Site
Bookstore
Associates
The Youth & Family Institute has been blessed by the gifts of a number of people with whom we have established an Associate of the Youth and Family Institute relationship. These are people who have created and lead workshops, seminars, and conferences in areas that connect to the vision and mission of the Institute. They are rooted in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, gifted presenters, and further the mission of the Institute. Please contact the Institute to make use of their services.
Linda
Staats
Specializes in:
Hand in Hand Covenant
FourKey Congregational Training
Marriage Ministry
Spirituality of Children
Intergenerational Ministries
Consulting
Linda Staats, M.S. is an associate with the Youth & Family Institute in MN and adjunct faculty for the Center for Youth Ministries at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa. Previously, Linda coordinated Milestone & Marriage Ministry at a congregation of 1800 in Phoenix, where she implemented the "Child in Our Hands" model.
With 30 years experience in marriage and family life enrichment, Linda's portfolio also includes counseling, college teaching, directing the Arizona Ecumenical Council's statewide "Building Assets in Youth" efforts and serving the ELCA churchwide office as a Partner in Education.
Linda's deep roots in the Lutheran church and her experience with families through all of life's stages fuels her passion for a vital partnership between the church and the home for passing on the faith.
Everything Linda knows about repair on a historic home, computers, DVD, pro sports, the night sky and hiking she learned from her clergy husband and her 2 Gen X sons.
Heather
Hultgren
Specializes in:
Training adults in Youth and Family Ministry
Creative Expression in Worship
Clown Ministry Training
Originating from Michigan, Heather has livedin the Twin Cities since 1993. She graduated from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN with a Master of Arts in youth and Family Ministry in 1995 and has seven years of youth and family ministry experience. She is a ELCA Associate in Ministry.
Heather has written VisionPak (Youth & Family Institute), as well as curriculum for Augsburg fortress, has been a columnist for Parish Teacher , written Bible Studies for Youth Encounter, and she has been a “teaching Youth” columnist for Parish Teacher. She developed Smart Start, a mentoring/education program for youth workers through Youth Leadership, Inc.
Heather is a graduate of Christ Clown College, and is currently Boss Clown of Life In Christ circus, a Twin Cities performing clown troupe. She has clowned in Mexico, Africa and the United States. She has trained others in the art and theology of clown ministry.
Heather is in the season of motherhood with her son Marcus, (a
clown himself). She and her husband and son live in Woodbury, Minnesota
Rev.
Peggy Bosmyer
Specializes in:
Hand in Hand
FourKey Congregational Training
Faith Formation in a Christian Congregation
The Rev. Dr. Peggy Bosmyer is Mission Cantor for the Diocese of Arkansas, serving at St. Margaret‚s Episcopal Church in Little Rock. Formally, she was director of contextual and continual education at the School of Theology in Sewanee, Tennessee.
Dr. Bosmyer is a keynote speaker, consultant, and workshop leader for the Institute. She is a Child in Our Hands keynote speaker and workshop leader and also one of the Institute's Hand in Hand trainers (congregational consultant).
Peggy's gifts include her worship leadership in the congregational
setting and her work on nurturing faith in the home using the Four
Keys and a Benedictine spiritual formation. She helps congregations
and homes to benefit from the holy space in family life through
"appreciative inquiry, family devotions, and celebrations of
rites of passage." The goal is to restore balance and sanity
in our homes and relationships using the principles of Benedictine
spirituality and worship and the Four Keys to nurture faith.
Nancy Going
Specializes in:
Youth and Family Ministry
Faith Formation in a Christian Congregation
Creative Worship with Children, Youth, and Adults
Discipleship Ministry with Youth
Creative Expression of Faith
Nancy did her undergraduate work at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana. Her interdisciplinary major was in youth ministry and theology. She received her Master of Arts Degree in Counseling and Guidance from Covenant Seminary in St. Louis, MO and is currently working on her doctorate at Luther Seminary.
Nancy has received additional training from The Youth & Family Institute, Search Institute, Group Publishing, Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago, Board for Youth Ministry (LCMS) and graduated from Christ Clown College in 1980. From 1975-76 she served as the youth staffer for the South Dakota District of the LCMS.
Nancy is the author of a best seller for Group Publishing, Boosting Self-Esteem in the Active Bible Curriculum Series. She is also the author of Who Am I to God, Christian Character Development Series, Group Publishing; Pure Power, in Faith Weaver by Group Publishing; Materialism in Active Bible Curriculum by Group Publishing.
She is the author of several retreats and articles for Group Magazine and for Resources for Youth Ministry and has been involved in leading numerous Group Workcamps.
Her workshop and seminar areas are: A Vision for Youth and Family
Ministry; Building Strong and Faithful Families; Creative Ways of
Learning Faith; Clown Ministry; Asset Building; Devotions in the
Home; Workcamps and Family Missions, Marriage Preparation Retreat;
Children's Ministry.
Tom
Schwolert
Specializes in:
Peer Ministry
Faith and Skills for Parenting
Tom is a Community Life Minister at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Forest Lake, Minnesota. He is a husband and parent and has devoted the past fourteen years to Youth and Family Ministry. He has earned his BA in Management and Seminary Studies and has Masters studies from Luther Seminary. Tom has been an associate trainer for Peer Ministry for seven years and for Faith and Skills for Parenting for two years. Tom also chairs the Peer Ministry Council of the Youth & Family Institute. He strongly believes that the church has overlooked many of its most powerful ministers…youth! Youth can minister to their peers and their family like no other group.
Tom loves to motivate others to "do the faith". He has passion for helping others see that they are capable of being faith builders in their everyday life. Believing that God has given us the gifts we need to nurture the faith of our children and youth right where we are, one does not need to be an "expert" or a "professional" to share the faith. When we claim Jesus as the Christ, each of us becomes an "expert" in our own faith journey. Tom will challenge people to take the gifts that God has given and begin to unleash these gifts to build faith in children, youth, and families.
Tom's workshops include a variety of topics. "Open Up Your Bag of Faith" is a workshop in which families can learn practical ways to use everyday items as props for sharing faith. "Creating a Welcome Place" helps congregations think in new ways and gives practical ideas on how to help people of all ages feel welcome in any congregational setting. "Youth as Ministers: Moving from Programs to Ministry" helps youth see themselves as equal partners in sharing the Gospel and making faith a part of everyday life. Tom is also available to speak at youth gatherings or lead retreats for adults, youth, or families. He will create a workshop to fit your individual youth and family ministry concerns.
Catherine
Anderson
Specializes in Peer Ministry
In addition to her work as an Associate with the Institute, Catherine is currently serving as the Synod Youth Coordinator for the Northeastern Minnesota Synod of the ELCA. She is also the creator of Camp Noah, a therapeutic day camp for children who have survived natural disasters, sponsored by Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota and Luther Disaster Response.
Catherine has been working in youth ministry since 1987, beginning in camping ministry and then as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at a large Lutheran congregation in northern Minnesota.
Catherine lives in Duluth, Minnesota, where she tolerates the cold weather in order to play in the woods, swim in the lakes and spoil her two nephews.
Rev. Rob Norris-Weber
Specializes in:
Peer Ministry
Faith and Skills for Parenting
Youth and Family Ministry Consulting
Rob is Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministry at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, MN. He also serves on the Life Development Team for Bethlehem, building faith from pre-birth to post-high school youth. Rob earned his master of Divinity at Luther Seminary, concentrating in Youth and Family Ministry through the Youth Leadership Certification program. He also has been trained in the Moon-Light Student Journey program. Previously, he worked for five years in a camping ministry setting. Rob is a member of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network.
Rob has been training Peer Ministry and Advanced Peer Ministry leaders since 1993. He was in the first group trained in the current Faith & Skills for Parenting curriculum. He still uses both Peer Ministry and Faith & Skills for Parenting at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Rob works with over 100 trained adults and high school youth who are the leaders for Bethlehem's Youth and Family Ministries.
Rob describes himself as a relational person. He enjoys speaking, training, or leading a retreat after helping people walk through a process to identify their hopes and dreams. Rob loves to help people realize the gifts God has given them. Jesus said, "I came that you may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Rob believes that society will never be safe for children, but we can make children safe for society. This is accomplished through mentoring programs, Peer Ministry, equipping parents, and encouraging all congregational members to take an active role so we can give children a strong foundation.
Rob lives in Minneapolis with his wife, Nancy, who works in child development at the University of St. Thomas, in St. Paul, MN.
Workshop and seminar areas include Wise as Serpents, Next Time I Fall in Love (both are sexuality issues); Seven Habits of Highly Effective Families, Parenting Issues and Student & Adult Leadership Training. He will adapt a seminar to meet a congregation's individual needs.
Mike
Carlson
Specializes in:
Peer Ministry
Youth and Family Ministry Consulting
Michael Carlson is a Youth and Family specialist who has provided
solid ministry as a youth and family minister in the parish and
in the community. Mike has developed programs in Peer Ministry that
have proven to be powerful tools for ministry in the lives of hundreds
of people. He is a trained trainer for the Peer Ministry division
of the Youth & Family Institute of Augsburg College and has
trained hundreds of youth and adults. His energy and practical application
have proven to work well in any size group.
Michael is currently residing in Dubuque Iowa with his 3 boys and
his wife Tammy. He is a student at Wartburg theological Seminary
and is pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree. He is also working
as a Speaker, Trainer, and Consultant all over the United States,
teaching and preaching on the wonders of God's powerful and transforming
love.
Mike keeps groups spell bound as he weaves biblical foundations with life stories that apply to the priesthood of all believers. He is an accomplished speaker at Synod gatherings, graduations, school groups, and Churches as well as being a powerful trainer. Mike is dedicated to empowering all people to find their gifts of ministry.
Workshop and Seminar areas include: Coming Through Learning Disabilities, Sexuality, Parents Passing on Faith, Intergenerational Ministry and Sunday School.
Cindy
Wiste
Specializes in:
Peer Ministry
Faith and Skills for Parenting
Cindy is the Director of Youth and Family Ministry at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hayfield, MN. She lives in Kasson, MN with her family. Her husband of 25 years, Duane, is a carpenter foreman. Together they have two children: Tim, 28, works with computers and Jill, 23, is employed at the Mayo Clinic.
Cindy was certified as a Youth Minister at the Youth Ministry Certification school in 1995. Currently, she is taking classes through the Lay School of Theology of the SE Minnesota Synod, where she is the chairperson of the board. She has worked with youth and their families for 7 years, first at St. John's Lutheran Church in Kasson, MN as Youth Director, then as Director of Christian Education. They have about 2800 baptized members. In February of 2001 Cindy began working at Trinity in Hayfield, MN as Director of Youth and Family Ministry. Her new job includes Christian Education, Parish Activities, and Membership and Outreach as well! A huge job description in a smaller church (approx. 1200 baptized members).
Cindy is a member of the Peer Ministry Advisory Council. She ahs taken Peer Training, Peer II training, Faith and Skills for Parenting training, Moon-Light training, the Family Factor in Faith Nurture, gone to a Child in Our Hands Conference (even presented a Peer Workshop there), and done countless presentations. Cindy has led many Peer Ministry, Peer II, and Faith and Skills for Parenting training events. She believes that Peer Ministry is the core of any youth programming! Cindy is also the Healthy Communities * Healthy Youth officer for her Lutheran Brotherhood branch and attended the National Conference in the fall of 1999 in Denver.
Cindy has several passions. The first passion is her family!
Her kids and soon to be grandkids are everything to her! She
is also very passionate about her work! She loves what she
does and gives if al she's got! Sharing faith with people
is not always something from which you see immediate results, but
when you do...it's the best, most rewarding thing Cindy can imagine.
The youth are the very best part of her job, and the part she is
most passionate about.
Rev.
Carol Solovitz
Specializes in Faith and Skills for
Parenting
The Rev. Carol Solovitz is Pastor of Education and Enrichment at Zumbro Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. As a child, she attended Sunday school at a Presbyterian Church. She states that this was her only exposure to faith. Her family did not nurture faith outside of sending her to Sunday school. While in college, Carol joined a Lutheran church. She holds a bachelor of Science in education from the University of Minnesota. Eventually, she earned both her Master of Arts in Pastoral Care and Ministry and her Master of Divinity from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN.
Carol has brought Faith & Skills for Parenting and Peer Ministry to her congregations in Fargo, Brooklyn Park and now Rochester. She was invited by Irene Strommen to be a part of Piloting Faith Builders, the first pilot program of Faith & Skills for Parenting. After that, she helped co-teach the developed Faith & Skills for Parenting with Irene. She now trains groups in Faith & Skills for Parenting in her area and around the country.
Carol has seen the sheer number of parenting classes that exist as choices for parents. She was longing as a parent to be able to express their faith. She likes family ritual and hears a lot of parents looking for ritual in the family. Carol believes that for years we did youth ministry all backwards. We started at senior high and hoped that we could be able to instill faith in them for their whole lives during those couple of years. She believes we need to start as young as possible and make faith building a life-long faith building.
Carol and her husband, Steve, have two sons, Stephen, 26, and Dan, 23. Neither has been arrested, so the Faith & Skills methods must work pretty well. She has even co-written an article with her son about the death of a family friend. She is also interested in collecting and sharing faith stories from all generation, gardening, reading, travel, and photography.
Jonette
Knock
Specializes in Peer Ministry
Jonette Knock has been working with Peer Ministry since 1989. She took her training directly from Dr. Barbara Varenhorst and Irene Strommen. When she continued her Peer Ministry training, she spent one of the coldest and snowiest days of the year training for Peer II in Irene Strommen's living room. All the schools were closed, but education still abounded for the trainers and trainees for Peer II. Since then, Jonette has used Peer Ministry in all the churches with which she has been involved.
Currently, Jonette is Director of Youth and Family Ministry at Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN. She holds a degree in communications and theater from Central College in Pella, IA. She has taken several courses at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. She has been working in youth and family ministry and Christian education for 16 years. She also serves the ELCA as a partner in Christian Education, speaking to groups and congregations about Christian education of behalf of the ELCA.
Jonette describes Peer Ministry as the best thing to happen to her ministry with her students. She can see students using their skills in their everyday lives. She has even observed former youth using the same skills in college, work, and parental settings. Jonette gets special joy from seeing families passing on the faith and living out their faith lives together.
Jonette is a voracious reader, a poor golfer, and a movie buff.
She has worked very hard to become an indulgent aunt by spoiling
a niece and three nephews. Jonette describes herself as "pretty
fun."
Kari
Lyn Wampler has been working in Youth Ministry for over 15
years. Among other things she has worked as a Youth Director, camp
counselor, canoe guide and toured with musical missionary teams
around the United States and Eastern Europe. Her love of youth and
dedication to ministry brought her to Luther Seminary where she
earned a Masters Degree in Youth Leadership and Pastoral Theology.
Kari Lyn is an associate of the Youth and Family institute, and
speaks and teachs around the country empowering youth and adults
in ministry and their dedication to Christ. She enjoys music, traveling,
hanging out with friends, but most of all, spending time with her
husband, Womp and her little girl Lucy. Kari Lyn looks forward to
the ministry we can do together for the kingdom!
David Lynn
Specializes in: Training church
professionals, congregational leaders and parents to
pass on faith in the home, as well as in the congregation.
David Lynn is a 30-year veteran of childrens, youth, and family ministry. He has written numerous books, articles and learning games including the best-selling TalkSheets, Tension Getters, Zingers, Grow for It Journal, and Great Fundraising Ideas. He is the creator, with his wife Kathy, of ReadyClickGrow Your Family, an innovative Web-based ministry that extends a church’s ministry 24 hours a day, seven days a week. David specializes in creative approaches to home-grown faith. He lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Kathy and their two children.