Does God Want Me To Be Happy?

Derek Caldwell hosts the Where We Begin podcast with Lighten Speakers Xandra Carroll, Lou Phillips, and Alycia Wood.

Derek seeks to help others witness the beauty and love of God in all theology. The host of Lighten’s Where We Begin podcast, he has an MA in Theological Studies and an MA in Church History from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and a BS in Biology from Purdue University (IUPUI). Some of his colleagues have accused him of loving Dietrich Bonhoeffer just a tad too much. Most importantly, he is husband to Rachel and father to their dog, Rupert, and cats Arminius (Armie), Atticus, and Ella.

As a child growing up in the church, Alycia always had questions. She wanted to dig deeper into the Christian faith beyond the Sunday morning sermon. That fueled an independent search digging into the bigger questions of life. While studying for a degree in criminal justice and sociology at Robert Wesleyan College, Alycia discovered apologetics, and it changed the course of her life. Her quest for a deeper understanding of Christianity had a name. 

She went on to get her master’s in social justice from Marygrove College to further her passion for serving those in need in the developing world. This led to various volunteering opportunities at orphanages, prisons, and shelters for the homeless in several countries including Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, and the Dominican Republic. 

Alycia was a substitute teacher and paraprofessional for multiple grade levels and spent eight years doing apologetics ministry at RZIM before joining Lighten. In her spare time, she is an avid sports fan, musician, and grower of all things edible in her garden.

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Louis (Lou) is a speaker based in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Grove City College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science, double majoring in molecular biology and political science. Lou also received his certificate of theological studies from Oxford University (Wycliffe Hall) and was trained at OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. 

For the past seven years Lou has been traveling and speaking at universities, conferences, and churches, entertaining people’s biggest objections to Christianity. Lou is most interested in topics such as meaning, identity, and sexuality as they relate to the Christian worldview, especially in the lives of students and young adults. He is convinced that it is essential for Christians to find ways to discuss the most controversial issues of today but in a respectful and compassionate manner. 

Xandra is a speaker and author. She received a bachelor’s degree in biological science from Colorado State University and studied apologetics at OCCA The Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Xandra continued her studies at Victoria University of Wellington where she completed a master’s degree in Conservation Biology. Her research includes work in parasitology, flow cytometry, and ecological restoration. Xandra has shared the gospel on six continents, and she is passionate about educating Christians on our role as stewards of God’s natural world. She speaks often on the philosophy of science and on the intersection of science and faith.

Follow Xandra on Instagram, YouTube, or on her blog.