Inspiring change a step at a time
“In the chaos of this world, hope still remains. The stories and poems in Hope Connections will remind you that the human spirit is ever sustained by God’s gift of hope.” Katherine Kavanagh Hoffman, Hope Connections Contributor
“Well crafted and inspiring, the stories will capture your imagination and keep you reading to the very end.”
Marcia Laycock, Award winning Canadian Author and Speaker
Meet the hope CONNECTIONs CONTRIBUTORS
Joy Bailey grew up on the Canadian prairies where rolling hills, just-mowed hay and the meadowlark’s trill make her heart sing. She will always be a prairie girl at heart. What began in childhood as made-up stories to put herself to sleep at night, became creating stories and songs for her three daughters and, eventually, her grandchildren. As a gentle encourager, Joy fills her short stories, children’s stories, poetry, and songs with warmth, whimsy, and wonder. She hosts Writers’ Cafe in Edmonton, Alberta, where she lives with her husband, The Cowboy. Find her joy-infused view of the world at www.scrapsofjoy.com.
Connie Mae Inglis has lived life to the full with her husband and three children, working in Southeast Asia as a Bible translator, literacy worker, and teacher. She is passionate about serving minority language groups, being a grandma, and dabbling in the creative arts—mainly painting and writing. She writes in many genres and is excited about her soon-to-be released first novel, Rewriting Adam. Her life experiences are a testament to God’s goodness and love and she is thankful each morning for the gift of life. You can find her at: https://www.conniemaeinglis.ca/
Bobbi Junior lived and worked in Alberta, Canada with her husband of 30+ years, near her two grown children. She was active on the InScribe Executive (www.inscribe.org) since 2012. Bobbi’s passion was to use story to show how God brings value for our suffering. Through memoir, Bobbi explored caregiving, grief, disability, and other life experiences, sharing mistakes made and victories won. Visit Bobbi’s blog at www.bobbijunior.com to download samples of her award winning publications: a chapter of The Reluctant Caregiver, or her short story, Tell Me About Today. Also available is the complete serialized version of her book, When the Bough Breaks.
Katherine Kavanagh Hoffman began writing in childhood, and has continued to do so, in a variety of genres, ever since. Born in Montreal, Quebec, she currently resides in Edmonton, Alberta. She has a BAR (1981) from NABC, Edmonton, AB and an MCS (1990) from Regent College, Vancouver, BC. Besides writing, Kathy enjoys dabbling in all kinds of art, reading, and learning new things. Kathy is planning to launch a new blog, A Complicated Faith, in the near future. She has blogged in the past at This Life is an Adventure. You can find the old and the new at This Life is an Adventure.
Born in East Germany, Tina Markeli was five when her family moved to Canada. She started school in a one-room school house in Saskatchewan but the family soon moved to Vancouver. That’s where she got to know God in a personal way. After graduation from BC Institute of Technology, she served in the laboratory of a small mission clinic in Haiti and met her husband. Together they worked in a southeast Asian country where they raised two daughters, taught in a Bible College, and mentored church planters. Helmut and Tina have retired in Edmonton, Alberta.
Jack Popjes and his wife, Jo, worked in Brazil for 24 years, completing the linguistic, literacy and Bible translation program among the Canela people in 1990. Jack served as president of Wycliffe Canada for six years and of Wycliffe Caribbean for three years. He served Wycliffe Associates as a speaker at 500 banquets and other events to raise funds for Bible translation. He has six published books of true-story-based articles and is completing the second volume of a four-volume autobiography. Jack and Jo have three married daughters and eight grandchildren ranging in age from 20 to 29. You can read more of Jack’s writing also at Jack’s INbursts and OUTbursts
Lynn J. Simpson understands the need for creating spaces for rest, renewal, and transformation. She’s rarely without her camera, capturing breathing spaces to share. She’s published Breathing Spaces: A 21-Day Journal of Rest, Reflection and Renewal and 30-Day Journal of Thankfulness, Success & Joy, and contributed to Short and Sweet Too (Grace Publishing, 2017). Read Lynn’s musings on faith, hope, and love on her blog at https://lynnjsimpson.com.
“The writers featured in Hope Connections mangaged to not only delight, move, and inspire me, but they also highlighted the wealth of talent we have here in Canada.”
Ann Margaret Hovsepian, Author and Illustrator
