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Lyle M. Griner
National Peer Ministry Director
peermin@peerministry.org
(952) 405-7306

"To the world you may be a nobody, but to somebody you may be the world."

Lyle believes all Christians are called to the ministry of caring. As he equips people to share God's love, he affirms them for their gifts and challenges them to learn and apply new skills. Lyle finds his work incredibly energizing!

You can contact Lyle via email at peermin@peerministry.org
or his phone at 952-698-3988.

Also

Pizza: Canadian bacon and pineapple, please 
Secret craving: Little Debbie Nutty Bars
Stress releaser: Hammer and saw something
Most ignorant about: Cars
Favorite Music:

                          Singer song writer, Nathan Griner at http://www.davumaya.com/nathangriner/

                          Gloria with the famous drumer, Nick Griner at http://myspace.com/gloria

Family

Two Boys:
Nathan: Guitarist, harmonica, trombone and songwriter extraordinary! 
Nick: Drummer, soccer player, and amazing artist.
Both awesome and loved.

Two Cats:
Nancy and Tanya (Remember the Winter Olympic fights!)

One Dog:
Murphy (We only stopped at the humane society to look.)

One Gerbil:
(Not sure it has a name, poor thing.)

My two main responsibilities at the Institute are directing Peer Ministry and Faith and Skills for Parenting.

National Peer Ministry Director

I learned early on in ministry that training others to care about youth was the only way to grow a group. I was introduced to Dr. Varenhorst in the mid 80's and found a method and tools for training that took youth and youth leaders far beyond anything else I had seen or used to help nurture faith. I am awed that my ministry has led me to work with a great group in training, resource development, and supporting others in Peer Ministry. For great information on Peer Ministry:
GREAT INFORMATION ON PEER MINISTRY!!!

Faith and Skills for Parenting

As we trained adults in Peer Ministry many adults kept coming back to us and saying, "This is what I needed to be a good parent. Irene Strommen took on the challenge of developing training and resource that would use the methodological genius found in Peer Ministry. Faith and Skills has tested out as a winner for parenting. Parents not only learn and reinforce skills, but also learn solid ways of communicating and sharing a life of faith as family. For some grand information on Faith and Skills for Parenting, clickz
GRAND INFORMATION ON FAITH AND SKILLS FOR PARENTING

Speaking

Speaking for Youth Groups, Retreats and Conferences
Jr. High and Sr. High events
Will shape talks to fit your themes
I move people. Literally! The audience is involved from the start: Moving around in a game, lending a hand with a demonstration, or coming on stage for an interview. Moving bodies is only a beginning, as hearts are also moved. I have a gift of passion - a passion that is contagious and helps others find their own excitement for faith and service.

What do youth say about Lyle's speaking?

"Lyle rocks the party"
"He doesn't just talk, he involves us" 
"He understands how to speak to us kids."
"Lyle has a great sense of humor but is intense too."
"It was cool to put to work right away the stuff he told us",
"Lyle did a good job getting the entire group involved."
"Great job packing so much information into a small time."
"He was awesome!"
"He kept us involved and it was a lot more interesting that way." 
"Very intense, emotional speaker. Good job."
"He kept me interested, I'm really interested in becoming a peer minister."

Speaking for Volunteer and Professional Youth and Family Leaders

Will shape talks to fit your themes. My heart has always been and always will go out to those that are working on the front lines with youth and their families. I hope to challenge, stretch, spark a passion, and pass on a skill.

Workshops

The following are a few topics that I do often.  I would be happy to develop themes that fit your needs.

Real Questions Youth are Asking

In 2000 I worked with Peer Ministry youth to collect 2000 questions that youth are asking. The Youth & Family Institute and Augsburg Fortress are now working together to publish five collections:

Real Questions Youth ask about God
Real Questions Youth Ask about Tough Issues
Real Questions Girls Ask
Real Questions Guys Ask
Real Questions Youth Ask, For Parents

I remember being a new youth minister at a church with no office, only a desk behind a partition in the basement. As I sat behind my partition a pastor was leading a small group of youth in a confirmation lesson. The pastor asked the youth to write something in a workbook and left the room. I listened, hid away behind my partition. One of the youth asked the others, "Do any of you really believe this stuff?" One by one they all admitted they didn't, and began a great discussion all about space aliens and how the world may have formed. Wow, we need to listen and know the questions. 

Let's wrestle together with ways of listening and communicating with the real life struggles and questions youth ask.

Growing the Youth Group

Working with adolescents? Here are four crucial words to guide you.

GIVE - THEM - A - PURPOSE

If we want youth to value the church, the church must value youth. In 20 years of both Young Life and churches I discovered quickly that I was able to help a group grow in depth and in numbers. Training and supporting youth as partners in ministry is a key element in accomplishing such growth. Together we will:

This is geared for those that are beginning, need to reorganize, or want to evaluate their own youth group.

Leading Youth in Faith and Life Discussions

How do youth grow with each other in faith and life? Check out the math.
Caring Relationships + Pertinent Content + Skilled Leadership = Faith and Life Shaping Discussions. At the heart of successful youth ministries are successful small groups. Being able to lead honest talk about faith and life issues applied to scripture lessons is crucial for every leader of, youth groups, confirmation programs and youth camps. Lyle has been deemed "the expert of metaphor," because of his highly creative ways of communicating biblical stories and ideas to youth. This interactive workshop will help your leader build your small groups into a great overture of enthusiastic, heartfelt discussion.

Small group leaders will learn:

And much more

Enhancing My Friends Self-Worth

Youth Retreats, Training, and Speaking.
Help youth help others as they learn ministry skills around the four essential elements of self-worth: belonging, uniqueness, purpose and hope. Enhancing My Friends Self-Worth is based on Lyle's new curriculum by the same title. Youth grow in their Peer Ministry skills in the midst of experiences that touch people's hearts, stimulate discussion, and offer fun interaction.
Youth will...

Check out the four-session manual, Enhancing My Friends Self-Worth

Fun Family Faith Times

Workshop for parents or intergenerational groups
Help families find practical, fun and creative ideas to involve their homes in faith nurture. This workshop involves participants in a collage of hands-on ideas, including structured devotional times and ways faith can enter into the ebb and flow of everyday life.
Participants...

Equipping congregations, families, and individuals to pass on faith and live well in Jesus Christ.

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