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Tom grew up in Pennsylvania as a part of a Christian family. His father was a church planter and Tom's experience as a part of a church planting family greatly influenced the rest of his vocational journey. It was a Johnson alumnus who led the church he attended in Pennsylvania and planted the idea of Tom attending Johnson. He points to Stan McDaniel and Ron Wheeler as two influential faculty members in his time at Johnson. After his Johnson years, he wanted to go to seminary but had difficulty with the finances. He ended up working in a contracting business and found that he was good at it. This launched him into bi-vocational ministry. Listen to this episode to see how the Lord used these early year experiences to set him on his professional trajectory.

Adam and Sara are involved in ministry together in Somerset, Kentucky, working as caretakers for The Close retreat center. Adam was born in central Georgia but was constantly on the move because his dad was a preacher. Sara was raised in east central Indiana. Their journey in life includes the blessing of two sons and ministries in North Carolina, Georgia, Indiana, Connecticut, and ultimately the secluded retreat of rural Kentucky. Learn more about the journey of the Colters from birth, to faith, to Johnson, at Johnson, and in life and ministry beyond Johnson.

It is a pretty rare thing for the Sojournal podcast to interview such a young graduate. However, Hanna's story shows us how God uses human creativity to bring glory to Himself. Hannah serves as a park ranger and mural artist in Columbus, Ohio, where she grew up as the youngest of six siblings. Learn about Hannah's creative journey and interest in nature through today's interview conducted in November of 2025.

If you have been a part of the Restoration Movement over the course of the last 50 years, then there is a very good chance that your life has been touched by the work of today's guest, Larry Green. A native of Washington, Indiana, Larry graduated from Johnson University in 1968 and promptly embarked on a ministerial and vocational journey that includes participation in the creation of the modern youth ministry movement and Christ in Youth. Today, Larry serves Johnson University as the Special Assistant to the President for Generosity. It is Larry's second stint as an employee of the University. Now is your opportunity to get to know this tremendous friend of the University and servant of the kingdom.

John just retired from 31+ years of ministry in Pennsylvania and is enjoying retired life in Gibsonville, North Carolina, with his wife, Arlene ('85, Beech). John and Arlene have two daughters, both of whom attended Johnson University. However, John's history with Johnson stretches more than 50 years into the past. The youngest of seven children, John's earliest memories are as a youth in First Christian Church of Pennington Gap, Virginia. Part of John's story includes a connection to Johnson that pre-dated his birth. Listen in to hear the story of John's sojourn.

Maddie Tate is a Missouri native who found her way toJohnson because of a desire to focus on discovering who God wanted her to be apart from her close-knit community. The daughter of an Ozark graduate mother and Anabaptist father, Maddie has both the Restoration Movement and modern Mennonite influences in her background. As an adolescent, Maddie found joy in serving the Lord through serving others. This joy of service shifted her academic aspirations from politics to ministry. Johnson offered Maddie both the Christian environment for growth and room to stretch her wings and find her identity apart from her central Missouri community. This is the story of Maddie’s sojourn.

A 2015 Johnson University Tennessee graduate, Dylan now works for the University as an enrollment counselor and adjunct faculty member. He met and married Brianna while a student at Johnson and they recently celebrated their 10th anniversary. Dylan is a family man, an avid reader, and Liverpool soccer fan. Learn more about Dylan in today's Sojournal interview.

Amare Redden is a first-generation student at Johnson whose journey in life has been fraught with strife and uncertainty. However, she always had a vision for more even when she didn't believe in herself. Thanks in part to the assistance she receives from the First Generation Student Assistance Account, Amare has found a pathway to higher education that would have otherwise been out of her reach. This is Amare's story.

Nahom relied on soccer to open doors of educational opportunity here in the United States. What started at a private secondary school in Kentucky turned into a 4-year academic journey at Johnson that will pave the way to financial independence. Nahom is a first generation student and this is his story.

Every Giving Tuesday, Johnson University focuses on raising funds to support the academic efforts of first generation students. These students face a unique set of challenges that make the support of the First Generation Student Assistance Fund important so that these first generation students can survive and thrive in college. Brooke Williams is in her Junior year and, in addition to majoring in Bible and Theology, has added Business Administration and Accounting to her academic journey. She is from a small mining town in Pennsylvania and anticipates graduating in the spring of 2027. Learn more about Brooke through this episode and join the Johnson University initiative to support the academic journey of first generation students (https://www.johnsonalumni.org/g/giving-tuesday-2025).

Nathan (’11) Shedd, a native of Straughn, Indiana, is an Assistant Professor of New Testament at Johnson University. He is married to Kristen (’12) Shedd who also works for Johnson in the Enrollment Services office. Nathan discovered his passion for theological learning and educating early in his undergraduate journey and followed that passion to his current vocation. Learn more about Nathan’s journey to faith, to Johnson, and to his vocational calling by listening to this week’s podcast.

After spending a year in intercultural service in Italy, Ross and Megan (Brock, '07) Najmon were blessed with the opportunity to play a support role in a variety of global ministries through their service with Team Expansion. Ross works with International Services doing all that he can to support those working on the field of global ministry so that those workers can focus on their respective areas of ministry.

Though officially a member of the class of 2000, Troy vehemently claims the class of 1999 as his own since only one class separated him from his intended graduating class. Married to Kelly, a high school friend, Troy has three grown children. Troy and Kelly live in Bloomfield, Indiana, where Troy serves as the Senior Pastor at Cincinnati Christian Church. Troy has served ministries in Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Indiana over the course of his 27+ years of ministry. He is also the anonymous author of a book about being fired in ministry. Join us in learning about Troy's journey in ministry and life through this episode of the Sojournal Podcast.

Don retired in 2020 after a 30+ year tenure in church ministry at Capital Area Christian Church of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. In his retirement, Don has shifted his focus to helping churches and nonprofits with principles of strategic planning and leadership. His book, Lead Like a Bodyguard, undergirds this focus as Don uses the life and ministry of Nehemiah to encourage church leaders toward lives of inspiration and perseverance. Don is a widower having lost his wife, Gayle (Nevel, '82) to pancreatic cancer in 2018. This episode reveals Don's journey through the ups and downs of life and ministry.

Bill joined the Johnson University staff in 2011 and has held a couple roles leading up to his current position as professor of Worship and Theology. Betsy (Pruett, '03) is from Indiana and has been a part of the Johnson community for many years, including a few as an employee in our Admissions Office. She currently serves as a librarian for Sevier County Schools.