Groundworks Management

MATTHEW PAUL TURNER

Writer / Cultural Commentator

Matthew Paul Turner grew up in a fundamentalist Christian church, a place where people did strange things to get people’s attention and manipulate a response to the Gospel.

Out of this bizarre milieu, a writer was born. Turner didn’t know he was a writer at first. Not until after graduating from college and working a series of odd jobs, including waiter, factory worker, and manager of a Christian coffee shop in his home state of Virginia, did he even begin to put his church experiences down on paper. But put them down he did, eventually developing a reputation as an irreverent commentator on culture and faith and the bizarre ways that the two intersect.

Matthew speaks to college-aged groups and churches in regard to his journey. The combination of his thought-provoking story and creative, cultural commentary leads listeners to thoughtful conversations. He is great for a chapel or spiritual formation event. Matthew will be traveling with other musical artists for certain dates.

SCOTT PHILLIPS

Singer / Songwriter / Conversationalist

Scott wrestles daily with his love for the church and the continual disappointment that she is not all she could be. His plight has become one that drives to unite the people of God, not only within their sometimes-exclusive denominations, but also under the authority and cover of her Head, Christ.

Lyrically, Scott opens the door to deeper parts of himself - beyond the fluff of much of today’s popular music. “Honesty paves the way to originality,” says Scott. “If we can’t be honest, we cannot expect to be as unique as we are meant to be - true to ourselves. The best art is created (and the best relationships are cultivated) when we choose to do the difficult work of making ourselves vulnerable to one another; to dig deep, peel back layers, and offer the brightest and darkest parts of ourselves as a gift to another.”

Scott shares through song as well as collaborative conversation. Chapel services followed by a time to really connect with students or student leaders is his forte.

PAUL COUGHLIN

Author / Speaker / Motivator

What good is a person who has loving thoughts, loving feelings, but fails to turn them into loving actions? Paul Coughlin has discovered the answer through living life and shares in his new book, Unleashing Courageous Faith. As a speaker, Paul believes in sharing truth in a motivating way. He draws an audience to ignite their courage, a God-given capacity within us all, but found in a very different and misunderstood place.

That place, the Greeks taught, is called thumos and for many it is the missing piece in our three-part spiritual puzzle. Just as we say that reason is found in our brain and emotions emanating from our heart, thumos is found in our chest and lungs, and it is where courage, a fighting spirit, willingness, eagerness, spiritual zeal and fervency, animation, gumption and aspiration and so much more are both forged and stored. Without thumos, we are sitting ducks for spiritual abuse and atrophy. Without this fighting spirit, we don’t have a chance.

Paul tours the country, speaking to men, women and students. His call to stand up and protect others is a call not heard too often by the world today. But it is a call that all Christians must wrestle with daily. You may call it social justice and you may hear it a lot, but do you see it being carried out? From chapel services to spiritual emphasis weeks, Paul’s passion for waking up the next generation is changing the way people do life.

OVERSOLD

The Movie and Tour

How much will one man lose, to gain the one he loves? This adaptation of the Biblical story of Hosea walks the viewer through the struggle of Sophi, a stripper trying to break out of that life. Sophi meets and falls for a Pastor, Joshua. Their two worlds collide and they are forced to deal with the fallout. How do people treat a pastor that loves a stripper? Do people ever really accept her into “the real world” or the church?

This story of redemption and grace is guided by Pastor Cowan of Elevation Church Arizona and is meant to get people to think about things…to examine their own hearts and realize the extent of God’s love for the unlovable.

Former adult-film star, Crissy and pastor, David Cowan, bring this showing of the film and guide the Q & A that follows. This event will put a face to pornography and expose what happens when Jesus rescues all of us.

DANA JORGENSEN

Worship / Chapel Leader

Passion and faith have always been a driving force in the life of Dana Jorgensen- His passion for the love of sports and music and his deep faith in Jesus Christ since his childhood. After being forced to medically retire from an aspiring career in professional hockey, Dana followed the Lord’s leading and turned his full attention to sharing his love of music and God with others.

Born in Ottawa, Canada, Dana grew up with his two parents and two sisters. His passion for music has led him on quite an adventure from singing for Disney to touring with a pop band throughout western Canada. While being based in Vancouver, BC, Dana merged his love for music with his faith in God and began leading worship in his local church.

Being on stage gives Dana the opportunity to connect with a wide variety of audiences. Both while leading worship or putting on a concert. Sharing the work that God has done in his life and the doors God has opened and closed allows Dana to open up with the audience. He finds that being real with people and especially teens, allows them to trust you, and once they trust you, they will listen to what you have to say.

Dana is touring his new album, “Brave” has been inspired by conversations I have had with people on the road over the last two years about struggles many people face in life, relationships and unfortunate circumstances.” Dana’s current album has had 3 top 20 Canadian Christian Radio hits. Songs, such as “I Don’t Believe” and “All Over Again,” can be heard on Canadian Christian radio as well as Satellite TV music stations. He is touring campuses this fall and spring.