William D. Blake

Born and raised a Quaker in northern Ohio, I grew up during the 1960s in the midst of America’s “space race” with Russia.

I completed a B.A. in 1970, and an M.A. in 1976. Began working on a doctorate at St. Louis University.

I have been on staff in a number of United Methodist and Presbyterian churches between 1970-1987 as a Director of Christian Education and/or Youth Ministries. I also taught Biblical (Koine) Greek at Asbury College from 1976-79.

My wife Cyndi and I were married in 1972, and have called Asheville, NC our home since 1988. We have three grown children: Andrew, Erin, and Adam. Currently retired from work as a graphic design artist, I now divide my time between creative writing for our church and the feeding and caring (mostly hugging) of our four granddaughters.

“An Almanac of the Christian Church,” was published by Bethany House Publishers in Minneapolis in 1987. “This Day in Christian History,” was published in 2011 by Barbour Publishing in Ohio. The “opus magnum” of this research, “Almanac of the Christian Faith,” was released on Valentine's Day 2020.

Over the years I've gone from being a college instructor to working with youth, and from writing to printing. I take this sequence as God’s voice, telling me, over the years, to “simplify, simplify.”

While I was raised in the Friends Church, my wife grew up a Wesleyan. During our college years, we also attended United Presbyterian and Christian & Missionary Alliance churches. I don’t believe in letting one’s religion get in the way of their faith. That said, we have been members of the United Methodist Church for the past 30-odd years.