It’s nice to meet you.
Dr. Jay Madden
Atlanta, Georgia
Jay Madden grew up in South Carolina, where he attended Furman University. After serving in the Army, he returned to the business world, spending twelve years owning and operating several businesses. Along the way, he met Rebecca at a Mexican restaurant, despite having initially said no to a blind date!
Jay eventually sensed God calling him to serve the Church. He joined the staff of First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, South Carolina, as Evangelism Director before moving to Chicago in 2003 to pursue further ministry training and attend seminary. During that time, he was invited to join the staff of Willow Creek Community Church, where he served as an Area Pastor, providing pastoral leadership and helping engage the church in compassion and justice. He earned his Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, during this season.
In 2009, Jay joined the staff of Peachtree Church in Atlanta as Pastor for Mission, overseeing local and global mission partnerships and serving on the church's leadership team. He later earned a Doctor of Missiology degree from Fuller Seminary, focusing on mutual transformation through mission. In 2022, he became Peachtree's Executive Pastor, a role in which he continues to serve.
Jay is passionate about helping people participate in God's mission and be transformed through their experiences. Outside of ministry, he enjoys traveling and spending quality time with Rebecca, their daughter Neale and her husband Robert, and their son William. He is also a devoted Clemson football fan and loves spending time outdoors with the family's Labrador Retriever, Finley.
Brainstorming Session - October 2020
The Story Behind the Book
For years, Rebecca felt a tug at her heart to write a book about God's presence in the life of her family. Along the way, friends and even strangers affirmed the idea, encouraging her to share stories they had heard or witnessed.
In 2020, Rebecca was visiting her 97-year-old mother and reading aloud some of the chapters she had begun writing. During one of those reading sessions, her mother asked if Jay was writing his stories, too. When Rebecca explained that he wasn't, her mother strongly suggested that he should. Jay was hesitant to begin writing again, having recently completed his doctoral dissertation. But after much discussion with Rebecca, he decided to join the effort.
In October 2020, Rebecca and Jay began their writing journey with a brainstorming session, outlining 14 chapters and assigning writing responsibilities. Soon afterward, they launched this website to share stories, devotionals, and updates as their book took shape.
Their desire was to share how they had experienced God's presence, movement, and direction through life's circumstances, people, miracles, Scripture, relationships, books, nature, prayer, journaling, and His still, small voice. Their hope and prayer remain that these stories will inspire others to recognize and respond to God's presence in their own lives.
Rebecca Madden grew up on a farm in South Carolina with her three sisters before attending Clemson University. She began her career in Greenville, South Carolina, where she met her husband, Jay. As they dreamed of starting a family, they felt drawn to find a church home. Their church family became a source of strength and hope through the loss of their firstborn son, Brock, and the miraculous birth of their daughter, Neale, and later their son, William.
When Jay sensed God calling him into ministry, the family moved to Chicago in 2003 to become part of Willow Creek Community Church and pursue further ministry training. During that season, Rebecca spent several years helping develop and launch Listen to My Life, a process that helps people explore their life stories, past, present, and future.
In 2009, the Maddens moved to Atlanta for Jay's next ministry role at Peachtree Church. Rebecca participated in a spiritual formation cohort with Renovaré and later joined Peachtree's staff, where she served for 14 years, most recently as Senior Director of Women's Ministry and Connections.
Rebecca is now embracing a new chapter centered on storytelling, speaking, and leading retreats. Through personal stories, spiritual insight, and humor, she helps people recognize and respond to God's presence in the ordinary moments of life. Rebecca's greatest joys continue to be loving Jay, spending time with their daughter, Neale, and her husband, Robert, and their son, William, and discovering more and more of God's presence in her own life each day.
Rebecca Madden
Atlanta, Georgia