Team
Jeff Smith – Organizational Systems Guy
Jeff has taught in seven different education environments, both public and private. His teaching assignments have spanned third grade through adult learners, encompassing mathematics, history, literature, theology and philosophy. He has coached basketball for 12 years and is currently the middle school mathematics coach in Issaquah School District, representing that district in the Microsoft Math Partnership. Jeff was also the associate pastor of Calvary Chapel San Juan in Friday Harbor, WA for two years.
Jeff is currently studying in the Organizational Systems and Renewal program (www.osr-nw.org) at Seattle University (www.seattleu.edu). In June of 2009, he will be graduating with a Masters degree, specializing in organizational guiding through authentic conversations. He holds BA in Mathematics from California State University, San Bernardino as well as an MA in Education from Chapman University, but his wife reports that this 3rd degree, from Seattle University will be his last.
Jim Henderson – Religious Pioneer
Jim leads Off The Map a community of spiritual anthropologists dedicated to spreading Otherlyness the spirituality of serving. Off The Map started in the garage of Jim’s brain in 2000.Their first project led to a book called Evangelism Without Additives and an organization called Doable Evangelism
Jim was confused by the fact that sinners seemed to like Jesus but didn’t like his people so he decided to ask why. This led to him paying Outsiders to come to church and offer their critique. A friend who was aware of Jim’s odd habit noticed that an atheist was “selling his soul on EBay” and encouraged Jim to get in on the bidding. Off The Map won that auction for $504.
Jim and Casper Go to Church was published in 2007 and Jim and Matt Casper began speaking and explaining their unusual project and friendship. Jim lives in the Seattle with Barbara to whom he’s grateful for staying married to him for a really long time.
Rose Madrid-Swetman – Missional Pastor
Rose is a missional pastor who co-pastors Vineyard Community Church in Shoreline, WA with her husband, Rich. She is the Executive Director of Turning Point, a missional group which partners with local agencies to serve low-income families in the greater Seattle area. She is an Area Pastoral Care Leader in the Northhwest Region of VineyardUSA. Rose is currently pursuing her Doctor of Ministry from Bakke Graduate University in Seattle, WA focused on Transformational Leadership for the Global City.
Tim Soerens has a B.A. in Rhetorical Sciences from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Masters of Divinity from Mars Hill Graduate School, Seattle. He is the founder of an innovative church called Dust that brings together service, spirituality, and relationship in a way of life that seeks to join God’s dream of reconciliation. It is located in a rapidly growing and diverse downtown neighborhood of Seattle called South Lake Union.
Tim currently serves as vice-president on the Cascade Neighborhood Council, South Lake Union Friends and Neighbors Planning and Policy Committee, founding member of Lake Union Opportunity Alliance and the Cascade Farmers Market. Tim is married to Maria-Jose Soerens and lives in South Lake Union, Seattle.
Tyler Mahoney – Theology/Roman Catholic Evangelical Hybrid
Tyler combines emerging philosophy with Roman Catholicism, to create a kind of hybrid faith. Tyler came to faith between two worlds, between evangelicalism and Roman Catholicism—he had a Roman Catholic Young Life leader and was catechized in both traditions. A practicing Roman Catholic, Tyler works in evangelical ministry, mainly for Young Life and Off The Map. He worked in Alaska as a National Park Service ranger for four years, giving presentations and guided tours on geology, wildlife, and history.
Tyler also excells in photojournalism, working at the Anchorage Daily News at the age of sixteen. As a college freshman, he became the photo editor of the Seattle University newspaper. In 2004, Tyler interned for Mike Judge, the director of Office Space, Beavis and Butthead, and King of The Hill. In June 2009, Tyler will receive his Bachelor of Arts in Theology and Religious Studies from Seattle University with a special emphasis in Social Justice and Church History.
Helen Mildenhall – Almost-Atheist Advisor
Helen is website manager for Off The Map. She was a Christian for several years, involved in church and Bible studies. Helen still has a heart for the church although she’s now a practicing almost-atheist.
Helen lives in Illinois with her husband and two children. She enjoys music, photography and people (most of the time).
Guest writers
We’ll be featuring articles from a number of spiritual practitioners as well as our regular blogging team.
