Jean Foster
Writer, Content and Copyediting
Christian Nonfiction
Jean Foster graduated with a master’s degree in religious education from Duke University Divinity School and bachelor of arts from LaGrange College. Jean brings a background of strong biblical knowledge and extensive experience with Bible studies as well as studies focused on Christian living and ministry.
Jean has written Christian education curriculum published by Abingdon Press, including Questions Senior Highs Ask: Vocation. Sheserved on the design and writing team for Rock-A-Bye Ministry Guide and on the writing team for Grow, Proclaim, Serve! Babies and Woddlers Ministry Pak published by Abingdon Press. Jean has written articles
published in Circuit Rider, United Methodist Reporter, Leader in the Church School, Children’s Teacher, Exploring Faith Planner, and Ministrymatters.com. While serving on the staff of The United Methodist Publishing House, Jean wrote and edited a quarterly curriculum e-newsletter for Christian education leaders and wrote a monthly column in the Bright Ideas e-newsletter for leaders of adult classes and groups throughout the country. She also served on the writing and editing team for the online video study guide, Sunday School: It’s for Life. In addition, she edited the revision of a component for a major Bible study curriculum for adults.
As chair of the education committee for the Tennessee Conference of the United Methodist Church, Jean launched a teaching newsletter for church education leaders, contributing articles and serving as editor. Writing and editing have always been integral components in Jean’s responsibilities while serving as director of education and discipleship ministries on the staff of several large churches. She wrote numerous church newsletter articles, including Joy from Jean, a regular column that provided inspiration, information, and educational content of interest to the congregation. She also designed and wrote a Sunday school teacher handbook, marketing brochures for church ministries, web page content about church programs, new member information packets, and newspaper articles to inform the community of church events.
Jean’s interest in writing began as a student, enjoying classes in journalism, serving as managing editor for an award-winning high school newspaper, and writing research papers on topics such as American history and government, as well as church history. She was inducted into the Quill and Scroll, an international honor society for student journalists.
Jean has designed and taught courses in Christian education curriculum for Martin Methodist College both in the classroom and online. She enjoys leading Bible studies and serving on the adult curriculum team in her church. Jean also has a background in music, with college-level studies in organ and voice. She finds writing hymns and music for learning and worship very meaningful, and she was honored to place second in the 2014 Charles Wesley Society Hymn Writing Contest. She loves the arts and understands the many important ways music and the arts enrich our lives and ministries. For Jean, Colossians 3:16-17 provides a clear focus for life and work.