Debby received a BA from the University of Michigan and an MA from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. She is the mother of three, grandmother of five, and lives with her husband near Lake Michigan.
About Debby Topliff BA, MA
1949 Born in small town in Northern Michigan, ice on nursery walls. Naps outdoors every day in pram.
1952 Moves to Ann Arbor. Sneaks out of house naked and pushes doll buggy through neighborhood.
1954-61 Attends Angell school but soon learns difference an extra “l” can make. Shows babysitters—with running commentary—content of every drawer and closet in house. Spends free time building forts in woods and creating fantasy world with dolls. Develops knack for jumping from rugs to bed to avoid alligators.
1961-64 Piano lessons, trampoline, horseback riding, junior theater, competitive swimming, water ballet, ballroom dancing, summer camps in Michigan, Massachusetts, Vermont mean not much time at home.
1964-67 Tricked into thinking Massachusetts boarding school equals extended summer camp. Loves math, chemistry, physics; nearly flunks English. Learns guitar from girls in dorm; learns other things from boys across river.
1967-71 University. No rules. Colorado Outward Bound. Year in England: motorcycle, drug dealers, despair. Winds up at L’Abri study center on top of mountain in Switzerland. Finally sees the light. Shares new faith with old friend John.
1970-71 Studies Greek to retrain tripped-out brain. Starts sorting out behavior. Attends Urbana, hears John R. W. Stott, decides to study Bible.
1971-74 Back to Massachusetts for seminary. Marries John who decides not to be a monk after all. Transfers to his school in Illinois. Joins up with People’s Christian Coalition and helps launch Sojourners Magazine. Begins writing songs.
1974-84 Moves to Upper Peninsula of Michigan with other Coalition members to start first-century-type Christian community. Common purse, bookstore, organic gardening, Bible study, creative worship, food coop, peace marches, guitar, guitar, guitar. Raises three children.
1984-88 Back to Ann Arbor. Runs home-based mail-order book service. More child raising, more guitar playing. Neighbors from hell teach true meaning of love your enemies and turn the other cheek.
1988-1990 Escapes to Northern California. Busy husband, busy household.
1990-1992 Escapes to New York. Busy husband, busy household.
1992-2003 Reluctantly returns to Michigan for long, dark, inner-journey. House overflows with teenagers. Church hopping, creative writing, singing out loud. Studies Bible through Precept Ministries, attends PRMI Dunamis courses, learns fervent prayer. First grandchild born in home. House empties.
2003-present Moves to artist-community/beach resort town, takes deep sigh of relief. Creative energy abounds. Four more grandchildren. Paints, studies, writes children’s book, produces DVD, finishes third novel, cuts down trees in woods, plants trees in woods, soaks in hot tub….