New Year: New Writers

As 2026 begins, we are happy to announce that Rooted Thinking has added new writers who will regularly contribute.

Let me introduce the whole team. Returning are Forrest McPhail, Micah Colbert, and myself, M. R. Conrad. In addition, one of the original authors for Rooted Thinking is returning, Joel Arnold. New authors include Joel Arnold’s wife, Sarah, Matt Collier, and Tim Richmond.

Here is a brief introduction to all the authors in alphabetical order.

Joel Arnold

Joel serves as the president of Foundation Baptist College in Edmonton, Canada. Previously he lived in the Philippines and taught for nine years at Bob Jones Memorial Bible College in Manila. He also provides block classes to groups of rural pastors across the Philippines and around the world. He and his wife, Sarah, have four children.

Sarah Arnold

Sarah had the privilege of growing up in a strong Christian home. She is the smitten wife to Joel and happy mother to four children whom she homeschools. Joel and Sarah now live in Canada after 8 years of living in Manila, Philippines. Sarah is active in their church and ladies’ Bible study. She is pursuing counseling certification with ACBC as well as a Masters in Theology through Foundation Baptist College, where Joel teaches.

Micah Colbert

Micah trains African pastors as an international theological educator with the Association of Baptists for World Evangelism (ABWE). He also serves as the discipleship and outreach pastor at Community of Grace Church in Buffalo, NY. Colbert has written Good News for All Nations: An ESL Bible Study Handbook as well as a version for native English speakers, Discovering Hope: Exploring the Good News of Jesus. He and his wife, Debbie, have four children.

Matt Collier

Matt is the president of The Wilds Christian Association and the founder and director of CampsAbroad, an international ministry that helps local churches reach teenagers through Christian camping across 70 countries. Before founding CampsAbroad in 2001, Collier pastored Bethany Baptist Church in Brevard, North Carolina for fourteen years. He has published Help! I’m Lonely (Lifeline for Teens). He and his wife, Kelly, have three children.

M. R. Conrad

Conrad served in urban Asia for over a decade in church planting and leadership training with Biblical Ministries Worldwide. The Lord has expanded his leadership training ministries to now include key areas in the Middle East and East Africa with the National Theological College and Graduate School. Conrad is the author of three missions devotionals: (1) Daring Devotion: A 31-Day Journey with those who Lived God’s Promises; (2) Daring Dependence: A 31-Day Journey with those who Found Their Strength in God; and (3) Daring Decision: A 31-Day Journey with those who Followed God’s Leading. He and his wife, Ellie, have four children.

Forrest McPhail

Forrest has served as a missionary in Buddhist Cambodia in Southeast Asia since 2000. He presently serves as the Asia/Australia/Oceania regional director for Gospel Fellowship Association missions. He enjoys writing and teaching on missions and the Buddhist worldview. McPhail is the author of Pioneer Missions: Meet the Challenges, Share the Blessings. Forrest and his wife, Jennifer, are pursuing certification with the ACBC. They have four children.

Tim Richmond

Tim is the senior pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Queens, N.Y. Prior to planting Grace, Tim ministered as a youth pastor at Bethel Baptist Fellowship in Brooklyn. He has also published a discipleship method, the Grace Groups Discipleship Curriculum and serves on the board of Arch Ministries. Tim and his wife, Sarah, have five children.