Bo Boshers

Bo Boshers is recognized as a national leader and influencer of youth ministry around the world. Bo is president of Lead222, a coaching and mentoring ministry that trains youth workers in personal character and professional skills. He served as Executive Director of Student Ministries at Willow Creek Church and the Willow Creek Association, which has over 12,000 Member Churches from over 90 denominations.

He is a best-selling author, motivational speaker and trainer. Bo serves as the chairmen of the National Network of Youth Ministries and is a part of Youth Ministry Executive Council. He is married to his high-school sweetheart of over 30 years, and has three grown children, Brandon, Tiffany and Trevor.

Rob Bergman

I’m Rob Bergman and I’ve been doing this youth ministry thing for a decade now.  I’ve been involved in large churches and small churches.  I have been an intern and I have been the lead youth guy.  In the end, students are students and I am passionate about seeing them take steps in their spiritual journey with Jesus…no matter what the context or setting.  As I have moved along this journey I have found great joy in investing in the lives of other leaders who are in the trenches in youth ministry.  As we link arms, love each other well, and sharpen each other as leaders everyone wins.
 

 
Today I oversee the youth ministry at Windsor Crossing Community Church in St. Louis, MO.  I married my high school sweetheart 10 years ago.  We have two kids, Caden and Claire.
You can contact me at rob@wcrossing.org

Kyle Cooper

Kyle has been involved in youth ministry for the past 18 years. He has been on staff at Fairfax Community Church outside Washington, D.C. since 1992. Kyle believes that students can lead now, and he is passionate about seeing them reach their friends for Christ. Kyle and his wife, Loretta, were married in 1991 and have two children, Carson and Bennett. When not hanging out with students, Kyle can be found on his boat (mainly in the summertime). He enjoys running and any kind of junk food available

Keith Cote

Keith Cote is a consultant for the Willow Creek Association; He is also the Executive Director of LEAD222 United.  With his over 20 years of experience, Keith teaches and trains other leaders and students all around the world on how to build high performing teams. He consults on leadership and organizational development and is the author of “Beyond the Game” and co-author of “Vision Moments”.

Keith was an All – American football player in college and continues to work in the arena of sports through FCA. One of his primary roles as the Director of LEAD222 is to provide Vision, Training and Resources to strategic leaders to help them build effective youth workers within and around local churches.

Keith graduated from Wheaton College in 1984, receiving a BA in Physical Education/Christian Education. Keith and his wife, Angela, live in Wheaton, IL, with their four children, Samuel, Graham, Madelyn, and Camille. You can contact Keith at:  cotek@willowcreek.org

Adam Durso

Despite being a Senior Pastor’s son, Adam Durso led a rebellious life as a young adult.  But, due to the fervent prayers of his mother, Maria Durso, and other prayer warriors, Adam came to the realization that he was in need of God, and totally surrendered his life to Him at the age of 19.
One morning, while vacuuming the church sanctuary, Adam received a vision from God of the sanctuary filled with young people, and he heard the words, “Youth Explosion.”  It would be a place where young people would be engaged and meet God in an untraditional “church” atmosphere. 

Today, Adam serves as the Founder of Youth Explosion, and as Christ Tabernacle’s Executive Pastor, along with his wife, Luz.  Youth Explosion has become one of New York’s largest youth groups. The ministry welcomes 500 young people every Friday night at their weekly service, “The Aftershock,” and its ripple effects are expanding beyond New York.  Youth Explosion has been featured on the 700 Club, BET Nightly News, ABC Teen News, CBS News, BBC Radio, in the NY Times, VIBE Magazine, and NY Newsday.  God also opened doors for Youth Explosion to partner with Six Flags Great Adventure to host 5 events at their local theme park, which attracted over 10,000 people each year.  In February 2008 and April 2009, Youth Explosion partnered with Teen Mania Ministries and Acquire the Fire in hosting Battle Cry NYC…and, the best is yet to come!

Mike Fackler

Mike Fackler is a Middle School Youth Pastor who loves to deer hunt. Since he loves God, and God loves deer, he combined his passions to write a book for deer hunters called….”God Moments from a Deer Stand.” Mike get’s excited about a lot of things. Like “Nerd ropes candy, Summer Camps, Deer Season, and Family Birthdays.” But even more than that, Mike gets excited about seeing students (and older people, too) move beyond a one time sinner’s prayer, and live their life for Christ daily. He also loves to connect “Deer Hunters” or “Outdoor Enthusiasts” with the Creator of the outdoors we love, and wild game we love to chase.

Richy Fisher

Richy Fisher has over 20 years of youth ministry experience in various youth ministry settings and has served in churches ranging from small to large, rural to urban. He currently serves as the executive director of student ministries for Sugar Creek Baptist Church which serves grades 6th through college.

His passion is for effective student ministries and for most of his career has been developing youth leaders through internship, mentoring and coaching. He has served as a consultant and contributor to numerous ministries both inside and outside the local church and currently serves LEAD 222 as the director of the Servant Leadership events.  Richy and his wife, Susan have been married for 16 years and live in Houston, TX with their three boys, Ryan (13), William (10), and Nathan (4).

Nyke Gatlin

Nyke Gatlin is the motivating and visionary Pastor of Camber, College & Young Adult Ministries at Cornerstone Church: the main sight of an association of Non-denominational Churches that have been taking the gospel to every man, woman and child in the greater Phoenix, AZ area for the last decade. He has been the Pastor of Student Ministries at churches like Mclean Bible Church in Vienna VA and Hill Country Bible Church in Austin, TX.  His current role allows him to focus extensively on his passion area of training, equipping and encouraging students and young adults. 

With his fifteen plus years of ministry experience, Nyke has much to offer.  His responsibilities include speaking at workshops and camps, coaching and mentoring like-minded youth pastors w/ LEAD 222 (National Leadership Training & Coaching organization), Evangelism trainer w/Dare2Share Ministries as well as leading the college and young adult ministry at Cornerstone Church in Chandler, AZ.  Nyke, his wife Nichole and their two daughters – originally from Washington, DC – now live in Gilbert, AZ.

Chris Herning

Chris Herning has been involved with youth ministry since 1990. He is the youth pastor at the Vineyard Church of Evanston IL. He and his wife, Brooks, have been married since 1993 and live in Chicago with their three daughters. When he's not being a dad or doing youth ministry, Chris is busy trying to pretend to be a rocker with his band in Chicago.

Kristi Hayes

Kristi Hayes has been working with junior high youth for the past 10 years. Her husband Grant, 20-month-old son Holden just moved back to Oklahoma City from Washington, DC. She has been on multiple church staffs as a youth minister to junior high students and has worked on Capitol Hill, and was the press advance lead volunteer for the Bush administration. She has such a passion to see students make good choices in life. She is currently on staff with Skyline Church and is partnering with Youth for Christ a national organization that serves schools and students. She coaches an 8th grade girls basketball team for Hefner public middle school and has found a new passion in coaching. She played high school and college basketball. Her hobbies include taking vacations with the family and doing triathlons with her husband.

Tim Homa

Tim Homa is the Pastor of Students at Bay Pointe Community Church in Traverse city, Mi. He has been involved with youth work for over 20 years, serving as a youth pastor at Central Christian Chuch as well as an Assistant Principal at Faith Lutheran High School both in Las Vegas NV.

Tim played college baseball and immediately after graduating from college began coaching high school sports. He coached varsity girls volleyball and girls varsity softball for over 10 years. He is a Coach for Lead222 as well as the Mid-Winter Retreat Director. Tim has been involved with Lead222 since 2006.

Tim graduated from Illinois State University in 1990, receiving a BS in Psychology and Graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2003 receiving a Masters in Educational Counseling. Tim and his wife, Angie, live in Traverse City, MI, with their two daughters, Jordan and Jensen. You can contact Tim at timang23@gmail.com.

Jack Hunt

Jack is the Student Ministries Pastor at Christ Church Assembly of God, where he has served since 2003. He provides oversight to ministering to teenagers from grades six through graduation. Life and ministry has taken Jack from the woods of upstate South Carolina to "where the west begins" in Fort Worth Texas.

If there's a position in student ministry, Jack has held it:  intern, part-time unpaid, part-time paid, full time junior high, full time senior high and now at his current position as student ministries pastor.
 

Leaving a career in engineering, his calling in ministry combined with a background in engineering-design, Jack enjoys helping other student ministries think creatively and strategically about their respective environments and concepts of winning students to Christ.  He provides coaching and consulting for student ministry leaders in the areas of leadership, design, and management.  

Jack is a member of LEAD222, an organization dedicated to building a community of student ministry leaders that sharpen one another in personal character and professional skills.  Jack's passions are his family, traveling, art/design, morning workouts, and good food.

Dave Keehn

Dave Keehn is first and foremost the husband of Debbie and the father of Aimee, Adam and Mfundo (whom they adopted from South Africa in 2009). Dave's desire is to nurture his best friend and ministry partner, Debbie, to fulfill God's call on her life and to work together in raising their children to love God and serve others. Dave's passion is to train leaders to equip and encourage this next generation to embrace the heart of God so that this generation would change the world for God and future generations.

A true California boy, Dave Keehn is the Pastor to Youth at South Shores Church in Dana Point, CA. He has been in youth ministry for more than 22 years. Dave is also an Associate Professor at BIOLA University in La Mirada, CA, teaching primarily youth ministry courses.

You can often find Dave walking on the beach with his family and their dog, Zorro (a black pug). When Dave is not at the church or the beach you can find him fulfilling a boyhood dream of riding on fire trucks. Dave is a chaplain for the Orange County Fire Authority in Southern California. His last obsession is Disneyland, where he often escapes with his wife and kids to create memories!

Sid Koop

Sid Koop has spent most of his adult life in full-time youth ministry, his first 3 years as a youth pastor in Canmore, AB, and since then as part-time Director of Student Ministries at the E-Free Church of Lethbridge, and the founder and Director of Truth Matters Ministries.  His passion is helping students see the supremacy of Christ in every matter of life and faith, through biblically centered, culturally relevant and personally authentic communication of God’s Word.  At home, Sid tries to keep up with his wife Jen, and her passion for exercise, and doubles as a baseball coach and tackling dummy for his boys, Payton and Cole.

Mitchel Lee

Mitchel has been involved in student ministry since 1998. He has led student ministries in South Korea, Maryland, Virginia, and is currently the teaching pastor of Community Fellowship Church in West Chicago, Il. Mitchel's heart for the church is to see the various global expressions of devotion to Christ come together in the Church for kingdom advancement.

Mitchel graduated from the U. Of Maryland and has an M.Div from Southeastern Baptist theological seminary. Being a glutton for punishment (and a part nerd), he also went back to school for his M.A. in biblical exegesis from Wheaton college. Mitchel married Sarah in 2004, and they have two sons, Calvin and Noah. He is an avid golfer, reader, fisherman, and loves anything having to do with live music.

Chris Long

Chris is a 19 year youth ministry veteran.  He loves going on dates with his wife, Cindy.  He also enjoys fishing with his boys and swimming with his little girl!  After spending his teen years and college in Canada, serving in a church in Florida is a nice reward.

Todd Lovelace

A 15-year youth ministry veteran, Todd Lovelace serves as a Pastor in downtown Oklahoma City at Skyline Church.  He is also the Director of OKC Suburban Youth for Christ and a ministry coach with Lead222.  Todd has dedicated his life to helping people live on mission.  He enjoys hanging out with family, coaching his kids in sports, and playing golf. 

Tim Mannin

Tim has led in student ministry for over a decade and currently serves as the Executive Student and Family Pastor of Journey Church. His leadership spans children’s, junior high, high school, and college ministries with his primary focus being within the area of high school and college ministry. Tim serves Lead222 in a variety of ways including coaching and student leadership development. Tim received his undergrad from the University of Central Oklahoma and received his MA from Fuller Theological Seminary. Tim and his wife Christie have three daughters, Emily, Carys, and Addi and live in Norman, OK.

Cyndi McClure

Cyndi serves on the Executive Team of Lead 222. She is Director of the Coaching Community.

She has over 2o years of experience in Student Ministry. Cyndi’s background is in Counseling and Student Ministry.
Her early work was in crisis intervention for a State of Florida drug intervention/prevention program.
She then served as youth director for First United Methodist Church in Florida.

After moving to Chicago, she became Women’s Ministry Coordinator for Metro Chicago Youth For Christ, where she led full time staff and 60 volunteers in 7 high schools and 7 jr. high schools.

For the past 12 years Cyndi has been serving in the Willow Creek Association, training national and international youth leaders. Her passion is student leadership, and mentoring and coaching youth leaders.

Cyndi lives in Wheaton, Illinois with her husband Mark, who works for Van Kampen Investments. She has two children. Kyle who lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with his wife Charity. And Chrystl, who lives in Wheaton and is an Associate Photographer at a studio in Geneva, Illinois.

Bruce McEvoy

Bruce McEvoy is the Pastor of Family and Service at First Baptist Church of Geneva (a suburb of Chicago) where he has served since 1997. He started as the "Junior High Guy" became the Pastor of Student Ministries...and now champions both Family and Serving ministries and the teams responsible for Children, Youth, and local and global missions.

Bruce's greatest joy is his wife and children and beyond serving the Lord in the local church he thrives with giving himself away by coaching and mentoring others.  He coached track and field in the public high school for 10 years, but now puts his energy into coaching guys on both the inside and outside game.  Ironically, following track coaching he began running and does that faithfully -- running a marathon each year with the vision to finish one in each state. He also enjoys any type of fishing, travel, and watching Survivor, 24, and CSI when the Gators are not playing football.

 Bruce graduated from Wheaton College in 1993 (BA) and with an MA in 1995.  Completed his Masters of Divinity from Northern Baptist Seminary (2000) and finished his doctorate in Youth and Family Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary (2008) with an emphasis on Early Adolescent Spiritual formation.  Bruce and his wife, Diana live in Geneva, IL, with their children Joel (2000) and Sarah (2004).

You can contact Bruce at: Bruce McEvoy BMcEvoy@fbcg.com

Mark Moder

Mark Moder is the Executive Director of Youth Dynamics, an adventure-based youth ministry that utilizes activities such as white water rafting, rock-climbing and kayaking to impact thousands of teenagers and young adults in the Northwest each year. Youth Dynamics also ministers weekly to youth in many small communities, planting missionaries and empowering local volunteers to reach the lost teenagers in their cities.

Mark has been in youth ministry in the Northwest since 1987, working as a youth pastor for many of those years, most recently at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls, Idaho. He now leads a staff of 45 youth workers in Washington, Oregon and Idaho who worked with over 5000 students in 12 locations last year.

Mark travels and speaks as his schedule allows. He has authored several national magazine articles and a book, Reach the Campus.

Mark and his wife Heidi live near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and have been married for 22 years. They have two teenage boys: Cameron (18) & Drew (15).  Mark is an avid snowboarder, a rabid Gonzaga basketball season ticket holder and is a youth ministry volunteer in his church.

For more information about Youth Dynamics please go to our website @ www.yd.org.  Mark can be reached at mmoder@yd.org or at 208-660-8000.

Kevin Moore

Kevin Moore is the youth pastor of Oneighty, the youth ministry of Church on the Move in Tulsa, Ok.  Having served as both a volunteer and salaried youth pastor, at small, medium and mega churches, Kevin has dedicated the last 19 years of his life to introducing teenagers to Jesus Christ and helping them walk out their faith in a real and personal way.
 

Kevin speaks at youth retreats, camps and conferences all over the United States and also has recently released a four book series titled "What do I do when?".  In this series he answers some of teenagers toughest questions about God, Money, Friends and Sex-Love-Dating.  These books are being used by youth ministries all over the country as small group studies as well as first time salvation packets to give teenagers a firm footing in their new walk with Christ.

Kevin and his wife Veronica have been married for more than 20 years and have four incredible children.

Sterling Moore

Sterling is Pastor of High School Ministries at First Baptist Church of Geneva (the western suburbs of Chicago), where he has served since 2007.

The youth ministry in the church that Sterling grew up in church was very instrumental in his discipleship process and was a big part of the reason that he choose to pursue student ministry as a career. God led him to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and where he majored in Christian Education and Youth Ministry. After receiving his degree from Moody, Sterling accepted a position in First Baptist Church in Wheaton, Illinois in their student ministry department and continued his education at Wheaton Graduate School. After nearly nine years serving the church in Wheaton, God has led my family and I to FBCG to continue serving Him in full-time student ministries.  One of Sterling's favorite aspects of his current job is the opportunity to mentor and disciple a group of freshmen boys in his small group.

Sterling and his wife Sherry are the proud parents of of three beautiful daughters; Emma, Lainey and Naomi.  As a family they enjoy spending time together outdoors, hanging out in downtown Chicago and get-aways to the beach.  Their primary goal in life is to pass their faith on to their children and to see them love God and follow Him with passion.

Sterling is passionate about coaching and mentoring because it has played such a vital role in his leadership development and overall ministry life.  LEAD 222 was a critical source of connection, support and encouragement through both the joys and challenges of life and ministry.  His desire is to journey with other leaders of students through the ebbs and flows of ministry life and to provide the sort of support to them that he has received from his own coach.

Dave O'Vell

Dave O’Vell has over 15 years of experience as a full time Student Ministry Pastor.  He has been with Lead222 since 2004.  His passion is to see real life transformation in students through community groups and mentoring.  Family is a top priority for Dave and he loves spending time with his wife Amy and two daughters, Hayley and Alyssa.  He currently is the Student Ministry Pastor of McCord Road Christian Church in Sylvania, Ohio.

Brian Schwammlein

Brian Schwammlein has been involved in youth ministry since the early 90’s. He is currently the Middle School Pastor at Northwoods Community Church in Peoria Il. He has worked in youth ministry at small and large churches and in middle ministry, high school and college ministry. As a result of Brian growing up in Singapore and Europe, Brian is passionate about local and international inter-cultural youth ministry partnerships. Unless God reshapes and redirects, Brian would be glad to be a “lifer” in youth ministry. Brian has been a grateful recipient of youth ministry coaching and mentoring and knows the value of experiencing and living out the 2 Timothy 2:2 lifestyle.
Brian and his wife, Jen, have been married 13 years and have 3 kids and are eagerly expecting their fourth child in July 2010. He loves to play “Settlers of Catan,” and is a fan of OU Football and Bayern Munich soccer.

Andy Stephenson

Dr. Andy Stephenson has served as the leader of the Youth and Family Ministries of the Church of God (Anderson, IN) for North America since 2001. Andy is passionate about coaching and seeing others discover and live God’s purpose for their lives. Andy speaks to youth and youth leaders in various settings across the nation and is focused on being a part of helping to raise up a new generation of Christ-centered leaders.

He is an author and taught at the University level from 2001-2009.

He was married to the love of his life Candace in August of 2005 and in November of 2007 they had their first child and named her Mackenzie.

Andy holds a undergraduate degree from Mid America Christian University in Bible and Behavioral Science, a Masters degree from Oklahoma State University in Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Arlington specializing in non-profit leadership.

You can contact Andy at: AStephenson@chog.org

Candace Stephenson

Having a heart for teenagers, Candace (Hargett) Stephenson, a former recording artist from Nashville, Tennessee pours into the lives of students and student ministries around the country. She speaks to a variety of audiences, ranging to students about self‑ esteem and seeing themselves through God’s eyes to student leaders and the tools to be an effective leader. A graduate of Anderson University, Anderson, IN, Candace has her bachelor’s degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism and specialization in Christian Ministries. She is currently the Student Ministry Director at Northeast Community Church in Fishers, IN, a House church pastor and worship leader. Candace is a women’s coach and the Director of Membership for Lead 222. Candace has been married since 2005 to the love of her life Andy and they have one daughter. Candace resides in Fishers, IN with her husband, Andy and little girl Mackenzie.

Bubba Thurman

Bubba Thurman is the Student Pastor at Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas.  He is responsible for directing ministry to students from birth to High School Seniors.  Bubba is a 19 year veteran in student ministry with a passion to teach and train student pastors and leaders so that they may be able to impact students throughout the world with the message of Christ. He is a sought after speaker at events ranging from local training to national conferences with 11,000 students. Being a former college athlete, Bubba uses his passion to motivate and inspire people to reach their full potential.  As a coach in LEAD222 he is able to fulfill his calling to equip others to strengthen the local church.

Bubba is a graduate of Dallas Baptist University, receiving his BA in Biblical Studies and Christian Ministry.  He enjoys spending time with his wife, Amanda and their three children Joshua, Tyler and Hannah.  You can contact Bubba at bubbat@lakepointe.org.

Glenn Westburg

Glenn Westburg has been in youth ministry since 1986 in the local church setting. Glenn is passionate about discipling young people and helping them grow in their love for and devotion to Christ. Glenn is an avid fan of the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Eagles. He is currently serving as the Pastor of Student Ministries at Parkview Community Church in the suburbs of Chicago and has been on staff there since April of 1999. Glenn earned a BA from Moody Bible Institute and an MA from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and is a gifted teacher and leader. Glenn and his wife Julie have been married since 1996, have 3 kids and reside in Wheaton, IL.

Matt Wilkinson

Matt Wilkinson is the Cross Regional Youth Pastor for The Meeting House, a multi-site church in Canada.  In this role he serves as team leader in overseeing the vision, strategic development and direction of the youth ministry across all sites, while continuing to be point communicator as well as being able to engaged students on the frontlines of youth ministry work.

Matt also serves on the Youth and Young Adult's Roundtable of Canada and is sought after for speaking to youth and youth workers at conferences, retreats, and training gatherings.  While in his late teens, he founded a student leadership training program which has recently merged with a youth worker training experience, Today's Teens Conference, where is currently serves as the Co-Director.  Most recently he has joined LEAD222 to serve as a coach in a Canadian context.

Matt is passionate about reaching unchurched youth across Canada through empowering, equipping, and resourcing youth workers, both paid and volunteer.  His life vision is to "LOVE ALL. SERVE ALL."

He is a graduate of York University with his BEd and is currently in the middle of his studies with Arrow Leadership.

Matt and his wife Charity, live in Burlington, Ontario with their new puppy, Roxy.

You can contact Matt Wilkinson at matt.wilkinson@themeetinghouse.ca