The purpose of this page is to give honor to various significant persons in child, youth and family ministry who have influenced me greatly - in some cases both personally as well as professionally. I consider them my mentors in Christ, for whom I give thanks.
Praise God for ...
Roland Martinson I was immensely privileged to have Dr. Martinson (Rollie) as my academic advisor during my two year of studies (2001-2002) at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Husband to Sherry, Rollie is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, and is an immensely wise and gifted teacher and leader. He has been hugely influential in the field of child, youth and family ministry both within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, on the wider Lutheran "scene" in the USA, and within the larger family of American mainline denominations. Many significant youth and family ministry initiatives have been in some part due to the contributions of Rollie. Author of the classic text Effective Youth Ministry: A Congregational Approach (1988), Rollie is, amongst many other things, Director of the major Exemplary Youth Ministrystudy. My wife and I were delighted to host Rollie in our home in Melbourne during his visit to Australia in January 2005. In January 2006, he will speak at the LCA Turning Pointconference (9th-13th), followed by a child, youth and family ministry conference in Melbourne (13th-14th).
Dick Hardel Dick Hardel, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, served as Executive Director of the Youth and Family Institute from 1994-2004, and is currently the Institute's Director of Vision and Creative Ministries. Married to Carolyn with two children and two grandchildren, Dick is a wonderfully creative and passionate leader in child, youth and family ministry. His contribution to the growing emphasis on the home-congregation partnership in forming faith has been simply immense, as is Dick's storytelling ability! Dick is the co-author of Passing on the Faith: A Radical New Model for Youth and Family Ministry (2000). He has made a couple of very memorable and helfpul visits to Australia in support of child, youth and family ministry in the Lutheran Church of Australia.
David Anderson
John Roberto
Mark DeVries
Marilyn Sharpe
Diana Garland
Ben Freudenburg
'I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.' Philippians 1:3-6
Roland Martinson I was immensely privileged to have Dr. Martinson (Rollie) as my academic advisor during my two year of studies (2001-2002) at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota. Husband to Sherry, Rollie is the Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry at Luther Seminary, and is an immensely wise and gifted teacher and leader. He has been hugely influential in the field of child, youth and family ministry both within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, on the wider Lutheran "scene" in the USA, and within the larger family of American mainline denominations. Many significant youth and family ministry initiatives have been in some part due to the contributions of Rollie. Author of the classic text Effective Youth Ministry: A Congregational Approach (1988), Rollie is, amongst many other things, Director of the major 
Dick Hardel Dick Hardel, a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, served as Executive Director of the Youth 
David Anderson
John Roberto
Mark DeVries
