Crystal writes – blogs, books, articles, lessons, sermons, Bible editions, journal entries, ditties, doodles, and whatever else comes to mind.

Crystal reads – Lewis, Tolkien, Sayers, Chesterton, L’Engle, LeGuin, McKinley, Undset, Austen, Nebraska authors, YA authors, Old Norse Sagas, the apostle Paul, Old Testament prophets (and everything in between), and whatever else she can find on the shelf – or in a used bookshop.

Crystal teaches – classes (Bible as Literature, Professional Writing, Great Narrative Works, Intro to Fiction), workshops (500 Years of Youth Ministry, Reading the Bible So the Bible Reads You, Daring Discipleship, Doing Youth Ministry With the Inklings, Expect Dragons: Adult Lessons from the Children’s Literature of Lewis and Tolkien, Peter – Faithful Failure to Faithful Follower), and whatever else she’s learning about.

Crystal speaks – at camps, conferences, conventions, churches, corporate gatherings, women’s groups, men’s groups, schools, universities, chapels, and wherever else people will listen.

Crystal rides – a beautiful deep blue Suzuki Boulevard 650 (single-stroke belt-driven engine) on country roads, byways, beside corn fields, and wherever else the road goes (ever on and on).

Crystal cheers – football, specifically the Purdue Boilermakers (Boiler Up!) and the Minnesota Vikings (Skol! or more accurately Skål!).

Crystal earned – her B.A. from Bethel University (St. Paul) and her PhD from Purdue University where she researches the long and colorful history of adolescence and is a member of University Religious Leaders. She loves spending time with middle school students in her local WyldLife ministry and at her church. She currently serves as the VP of Discipleship for Young Life. She deeply hopes that followers of Jesus experience the profound joy of sinking deep roots into his love, building a solid life on his truth, and growing fruitful branches through the power of his Spirit.