Gena has written for several Christian publications. She published her first book, A Smoldering Wick: Igniting Missions Work with Sustainable Practices, in 2016. Her second book, Separated by the Border: A birth mother, a foster mother, and a migrant child's 3,000-mile journey unpacks the story of reuniting her Honduran foster daughter with her family after separation at the US border. Gena's most recent book, Alisa & The Coronavirus, is a self-published interactive children's book based on conversations she and her family had, especially those with her 4-year-old on how to deal with emotions surrounding life changes affected by the virus. She is currently working on one nonfiction book and one piece of fiction.
Gena has been married to Andrew for almost two decades. They have two children. From 2009 - 2013, Andrew and Gena were missionaries in northern Mexico where they started a coffee shop ministry, El Búho (The Owl). The shop still serves the local and international population near Potrero Chico, a climbing hot spot outside of Monterrey. During their time in Mexico, Gena began her graduate studies in international development through Eastern University. She graduated with her masters in the spring of 2014. After Mexico, she worked at a crisis center, wrote her first book, and did content creation for a web accessibility company that directs businesses and government agencies in making their websites more accessible to people with disabilities. She has worked as an instructional designer and a content strategist. Currently, she works in communications and knowledge management at an international nongovernmental organization. In 2023, she and her communications team received the Canva Dream Team Community Award for their work in creating visually-pleasing community-based health assets.
Gena:
Gena speaks to a wide variety of audiences whether at a conference, a church group, or an academic group. Gena has spoken on: victory & violence, scarcity & abundance, foster care, sustainable missions, children at the border/immigration, international development & participatory development, biblical justice, among other topics. If you are interested in having Gena speak to your group, please fill out the form located at www.genathomas.com/speaking.html
Gena has been married to Andrew for almost two decades. They have two children. From 2009 - 2013, Andrew and Gena were missionaries in northern Mexico where they started a coffee shop ministry, El Búho (The Owl). The shop still serves the local and international population near Potrero Chico, a climbing hot spot outside of Monterrey. During their time in Mexico, Gena began her graduate studies in international development through Eastern University. She graduated with her masters in the spring of 2014. After Mexico, she worked at a crisis center, wrote her first book, and did content creation for a web accessibility company that directs businesses and government agencies in making their websites more accessible to people with disabilities. She has worked as an instructional designer and a content strategist. Currently, she works in communications and knowledge management at an international nongovernmental organization. In 2023, she and her communications team received the Canva Dream Team Community Award for their work in creating visually-pleasing community-based health assets.
Gena:
- is a certified Movement Chaplain through Daring Compassion
- is certified Faith & Finances facilitator, and
- holds a certificate in Nonviolent Action (Micro) from the United States Institute of Peace.
Gena speaks to a wide variety of audiences whether at a conference, a church group, or an academic group. Gena has spoken on: victory & violence, scarcity & abundance, foster care, sustainable missions, children at the border/immigration, international development & participatory development, biblical justice, among other topics. If you are interested in having Gena speak to your group, please fill out the form located at www.genathomas.com/speaking.html