Staff

Executive Director

	Rev. Dr. Paul Hill, Executive Director phill@tyfi.org (952) 405-7308 The Institute's Board of Directors and staff are delighted to welcome Dr. Paul Hill to his new position of Executive Director, effective July 9, 2007. Paul served as the Director of the Center for Youth Ministries at Wartburg Theological Seminary from 1994-2005. While there, he developed Wartburg’s Youth Leadership School and Youth and Family Ministry Certification School. Most recently, he has served on the team in Children, Youth, and Family Ministry of Luther Seminary. Dr. Hill also brings expertise in development and outdoor ministries.
“The Youth & Family Institute has a vital role to play in the future of the Church,” writes Dr. Hill. “This will require imaginative visioning, creative ministry, and bold financial development to support The Institute’s ongoing work.”
Paul's Picture	Paul's Vita

Program Staff

Rev. Dr. David W. Anderson, Director of Congregational Renewal and Leadership

danderson@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7305

Dr. David W. Anderson is the Director of Home and Congregational Renewal at The Youth & Family Institute in Bloomington, MN. He has been instrumental in developing a new paradigm for youth and family ministry, The Child In Our Hands Initiative, and resources to accompany it. He is also the co-developer of the Hand in Hand and Four Key Congregational Training events that tailor the Child In Our Hands Initiative to individual congregations. Dr. Anderson is an ecumenically and internationally recognized leader in faith and family life enrichment. Working with numerous denominations across the United States and around the world. He has taught pastoral theology at Luther Seminary (St. Paul, MN) and St. Thomas Divinity School (St. Paul, MN) and is adjunct faculty at the Center for Youth Ministries of Wartburg Seminary (Dubuque, IA) and Concordia University, (St. Paul MN). Dr. Anderson has been an editor of adult Christian curriculum at Augsburg Fortress Publishers, parish pastor, and hospital chaplain. He has written extensively on partnering home and congregation in faith formation. Dr. Anderson is the author of Frogs without Legs Can’t Hear: Nurturing Disciples in Home and Congregation, Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men, and author of The Child In Our Hands Leadership Manual.

David W. Anderson received his Doctor of Theology degree in Pastoral Care and Counseling from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. Dr. Anderson brings both pastoral experience and scholarship to his ministry.

Lyle Griner, National Director of Peer Ministry and Training Schools

peermin@peerministry.org
(952) 405-7306

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

All Christians are called to the ministry of caring and need to be equipped to share God's love with others. As National Peer Ministry Director, Lyle is a popular speaker for youth gatherings and is known for affirming people's gifts and challenging them to learn and apply new skills.

Lyle has over twenty years experience in leading dynamic youth ministry programs. He has an MA in Youth Leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and serves as an adjunct faculty at Concordia University and Augsburg College. Lyle has authored several books and resources, including Heart Ignite, Enhancing My Friend's Self-Worth, Scripture Talk, Real Questions, Growing Groups,and the Peer Ministry Training Manual.

Lyle learned early on in ministry that training others to care about youth was the only way to grow a group. He was introduced to Dr. Barbara Varenhorst in the mid 80's and found a method and tools for training that took youth and youth leaders far beyond anything else he had seen or used to help nurture faith.

Lyle is also known for moving 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. Lyle has a gift of passion - a passion that is contagious and helps others find their own excitement for faith and service. His heart has always been and always will go out to those that are working on the front lines with youth and their families. His hope is to challenge, stretch, spark a passion, and pass on skills.

What do youth say about Lyle's speaking? "Lyle rocks the party. He was awesome!" "It was cool to put to work right away the stuff he told us", "Great job packing so much information into a small time." "He kept me interested, I'm really interested in becoming a peer minister."

Rev. Dr. Dick Hardel, Senior Fellow

rhardel@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7307

Dick brings the vision and skills of 36 years of ministry as an ordained Lutheran pastor. Over 20 of those years he spent as a parish pastor in congregations in South Dakota and Florida. He has served as pastor of three-point parishes and very large congregations. For 3 1/3 years he served as assistant to the Bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the ELCA.

Since 1994 Dick Hardel has served in the following roles at The Youth & Family Institute - Executive Director, Director of Vision and Creative Ministry, and Director of Wellness Ministries. Dick is a creative thinker, author, teacher, pastor, international speaker, editor, publisher, coach, consultant, retreat facilitator, and clown (trained by older Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns). He is husband, father, grandfather, brother, godfather, uncle, and friend.

Some of the resources authored or co-authored by Dick are: Blest Be The Pie That Binds, The Cross in the Sawdust Circle, Passing On The Faith. FaithTalk® With Children It’s For L.I.F.E!, Tag, You’re It!

Marilyn Sharpe, Director of Cross+generational Ministries

msharpe@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7303

Marilyn Sharpe knows it’s all about faith! She is the Director of Christian Parenting and Intergenerational Ministries at The Youth & Family Institute. A parent for 34 years, she knows first hand the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and challenges of being a family. A Certified Family Life Educator, Marilyn has been a parent educator for 28 years, committed to helping parents become the best and most effective they can be. She teaches parents to celebrate their strengths, give and receive support, and glean wisdom from other parents. Marilyn helps parents and congregations work together to pass on faith and values to the children we all cherish. Formerly a high school English teacher and a confirmation teacher and director for 23 years, Marilyn has a passion for kids and their families. She believes that families are the classroom for teaching all that is most important, the crucible for refining the best in each of us, and a safe harbor from life’s storms. She presents with energy, passion and contagious enthusiasm.

With a BA from Wellesley College and an MAT from Harvard University, she takes extraordinary joy in both learning and teaching. Marilyn is adjunct faculty at Luther Seminary and Concordia University, St. Paul and a guest speaker at Augsburg College.

Linda Staats, Director of HomeGrown Faith Ministries

lstaats@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7312

Linda’s deep roots in the Lutheran church and her broad experience with families through all of life’s ages and stages fuels her passion for passing on faith from generation to generation through a vital partnership between church and home.

With a Masters degree in Human Development and the Family from the University of Nebraska, Linda brings a life span approach to ministry. She is known for her knowledge of resources and for her ability to combine research, theology and people’s own holy stories to engage and empower all generations for serving at home and in the world.

Linda’s career reflects her ability to listen, equip, link, support, and teach: Assistant to the Bishop, Minister for Faith Formation in the ELCA Grand Canyon Synod; Adjunct Faculty, Center for Youth Ministry, Wartburg Seminary; Minister for Faith in Daily Life in an 1800 member congregation; Statewide Director for Building Developmental Assets in Youth for the Arizona Ecumenical Council; college faculty; parent group facilitator for a university research program; certified trainer for Prepare/Enrich, a national resource for couples; therapist, Building Family Strengths instructor; retreat facilitator, and creator of new ministries based on successful grant writing.

Linda and her clergy spouse of 39 years together enjoy restoring thier historic home in downtown Phoenix. Her two Gen-X sons have introduced her to short films, pro sports, the night sky, bouldering, and Linux operating systems.

In the future when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?” tell them! Joshua 4

Marketing & Administration

Jim LaDoux, Director of Coaching and Training

jladoux@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7302

Jim supports the creation, planning and promotion of The Institute's coaching and training services.  He has a Masters of Management Arts degree from Metropolitan State University with a special emphasis in organizational development and strategic planning. For the past 20 years, Jim has served numerous congregations, helping establish gifts-based ministry programs, small group ministries, youth ministry programs, community outreach programs and strategic initiatives.

Jim and his wife Gina and their two young boys, Brett and Kenton, enjoy traveling, camping, board games and serving at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, their home congregation. Some of Jim's favorite pastimes include kayaking, digital photography, downhill skiing and being a "faith shaper" in the lives of young people.

Patty Matthews, Marketing Director

pmatthews@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7311

With thirty years in sales and marketing, Patty Matthews brings broad experience, expertise and enthusiasm to The Youth & Family Institute as our Marketing Director. Prior to coming to The Institute, Patty served as Sales and Marketing Director for Atomic Props and Effects in Oakdale, MN and Sales Support Manager for EcoWater, Woodbury, MN. She currently is a partner and business director in Suite Afton Productions.

Patty’s passion for her work at the Institute is fueled by her faith, being a parent of 5 grown children and grandparent to two precious grandchildren, and her role as a pastor’s wife. Patty’s husband, John, serves as Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, MN.

In her free time, Patty enjoys time with her grandchildren, knitting, gardening, traveling and looking for ways to make a difference.

Jim Mullen, Chief Financial Officer and Resource Management

jmullen@tyfi.org
(952) 405-7309

Jim Mullen joined the staff of The Youth & Family Institute in December of 2003, bringing with him a degree in business education and a career in retail sales and distribution management and services. He is smart, resourceful, efficient, hardworking and unflappable. The staff loves working with him and appreciates his non-anxious presence, his quick grin, his creative problem solving, and his ability to always find a way to do what needs to be done.

Jim lives with his wife Sandy and their daughter Kari. They are all actively involved at home, with Kari’s school and activities, and in their congregation. What a joy it is to have Jim on the team!