Contributors
Simquily contributors offer a depth of perspective and expertise on a variety of topics regarding life, home, faith, and family. Here, we’d like to introduce you to the men and women who have generously given their time and talent to make Simquily an online quarterly that inspires and encourages.
C. F. E. Black
Ms. Black is a highschool Spanish teacher and the author of two young adult fiction novels, Mind of Mine and The Veritas Project. She seeks to shine light into the world-darkened lives of young people, whether it be in a high school classroom, a youth group Sunday school class, or a coffee shop with her computer writing her next book. Discover more at www.cfeblack.com.
Felicity Buckley
Felicity Buckley is a mother of eight and grandmother of seven. She holds a degree in Physical Therapy, served her community as alderman then mayor, and has launched The Coffee Clutch on YouTube. There, you can enjoy videos that discuss the conventional wisdom found in old sayings, idioms, and proverbs—and how they still apply to our lives.
READ: A Mother’s Reflections
Andrea Chatelain
Andrea Chatelain’s mission is to meet women in their struggles and love them forward with God’s truth. She’s a Midwest mom of three, faith and family writer/speaker at Glory-be.org, devotional writer for Our Daily Bread, and college English instructor to immigrants and refugees.
READ: Stepping Confidently into Uncomfortable Obedience // The Peaceful Home: Finding Solace in the Chaos of Everyday Life
Lisa M. Clark
Lisa reads and writes about Jesus all day long. As an editor, Lisa leads the curriculum team at Concordia Publishing House, a Christian publisher. As a writer, Lisa enjoys creating hymn texts, devotions, children’s books, novels, and more.
READ: The Fruitful Life: Patience // The Fruitful Life: Goodness
Matthew Clark
Rev. Matthew Clark serves as pastor at Ascension Lutheran Church in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to serving at Ascension Lutheran Church and Word of Life Lutheran School, he is also involved with KFUO radio AM 850, where he is co-host of “Wrestling with the Basics,” which airs on Saturday mornings at 9:05 a.m.
READ: The Fruitful Life: Faithfulness // The Fruitful Life: Gentleness
Stephanie Gray Connors
Stephanie Gray Connors is a seasoned, international speaker and the author of Love Unleashes Life: Abortion and the Art of Communicating Truth. She has given almost one thousand pro-life presentations around the world and participated in numerous debates with prominent abortion advocates. You can visit loveunleasheslife.com to learn more about Stephanie and her ministry.
READ: Standing for Life: Q&A with Pro-Life Apologist Stephanie Gray Connors
Adam Couch
Adam Couch is a veteran firefighter who started out as a volunteer firefighter in his hometown. Adam began working as a full-time firefighter/EMT in 2007 and currently holds the rank of Engineer. Throughout his career, he has worked as a paramedic, driving instructor, hazardous materials technician, and fire instructor.
READ: Winter Safety: 9 Tips from a Firefighter to Keep You and Your Home Safe this Winter
Ellen Delap
Ellen Delap is an award-winning Certified Professional Organizer recognized for her contributions in the industry and community. She is a member of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) and works with families as a Family Manager Coach. Visit Professional-Organizer.com to learn more about Ellen and her work.
READ: The Organized Life: Q&A with Certified Professional Organizer Ellen Delap // Closet by Closet: 6 Lessons I Learned While Decluttering My Home’s Hidden Spaces
Katie Faris
Katie Faris is married to Scott, and her greatest works in progress are their five children ages 3 to 14. She is the author of Loving My Children: Embracing Biblical Motherhood, and you can read more of Katie’s words on her website, katiefaris.com.
READ: Loving Our Children Biblically & Finding Joy in the Trenches of Motherhood
Ashley Fondren
Ashley Fondren is the owner of Comfort Confections, a bakery in Little Rock, Arkansas, that specializes in custom sugar cookies. Everything is made to order and made from scratch, including brownies, banana pudding, pound cake, pies, box lunches, and more.
READ: Meal Prep Made Easy // Baking with Ashley Fondren // A Step-by-Step Guide to Decorated Sugar Cookies
Eric Gledhill
Born and raised in Michigan, Pastor Eric Gledhill attended Concordia College in Ann Arbor, where he trained to be a high school teacher. After teaching and coaching for many years, he began serving youth full-time before entering seminary. He currently serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Jefferson City, Missouri.
READ: Your Story, by God: An Ecclesiastes 3 Devotion // The Fruitful Life: Love // Me, My Spouse, and God: 7 Practices to Keep God at the Center of Your Marriage
Heidi Goehmann
Heidi Goehmann is a licensed clinical social worker and mental health care provider, deaconess, writer, speaker, wife, mom, and advocate. Heidi can always be found at heidigoehmann.com, which provides resources and advocacy for mental health and genuine relationship.
READ: The Fruitful Life: Kindness // In the Word: Kindness // The Fruitful Life: Self-Control
Jana Immink
Born and raised in Heidelberg, Germany, Jana has lived and worked in various countries across Europe and the Middle East for the past fifteen years. When traveling, she loves to explore new cultures through all senses, especially by indulging in delicacies of the local cuisine.
Alexandra Kuykendall
Alex is a city girl who calls Denver home. She is a wife, mother, daughter, and friend, and author of several books, including Loving My Actual Neighbor: 7 Practices to Treasure the People Right in Front of You. Visit alexandrakuykendall.com to learn more about Alex and her work.
READ: Neighborly Love: A Conversation with Alexandra Kuykendall About Loving Our Actual Neighbors
Sarah Maxfield
Sarah is the fifth grade homeroom and fifth–eighth grade language arts teacher at Word of Life Lutheran School in St. Louis, Missouri. Before teaching at Word of Life, Sarah taught in the St. Louis Parkway School District. Sarah also serves as the school’s newspaper editor and volleyball coach.
READ: 30+ Ways to Avoid the “Summer Slide” & Keep Your Child’s Academic Skills Sharp
Beth Parker
Beth Parker is the horticulturalist for the City of Shrewsbury, a small suburban city just west of the City of St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in Horticulture, and prior to working full time in Shrewsbury, Beth had started a group in Shrewsbury called ‘Share It Shrewsbury’—a volunteer effort to beautify her city.
READ: Ready for Spring: 6 Ways to Prep Your Garden for Planting Season // Gardening 101 with Horticulturalist Beth Parker
Jackie Phillips
Jackie Phillips is a retired flight attendant who flew with American Airlines for more than forty years, beginning in 1973. She and her husband, also a retired flight attendant, live in Florida.
READ: 22 Travel Tips from a Flight Attendant: Ideas to Make Your Holiday Travels More Enjoyable
Karen Schmidt
Karen Schmidt has been an orthopedic Physical Therapist for more than 35 years. She began her career working in a private practice PT office that specialized in Sports Medicine and worked with professional athletes. Karen has continued to work in orthopedic PT settings and developed expertise in manual therapies.
Sharon Shearman
Sharon serves as Director of Family Ministry at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Des Peres, Missouri. She attended the University of Missouri—Columbia, receiving a Bachelor of Journalism degree. Sharon and her husband reside in St. Louis, MO, and are blessed to have their three children and their families also living in the St. Louis area.
Linda Shippy
With nearly twenty years of experience in professional development and curriculum and assessment programs, and twenty-five years of classroom teaching experience, Linda most recently served as Coordinator of Core Academic Standards at the University of Central Missouri Regional Professional Development Center in Warrensburg, MO. Linda recently retired but continues to pour into the educational community through volunteer and contract work.
READ: 30+ Ways to Avoid the “Summer Slide” & Keep Your Child’s Academic Skills Sharp
Steele Shippy
Steele is a political professional based in the Midwest, but his greatest joys come from his roles as husband and dad. Steele grew up on his family’s farm outside Kansas City, Missouri, and enjoys showing his wife and sons what country living is all about whenever they have a chance to visit the farm.
Kim Underwood
Kim is the Afternoon Drive co-host on Joy FM, the number one Christian radio station in St. Louis, Missouri. In her time off, Kim enjoys mentoring younger women. She was born in the Pacific Northwest and has lived in a lot of places between here and there, but after nearly twenty years Kim calls St. Louis home.
READ: Joy to the World: How a St. Louis Radio Station is Sharing Joy (And How You Can Too)