Vibrant Faith Ministries: Staff, Associates & Board

Executive Director

More about Paul

Paul's Picture
Paul's Vita
Watch Paul's Video
Paul's Blog
Three Decades of Research on Faith Formation - Contact Paul for a verbal narrative to best interpret this research. (This download will take a few minutes)

Staff

More about David

Rev. Dr. David W. Anderson

Presenter, Coach and Author

danderson@vibrantfaith.org

(952) 405-7305

Dr. David W. Anderson is a presenter, coach and author at Vibrant Faith Ministries in Bloomington, MN. He has been instrumental in developing an approach to Christian discipleship and evangelism, the Vibrant Faith Frame (formerly known as The Child In Our Hands Initiative), and resources to accompany it. He is also the co-developer of the Hand in Hand Congregational Training events that tailor the Vibrant Faith Frame to individual congregations. Dr. Anderson is an ecumenically and internationally recognized leader in faith and family life enrichment. Dr. Anderson has been a seminary and college instructor, 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 co-author of Frogs without Legs Can't Hear: Nurturing Disciples in Home and Congregation (2003) and Coming of Age: Exploring the Identity and Spirituality of Younger Men (2006) and author of The Child In Our Hands Leadership Manual (1999). His two latest books, From the Great Omission to Vibrant Faith (2009) and Vibrant Faith in the Congregation (2011) are two thirds of a new trilogy of resources from VFM, a collection books on how congregations and homes can pass on and live a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ.

Leif Kehrwald

Vibrant Faith @ Home Team Leader

lkehrwald@vibrantfaith.org

Leif Kehrwald has worked in family ministry and faith formation on the local, regional, and national levels for more than thirty years. Currently he serves as Vibrant Faith @ Home Team Leader, a service of Vibrant Faith Ministries.Leif has published several books and numerous articles on family life, family ministry, marriage, and youth ministry. His latest publication is The Catholic Faith and Family Bible, to which he served as general editor, published by HarperCollinsPublishers, 2010. Leif has taught courses on family ministry, parish partnership and family spirituality at Dominican University (Chicago), Loyola University (Chicago), University of Dayton, and Mount Angel Seminary in Oregon. He travels frequently throughout the country offering presentations and workshops on family faithdevelopment. Leif and his wife, Rene, have two young adult sons and live in Portland, Oregon.

More about Jim

Jim LaDoux

Presenter and Coach

jladoux@vibrantfaith.org

(952) 405-7302

Jim supports the creation, planning and promotion of Vibrant Faith Ministries 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@vibrantfaith.org

(952) 405-7311

With thirty-five years in sales and marketing, Patty Matthews brings broad experience, expertise and enthusiasm to Vibrant Faith Ministries as our Marketing Director. Prior to coming to VFM, Patty served as Sales and Marketing Director for Atomic Props and Effects in Oakdale, MN and Sales Support Manager for EcoWater, Woodbury, MN.

Patty's passion for her work at VFM is fueled by her faith, being a parent of five grown children and grandparent to five 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.

Anna Rendell

Social Networking Manager

arendell@vibrantfaith.org

952-405-7300

Anna Rendell’s passion for faith development, writing and connecting with others is what brought her to the world of social media. She is now bringing Vibrant Faith into that world as their Social Networking Manager. Anna graduated from Augsburg College’s Youth & Family Ministry program, and went on to work as Director of Youth Ministries at Grace Lutheran Church in Apple Valley, MN. She has also worked at several Bible camps as a counselor, high school leadership director, and year round program director. Anna is the author of Girl with Blog (her personal blog), has created active community on Facebook and Twitter, and has also contributed articles to other websites and blogs. In her spare time she loves baking, crafting, being outside, and spending time with her husband, Jared, and their golden retriever, Nysse.

More about John

John's Bio (MS Word)

Websites

Lifelong Faith

John Roberto

johnroberto@vibrantfaith.org

(203) 729-2953

John Roberto serves as Project Coordinator for Vibrant Faith Ministries’ 2011 Initiative, the Faith Formation Learning Exchange. In addition, John is president of LifelongFaith Associates (editor of the journal Lifelong Faith, and coordinator for the Faith Formation 2020 Initiative.

His latest publications include The Spirit and Culture of Youth Ministry, Faith Formation 2020, Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life, Becoming a Church of Lifelong Learners, and four volumes of intergenerational learning programs in the People of Faith series.

John was the founder and director of the Center for Ministry Development, where he worked for 28 years. John continues to serve as a consultant to churches and national organizations, teaches courses and conducts workshops in faith formation, and has authored books and program manuals in youth ministry, family ministry, and intergenerational faith formation. John created the theory and practice of Generations of Faith—an intergenerational, lifelong approach to faith formation; and administered the five-year Lilly Endowment funded project to develop lifelong faith formation in Catholic parishes across the U.S.

Our Associates

Associates are gifted presenters who lead workshops, seminars, and conferences on behalf of VFM. Many provide consulting and coaching services designed to help congregations fulfill their vision for youth and family ministry. Please contact Jim Ladoux - 877-239-2492 - to make use of their services.

Dr. Dawn Alitz

Specializes in: Multi-generational Faith Formation and Vibrant Missional Congregational Development

Dr. Alitz currently serves as the Director of Faith Formation at Light of the World Lutheran Church, a mission-start congregation in Farmington, Minnesota. She is passionate about creating partnerships between homes and congregations where trusted relationships can flourish and creating the opportunity for vital and relevant faith practices. Her strengths includetheological and strategic discernment, both for individuals and faith communities, and equipping congregations to become revitalized and move out into the public arena.

Dawn received her Master's and PhD from Luther Seminary, where she has also served as an adjunct instructor Christian Education and Children, Youth and Family courses. She has been trained as a Spiritual Director at the Christos Center for Spiritual Direction. Dawn lives in Apple Valley, Minnesota with her husband, Dave and their two daughters. When she's not writing or working, she can often be found performing as an accomplished oboist and freelance musician in the Twin Cities.

Rev. Mike Carlson

Specializes in: Peer Ministry, Youth and Family Ministry Consulting

Pastor 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. His energy and practical applications have proven to work well in any size group.

He is a pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, MN, where he lives with his three boys and his wife Tammy. He received his M.Div. from Wartburg Theological Seminary. He is also serves 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: Surviving Learning Disabilities, Sexuality, Parents Passing on Faith, Intergenerational Ministry, and Sunday School.

Andrea Fieldhouse

Specializes in: Milestone Ministry, Family Faith Formation Events

Andrea Fieldhouse serves at Director of Family Ministry in Excelsior, MN. and is a student at St. Kate's in Spiritual Direction. Her main call is helping parents to talk and live God and faith with their children. She served as a Youth Director for 12 years before being called to Faith Inkubators to train and write. She loves reading, rocks and scrapbooking.

Erin Morris

Specializes in: Certification School

A Diaconal Minister is called to walk with one foot in the sacred world and the other in the secular world, constantly building bridges which connect these communities. The foundation of the bridge is the light of Christ. Erin Morris lives out this call working with youth who are already straddling those two worlds in their daily lives. The basis of her identity was formed in a small country church in southern Ohio, and God’s call has taken her to large suburban churches in Ohio, Colorado and Minnesota. She received her undergraduate degree from Berea College, Berea KY and her Masters from Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque Iowa. Her passion and what keeps her in ministry is her desire that every Christian, young and old, live a life that reflects Christ’s light to others. Currently she serves as Team Lead for Youth and Family Ministry at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Mahtomedi, MN.

Paul Oman

The Painting Pastor

Paul serves as pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Birchwood, Wisconsin. As an artist-pastor, Paul engages congregations and audiences in the Biblical story through the creation of larger-than-life murals during worship and teaching events. In a short period of time, a blank canvas becomes a story illuminating God’s story. These experiences have been life-changing for audiences. “Seeing is Believing” speaks to the effect of such events, a living parable paralleling one’s thoughts, emotions, and life experiences where “a picture is worth a thousand words.”

Paul believes that a key to vibrant faith is to actively engage the people in the Biblical story so they can “see” the connection between faith and life. The arts are an impacting means of doing this in our visually-oriented culture. Theology can go over one’s head, but an image moves from the head to the heart and touches one’s life.

Prior to becoming a pastor, Paul taught middle and high school science in Hopkins, Minnesota and Amery, Wisconsin. Paul has pursued his passion for drawing and painting since he was a child. He is an accomplished watercolor artist, teaching workshops to all ability levels. Paul and his wife, Jana, have been married for 12 years and enjoy camping, fishing, skiing, and fun with their children, Tommy, Kelsey, and Emily, and their chocolate lab, Jasper.

Jason Reed

Specializes in: Presenter and Trainer in Youth and Family Ministry

Jason has serves as a Youth Ministry Specialist for the ELCA’s New Jersey Synod and also serves as an Associate for Vibrant Faith Ministries. He has more than 25 years experience in youth and family ministry in congregational, synodical and church-wide settings. He has served as a volunteer, part-time and fulltime congregational Youth Director and done synodical youth ministry in four synods throughout the ELCA.

Jason is a well-known national presenter and trainer in youth and family ministry. He has served on the Steering Committee for the ELCA Synodical Youth Ministry Leaders Network since its beginning in 1999. He is the founder and leader of the Bosnia International Servant Trip ministry.

He has three crazy kids – Fletcher (age 9), Hanna (age 6) and Kayla (age 4), and one sane wife, Krista.

Marilyn Sharpe

Presenter and Author

Marilyn Sharpe knows it’s all about faith! She has a passion for helping congregations embrace a vision of partnering with and equipping households to nurture faith in all the generations, every day, everywhere. She loves coaching, consulting, mentoring, and training congregational staff and volunteers to do this ministry. She also loves teaching parents, teachers, and families how to do this in every venue. She presents with energy, passion and contagious enthusiasm. She loves cross+generational ministry, linking all the generations to celebrate God’s presence in all of our faith milestones.

A parent and grandparent, she knows first hand the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and challenges of being a family. A Certified Family Life Educator for 32 years, Marilyn is committed to helping parents celebrate their strengths, give and receive support, and glean wisdom from other parents. She helps parents and congregations work together to pass on faith and values to the children we all cherish. Marilyn’s first book, For Heaven’s Sake! Parenting Preschoolers Faithfully, captures the wisdom of parents and best parenting practices, as they nurture faith in God’s youngest children. A former high school English teacher, confirmation teacher and director, and instructor of undergraduates and graduate students, Marilyn has a passion for kids. youth, and their families.

With a BA from Wellesley College and an MA from Harvard University, she takes extraordinary joy in both learning and teaching. Marilyn is adjunct faculty at Luther Seminary and Concordia University, St. Paul. She writes a monthly parent column for the Metro Lutheran and has written a series on youth and family ministry for The Clergy Journal.

Marilyn's book For Heaven's Sake! Parenting Preschoolers Faithfully is available from our bookstore.

Kari Lyn S. Wampler M.A., LMFT

Speaker, Writer and Youth & Family Therapist

Kari Lyn has been advocating for the well being of youth and adults for over twenty years. She is a Youth and Family Therapist, international speaker, teacher, and author who empowers adults, families, and youth to live their best life. Her dedication to this vision brought her to Luther Seminary where she earned a Masters Degree in Pastoral Theology and Youth Leadership. After serving in the church for many years Kari Lyn went back to school to pursue a specialty in Marriage and Family Therapy. She is the founder of Deo' Advocates, an organization dedicated to the well being of adolescents and their families. Kari Lyn offers a variety of workshops on Adolescent Life Stage and Wellness, Parenting issues and Healthy Relationships. She enjoys music, traveling, spiritual discovery, hangin'out and, most of all, spending time with her husband and two beautiful girls. Kari Lyn loves to serve and encourage others toward a path of wellness.

Kari Lyn offers a variety of workshops on Adolescent Life Stage and Wellness, Parenting issues and Healthy Relationships. Click here for a list of possible workshops and workshop descriptions.

Dick Wehrs

Church Facilities Development Consultant, Congregational Ministry Consultant, Pastor, Artist

With 25 years of congregational ministry experience as a pastor in a variety of settings, plus highly specialized interests and professional experience in stewardship, fundraising, church art, and youth & family ministry, Dick Wehrs brings a unique set of gifts and perspectives to his work with VFM. He’s a passionate and articulate presenter, too, eager to illustrate grace, compassion, generosity and other key principles through real-life stories of how Jesus makes a difference in the world.

Sara Larson Woodruff

Women's Ministry Presenter

As Women's Ministry presenter, Sara brings a distinct passion for working with women in a variety of settings. Sara is the owner and director of Finding Our Balance an organization dedicated to providing empowering experiences for women. She specializes in adventure-based travel, primarily backpacking and canoeing, throughout the Unites States and Mexico. Sara is available for individualized trips and retreats and can help create an authentic and empowering experience for a wide array of groups and organizations. Additionally Sara provides coaching and consulting services for churches, camps, and other organizations that are exploring options for adult-based programming and women's programming.

Sara has fifteen years experience leading and guiding groups in adventure settings and is dedicated to providing experiences are uniquely tailored to varied levels of physical fitness and comfort in the outdoors. Currently Sara is finishing two masters degrees. The first in Adventure Education, with a Concentration in the Therapeutic Implications for Adult Women, from Prescott College in Prescott, Arizona. The second is a degree in Youth and Family Ministry, through Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. In addition to her own business, Sara is a field staff for The Women's Wilderness Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and serves as a co-instructor with Paul Hill for Luther Seminary's course in Adventure Education and Theological reflection.

Sara's mission to create a safe and encouraging space for women to give themselves permission to explore their lives, to discover their strengths, to live into their bodies, and to connect with other women. In her own words, “I am a deeply irreverent, amply skeptical, and intensely passionate woman of faith and I feel honored and privileged to hike, paddle, meditate and pray alongside women as they encounter their lives in new and empowering ways.”