About your hosts

James and Jennifer Becknell, Lovers of Travel and People

James and Jennifer Becknell have served in a variety of professional and ministerial contexts throughout their career. Their ministry work began in the Los Angeles Church of Christ as a campus minister (James) at the University of Southern California, his alma mater (BA, Psychology). Jennifer served as a minister in West LA and is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (BS Kinesiology/Pre-Med). After serving a variety of ministries in the LA area, they moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1998 to care for singles, campus, and family ministries. In 2001 the Becknell’s moved to the Chicago Church of Christ as leaders of an Arts, Media, and Sports ministry (AMS). After a short and eventful stint in this role, they took a position serving as ministry leaders in the west suburbs of Chicago. They remained in the west suburbs for 18 years. In 2020, James and Jennifer moved to the South Suburbs of Chicago to take on the role of Bible teaching, shepherding, training, and support. 

James serves as a congregational Bible teacher and has a Master of Divinity from Harding School of Theology. He took his concentration in Systematic Theology and his research and teaching interests are in the areas of New Testament context, Second Temple Judaism, historical Jesus studies, Israel studies, African-American studies, Black theology, Black interpretations of Scripture, biblical justice, and Christian spiritual formation. 

James currently serves as the facilitator for the Midwest Teachers Circle, a collaborative group of Bible teachers centered in the Midwestern United States. He is also the Book Review Editor for the Teleios Journal, an academic offering being published by Herder & Herder starting in 2021. As well, he hosted a limited series podcast with his friend and co-host Nathan Cox-Thompson on the book of Exodus called The Dryground Podcast. 

James and his wife also deeply enjoy offering an intensive tour to the land of Israel in which they visit over forty-eight unique sites of biblical and historical interest. James’s wife, Jennifer is also a full-time minister, a realtor with 20 years of experience, and a Conflict Resolution specialist. They have two daughters, Jordan and Jade, both born in Milwaukee.