About Us

By J. Randal Matheny (February 3, 2005)

Forthright is published by a group of friends, who believe in the power of the written word, for people who want to go straight to the Cross of Christ. The daily e-zine is published online and by email, with original content not available elsewhere on the Internet. For electronic and print reprints, please read the fine print.

Randal Matheny, editor
Barbara Oliver, associate editor
Richard Mansel, assistant editor
G.E. Watkins, webmaster

Our writers

Barbara Oliver

Our Associate Editor has partnered with Robert and Michal Swain in Gospel Opportunities Evangelism, based in Winona, Miss. Barbara worked many years with World Evangelism Foundation, as layout editor for The Voice of Truth International and its Spanish edition, La Voz de la Verdad Internacional. She also did layout and design for many books for J.C. Choate Publications.

Barbara enjoys working with computers and loves to read. An avid beekeeper, you can find her buzzing around beezoliver.com.

She occasionally turns into a writer for Oliver's Twist.

Barry Newton

Barry was a missionary in Florianopolis, Brazil, for several years and is married to Sofia, a Brazilian from Belo Horizonte. They have two boys who enjoy a variety of interests. He now works with the MacArthur Park church in San Antonio, Tex., emphasizing evangelistic outreach.

Barry believes that the best biblical writing does not create new ideas, but simply involves stating "what is" in a memorable way.

Barry writes on Thursdays in the Hands-on Faith column.

Don Ruhl

Don has been preaching for 24 years, starting with the North Long Beach Church of Christ in Long Beach, Calif., 1980-1983.

He worked with the Nile Street Church in Klamath Falls, Ore., 1983-2002.

He preaches for the Savage Street congregation in Grants Pass, Ore.

Don keeps us twice blessed daily with his short devotionals.

Michael D. Greene

Michael was born in Clarksville, Tenn., July 15, 1950. He grew up in Chicago, Ill., and Nashville, Tenn. He is married to Mary Cato Greene. They have one son, Joey, who lives in Savannah, Tenn.

Michael graduated from Nashville Central High School in June, 1967. He was converted to Christ in 1971, a year after he and Mary married. Michael began preaching six months after his conversion. In 1974, he, Mary and Joey moved to Henderson so Michael could attend Freed-Hardeman University. He graduated 1976 with a BS in Bible.

From Harding Graduate School of Religion in Memphis, Tenn., he received his Master's Degree 1982 in New Testament with a minor in counseling and apologetics.

Michael has served churches in Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia. He is currently the preacher with the Lehman Avenue congregation in Bowling Green, Ken.

Michael conducted an annual mission campaign in the Carribean and in the U.S. for several years. He teaches at the Nashville School of Preaching, in Tenn. He has been involved with youth camps since 1972.

Michael's hobbies include woodworking, watching sports on TV, reading and travel. He and his wife enjoy riding their motorcycles.

A student of restoration history, Michael dips monthly into the past for a story or lesson for today.

Michael E. Brooks

Mike is Minister of Missions and Evangelism with Highland Park Church of Christ in Muscle Shoals, Ala. He began preaching the Gospel in 1967. Since 1988 Mike has been involved in foreign missions in South America, Africa, and South Asia. Beginning in 1999 he devoted full time to missions, primarily in Bangladesh and Nepal.

Decatur, Ala., natives, Mike and Brenda (Campbell) have been married for 36 years, with three children and five grandchildren. Mike is a graduate of David Lipscomb University (BA) and Harding University Graduate School of Religion (MAR). He authored In Search of Perfection: Studies from Job.

As Director of Khulna, Bangladesh, Bible College, Mike divides his year between Asia and the U.S. He campaigns in Bangladesh and Nepal. In May 2003 he spoke on the first annual Bible Lectures of the School of Biblical Studies in Jos, Nigeria.

Mike jots down Field Notes on Saturdays.

Mike Benson

Mike has been married 24+ years to Molly Lanore Claiborne of Dalton, Ga. They have two daughters, Bethany (19) and Kathryn (16), and a cat, Lucky (8). The family resides in Evansville, Ind.

Mike is an '83 graduate of Freed-Hardeman University with a BA in Bible. He works during the week at Guardian Automotive in Evansville, and preaches for the Main Street church of Christ in Calhoun, Ken.

Mike's articles have appeared in Carolina Messenger, Power, Words of Truth, Gospel Gazette Online, The Voice of Truth International, The World Evangelist, The Gospel Journal, Biblical Notes, and Fulton County Gospel News. Mike is editor of KneEmail, a Monday-Friday brief, devotional message.

Mike fosters Fidelity every Thursday.

Paul Goddard

Paul is an elder with the Park Avenue church of Christ in Memphis, Tenn. He has been the Dean of Students at Harding Academy of Memphis for 22 years. He earned a B.S. in Bible from Oklahoma Christian University and an M.A.R. in Church History from Harding University Graduate School of Religion, in Memphis.

Paul is married to the former Vicki Campbell, a teacher at Harding Academy, with whom he has two daughters, Megan and Rebecca.

On Fridays, Paul delves into lessons of the past with "Up for the Task," considering the reading of the Bible a sacred gift.

J. Randal Matheny

Randal works with the churches in Sao Jose dos Campos and Taubate, Brazil. During the day, he writes and publishes material in Portuguese for evangelism and edification. He travels across Brazil teaching and preaching, currently with the courses "Total Transformation," "This We Believe," and "The Jesus We All Need." He and his wife Vicki celebrated 23 years of work in Brazil November, 2007. They have three terrific kids, one recently married, one in college. He just happens to edit Forthright. You can read his musings and mission reports online at RandalMatheny.com. Cloudburst Poetry is his pasttime, as is UPLift.

Randal says his piece on Mondays with Final Phase.

Richard Mansel

He has been writing for many years, with articles in brotherhood publications, and edits a weekly newsletter entitled Culture Wars, examining social issues in the news, and the Preacher Pages Blog. He is married to Deirdre and they have two daughters, Chelsea and Sarah.

Richard makes sure you get Forthright's great articles in your email box. He appeals to those not familiar with Christianity on Tuesdays, with Square One.

Stan Mitchell

Stan was born in Abilene, Tex., the son of Loy and Donna Mitchell, missionaries to Zimbabwe. His upbringing was thus in southern Africa. He has a BA and MA from Abilene Christian University, and a Master of Divinity from Pepperdine. He did mission work in Zimbabwe for ten years and preached for ten years in California. For six years, he has served as pulpit minister for the church of Christ in Borger, Tex. He is professor of Bible and missions at Freed-Hardeman University, Henderson, Tenn. He is married to the former Marjorie McCarthy, and has one daughter, Tracy.

He has authored two books, The Wise Get Wiser, and the Foolish More Foolish, and Give the Winds a Mighty Voice: Our Worship in Song.

Stan does a Reality Check on Wednesdays.

Tim Hall

Having grown up in Cumberland, Ken., as the son of a coal miner, Tim graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 1976 with two BAs in Bible and Communication Arts. He received a Masters in 1979 from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Tim has served the Central Church of Christ in Johnson City since June of 1983.

He is married to Joyce Edlin, whom he met at FHU. They have two sons, Nathan and David, one daughter, Rebecca, and two daughters-in-law, Amy and Vanessa. Tim and Joyce also have two grandsons, Nolan and Bennett. Tim has published the e-mail devotional HEM-Lines since May of 1997.

With Tim, every Friday is Good Friday. Catch his Heavenly Connections to set you up for a great weekend.

COLUMNISTS IN MOTHBALLS

A. A. Neale

Neale is a Christian writer mesmerized by God's mercy. With that, he can't think of much else to say about himself.

Except that he also has a sense of humor.

He writes in the Thankful column when his ticker will let him.

Mitchell Skelton

Mitchell, a Middle Tennessee native, born 1969, is the husband of Sheryl Skelton. They have three beautiful children, ages nine, five and four. Mitchell preaches at Midway church of Christ in Lawrenceburg, Tenn. He is a 1992 graduate of Lipscomb University and is pursuing his degree in Bible at Heritage Christian University in Florence, Ala. Mitchell is also a small business owner operating a convenience store and Subway sandwich shop in partnership with his father.

On Thursdays, Mitchell opens The X-Files, an "x-pository" focus on unity and other Biblical issues.

Emmett Smith III

Emmett preaches for a small congregation near Paragould, Ark., where he was born and raised. He is a 1975 graduate of Crowley's Ridge College in Paragould (Bible), an alumnus of Harding University in Searcy (Bible/Chemistry), and a 1988 graduate of Arkansas State University in Jonesboro with a BS in Engineering. He and his wife Jeanina have three daughters, two of whom they still home-school. The eldest daughter is studying at Faulkner University. In addition to his interest in scriptural studies, Emmett is also a Professional Engineer and is working towards certification as a Professional Land Surveyor.

Sundays are Emmett's day to write in Understanding the Times.

Gregory Alan Tidwell

Greg has served as a minister for the church of Christ at 1130 Fishinger Road in Columbus, Oh., since 1984. He and his wife Peggy have identical twin sons, David and Jordan. Greg holds a MA from Vanderbilt University. He serves as Acquisitions Editor and Columnist for Gospel Advocate Company.

Greg writes Fridays in Outlines of Faith.

Dr. Jimmy Jividen

Jimmy speaks across the country frequently, is a prolific author, and just doesn't stop when it comes to getting word out about the gospel. He works with the Oldham Lane congregation in Abilene, Tex.

Jimmy prefers to speak where the Scriptures Speak.

(Jimmy has been battling illness lately, but hopes to appear now and again.)

Kevin Cauley

Born in Abilene, Tex., in 1968, Kevin was adopted into the Charles and Bobbie Cauley family as an infant. They moved to Austin, Tex., where he was raised. He graduated from the Southwest School of Bible Studies in 1989, with a degree in Philosophy and Greek from the University of Texas at Austin in 1994. In 1991 Kevin married the former Mary Lynn Forehand. He worked in the computer industry from 1995-2001 and was laid off after 9/11, when he decided to preach full time. During his education and employment, he preached part time. He is currently preaching in his first full-time work at the Berryville, Ark., church of Christ.

Kevin has three boys, Austin, 7, and Charlie, 5, and Edward, infant. There's never a dull moment in the Cauley household.

On Thursdays, Kevin serves up tasty bites in Basic Greek.

Dr. Philip D. Sanders

A Shawnee, Okla., native born in 1951, Phil married Jackie in 1974. They produced four daughters. He has studied at Oklahoma Christian, Harding Graduate School of Religion, Oklahoma University, David Lipscomb University, and the Theological University of America. He served churches in Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas, and Arkansas, and currently ministers with the Concord Rd. church in Brentwood, Tenn. He teaches in the Nashville School of Preaching and Great Commission School. Among his writings and books is Adrift: Postmodernism in the Church, released February, 2000, by the Gospel Advocate Co.

Phil chimes in Sundays with his column From Friend to Friend.