and snowy days. She also admits to being a Maine-iac. Whenever funds and time allow, she’ll be exploring and writing about Maine and its people, a place she’s found fascinating and inspiring. She takes Jeremiah 17:7-8 as a vision for her own life.

Joyce Strong is an author and international conference speaker whose passion is to inspire wholeness in lives, relationships, and leadership. Her books include Journey to Joy;Leading With Passion and Grace;Instruments for His Glory; Lambs on the Ledge; Caught in the Crossfire; Of Dreams and Kings and Mystical Things; and A Dragon, A Dreamer, and the Promise Giver. Visit her online at www.joycestrongministries.org.

Janet Stutzman is a wife to Jeff and mother to Jared, Jen and Jessica. She loves being a mom, and talking with friends. Janet is involved with women’s ministry in her church and writes devotionals for the Circle of Friends website. For relaxation Janet likes to camp and boat in the summer and anxiously awaits the first snow each winter.

Suzie Thomas serves Malone University as director of university relations where she is also the editor of The Malone Magazine. She received a bachelor’s degree in education from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio and a master’s degree in communication from Regent University, Virginia Beach, Virginia. Suzie is author of the book Read It Again Bible Stories: The Miracles of Jesus and has also written and produced radio ‘spots’ as well as hosted programs for WOAC-TV and WNPQ-FM. She is a frequent emcee and speaker and is accredited through Public Relations Society of America. Suzie and her husband Jim reside in Canton and have two grown sons.

Lisa Troyer enjoys spending time with her husband Bob, and their children Jillian and Christian. Pursuing her passion for women’s ministry, she has been involved, via Circle of Friends Ministries, Inc., in the outreach and encouragement of women in her region for over a decade. Since the debut of her program on Moody Radio, there has been a steady increase of invitations to lead worship and speak at various women’s ministry events. Lisa’s recent single, FOREVER, with the Circle of Friends Worship Team, reached the Top 10 on the Christian Radio Weekly Chart in December 2010.

M. L. (MaryLu) Tyndall dreamt of seafaring adventures during her childhood days in Florida. Her love of history and passion for story drew her to create the popular Legacy of the King’s Pirates series. MaryLu is currently writing her Charles Towne Belles series, in which book two, The Blue Enchantress, releases in August 2009. Writing for more than twenty years, she lives on California’s coast with her husband and six children, where her imagination still surges with the sea. For more information, visit her website at www.mltyndall.com.

Vicki VanNatta was born in Holmes County, Ohio in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country. Raised in a Mennonite church, life choices left her broken and hopeless by the age of thirty; but God reached out and drew her back to Him. With a renewed commitment to love and serve Christ combined with a godly mentor, regular Bible study and Biblical Christian counseling, Vicki’s life and hope were restored. She is married – the second time – for twenty-three years and has two adult daughters, a son-in-law, and a first grandson due to arrive Spring 2009. Currently she makes her living as a marketing coordinator but there is a writer inside, just waiting for its chance.

Carolee Walker was raised in a Christian home and has been involved in church from a young age, serving as youth director, song leader, Sunday school teacher and soloist. She does music ministry in area churches, has been awarded an honorable mention for a short story for Guidepost Magazine and loves to write poetry. Carolee and her late husband Doug have two sons, a daughter -in-law and three precious grandchildren.

Elizabeth Ward lives in Elida, Ohio with her husband and three boys. She is a God-dependant home-schooling mom, Bible teacher, and mentor. Elizabeth is co-director of the Elida Teens for Christ high school chapter, a volunteer Bible teacher at the local juvenile detention center, and is currently a host for Children’s Medical Missions, a ministry that provides free medical care to children around the world. Her top two favorites include, a quiet afternoon in the Word of God and spending intentional time together with her husband and children.

Beth Wehr lives in Evans City, Pennsylvania with her husband, Rob. They have been married for sixteen years and enjoy participating in Civil War reenactments together. Beth works as a secretary a local construction equipment dealership. She is also the organist at Harmony=Zelienople United Methodist Church. In addition to her love of music, Beth enjoys writing and sharing with others what God has done in her life, especially how He brought her through recent brain tumor surgery.

Susan Koppes Yoder is the mother of three children and married to Randy Yoder. They reside in Winesburg, Ohio where she stays busy as a stay-at-home mom. Her oldest son Zach is a soldier in the US Army and travels abroad. Her daughter Eva Marie passed away August 2007 at the age of thirteen. She fought a long courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis. Her youngest child is Christian, who is twelve years old and also suffers with Cystic Fibrosis. Susan loves her family and feels blessed that God has entrusted her to care for them.