Hi. I'm Jennifer (the J in JL).

I’m an author, Bible teacher, and partner at Hazefire Studios (where stories become worship).

I’ve written seven books:

• Look to Love: A Better Way to Read the Bible

• Fresh Start. Fresh Strength. Seeing God in Nehemiah

• A Grief Received: What to Do When Loss Leaves You Empty Handed

• Swallowed Up: A story about how my brother died. And I didn’t

• Think Good: How to Get Rid of Anxiety, Guilt, Despair and the Like to Finally Find Peace of Mind

• Live or Die: A Study in Philippians

• Prayer, In Practice, a workbook to help you pray more and better

I also co-wrote a book with my husband, Justin Gerhardt, creator of the popular Old Testament storytelling podcast, Holy Ghost Stories:

• Bonfire: A Guide to encountering God in the Exodus

I’m the manuscript editor for Holy Ghost Stories and the Director of Experience, overseeing live events, ensuring that each gathering leads God’s people into an encounter with His power, beauty, and love.

Once (and once only) Justin let me write an episode. I told the story of Eve and Yahweh in the garden—the culmination of years of rediscovering the love and grace of Yahweh. Writing it made me cry, and since then it’s make thousands of other people cry, too. Our God is such a good Father.

Passionate about looking for "the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" (Psalm 27:13), I publish a biweekly email called "The Goodness" (you can subscribe HERE).

I've been writing and teaching about God since my first church Ladies' Day at the age of nine. I speak at events, lead Bible studies, make videos, lead parenting workshops with my husband, and write Bible study curriculum and devotional materials.

After a season wandering the globe with my husband, Justin, and our two daughters, London and Eve, I’m now calling Northwest Arkansas home. Maybe not home exactly. Let’s call it home base.

In my time abroad (11 countries on three continents) I learned a lot about God’s global presence and work. I’m reminded of that moment when Elijah says in despair, “I am the only remaining prophet of the LORD,” and it turns out he’s completely wrong. God has people everywhere.

I’ve previously worked as the Storytelling Minister for the Round Rock Church of Christ, as a newspaper journalist, and as a college lecturer in World Literature and composition (I have an MA in English literature).

Oh, also—After a wonderful five years committed to a Title 1 public elementary school (I cannot explain how much our girls learned from that experience), the Gerhardts transitioned to homeschool for middle school and high school. Why? The most honest answer is this: We just love being together.

So much of my work grows out of pain and hardship.

I lost my brother and best friend when I was 21. He was 20 (fell asleep at the wheel on the way home from college). I’ve miscarried babies, foreclosed on a house, struggled with depression and anxiety, questioned central tenets of my faith, fought for the health of my marriage…

It’s a list like your list, I’m sure. It isn’t easy to be human.

But in all of it, I’ve seen God—close, faithful, at work. He holds us as we hurt, and then—He makes the most beautiful things from wreckage, ruins, corpses, and tears.

I love:

• Kayaking

• Taking pictures of my daughters when they’re not looking

• Meeting new people I may never see again here on earth but who I know I’ll know forever

• Reading the kinds of books you read in your college world literature class (lately I’m obsessed with Kazuo Ishiguro and Han Kang)—I read about 50 books a year

• Partnering with people to make beautiful things

• Staring at art in a quiet room

• Drinking black coffee on the porch

• Climbing small mountains with people I love (Sinai, Table Mountain, Craig Patrick, Mt Si, Haystacks—I love these high places and the joy of a communal ascent)

• Feasting (Give me a long table, candlelight, good food, and a banger conversation and I will be happy forever)

And lastly, I like that my initials pronounced aloud sound like Jael, the lady who drove a stake into the head of the enemy of God. My last name means “spear.” Clearly, there’s some fighting in my destiny.

Want TO GET IN TOUCH?

Contact me (via email) HERE.

Subscribe. For real. Now. Don’t wait.

This is good stuff.