JOHN D. PIERCE (email) grew up in the Boynton Community between Ringgold and Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., just over the state line from Chattanooga, Tenn. He graduated from Ringgold High School in 1974.

After attending Dalton Junior College for two years, he transferred to Berry College, where he received a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy with a minor in Psychology in 1978. He also has two theology degrees.

After living in Metro Atlanta for 18 years, he and his family moved to Macon, Ga., in 2000, where he became Executive Editor of an autonomous, national news journal serving the niche market of non-Fundamentalist Baptists.

He enjoys writing in a variety of styles including feature stories, opinion pieces and news — as well as taking the accompanying photos. He also blogs thrice each week.