Here's The Team

What You've Given and Who We're Hiring

What You’ve Given

I’m filled with gratitude as I type these words—so far on this Giving Tuesday week, you’ve donated exactly $11,001.01 to enable the Holy Ghost Stories 2025 Ireland tour! Amazing. Thanks to your generosity, we’re so close to fully funding a series of live shows put on by the HGS team and some gifted Irish musicians. With your help, these events will be free of charge to the churches who host and the folks who attend.

We can’t wait to bring the gift of Biblical storytelling to the people of Ireland, and I’m so grateful to those of you who’ve given so far to make it possible.

Our full goal is $15,400, which will cover all travel for those involved in the show, costs during the tour, artist fees, and lodging. We’re thrilled to be able to pull of an international tour for such a low cost, and I’m delighted that the HGS family has stepped up to give 78% of the need so far.

Can we finish the goal? I believe we can! That’s what we’re praying for. If you’d like to contribute, you can give here:

Who (and Why) We’re Hiring

A year ago, I shared that it was time to expand the team at Hazefire Studios that brings you Holy Ghost Stories. (At the time, it was mostly a solo effort consisting of yours truly.) And while it hasn’t happeneed as I originally envisioned, the Lord has been gracious over the past 12 months to answer those prayers for help in some exciting ways.

Before I get into introductions, a quick word on the ‘why’: Story is what reaches and changes people, and the church does not have enough story-oriented resources. Bible studies, preaching, and spiritual discipline courses abound (praise God!)—but who is telling Kingdom stories in a compelling, faith-shaping way? That stuff is out there, to be sure (thank you, The Chosen, Walter Wangerin Jr, I Am Second, et al); but given that 43% of Bible is narrative, I’d say we’ve lost our way a bit with our incessant emphasis on the didactic.

Hazefire Studios exists to tell stories that become intimate moments of Encounter with Yahweh. So far, we’ve produced more than 60 episodes of Holy Ghost Stories, put on 23 live storytelling events, and in January we’ll launch our second major effort—The Happiest Saddest People, an audio memoir that tells the story of God’s faithful pursuit of His children. It’s gorgeous, bingeable, and bound to make you cry sad and very happy tears. All of that to say, we’re busy over here at Hazefire. We’re telling stories to advance the Kingdom, and thanks to your support we’re expanding the team devoted to this work.

So here’s who we’ve brought on board:

Beginning in January, Mitch will work part time to maximize the impact of every episode of Holy Ghost Stories through meditation guides, Bible reading plans, small group resources, reflection questions, and Bible class curriculum.

Here’s the deal: The Holy Ghost Stories is quite extensive at this point (and only growing), so we want to help people churches and universities and small groups and homeschoolers imagine how to enter this collection of stories, draw connections between them, and go on adventures with Yahweh inside them.

What would a trip through Christ's genealogy look like? What about a study of courage and fear? Or a look at Yahweh through the life of Joseph? Maybe a prayerful interaction with stories about exile that holds up a mirror to own experience...

Mitch is going to lead the charge as we work to curate new experiences with the HGS catalog. He’s brilliant and wise and brimming with contagious faith, and I’m so excited to have him on the team.

Thaddeus has helped us with a few projects already this year, and is now stepping into a Strategic Relationships kind of role. Essentially, he’ll be an official wingman for Hazefire Studios—constantly looking for opportunities to partner with organizations, nonprofits, schools, churches, and individuals to tell true, beautiful stories that lead people into encounters with Yahweh. Thaddeus is going to introduce us to people we need to know and who need to know us. He’s magnetic and kind and an irresistible enthusiast—I’m thrilled that he’s a part of Hazfire Studios.

If you want to talk, you can reach Thaddeus here.

You’ll likely recognize JL’s name from the credits that roll after every episode of Holy Ghost Stories—she’s my tireless manuscript editor, always offering an incisive first read and asking great questions that help me tell each story better. She’s coordinated many of the live shows we’ve done over the past couple of years and contributed to the work of Hazefire in myriad ways. (If you’re not aware, she’s also my wife.)

“So she’s not a new addition,” you say. Correct. But for four years, she’s done every bit of work for Hazefire Studios for free. In 2025, we’re finally putting her on the payroll. We don’t have the budget yet to pay her a reasonable salary, but I’m confident that will change in time with God’s help and your involvement.

As a Storytelling Partner and our Director of Experience, JL’s work will be focused on The Happiest Saddest People (she’s the author and narrator). She’ll also manage the team and oversee long term planning while continuing to serve a storytelling consultant and coach for organizations, churches, and young creatives.

JL is the most devoted follower of Jesus I’ve ever met. Her wisdom, gifting, and faith far outpace my ability to articulate their abundance. I can’t believe I get to work with her.

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Phew! Lots of info—thanks for sticking around. What Yahweh’s up to is amazing, and I’m deeply grateful He’s chosen me to be a part of this work. Thank you for reading, listening, sharing, and giving toward the work of Hazefire Studios. Truly. This is exciting stuff you’re a part of.

If you haven’t yet contributed to our Giving Tuesday campaign, here’s the link. We’re quite close to our goal, and every gift matters. Thanks so very much.

Gratefully,
Justin