The Two Cities Team

John Anthony Dunne (aka Johnny Pepper) is currently a PhD Candidate at the University of St Andrews (Scotland) studying under Professor N. T. Wright (see Academia.edu profile). John was born and raised in Las Vegas, NV and later studied Biblical literature at Biola University (’08) and Talbot School of Theology (’10, ’11). He has been published in Trinity Journal (Vol 32.1), Westminster Theological Journal (Vol 73.2 & 74.1), Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society (Vol 55.1), and Lexham Bible Dictionary; has forthcoming publications with Journal for the Study of the New Testament (Vol 35.4), Mohr Siebeck (WUNT 2; 2013) and Scottish Journal of Theology; and has also written book reviews for Themelios and elsewhere. His current doctoral research is on Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, and he’s writing a book on Alcohol in the Bible for Zondervan and a book on Esther for Wipf and Stock. He is passionate about teaching biblical languages, hermeneutics, and exegesis; and engaging in interfaith dialogues with Latter-day Saints (Mormons). His hobbies include: strumming the guitar, listening to classic metal bands, playing sports, cheering on the SF 49ers and the SF Giants, going snowboarding, reading Harry Potter, watching LOST, and enjoying American craft beer. John can be reached at jad22@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Tanner Gish is currently a student of New Testament studies at the Talbot School of Theology, and a graduate of Biola University with a B.A. in Biblical Studies and a B.S. in International Business. His academic ambitions are to be equipped for a future in either teaching/ seminary ministry, or in academic leadership and administration, with the desire to serve the growing international church in the development and deployment of its future pastors, leaders, and missionaries. Tanner currently resides in Whittier, CA, serving his community as an assistant branch manager at a commercial bank. He also serves as coordinator of outreach and evangelism at Whittier Hills Baptist Church-Uptown. Tanner’s academic interest lie in the areas of andragogy, homiletics, biblical counseling, spiritual disciplines, New Testament use of the Old Testament, global missions strategy, global economics, leadership, strategic management, and language studies. Tanner grew up in the greater Sacramento area, and for enjoyment, he loves the outdoors, Crossfit, sports, traveling, teaching, and intentional time with friends. Tanner can be reached at tanner.j.gish@biola.edu.

Bryan Magaña has a B.S. in English (Creative Writing), an M.A. in English (Literature), a full-time job in public relations, and the curious gift of singleness. He leads worship at his church in northern Utah and has written/recorded six albums, including a 10-song set based on the Song of Solomon. Bryan’s hobbies include hiking, eating out and watching TV shows about the paranormal. His personal studies center on the gospel as it relates to reformed theology, art and culture. He can be reached at kindasortayeahnotreally@gmail.com.

Carolyn Thomas grew up in Florida, and moved to California to go to college. She graduated from Torrey Honors Institute and Biola University with a B.A. degree in Sociology. She is interested in literature, child development, liturgical worship, environmental stewardship, and mental health issues. She currently lives with her husband in Whittier, CA and works full-time as a nanny for three amazing kids. She spends her spare time reading, recycling, and recruiting members for Dumbledore’s Army. 

Ryan M currently resides in Orlando Florida with his wife Leah where he works for a financial services company. Besides work, Ryan is involved at his home church, Celebration Community Church, where he helps with the children’s ministry and plans to begin teaching adult classes on missions. He graduated from Biola University with a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies. Ryan and Leah are Pioneers missionaries who are currently preparing to join a mission field in New York City during July of 2013. When they get there, they will be in charge of evangelizing and planting house churches among Muslims who are either international students or permanent immigrants. Additionally, he is considering working on his M.A. at Westminster Theological Seminary once he moves to New York. Hobbies include reading and the outdoors.

Matt Wilcoxen is a PhD candidate in systematic theology at Charles Sturt University in Sydney, Australia. He is writing a thesis on Karl Barth’s understanding of time and eternity. He also serves university students at Robert Menzies College, an Anglican residential college located at Macquarie University. Matt received a BA in Biblical and Theological Studies from Biola University (2008) and an MA in Theology from Talbot School of Theology (2010). During his time at Biola and Talbot, Matt met and married Annie. From 2007-2010 Matt was a fulltime high school pastor at a church in Long Beach. Besides studying theology and philosophy, Matt’s interests include literature, coffee, beer, and labrador retrievers. Matt keeps a personal blog at Canon and Creed.

Kevin Collier is a disciple of the Risen Lord, husband, father, and AWANA Clubber of the Year 1991. After doing three years hard labor at Biola University, he went east to Chicago and the nearby Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has the pleasure of serving with Agape Chicago, a church plant in the city’s most diverse neighborhood. He “plays” guitar, enjoys historical Jesus studies, has the Spanish reading level of a 1 year old, and is slowly learning what a “family man” is.

Carrie Allen is currently a student at the University of California at Berkeley where she is studying for a Masters Degree in Social Welfare. Before coming to the Bay Area she was born and raised in Los Angeles, California where she studied Theology at Biola University and Fuller Theological Seminary. Carrie was involved in youth and women’s ministry for many years, and is currently working with UC Berkeley undergraduates alongside “Cru at Cal”. Carrie enjoys writing about a variety of social justice issues, politics, discipleship, and Jesus’ life and ministry. Carrie feels called to medical social work and is passionate about health care reform and public health issues within impoverished communities. Carrie likes to spend her free time reading, watching PBS, attending Cal football games, wishing she were a stand-up comedian, and going to Disneyland. Carrie can be reached at carrieallen@berkeley.edu. You can also check out her personal blog at carriemarieallen.blogspot.com.

Jeanette Hagen is currently a PhD candidate in New Testament at the University of Durham.  Studying under John M.G. Barclay, she is writing her thesis on the relationship between Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith and the continuing participation a believer experiences in the death, resurrection and life of Christ.  Previously, she studied English literature for her B.A. at Biola University while being in the first graduating class of the Torrey Honors Institute. In 2011 she completed her M.A. in New Testament at Talbot School of Theology. Her passion is training and equipping disciples to follow the Lord wholeheartedly.   She has served in a variety of ministry capacities.  Highlights include: organizing summer camps and humanitarian efforts for orphans in Ukraine and Russia, traveling 5 continents sharing the Gospel, helping to facilitate for theological and practical ministry training for believers around the world, and serving in a church plant in Whittier, CA.  In her free time she enjoys reading, being outdoors in a variety of recreational capacities, playing piano, and mostly just spending quality time with family and friends.

Jeremy Goad is a lifelong follower of Christ, the devoted husband of Tricia, and father of Bret and Bella. An ardent supporter of Classical Christian education and the centrality of Christ’s Church, he has spent all of his adult life in Christian ministry in schools as a teacher and administrator, and in congregations as a youth minister and worship leader. He has also supported his ministry habit by doing graphic design and construction. He holds a BA in Philosophy and Theology from Point Loma Nazarene University and is currently pursuing an MDiv from Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. Born and raised in Las Vegas, NV, Jeremy now resides with his family on a small farm outside of Greensboro, NC. He currently serves as the Director of Youth and Music Ministries at The Kirk, a non-denominational Reformed, Evangelical church in Greensboro, NC. When he is not attending to his family, working, or studying, Jeremy can be found working his land, restoring his old house, or maintaining his cars. Jeremy is an avid mixed martial arts fan, a music devotee, and a regular listener to a variety of podcasts. You can follow him on Twitter at @jeremygoad. You can also check out his personal blog at www.jeremygoad.com.

Raymond Morehouse grew up in southern California, moved to North Carolina (where he met his wonderful wife, Mary Blake), and is now in St. Andrews, Scotland, where he is working on a PhD in New Testament with N.T. Wright. He wants his topic to be Pauline Anthropology (the theological kind) but seems to end up studying a lot of other things instead. In the midst of things he has been a teacher, pastor, barista, window cleaner, and traveled in 28 countries (and counting!) on five continents. His interests include drawing, painting, tabletop gaming, hardcore/metal, reading pulp sci-fi/fantasy, geocaching, and generally hanging out. The best way to directly reach him is here: rm94@st-andrews.ac.uk.

Andrew Kelley is a life-long member of Hope Chapel and has spent much of his life there in ministry.  For nearly ten years he both volunteered for and was employed by Special Ministries Disability Outreach, a ministry designed for persons with developmental disabilities.  After that he spent two years serving as Hope Chapel’s High School Youth Pastor.  He completed a BA from Biola University in Southern California and an MA in New Testament Theology from Talbot seminary.  He and his wife have recently moved to Edinburgh so that he can pursue a PhD in New Testament. His personal areas of interest are Early Christian Origins and Religion.  His best friend is his wife and his worst enemy is Virgin Media. You can follow him on Twitter at @drosjk.

Caleb Johnson is a graduate of Biola University with a BS in Business and a minor in Biblical Studies. He currently works as an accountant for a real estate investment company in Orange County, California. Caleb’s interests include, but are not limited to, watching, playing, and discussing sports; cultural analysis; traveling; watching good movies (generally defined as those with a score of 75% or higher from Rotten Tomatoes “Top Critics”, excluding most R-rated comedies); discussing Scripture, theology, church polity, and the application of biblical truths to different situations and decisions in life; professional basketball teams from Sacramento; and many different types of music. Caleb attends and is involved in a number of ministries at Compass Bible Church in Aliso Viejo, California. Caleb can be reached at cjohn2003@hotmail.com.