Peter Illyn

Founder and Executive Director of Restoring Eden - Vancouver, WA

peter_illyn@restoringeden.org

Raised in South Carolina as a Russian Orthodox, Peter graduated from Rhema Bible College where he earned credentials as an evangelical minister. He spent nine years serving as a pastor in Foursquare churches in Portland, OR and Yakima, WA. Peter returned to school for an undergraduate degree in marketing. Upon graduation, as a sabbatical, Peter took two llamas on a four-month, 1,000 mile trek through the Cascades, which set the long-distance record for llama packing.

According to Peter, “I went into the mountains an evangelical minister, but I came out an environmental activist. I believe God made a good earth and I am called to be a good steward; to protect the fruitfulness and connectedness of creation.” Peter returned to school for a Masters degree in social marketing, combining his three passions – nature appreciation, social marketing and Christian theology and began to create an alternative framework for Christians to engage nature, compared to the “dominion” theology perpetrated by the far right.

Though an evangelical, Peter also works with Catholics, Orthodox, mainline Protestants, and Jewish leaders.  Peter’s success in reaching the church community with a message of environmental stewardship has been featured on Lehrer Newshour, CBS Evening News, CNN, Outside Magazine, Utne Reader, Charisma, and Christianity Today amongst others. In addition, he has also been interviewed for numerous local newspapers, Christian newspapers, and radio talk shows.

Abbey Kopan

Outreach Coordinator - Minneapolis, MN

abbey@restoringeden.org

A 2009 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Abbey received a degree in Chemistry with a minor in Environmental Policy.  While attending the U of M, she had the opportunity to volunteer with Corporate Accountability International on their Think Outside the Bottle Campaign, as well as organize a day of community service with a Christian campus ministry.  Abbey has also been very involved with college students at a church in Minneapolis, coordinating speaking events, retreats, and opportunities to serve, as well as leading a small group Bible study.

At Restoring Eden, Abbey's work currently includes coordinating our internship program, editing Restoring Eden's newsletter (CreationVoice), and developing food and faith programming.  She also writes Restoring Eden's blog, "A Christian...Environmentalist?".

"I love getting to know God through the beauty and intricacy of nature, relationships, and music.  I am excited to see more Christians make the connection between faith and action and start to raise their voices about issues that are close to God's heart.  It has been a humbling experience to be a part of this amazing work that God is doing in and through Restoring Eden."

Andrew Heffner

Campaign Organizer - Pittsburgh, PA

andrew@restoringeden.org

Having lived much of his life in the crumbling steel town of Pittsburgh, Andrew has been excited about the concept of renewal and the reclamation of old spaces, ideas, and art forms from a young age.  After studying English at Calvin College, he worked as a youth/college minister for four years while finishing a Masters in Higher Education at Geneva College.  Since then he has taken a "hands on" approach by working in the political and non-profit sectors before joining Restoring Eden as a campaign organizer.

"I am passionate about faith, music, culture, politics, and the ways they intersect.  I am thrilled to be working with Restoring Eden as we try to help Christians take important steps into public advocacy and care for God's creation."

Alexis Illyn

Campaign Organizer - Minneapolis, MN

alexis@restoringeden.org

While spending most of her childhood outdoors, Alexis Illyn decided to make environmental protection her life’s work after attending Rescuing God’s Creation (RGC) in 2002.  She pursued this passion at Western Washington University, where she studied political science with an environmental policy concentration. While at Western, Alexis was the student leader of their Restoring Eden campus chapter, as well as involved with several other Christian ministries.
 
After graduation, Alexis worked with Conservation Northwest as their Development Assistant. In 2008-2009, Alexis worked as a Field Organizer with Green Corps, where she helped pass a renewable electricity standard in Missouri, worked to increase solar power and energy efficiency in Texas, fought for the protection of public water in California, and campaigned for lower healthcare costs and climate change solutions in Montana.

Alexis is excited to be a part of the Christian environmental movement. “For so long the church has been silent on the issue of environmental stewardship. But people are beginning to realize how important it is to love and care for what God called good. It’s exciting to see people agreeing with what you have so long felt in your heart to be true.”

Anna Jane Joyner

Campaign Organizer - Minneapolis, MN

annajane@restoringeden.org

A pastor's child, Anna Jane fell in love with God's creation while studying abroad in New Zealand.  After returning to her university (UNC, go tarheels!), she embarked on a quest to understand how her childhood faith related to her newfound environmental ethics.  Little did she know where this curiosity would lead!

Since graduating, Anna Jane has dedicated her life and work to engaging the Christian community in caring for God's creation.  Her recent creation care endeavors include co-authoring the Sierra Club report "Faith in Action," teaching environmental studies at a Christian high school, and serving as the National Co-Coordinator for "Renewal: Students Caring for Creation," one of Restoring Eden's partner organizations.

Hailing from mountains of North Carolina, Anna Jane now lives in Minneapolis, MN and enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, frequenting independent bookstores, listening to bluegrass music, creative writing, and playing with her beautiful pup, Pi.

Meghan Friesen

Database Manager - Ashland, WI

meghan@restoringeden.org

Meghan makes sure we keep in touch by entering new contact information and editing our newsletter.  Meghan came to Restoring Eden through her experience as the Administrative Directive of the Creation Care Study Program.  She and her husband ran the program for three years before moving to northern Wisconsin last year. 

Meghan is the mother of two beautiful girls, Gloria and Alice.  When she is not entering data, she is reading stories, baking bread or doing messy art project with the kids.