As I drive to YSPalooza in Chicago with Seth Bartlette (from RemedyLive.com and one of our youth ministry graduates from Bethel College-Indiana), I thought it appropriate to make a small announcement (which has already been announced, but it’s a bit more official now).
First, some backstory: For years I have had the privilege of attending numerous National Youth Workers Conventions. The Nashville NYWC has always been a bit of a transitional point for me it seems. I love YS’s work and always feel ‘at home’ when I attend their conferences. I can’t sing “Blessed Be the Name” without thinking of the St. Louis convention after YS founder Mike Yaconelli died and Chris Tomlin came out and began the conference singing, “He gives and takes away….. He gives and takes away….”
When I joined the academic community (translated: took a full time role as a tenure-track professor) and later became a board member for the Association of Youth Ministry Educators, I became AYME’s conference coordinator and worked with Mindi Godfrey from YS (she now works for the Center for Youth Ministry Training). Through that working relationship with YS, I became familiar with all of the amazing ways that Youth Specialties (and other youth ministry organizations like GROUP, Lifeway, Baker Books, Youthworker Journal, and others) support academic youth ministry programs. Since then I’ve been privileged to publish with Zondervan/YS, beginning that journey with two Talksheets books.
So, when newly-appointed Executive Director Mark Matlock asked it I would be interested in being a small part of the YS team as the Director of the Youth Specialties Academic Support Network, I was thrilled and jumped at the chance to help serve a team of people I admire so much. For the past few years, Marv Penner (the Executive Director of YSCanada, which has been growing like crazy under his tutelage) had been expertly leading the YSASN along with Amy Gilchrest. So, I’m honored to build on their excellent leadership and continue to help YSASN connect with various colleges, seminaries, and universities around the world. We want to involve more students from more colleges and seminaries in AYME and even IASYM (the international association) in the NYWC events.
Now, to clarify, this is a ‘consultant’ role and it will not diminish my full-time position and work as a tenured Professor and Chair at Bethel College – Indiana. This new position with YS only adds to the rich tradition and vibrant growth we’ve experienced at Bethel in the youth ministry degree and college as a whole.
So, I’m excited to be a part of the YS team as a “thought partner” and as Director of the Youth Specialties Academic Support Network. I am sure there’ll be more details to come as we plan and dream for this year. In the meantime, I’m looking forward to YS Palooza today and connecting with lots of youth workers from across the Midwest.
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