Marvin Olasky is editor of World magazine, based in Asheville, N.C. He is credited with coining the phrase “compassionate conservatism” and has been a proponent of the government’s faith-based initiatives. He is the author of Renewing American Compassion: How Compassion for the Needy Can Turn Ordinary Citizens Into Heroes (The Free Press, 1996).

Patricia Telesco is the co-author of Sacred Beat: From the Heart of the Drum Circle. She has been participating in drum circles for many years and lives in Amhearst, N.Y. Contact via Bonni Hamilton, director of publicity for Red Wheel/Weiser.

Rabbi Rayzel Raphael leads drum circles in Philadelphia.

Jan Gregory was an adjunct professor of liturgy, worship and spirituality at Hartford Seminary in Hartford, Conn., where she taught a course in drumming and worship.

Drummers for Jesus is an international Christian ministry that spreads the gospel through drums. The ministry is based in Rockwall, Texas, and has a list of chapters throughout the U.S.

Terl Bryant is a drummer and author of A Heart to Drum, published in 2006. He lives in Great Britain.

Sister Donna Marie Beck is professor emerita and former director of music therapy at the Mary Pappert School of Music at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pa. She is also a Catholic nun and the facilitator of a healing community drum circle.

Marc Anderson has a DVD/CD titled Drums in the Church: A Practical Guide for Percussion in Christian Worship. He teaches workshops and classes and is based in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Bruce Adolph is the publisher of Christian Musician Magazine and Worship Musician! Magazine and produces the Christian Musician Summit conferences. He can discuss the role of drums in contemporary Christian worship. He is based in Puyallup, Washington.