The Rev. Dr. John Herman has served three Lutheran congregations and one United Methodist congregation in Virginia during his 30+ years in parish ministry. He has been a workshop leader and conference presenter in several states. His passion is in leading congregations toward a small group/discipleship orientation. John's life mission statement is: "Coaching individuals and congregations into the fullness of God's mission." Pastor Herman earned master degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary and Trinity Lutheran Seminary, and a doctor of ministry degree from The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where he has served as an adjunct professor. Along with this first book in the Imagine a New World series, Pastor Herman has also authored a five volume discipleship curriculum called Going Deeper: A Journey with Jesus. Like this book, the Going Deeper series is a both a personal devotional resource as well as a spiritual growth study guide for small groups. John and his wife Leslie live on the eastern shore of Virginia. They have two adult married daughters and three grandchildren.