Our Writers

Ryan Burns is a jack of all trades and master of none. In 2007 he created GoingtoSeminary.com in order to chronicle his journey through seminary after googling “families going to seminary” and finding no help what-so-ever. Along with pursuing his Masters of Divinity at RTS-Orlando and running GoingtoSeminary.com, Ryan also runs his own web development company, Design Simple. Ryan has been married since November 2000 and has 2 amazing kids. Prior to enrolling in seminary Ryan had spent 8 years leading campus ministries at GSU and VCU. Outside of his faith and family, if there were one thing he could devote his ‘free’ time to, it would be rock climbing… sadly, Florida has no rocks and Ryan has no free time. Oh, he also runs Best-Bible.org

Jake Belder just completed his first year of studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. He is enrolled in the Master of Arts in Theological Studies program, and hopes to go on for doctoral studies in historical theology once he is finished there. A native of Ontario, Canada, he holds a B.A. in the humanities from Redeemer University College. It was there that he met his wife, Robin. Gladly leaving the cold and frozen north behind, they have determined that winters in Florida are a foretaste of what paradise will be like. Some of his interests include Eastern Orthodoxy, music, cars, photography, and cooking. He blogs over at café de soirée.

Chad Brooks - Chad Brooks is a Masters of Divinity and Masters of Arts in Biblical Studies student at Asbury Theological Seminary whose primary interests lie in the intersection of contemporary worship and traditional liturgical practice. Chad has been married to Meredith for 3 years and is pretty sure that she is out of his league. After years of schooling, Chad hopes to open a retreat center/alternative school for the Ecclesialy challenged. You can also check out Chad at his personal blog, Outside is Better.

Terry Delaney is currently attending the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky where he is pursuing a Masters of Divinity in Biblical and Theological Studies. While in seminary, Terry is keeping an online diary of how God is working in his life. He has been married to his lovely wife, Krista, since April 2002. They have three sons: Austin James (August 2004), Isaac Mark (June 2006) and Nathanael Dennis (February 2008). Along with writing here and on his personal blog, Terry is a regular contributor to the blog Said at Southern. Terry was ordained to the gospel ministry in April 2006.

Kari Patterson - Kari Patterson and her husband Jeff (also contributing) attend Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Kari has a unique seminary experience, including morning sickness vomiting during finals, waddling up the seminary stairs at 9-months pregnant, working full-time, and balancing life as wife and mom while studying hermeneutics, federal headship and premillennial eschatology. Kari has just finished her third year at Multnomah, and only has one class left (!). She will graduate with an MA in Pastoral Studies with an emphasis in Women’s Ministry in May 2009. You can read more of Kari’s work at karipatterson.com.

Jeff Patterson - Jeff Patterson is an Masters of Divinity student at Multnomah Biblical Seminary in Portland, and more importantly, the faithful husband of Kari - also a MBS student - and loving father of Dutch. Jeff and Kari met at Oregon State University, where he studied civil engineering, have enjoyed five years of marriage. They took the plunge as seminary students in Fall 2005, and work and life commitments (and Dutch’s birth!) have adjusted and stretched their completion schedule (Jeff’s being Dec. 2009, probably). Two facts: he’s admittedly the less articulate half of the the Pattersons, and like the Apostle Paul, Jeff has meeting eyebrows, a trait he hopes to past to all his sons, but not daughters. Both he and Kari love the Church, and want to see Her become all Christ has redeemed Her to be. Jeff’s life purpose is to know, love and enjoy the Triune God above all else, and help others do the same. He longs to learn what it means to work from significance in Christ and not for it, as the Gospel would have it. He blogs at deTheos.com.