Our Background and Purpose
 Desert Fire takes its name from Exodus 13:21 (NLT) "The LORD guided them by a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night." Each of us has gone through, or is currently going through, a "desert" experience. Loss of loved ones, addictions, abuse, job struggles, financial worries, broken marriages, managing single-parent homes; the list seems endless. We need hope for the future. We need our dreams restored. We need direction. To the Israelite nation needing rescue from bondage in a foreign land, that direction came from the Creator of the Universe - God Almighty. He appointed a leader over his people and gave them a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them through their desert into a Promised Land. Desert Fire seeks to provide help to the people of our community to lead them through their personal desert experiences to a better place.
We believe whole-heartedly that God wants the best for his people and especially in and around the City of Jackson, Mississippi. When asked why we work as a 'community within the community', our only answer is "God sent us."
About the Founders
 Desert Fire was founded in 2005 by Jan and Linda Catlin. Jan and Linda came from un-churched backgrounds and experienced many setbacks in life before becoming Christians in their 30's. They then became active in different denominational and non-denominational churches as Jan's employment moved his family from city to city. In the late 1990's they were drawn by God into full time ministry in a local Jackson church. It was through that experience that God planted this vision for a Christian ministry in the City of Jackson. Their vision is to support, without distinction to racial or denominational differences, the efforts of community churches and Christian organizations providing service to the people of our city. Our primary focus is to keep Jesus Christ at the center of all we do.
Jan Catlin
 Jan has been married to Linda for 35 years. Together they have three children, and two grandsons. Jan grew up in an un-churched family with an alcoholic father. After numerous struggles and early business setbacks, Jan submitted to the authority of Jesus Christ in his life and became a Christian at age 30. For several years he worked in the corporate world as a project manager and industrial trainer. In 2000, he accepted a position as a full-time assistant pastor at a local Jackson church. With the founding of Desert Fire Ministries, Jan has now left his job at the church to become Executive Director of DFMI in addition to being its Board Chairman. Jan has a Master of Arts degree in Counseling Psychology and is a graduate of Vineyard Leadership Institute in Columbus, Ohio.
Jan brings to the organization a strong background in business organization and development as well as training and experience in pastoral leadership.
Linda Catlin
 Linda is married to Jan, a mother of three - Sherry, Jason, and Mike, and a grandmother of two - Michael, and Chris. Linda has spent the last ten years in sales, advertising and customer service.
Her skill in developing relationships, as well as her experience in promotion, equip her for the challenging task of working with the for-profit community as well as non-profit agencies to encourage their participation in Desert Fire programs.
She spearheaded the Servant Evangelism efforts at Vineyard Church of Jackson and also served as a volunteer in children and youth ministries. Linda is a graduate of the University of Rochester and currently works as an Account Executive for MarketStar.
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About Us
Our Background and Purpose
About the Founders
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