By: Kelvin Oliver
T4JYM: How long have you been a Christian?
JF: I got saved the day before my 13th birthday, so it was 13 years this past May 4. Wow, time flies!
T4JYM: Can you share a short testimony with our readers?
JF: I grew up in a very troubled family. My mother was caring for her ailing parents when I was born and she drank to deal with things. So did my grandmother, who lived with us. My brothers are ten and twelve years older, so they were away at college by the time I was in elementary school. I was sexually abused by a couple of people, including a family friend and neighbor, throughout most of my childhood. So I became a Christian at a young age, but I had all these things in my life that were so sad… I was very depressed as a teenager, and I tried to kill myself a few times. I used to cut my arms and write really morbid poetry. I experimented with sex, usually with guys who were a lot older. I realize now they were taking advantage of me, but at the time I thought I was edgy and sophisticated. College just muddied the waters even more. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I really sought God’s power to heal me and free me of my past. It’s like I met God but didn’t get to know him until recently.
T4JYM: When and how did you accept Christ into your heart?
JF: Well, it was really a series of events. First, I spent a few weeks with relatives in California the summer that I was 12. My cousin and his wife were Christians, and they took me to their Vacation Bible Studies while I was there, because their little girls were attending. I just really liked it. It interested me. When they talked to me about Jesus, I thought they were kind of wacky, but I also wanted to hear more. Also, that summer we had a Christian family move in nextdoor. My mother told me they were religious nuts, but I liked them, and they had a swimming pool, plus I wanted to babysit their kids. They invited me to church all the time, and I always declined, but I really liked them.
When things were bad at home, I ran to Patty and Craig’s house and they never turned me away. That led me closer to knowing Jesus. The real turning point, though, was when I started listening to Amy Grant’s music. Her 1988 “Lead Me On” album had a profound impact on my life. And that album made me start listening to the local Christian radio station, which led me to listen to Dawson McAlister Live, which finally led me to calling their counseling hotline, and that’s when I asked Jesus into my heart. A few months after that, Craig was killed in a plane crash. That’s when I started going to church with their family, and I went there all throughout my teen years.
T4JYM: What is your favorite verse in the Bible and why?
JF: John 15:1-2 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” This has certainly been true of my own life. God gave me these verses one day while I was driving and crying, shortly after I got married, and I was facing something very difficult about myself. I have these words framed on my bookshelf, because I’d never heard God speak to me so clearly.
T4JYM: What is the main focus of the Infuze magazine?
JF: Infuze seeks to literally “fuse” art and faith together. Unfortunately, a lot of Christian art has either been really good and really neglected by the mainstream, or it has been really cliche’ and that is what has been showcased. Christians have a bad rep when it comes to all of these things. Our job is to showcase the best of the best, per our best judgement anyway, and to make every effort possible to show the world that faith and art can and is interchangeable. We try to ditch labels — “Christian writer” and “Christian cartoonist” or whatever. For too long, the culture has influenced art. But as Christians we’re supposed to be influencing the culture, not the other way around. In order to do this, the faith in our art can’t stick out like a glaring sore thumb. It should be so powerful and yet so subtle, it permeates everyone and everything around it.
T4JYM: Do you ever get criticized for your work?
JF: Ha! My brother is a writer, too, and he always told me, “You’re not a real writer until you’ve ticked people off.” It’s really kind of true. At Infuze, we love stories of faith, but you won’t find a lot of “Christian-ese” anywhere on the sight. That bothers some people. They think we’re watering down the message of Jesus Christ. Whereas others think we’re too preachy. You can’t please everyone, but a little controversy can breed good discussion, and good discussion can breed positive change.
T4JYM: Who are some of the authors you read? Why do you like their works?
JF: I absolutely love Alice Sebold. Her book, “The Lovely Bones” was breathtaking. Not exactly the most theologically correct book in the world, but certainly an entertaining perspective. I also like Aimee Bender and Wally Lamb. I enjoy Lisa Samson. I read a lot of Christian Living books. I’m currently re-reading “Every Woman’s Battle” by Shannon Ethridge.
T4JYM: Who, or what, are your biggest influences?
JF: My husband, Scott, is a huge influence on my life. His positive outlook on life and rock solid faith in God challenge me to live better. My friend, mentor, and “big sister” in the Lord is author Shaunti Feldhahn. I love her kindness, her gift of encouragement, and most of all I admire the way she is constantly pursuing holiness. My walk with God took leaps and bounds when I started being mentored by her. I’m also influenced by my friend, Rachael, who has faced some major adversity, and is still facing it now, and he praises God even in the bleakest circumstances.
T4JYM: What is your job position for the Infuze magazine?
JF: I resigned as Creative Works Editor a month ago, and am currently a staff writer.
T4JYM: What advice would you give to someone interested in publishing their works?
JF: Be prepared for rejection, but never, never, never give up. It’s such an amazing rush to see your name in print for the first time, it’s well worth the rejection letters and frustration you have to get through in the beginning. When you get a rejection, politely ask the editor to tell you what you could do better the next time. Have a teachable heart. Be able to take constructive criticism without getting your hackles up. If this is a problem, pray about it. It was an issue for me for quite some time. Be willing to work for free when you are just starting out. I worked for a free for a long time, and will still do it sometimes. Back then, it was for the bylines (credits), which are invaluable to a young writer. You NEED credits to build a resume and impress other publications. There is absolutely no shame in that.
T4JYM: Besides, Infuze Magazine, what other magazines or places have you written for?
JF: I’ve written for CMCentral — actually I just started writing a guest column for them again, also Relevant Magazine, The Relevant Leader, various newspapers, and of course Infuze. I am a feature writer for our hometown newspaper. My first book, “Adventures In Holy Matrimony: For Better Or The Absolute Worst” (Relevant Books), just came out June seventh.
T4JYM: What is the last movie you saw?
JF: I just watched “The Boogeyman”. It was terrible — don’t go see it!
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