James GoodierI was born in Puerto Rico at a very young age and have lived in Texas, Maryland, and Virginia before ending up here in Minnesota. I have one wife and two kids. My beautiful wife, Rachel, is the love of my life and my kids are a close second. I love nothing more than the time I get to spend with my family. I graduated from Liberty University (the largest evangelical school in the country) with a Youth Ministry degree, but my involvement in youth ministry started much earlier. I started helping out with Middle School when I was in High School and then both when I graduated from High School. Though I started going to church 9 months before I was born, it wasn’t till my teenage years that this religion turned into a relationship. I’m not always faithful in this relationship, but I serve a God who is and is always willing to forgive my stupid moments.
FUN FACTS: Nickname? Master Married to: Rachel Children names: Ella and Andrew Do you refer to yourself in third person? James would never do a thing like that! What do you do for a living? It’s complicated. Let’s just say, I make computers behave. Favorite color? Green, but not those girly pastel shades. Forest Green. Favorite TV shows? Office, Psych, NCIS Favorite musician? John Pennucci Favorite Kool-Aid flavor? Red Favorite smell? Freshly baked bread or chocolate chip cookies! Favorite restaurant? Sams Club (cheap) Chick-fil-A (fast food) Chipotle (local fast food) Famous Dave’s (sit down) Red Lobster (nicer) Favorite store? WalMart Favorite number? My wife’s. I call it all the time. Favorite website? This one. Favorite verse from the Bible? Psalm 40:5 – God’s thinking good things about you all the time! Favorite game show you’d like to be on? The Price is Right Favorite pizza topping? Cheese! Favorite silly word? Ella (when Andrew says it because he sticks his tongue out as far as he can while he says her name.) What kind of car do you drive? A Soccer-Mom Van If you had one super power, what would it be? Understanding women. Or mind reading. They’re kind of related. Song you’d most like to sing karaoke to? I don’t sing in public. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I wouldn’t. I like my name. Do you use paper or plastic? Depends. Why did you decide to get involved with SoulFire? What’s SoulFire? I thought it was called Thrive. J/K I have a call and a passion to work with students and through the SoulFire ministries I am able to live that out. What do you enjoy most about students? Their honesty. For some reason, while we get older, we’re trained to hide our feelings. I love the brutal honesty of students; especially middle schoolers. Brad NelsonBrad is a strange old guy who likes seeing people grow closer to Christ. FUN FACTS: Nickname? Hey you Married to: Julie Dawn Children names: Jaron and Clive Do you refer to yourself in third person? Brad would never do that. What do you do for a living? Work in the Admissions Department at Crown College Favorite color? Blue Favorite movie? August Rush Favorite TV show? Psych Favorite musician? Too many Favorite Kool-Aid flavor? Fruit Punch Favorite smell? Coffee isle? Favorite restaurant? Ruby Tuesday Favorite store? Target Favorite number? 8 Favorite website? Espn.com Favorite verse from the Bible? Galations 2:20 Favorite game show you’d like to be on? Wipe Out Favorite pizza topping? Meat Favorite silly word? Rad What kind of car do you drive? Ford Focus If you had one super power, what would it be? Ability to fly Song you’d most like to sing karaoke to? Bust a move Weirdest dream you’ve ever had? I once dreamed that I had a baby that shrunk down to the size of a bug. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Matt, of course. Do you use paper or plastic? Plastic Why did you decide to get involved with SoulFire? I originally did it to spend time with my girlfriend. Then I got hooked. What do you enjoy most about students? They keep me up to date on all that’s hip and cool. |
Rachel GoodierI was born in
the frozen tundra of northern Minnesota. I was raised by a stay-at-home mom and
school-teacher dad, with two sisters and two brothers. I went to church and had
daily family devotions. I learned all the facts about God, but it wasn’t until
I was a teenager that God took hold of my heart. While I had what seemed like
the ‘ideal’ home-life, high school still felt like a bumpy ride. Thankfully, God
walked that road with me! Plus, my awesome youth pastor and his wife invested
in me countless hours of time and thousands of dollars worth of pizza. Based on their encouragement, I eventually ventured
off to attend Liberty University (the world’s most exciting university!). There
I was able to deepen my faith, expand my knowledge, and meet the man of my
dreams. James and I eventually moved back to Minnesota where we started
attending Parkside and became involved with SoulFire. It is an awesome blessing
to be able to serve the youth in our area together!
FUN FACTS: Married to: James Children names: Ella 4, Andrew 1 Do you refer to yourself in third person? Sometimes, ie mom, mommy, the boss What do you do for a living? Teach Favorite color? Sky blue with a hint of midnight Favorite movie? Anne of Green Gables Favorite TV show? TV, bleh, not worth my time Favorite musician? Favorite Kool-Aid flavor? Yuck. I like coffee or sweet tea Favorite smell? Vanilla Favorite restaurant? Cheesecake Factory Favorite store? Target Favorite website? www.liberty.edu The world’s most exciting University Favorite verse from the Bible? Psalm 121 Favorite game show you’d like to be on? Survivor – I’d totally dominate Favorite pizza topping? Mushrooms What kind of car do you drive? Red-hot Mini-Van!! If you had one super power, what would it be? The ability to heal people, thankfully I serve a God that can! Song you’d most like to sing karaoke to? R-E-S-P-E-C-T Why did you decide to get involved with SoulFire? I wanted to get to know the students in our area and find a way to impact young adults for Jesus. What do you enjoy most about students? I love hearing the real-life stories of students Julie NelsonJulie Nelson attended Crown College and has been helping out with Soulfire since her sophomore year. She graduated in 2005, with a major in Intercultural Studies and got married that summer to Brad Nelson. They plan to eventually go overseas. They have an almost three-year old son, Jaron and are expecting another boy in May. Julie works at Freshwater Learning Center, and enjoys listening to audiobooks, being outdoors(when it's nice out), and doing anything artsy when she has the time. FUN FACTS: Nickname? Jewels Married to: Bradley Edward Nelson Children names: Jaron and Clive Do you refer to yourself in third person? All Day Long….literally, Ms. Julie does it a lot. What do you do for a living? I’m an after-school teacher and work in the Baby room during the day at Freshwater Learning Center. Favorite color? GREEN Favorite movie? She’s the Man Favorite TV show? Lately, we’ve been loving Little Einteins Favorite musician? I’ve been listening to Shane and Shane Favorite Kool-Aid flavor? Hate it. But if I HAVE to drink it, then grape. Favorite smell? Orange and cinnamon. Favorite restaurant? Ruby Tuesdays Favorite store? Forever 21 Favorite number? 42 Favorite website? Pocketyourdollars.com Favorite verse from the Bible? Duet. 31:8 Favorite game show you’d like to be on? Family Fued Favorite pizza topping? RONIS! Favorite silly word? Reconculous! What kind of car do you drive? 2004 Hyundai Sonata If you had one super power, what would it be? To be in two places at once. Song you’d most like to sing karaoke to? In the Light Weirdest dream you’ve ever had? I dreamt the aliens were coming…and woke up after I had raised my hand and told my professor that we should be-friend them…. If you could change your name, what would you change it to? I like my name Do you use paper or plastic? Whatever works. Why did you decide to get involved with SoulFire? I first volunteered to chaperone for a trip to Acquire the Fire in 2002, and I fell in love. What do you enjoy most about students? Everything. I love that so many of them have let me become a part of their lives, as they are a part of mine. I love seeing them grow in their relationships with Christ and others. They teach me so much. |