Felix is one of our incredible Dwell voices, we’re so blessed to have him. From Kenya, Felix’s warm and expressive voice keep you engaged as you listen to Scriptures. We asked him a few questions so you can get to know him a little more.

1. Tell us about your audition with Dwell; how you heard about it and the process of becoming a voice.

I found an ad on craigslist, and I got excited because it was a Bible App and it was something concerning the gospel. So many people had discouraged me because of my accent because I’m from Africa. But I love the Bible so much and I would read it out loud in church and people were really excited because I read with a lot of passion, so when I saw the ad I knew I had to audition. After that, everything changed. I met Jon and Josh and they were so welcoming and excited about my voice; I don’t think I’ve ever met two people who have such a passion for spreading the gospel.

2. Do you have something you do before you begin recording to get into a certain mindset?

I always have to get myself ready to travel through both the new and old testament. I feel as though I’m preparing my reading for the listener.

3. What is the biggest challenge of reading the entire Bible?

I get so excited about it, but it’s such a big book and it takes a long time, and I am looking forward to getting it out there for the listeners to begin to experience and change the world.

4. What do you do aside from one of the voices of Dwell?

I work at in a packing and shipping warehouse.

5. Have you ever done voice work before?

No, just reading in church.

8. What is one thing you’ve learned since you started recording the Scriptures?

That the Scriptures are the Living Word. It applies to all parts of our lives, past present and future. 

9. Has being involved with this project changed your outlook of the Bible?

Yes, I have learned to understand more about the Bible and I feel so excited that we are going to make a difference and spread the Word of Jesus Christ.

Gregory is one of our incredible Dwell voices, we’re so blessed to have him. As our resident storyteller his dramatized reads bring the Scriptures to life and really engage the listener. We asked him a few questions so you can get to know him a little better. 

 

1. Tell us about your audition with Dwell; how you heard about it and the process of becoming a voice.

My audition with Dwell was a very pleasant experience. Jon and Josh are very direct in their focus and vision, and have a heart for making listening to the Bible easy to understand. Of course in today’s world convenience is everything, so making the Bible easily accessible is now possible.

As a former radio guy, it is a pleasure to work with them to lend sort of a different storytelling voice to the exceptional list of narrators that are currently listed with Dwell.

2. Do you have something you do before you begin recording to get into a certain mindset?
Before I begin reading, I practice the text the night before to add a bit of passion and enhance the listening experience, and give the listener a closer, more personal listen. I try to read as if the listener were right there experiencing the situation firsthand.

“God used regular, ordinary people to do extraordinary things and I think that is just how God works.”

3. What is the biggest challenge of reading the entire Bible?

The biggest challenge to me is to paint a picture or create an impact on the listener as he or she follows along. So much of the Bible is a story within a story. The triumphs and failures of regular people, like you and me, who simply by trusting God’s word, can be victorious through Jesus Christ. God used regular, ordinary people to do extraordinary things and I think that is just how God works. He chooses those that come to Him with a humble and contrite spirit.

4. What do you do aside from one of the voices of Dwell?

I have my hobbies and everything… They’re mostly voice and communication related. I’m trying to get into other types of things like getting more into the engineering side of producing. I’m also trying to improve my writing skills.

More than that, I’m trying to get better with narration and voiceover. That’s the main thing. I’m doing that by studying on my craft, following the Holy Spirit as it leads, and to be a more impactful, influential narrator. 

Also, I really want to expand the use of voice for the sake of experience. Different dialects, publishing/narrating/writing faith-based children’s books are some things I’d like to get into eventually. I think thats what’s next for me.

5. Have you ever done voice work before?

Well, I was a howling, screaming, top 40 radio voice back in the mid-to-late 80’s. Then transitioned into a smooth Jazz RnB voice. I even did Country music as well at one point and that was a lot of fun. There was always something radio-oriented. Radio has changed a lot since then, though.

6. What is your favorite Bible story?

My mom used to read the story of David and Goliath to me when I was about 4 years old. Back in those days you could go to a store and get all of your favorite Bible stories. That’s still my favorite story. It kind of lit up a young boy, so unlikely and so unassuming, but with his steadfast and unwavering faith, he killed Goliath the giant and became the champion and king of Israel. Of course as I grew older I learned of David’s frailties and how, even though he fell short so many times, he learned to quickly acknowledge his guilt, understood that he could do nothing without the Lord’s help, and repented and received God’s grace and mercy, just as you and I would today.

In fact, to me, its the whole premise of why Jesus Christ came and died for us.

7. Has being involved with this project changed your outlook of the Bible?

Being involved with Dwell has helped bring all of the stories of the Bible together for me, full circle. We all have our favorite Scriptures and stories. Now its easier for me to tie all of those stories together because I sort of narrate the Bible in a storytelling form. It helped me tie them all together, full circle. I realized that the Bible is the greatest story, rather the collection of stories, ever told.

Rosie is one of our incredible Dwell voices, we’re so blessed to have her. From Northern England, Rosie’s soft and relaxed voice lends itself nicely to a contemplative Scripture-listening experience. We asked her a few questions so you can get to know her a little more. 

 

1. Tell us about your audition with Dwell; how you heard about it and the process of becoming a voice.

I heard about the Dwell audition through a friend who worked for Lightstock. I had honestly forgot about it for a month or so and then one night I had been praying for discipline with reading the bible. The next day my friend called me and reminded me of the app audition and it felt like God was giving me a nudge in the right direction. I recorded some scripture at home and sent it in and everyone seemed to like it! So I was brought in a week later to the studio for a second audition and offered a job soon after.

 

2. Do you have something you do before you begin recording to get into a certain mindset?

I try and be mindful of the responsibility I have before reading. I just like to sit in the quiet and read through what I’m about to start with and try to tune out any distractions from regular life.

“I feel like I have a responsibility through my voice to create a connection to the listener and God through the verse.”

3. What is the biggest challenge of reading the entire Bible?

Conveying the tone that, I believe, the authors were. Sometimes it takes me a few minutes to realize the underlying message of a verse or chapter before I can hear it clearly in my head and how it should be spoken aloud. I feel like I have a responsibility through my voice to create a connection to the listener and God through the verse; I don’t want to be using the wrong tone and turn the listener away!

 

4. What do you do aside from one of the voices of Dwell?

I work on a communications team for an organization called Greater Europe Mission – they send missionaries across Europe to spread the Gospel. I also volunteer with an anti-trafficking organization called Treasured Vessels Foundation on their communications team. I am also married and have a tiny puppy! 

 

5. Have you ever done voice work before?

I have done podcasts for the missions organization but never voice work professionally.  

6. What drew you to join Dwell?

It was an idea I instantly believed in. When I heard the other voices I realized the potential for the app to reach people across the world and to connect people to the word in an important, new way. 

7. What is one thing you’ve learned since you started recording the Scriptures?

 To be patient with myself and lean on God more. Sometimes it can be frustrating rereading the same verse again and again due to my own error, but I have learned that it’s ok to make mistakes, even when reading the bible, and that ultimately God has got me where I’m meant to be. 

8. Has being involved with this project changed your outlook of the Bible?

Absolutely. Personally I am impatient and can scan through the bible too quickly and not let it really sink in. But reading it aloud multiple times has allowed me to soak it in and find a deep meaning behind each chapter – I love it! 

Prixel Creative is the talented design team tasked with creating masterpieces that encapsulate the spirit of each book and passage for Dwell. Their team is comprised of a husband and wife dynamic duo, Kendra and Justin Skinner, along with the newest member, Travis Gann. Prixel’s studio is located in the historic district of Springfield, MO. Get to know them:  

1. How did you first hear about Dwell?

Josh and Jon first spoke with us about Dwell towards the end of the 2016. They talked about it with such passion and enthusiasm that we couldn’t help but get excited about the project.

2. What made you want to join this project?

We wanted to join this project because we loved the idea of making listening to the Bible more accessible. We also knew that we’d love using the app. It was also a no brainer with Josh and Jon at the helm. They do such great work with anything and everything they are a part of. 

“He gives us all creativity and we realize that anything we create comes from Him. Our desire is that the artwork will help people relate to the scriptures in a way they hadn’t thought of before. ”

3. What are you most excited about in the app?

We are really excited to hear the beautiful voices and be able to switch between them within the app. We’ve heard snippets along the way and it’s going to be so neat to have full access when it launches

4. What has been the biggest challenge of taking on such a big/multi-faceted project?

Portraying the stories of the Bible is kind of a daunting task and probably the most difficult part of our process. We take that seriously and want the pieces of artwork to be as good as they can be. Some are literal and some are abstract. We want the artwork to be inspiring and not distracting to the listener. 

5. Walk us through your process of coming up with a design for a Bible book or playlist, where do you get your inspiration, how does the design evolve into the final product?

We first read through the verse or story and then jot down key ideas for the artwork. Once we have that base, we research ideas and techniques and then it’s on to implementation. We gather multiple images from places like Designspiration and Pinterest, and then form mood boards. We like to create our own textures and painted backgrounds to use throughout. Sometimes we get it right on the first try and other times it takes us many iterations to get it looking and feeling right for that story. Jon is also a huge help in giving valuable feedback and direction when needed. 

6. Beauty is one of the routes of access to God; how do you think this ties into your designs for Dwell?

God is the master artist, that’s for sure. Trying to capture the beauty of the verses in the Bible is humbling. The process of creating is something that we love doing and the responsibility we feel is great. He gives us all creativity and we realize that anything we create comes from Him. Our desire is that the artwork will help people relate to the scriptures in a way they hadn’t thought of before. 

7. Which of the designs are your personal favorites and why?

We have many favorites, but so far our favorites are Colossians 3 (the butterfly), Proverbs 31, Pslams of David, Institution of the Lord’s Supper, and The Epistles – The Prayer of Faith. It’s actually really difficult to think back through all the designs we’ve created so far. Can’t wait to create more!