The Center for Youth Ministry Training

CYMT

Foundations Youth Ministry Conference

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Keynote and Leaders Bios

	Sara Bailey has been in youth ministry for 14 years and is currently the Youth Ministry Coordinator at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. She has previously served parishes in the Nashville & Philadelphia areas. She is also a youth ministry consultant and speaker in the Diocese of North Carolina. Sara graduated from Christian Brothers University with a degree in Psychology and Business. She has furthered her education by completing the Education For Ministry program (Seminary at the University of the South at Sewanee), Institute for Professional Youth Ministry Internship, and the Youth Ministry Certificate program at Princeton Theological Seminary.
	Lesleigh Carmichael served as Minister at Woodmont Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Nashville, TN where her primary responsibility was serving as the youth minister from 1998-2005. In addition to being a Lead Consultant for YMA, Lesleigh also serves as the Director of Coaching for the Center for Youth Ministry Training (CYMT). Lesleigh holds a B.S. from Auburn University and a Masters of Divinity from Vanderbilt University Divinity School.
	David Carrol currently serves as Senior Pastor at Alta Woods United Methodist Church in Jackson, MS, after serving eight years in youth ministry at Galloway UMC, also in Jackson. David graduated from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS, with a B.A. in Sociology, then from Emory University's Candler School of Theology with a Masters of Divinity degree.
	Jen DeJong began working in youth ministry in 2002 as the Youth Program Coordinator at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, TN. She currently serves as Director of Youth Ministries at First United Presbyterian Church in Collinsville, IL. Jen graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Cognitive Studies and a minor in Communications. She also earned a M.S. at Vanderbilt in Developmental Psychology with a special emphasis on parental involvement in teenagers' extracurricular activities.
	Mark DeVries is the founder of Youth Ministry Architects, a hands-on coaching service for churches whose youth ministries are in transition (intentional or unexpected) or churches who hope to see their youth ministries move to the next level. For over 20 years, Mark has served as Associate Pastor for Youth and their Families at First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN where he continues to oversee the youth ministry on a part-time basis. Mark has trained youth leaders across the United States, as well as in Russia, Canada, Uganda, and South Africa, working with a wide variety of denominations. He has taught courses or been a guest lecturer at a number of colleges and seminaries, including Princeton Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt Divinity School, David Lipscomb University, King College, and Reformed Theological Seminary.
	Jeff Dunn-Rankin has been director of Youth at Christ United Methodist Church in Venice, FL since 1998. He had been an active youth volunteer for more than a decade with church and para-church organizations, including Young Life and First Presbyterian Church, Nashville, TN. Before beginning church ministry, Jeff was managing editor of the Charlotte Sun, the country's fastest growing newspaper in the 1990's, nearly doubling in circulation. Jeff is a graduate of the Sewanee: The University of the South and has a Masters in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.
	Lynn Barger Elliot currently serves as the Professor of Youth Ministry at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Prior to joining the faculty at Calvin, Lynn served as the Interim Director of Youth Ministries at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Grand Rapids, MI. She has previously served in youth ministry positions in Riverside, IL and Ann Arbor, MI. Lynn also served as the youth ministry consultant for the Presbytery of Chicago. Lynn graduated from Wheaton College (IL) with a degree in Philosophy and from Princeton Theological Seminary with a Masters of Divinity. She has taught at the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary.
	Dietrich "Deech" Kirk served as the youth minister of Brentwood United Methodist Church for six years before becoming the Executive Director of the Center for Youth Ministry Training in 2006. He continues to serve as one of Brentwood's assoicate ministers. He has served youth ministries with 12 to 450 active youth since 1993. He is one of the Co-author's of Now What? Next Steps in Your New Life with Christ and regularly writes for Barefoot Ministries. Deech is a graduate of Lambuth University and Memphis Theological Seminary and lives in Brentwood, Tenn.
	Susan Groce was called into youth ministry in 1998 as a volunteer at Jenkins Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Nolensville, TN. In 2001 she joined their staff and served as the youth director at JCPC until 2008. Susan is currently the Coordinator of Youth Ministry & Outdoor Ministry for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She is a contributor to Bridges Newsletter and The Cumberland Presbyterian magazine. She serves CYMT as a youth ministry coach. Susan earned her B.S from Middle Tennessee State University and a M.A.R. from Memphis Theological Seminary.
	Hank Hilliard is the Manager of Youth Ministry Development for the General Board of Discipleship of the United Methodist Church. He serves local churches through speaking at events, leading workshops, developing resources and curriculum, and organizing events for youth and youth workers. Before this, Hank was a full-time youth minister at a local church in Memphis, TN for 13 years.
	Ben McClary is a third-generation youth pastor who has been in youth ministry for over 15 years, at church in California, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Indiana. He organized the pilot group that is not the Purpose Driving Youth Ministry Community and is contributing author to their newsletter. Ben has a cooperative degree in Bible and Secondary Education from Ozark Christian College and is working on his Master's degree in Youth & Family Ministry.
	Will Penner has been in ministry with young people for two decades. He's served on staff at Methodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian churches; he taught English, creative writing, biblical studies, and civics in public and private high schools. He and his wife are currently the volunteer youth pastors at Westview United Methodist Church in Fairview, TN. Will is the Executive Editor of The Journal of Student Ministries, the premier publication for professionals in youth ministry. Will also works for the CYMT as the Resource Director for YMToday.com. Will received his B.S.Ed. and M.S.Ed. from Baylor University, and is all-but-dissertation on a Ph.D. in education and Human Development from Vanderbilt.
	Jack Radcliffe serves as an Interim Associate Pastor with responsibilities for youth ministry at Bellevue Presbyterian Church. He has been in youth ministry for 21years serving churches in Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts and Tennessee. In addition to local church ministry, Jack has spoken at retreats, is the adjunct Youth Ministry Professor at Martin Methodist College, is a consultant with Youth Minsitry Architects, and serves as a youth ministry coach with CYMT.. Jack has an M.Div from Ashland Theological Seminary and a D.Min in Youth and Family Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary.

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