Hannah K. - began this site as a personal blog, but came to feel that it needed a more vast reach and purpose. As a result, Her Spacious Soul, a collaborative effort for uplifting, encouraging and challenging young women, was born. Hannah is a passionate 20-something and college student. She recently interned in Japan through Osaka University, and will be doing research this year in Southeast Asia. Her hope is to learn to speak in words that others can understand, and to be a friend and mentor to those studying the English language. Hannah is also enthusiastic about art and music, and believes that entertainment is an area where far too many Christians feel the need to withdraw. She desires that others will get to know the God of mercy and justice, truth and compassion.
Some things you should know about Hannah include that she is a people-lover. Inspiring people motivates her, and if she has made your day, you’ve probably made hers. In short, she is a visual thinker, an optimist, and in love with Christ. Languages, music, traveling, analyzing films, and giving speeches are all things that make her happy. But the true source of joy in her life is, unapologetically, Jesus Christ (and her strength when that joy comes less easily).
Sonja - is a student at Indiana Wesleyan University, working towards a degree in Psychology with a minor in Intercultural Studies. She writes at her own blog, and doesn’t have a Twitter account… yet. Sonja lives for heart-to-hearts and hearing people’s stories, and is passionate about proclaiming wholeness and freedom in Christ. She has a heart for justice and a love of mercy, and is trying to discover what it means to walk humbly. Bit by bit, God is revealing to her a calling that involves grad school, becoming a licensed counselor, and helping to break the chains of human trafficking.
Among other things, Sonja is a youngest child, a people-and-ideas-person, a creative thinker, a missionary kid, a vegetarian, a feminist, a drinker of coffee and tea, a wearer of sweaters, and a reader of books. She has a competitive streak and a Canadian accent, and often sings what she’s doing. Music and literature are her favorites. She’s also a fan of outdoor adventures, ethnic food, leather-bound journals, quality conversation, spoken-word poetry, playgrounds, editing papers, sharing life, and encountering the Lord in unlikely places.
Sarah - Sarah is a twenty year old college student with a penchant for mischief and wanderlust. Currently she is in her junior year at UNC Greensboro, pursuing a degree in Communication Studies, but once the year wraps up she’ll be headed out once again. Trading her senior year for grand adventure, she’ll be going out in July 2013 to 11 different countries in 11 months on a mission trip known as The World Race . While the idea of leaving school and walking into this unknown territory with nothing but a hiking backpack and tons of faith is a terrifying idea, she is ready and anxious to see how the Holy Spirit is going to show up throughout the year. Through struggling with self image issues herself through her teenage years, she has found that something God really placed within her was a desire to see women of all ages learn to walk in the authority Christ has given them and own their identity as His holy, chosen daughters. She is also especially passionate about human trafficking, Southeast Asia, and holds a special place in her heart for Kyampisi, Uganda.
When Sarah isn’t busy with academia, she can be found perched in the branches of a good tree with her ENO hammock, serving as a leader for Cru on her campus, and single handedly devouring a 3 pound bag of Haribo gummy bears. She frequently posts on her personal blog, as well as keeping up in the Twitter world (here) as though people truly care to read her 140 character thoughts.
Charity - is currently employed in the full-time business of writing; for work, for fun, and for her friends. She lives in a small 100 year old house whose walls all seem to point in different direction, spends her time consoling a temperamental, cranky half-Siamese cat, is obsessed with costume dramas and literary characters, and is trying to figure out how to give over her perfectionism to the Lord.
When she is not arguing the finer merits of Sherlock Holmes, she can usually be found giggling as she tears through Terry Pratchett novels at the speed of light, or tearing her hair out as she argues with her own literary characters whether or not they are going to be obedient to her pen. For fun, she edits and manages an online literary magazine for young women, Femnista, and occasionally rants about stuff on her blog.
Mark - is our guy contributor. He is a student at Chabot College in California, where he is studying Early Childhood Education and loves working with kids! Before he became a Christian, he was a professional figure skater for 8 years, but after God entered his life, his life as well as his passions changed dramatically. Since then, he believes he has been called to be a worship pastor. In keeping with this desire, he enjoys playing the guitar and singing, and is happy leading big or small groups of people.
As of right now, Mark is doing a 1-year discipleship training internship at his church, and hopes to be eligible at the end of his training to become a worship pastor. When he’s not busy, he enjoys sitting by the lake reading a book, playing the guitar, and singing or writing songs. He also likes long conversations with friends over coffee, likes to stay active, and thinks Australian accents are neat. Lastly, he loves Jesus Christ, and feels that without Him, he would be nothing. His greatest desire is to exalt Christ. You can visit his tumblr here.
Alyssa - is a student at Florida Christian College, where she is studying Elementary Education and Bible. She aspires to many things and because of her indecisive nature, can never seem to narrow down her passions (or anything else for that matter). Though vocationally she aims to become a teacher, her heart is for the lost nations, art, worship ministry, and the Church. After coming to Christ at sixteen, Alyssa started on the journey of discovering what it truly means to fall in love with God and bring hope to a broken, fallen world.
Many people tend to refer to Alyssa as zealous, artistic, introverted, complicated, and horribly awkward. In addition to these things, she is also a coffee addict, lover of aged books (and their divine aroma), and suffers from a severe case of wanderlust. Alyssa’s interests (and occasional obsessions) include, but are not limited to – folk music, cardigans, free writing, Christmas lights, coffee shoppes, thrifting, classic literature, journals, poetry, history, photography, TOMS, theology, classical music, the night sky, sunrises, Africa, and cats. Oh, and Jesus. She thinks He’s a pretty cool guy, too. For a full glimpse inside the inner workings of Alyssa’s spastic head and heart, please visit her blog, Sacred Intent.
Rachel - lives in Toronto, Ontario where she works for Canada’s leading educational publisher. A Pentecostal Minister’s daughter, Rachel speaks fluent “Christianese” (read: she knows who Michael W. Smith is, what the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is and she can recite a lot of “Veggie Tales” episodes) and loves exploring how her views on women’s roles in the church and society are met with current practices in the Evangelical world. She always sees the world through Christian-coloured glasses informed by a lifetime of integration in Church culture (which she sometimes pokes harmless fun at).
Rachel can sing every part of ‘Les Miserables’ from start to finish (but not simultaneously), she is a lifelong Sherlockian, frequent traveller and boring bookworm. She probably should have lived 160 years ago. She rambles loquaciously at A Fair Substitute for Heaven.
Baylee C. - is a midwestern native from Texas, although she gets defensive if you point out her accent. You could say she dresses like a granny, as many have, but she doesn’t mind. When she’s not listening to Johnny Cash, she’s likely to have a camera/pencil/glass of sweet tea in hand. She attempts to play the piano, guitar, and mandolin, and loves her church choir. After she finishes her last year as a homeschooler, she’d like to pursue a Biblical Counseling degree and become a wedding photographer. Baylee also blogs at To Deliver Grace.
Hannah L. - Biography coming soon!
Guest Contributors – Meredith King
