The Black Swan Effect

This has truly been a team effort. While Felicity has perhaps done more to co-ordinate the process, everyone has contributed far beyond just writing their chapters. The team of women has had dozens of phone conversations over more than three years. The male contributors have stood with us, encouraged us, promoted us, been "Baraks" in every sense of the word. Here's a little about the authors:

FELICITY DALE

Felicity Dale trained as a physician in the UK and moved to the States in 1987. She is best known for her work with house churches around the world. She was one of the founders of House2House Ministries. She writes and blogs frequently about the simple/organic/church movement, as well as on the topic of women in ministry. Felicity is author of Getting Started and An Army of Ordinary People, and, with her husband, Tony, and George Barna, is co-author of Small is Big!

LYNNE HYBELS

Lynne Hybels is a freelance author and advocate for global engagement. She started "Ten for Congo," a fundraising campaign for victims of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, hosts educational tours in the Holy Land focused on reconciliation efforts between Israelis and Palestinians, and wrote "Nice Girls Don't Change the World." In 1975, Lynne and her husband, Bill, started Willow Creek Community Church. Lynne and Bill have two grown children and two grandchildren.

PEGGY BATCHELLER-HIJAR

Peggy Batcheller-Hijar became a committed follower of Jesus at the age of 17.  She has always had a heart for missions and church planting here in the US as well as overseas, and has been on various missions trips to several Central and South American countries.  She is married to Richard Hijar, and together they minister through organic church settings to men and women throughout New Mexico and SE Colorado.   She works as a nurse, and is currently is employed as a Supervisor in a Senior Living facility in Albuquerque, NM.   

NEIL COLE

Neil Cole is an experienced church planter, author and pastor. He is credited as a key catalyst in the organic church movement and is founder of Church Multiplication Associates (CMA), which has helped to start tens of thousands of churches in 50 states and 50+ nations in only 14 years. Neil is also an international speaker and has authored Organic Church, Cultivating a Life For God, Organic Leadership, Church 3.0, Journeys to Significance, Primal Fire and several other books. 

JAN DISS

KATIE DRIVER

Katie Driver has over 29 years of experience in church planting, discipleship, leadership training, igniting and equipping people in both the United States and internationally. She is a Simple, Organic, Missional mentor and coach, and is a trainer for Church Multiplication Associates' Greenhouse. Katie and her husband Tom have been married 29 years, have three children, and live in Minnesota.  She is also an instructor/trainer for the MSF Course (Motorcycle Safety Training), and writes a blog on the journey of simple,organic and missional life called Backseat Driver.

DAVE FERGUSON

Dave Ferguson is the Lead Pastor of COMMUNITY, an innovative multi-site missional church. He is passionate about "helping people find their way back to God." COMMUNITY has grown from a few college friends to thousands every weekend meeting at fourteen locations throughout Chicagoland and was recognized as one of the most influential churches in America. Dave provides visionary leadership for NewThing, whose dream is to be a catalyst for a movement of reproducing churches. He is an award-winning author of books such as The Big Idea, Exponential, On the Verge and Discover Your Mission Now.

MICHAEL FROST

Michael Frost is an Australian missiologist, based in Sydney, where he heads up the Tinsley Institute, a mission study center. He is also a senior lecturer with the Melbourne University of Divinity. He has written or edited over a dozen books on such subjects as film, gender studies, Christology and missiology. His books include Exiles, Road to Missional, and with co-author Alan Hirsch, The Shaping of Things to Come and ReJesus

ALAN HIRSCH

Alan Hirsch is the founding director of Forge Mission Training Network. Currently he co-leads Future Travelers, an innovative learning program helping megachurches become missional movements. Known for his innovative approach to mission, Alan is considered to be a thought-leader and key mission strategist for churches across the Western world. Hirsch is the author of The Forgotten Ways, co-author of The Shaping of Things to Come, ReJesus and The Faith of Leap. (with Michael Frost); Untamed (with Debra Hirsch); Right Here, Right Now (with Lance Ford): On the Verge (with Dave Ferguson); and The Permanent Revolution (with Tim Catchim)

SUZETTE LAMBERT

Suzette Lambert is a licensed marriage and family therapist in the state of Georgia where she has a private practice. She has been involved in mentoring younger women since she did youth work in her early 20's. The last 12 years she's been involved in a deliverance and inner healing ministry.  She married  Robert  33 years ago  and they have 2 grown children.  She has written the book Finding Father, which addresses relationship with God. She has been involved with home church for the last 10 years. 

FLOYD MCCLUNG

Floyd McClung is the founder and team leader of All Nations, an international movement of churches and church planters. All Nations provides specialized training courses in Kansas City, Missouri, Tainan, Taiwan and Cape Town, South Africa. Floyd has spoken on more than 100 university campuses and has traveled to 193 countries. He is the author of fourteen books, including the best selling books, The Father Heart of God, Living on the Devil's Doorstep, Follow and You See Bones--I See an Army.  www.floydandsally.com 

JULIE ROSS

Julie has served in pastoral care ministry both in the US and abroad for many years. Her work in Christian radio broadcasting and speaking has encouraged many. As a wellness and life coach, she loves the power of a good question. She and her husband Bill continue to develop their organic farm in South Dakota and cheer on their four adult sons and daughter in law.

FRANK VIOLA

Frank Viola has helped thousands of people around the world to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and enter into a more vibrant and authentic experience of church. He has written many books on these themes, including God's Favorite Place on Earth and From Eternity to Here. His blog, Beyond Evangelical, is rated as one of the most popular in Christian circles today: frankviola.org

JON ZENS

Jon has been editor of Searching Together since 1978. He has written many articles and books, including No Will of My Own: How Patriarchy Smothers Female Dignity and Personhood. Since 1977 he has traveled to small fellowships, encouraging them in Christ-centeredness and conflict resolution. He has a B.A. from Covenant College, an M.Div. from Westminster Seminary, and a D.Min. from the California Graduate School of Theology.