Welcome to Second Drafts, a twice-a-month newsletter exploring news and culture through analysis, reflection, and the occasional dose of humor—all from a Reformed Christian perspective (yes, those last two can go together).
I’ve been passionate about examining ideas in writing since 2002, building a body of work that includes my original Second Drafts blog (2005–2015), several books, and articles for various outlets.
Now, I’ve returned to this twice-monthly format on Substack because it’s the most satisfying way to work through complex thoughts—quietly, honestly, and in community. Thank you for being a reader.
Why “Second Drafts”?
The title reflects my writing process: initial ideas are often nebulous; it’s in the “second draft” that they come to life. As Flannery O’Connor wrote, “I write because I don’t know what I think until I read what I say.” This newsletter is that very process, shared with you in real time.
Who is Craig?
I bring over three decades of experience across ministry, education, technology, and business to Second Drafts—a background that shapes how I approach complex cultural and political questions from a Reformed Christian perspective.
Currently, I serve in full-time ministry with Exodus Church in the Midwest, but the path here has been anything but straight. I grew up on a sixth-generation family farm in west-central Illinois and studied geography and history at the University of Missouri.
From there, I spent more than a decade with The Navigators, directing camp and conference programs in Colorado and co-authoring TwentySomeone: Finding Yourself in a Decade of Transition. My theological education at Covenant Theological Seminary deepened my thinking, leading to articles in Christianity Today, Discipleship Journal, and ByFaith.
I then moved into classical Christian school administration, leading schools in Oklahoma and Montana, before an unexpected turn into the high-tech world of cryogenics for quantum computing, managing marketing and communications at Montana Instruments.
This diverse journey—from small-town farming to theological study to technology—shapes how I think about current events and culture. I’m grateful you’re here and look forward to exploring these questions together.
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A note on community: I welcome your input in the comments. Unless you ask me not to, I may quote your insights anonymously in future editions.
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