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Click Here to hear Jan being interviewed on the Debbie Chavez show about Invitation to the Jesus Life
Books Authored:
Bible Studies:
Spiritual Disciplines Bible Study Series:
Journalism
Magazines: over 1000 articles published in general audience magazines such as Woman’s Day, Fitness, Parenting, and American Baby.
Christian magazines such as Weavings, World Vision, Focus on the Family and Discipleship Journal; published in wide range of denominations from Catholic Digest to The Mennonite, from Pentecostal Evangel to Episcopal Life.
Newspapers: Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Sacramento Bee
Speaking: for 20 events a year including retreats, conferences, Staley lecturer at universities, C. S. Lewis Summer Institute instructor, seminary classes and seminary retreats, Renovare Conference, authentic spirituality symposium, writer's conferences & public school author's fairs, Evangelical Press Association panel member, radio talk-show guest.
Teaching: lectio divina instructor for Dallas Willard’s Fuller Seminary class: Spirituality and Ministry; instructor: Logos Evangelical Seminary, Hope International University (School of Advanced Leadership Training); public school adult education writing instructor; junior high creative writing teacher.
Spiritual Direction: trained at Stillpoint in Pasadena, CA; graduated 1995; several directees, 1996-present.
Curriculum: 1000+ adult curriculum sessions, both topical and expository (Old and New Testaments) for nine publishers and nine parachurch organizations; 85 youth curriculum sessions; study guides for small groups; co-developer of new teaching product; video study guides for churches, public schools and correctional institutions. For a complete curriculum bio and list of credits, see below.
Consultations: curriculum companies and non-profit organizations on developing curriculum; leadership teams on soul care for others and developing the interior life of a leader.
Church Ministry: co-laborer with pastor husband in inner-city churches: 1975-1987; 1992-1997; Bible teacher of adults and youth, support group leader.
Education: BA, Christian education, Ozark Christian College {occ.edu}; journalism courses, UCLA; spirituality courses, Azusa Pacific University; graduate, Academy for Spiritual Formation {upperroom.org/academy/}; Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius Loyola 30-day Retreat, 2006; D.Min. Graduate Theological Foundation (Ignatian Spirituality & Spiritual Direction), 2006.
Memberships: American Society of Journalists & Authors {asja.org};
Evangelicals for Social Action {esa-online.org}, contributing editor, Prism {esa-online.org/prism/}
Awards: Sherwood E. Wirt Award, Biola University Writer's Institute, 1990; Best "First Published Article," Biola University Writer's Institute, 1985.
Volunteer: Samaritan Center (drop-in center for the homeless), Simi Valley, 1994-present; Epiphany Ministries {epiphanyministry.org}, 2001-present. Board member, Women’s Ministries Institute, 1994-1998.
My husband, Greg, now works for a financial software company and is a leader in Epiphany, Walk to Emmaus and Via de Cristo as well as our local church. We both work at Epiphany retreats (3 day weekend retreats in youth correctional facilities). Our two adult children, Jeff and Janae, live nearby. Once a week we all enjoy “family dinner” together and play games that allow us to behave like third graders.
My leisure activities (always important for a recovering perfectionist) include reading, bike riding, hiking and enjoying great works of art. What could be better than reading a good book while drinking flavored decaf coffee?
Curriculum Bio
I began working with my husband, Greg, in an inner city church immediately after college graduation in 1975. That's where I learned that I wasn't going to survive in a junior high gangland Bible study classroom without better curriculum materials. Equipped with a degree in Christian education, I began researching the use of Bible learning activities and inventing my own. Soon I was included as the “multi-ethnic rep” in brainstorming sessions with a local curriculum publisher. In 1981, I began writing Bible study curriculum for teens and over the years I’ve written more extensively for adults. I also enjoyed writing for nine publishers, adapting and sometimes influencing their philosophy of learning. I've also learned a lot from writing curriculum for many non-profit organizations, including: World Vision, US Center for World Mission, Compassion International, Open Doors USA, American Bible Society, International Bible Society, Family Hope Services and Focus on the Family.
ADULT CURRICULUM CREDITS
DATED MATERIAL
Adult Teaching Packet, Scripture Press, 1986--1992, 52 sessions a year
Bible in Life, David C. Cook, 1-3 sessions/quarter 1993-2000
Understanding the Bible, David C. Cook, 1 quarter, 1996
ELECTIVES
Cups of Cold Water (world poverty, homelessness in US)
World Vision/David C. Cook, 8 sessions
Vision for the Nations
US Center for World Mission, 13 sessions (became a working draft)
Jump-Starting Your Devotional Life David C. Cook, 7 sessions
Love for a Lifetime (based on book with same title) David C. Cook, 13 sessions
Stress Fractures (based on book with same title) David C. Cook, 13 sessions
Waist Watchers: Trimming Down to Size Serendipity House, 7 double track sessions
Preparing for the War That's Already Won David C. Cook, 7 sessions
A Call to Prayer Standard Publishing, 7 sessions
Victory in Jesus Standard Publishing, 13 sessions
BIBLE STUDY BOOKS
VIDEO STUDY GUIDES
Holy Sweat Word Publishing, 3 sessions.
Twice Pardoned Focus on the Family,
Church version & public school/correctional facility version
Classroom of the Heart, Focus on the Family
McGee & Me Christian school & public school versions
YOUTH CURRICULUM CREDITS
FAMILY HOPE SERVICES
20+ piece curriculum sets: Hope, Social Skills for this non-profit organization helping troubled teens
COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL
Project Compassion, 10 session curriculum for teens on world poverty (became a working draft due to change in plans of organization)
OPEN DOORS INTERNATIONAL (with Youth Specialties/Zondervan)
Student Underground, 4 session event curriculum on the persecuted church
GOSPEL LIGHT (senior high)
Glow in the Dark Sessions 5-8 (Philippians)
Hot Buttons Session 6 (topic: racial prejudice)
I Hate Witnessing Sessions 1-13 (from book of same title)
Winners and Losers Sessions 7 & 8 (Bible heroes)
Walking in God's Light Sessions 7-13 (1 John)
Sayings of Christ Sessions 5-8
DAVID C. COOK ELECTIVES
Watch Out! Sessions 1-5 (junior high)
Too Tough! Sessions 1-5 (senior high)
Which Way To God? Sessions 1-5 (junior high)
RELATED TO TEEN CURRICULUM:
teen disaster relief booklet, International Bible Society
devotions for teen book, Miles Ahead
articles in teen publications: Brio, With, Insight, Teen Power, Senior High I.D.
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I am a writer, speaker and spiritual director who holds degrees in Christian education and spirituality. I’ve enjoyed writing seventeen books, including 
I spend most of my work days writing books, magazine articles, newspaper essays, and Bible studies in my office at my home in Simi Valley, California. Thankful for my degree in Christian education, I began writing Bible study curriculum about twenty years ago that would reach the teens in the inner-city neighborhood where my husband pastored and we lived. Gradually, I switched to writing for adults and then began writing articles and books. About ten years ago, I began speaking extensively and found that I was most called to situations in which I could teach several sessions in depth. About the same time, I also took classes to become a spiritual director. I now do these things with great joy. 
