Steve Schneeberger – Executive Director
Steve Schneeberger is the Executive Director of the Youth Ministry Institute. Beginning in 1985, Steve began a vocation as a youth minister serving churches in Kansas and Florida. He is a 1981 graduate of Shawnee Mission West High School in Overland Park, Kansas, has a business degree from Baker University (1985) and a law degree from the University of Kansas (1988). He is married to Carol, an elementary school teacher and former counselor. They have three children, one cat and one dog. Steve consults, coaches and teaches Visioning, Organizing and Planning for Success, Budgeting, Helping Youth Over Developmental Hurdles, Beginning Leadership – Mastering the Core Competencies, Conflict Resolution and Expecting Great Behavior for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Instructors, Coaches and Assessors
 Claude Burnett is originally from Naples FL where he graduated from Naples High School in 1981. He received a degree in Music Education from Florida Southern College in Lakeland in 1986. Claude served three years as the Band and Chorus teacher at Lake Placid High School. During this time he also served as the Interum Choir Director at First Baptist Church and Memorial United Methodist Church, both in Lake Placid, before answering the call to full time ministry in 1989. Claude served primarily as the Director of Music and Youth at Memorial from 1989-2008. He now serves as Memorial's Pastoral Associate, helping with the youth program as needed. Claude is married to Julia and has two daughters.
Stephanie Caro has been working with children, youth, and adults since 1981 in all aspects of church ministry. Stephanie’s humorous, yet straightforward style keeps her busy presenting and coaching at conferences, training events, camps, mission trips, retreats, churches, etc. Her latest book was released in 2010, “Thriving Youth Ministry in Smaller Churches,” published by Group/Simply Youth Ministry. She is also a contributing author to several youth ministry resources in addition to her regular column “Smaller Church Youth Ministry” in Group Magazine. She is a lead consultant with the Youth Ministry Architects and coaches and teaches Learning Styles and Recruiting and Equipping Volunteers for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Steve Case is a licensed minister with the United Church of Christ, and serves as director of youth ministries at Windermere Union United Church of Christ in Windermere, Florida. He has been a speaker at numerous GROUP Youthworkers Conventions and Youth Specialties National Youthworker Conventions. He is author of eleven books and has served Episcopal, Presbyterian, and United Methodist congregations in Ohio and Florida since the 1990s. He teaches Creative Worship and Programming for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Jane Cole is a certified professional organizer and is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers and the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization. She is a specialist in chronic disorganization and attention deficit disorder. Jane has a bachelor of arts in elementary education and volunteers in the youth group where her two children were active. She teaches Visioning, Organizing and Planning for Success for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Suzette Dohany earned a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Acting and a Masters in Science in Interpersonal Communications from Florida State University. She has been teaching at Valencia Community College since 1993. Her areas of specialty include Speech, Student Success, Cross Cultural Communications and Student Leadership. She is a certified True Colors Consultant bringing that expertise to the Youth Ministry Institute.
John Hill graduated from Bismarck High School in 1974. He then went to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1978. At graduation, John was awarded the Bank’s Medal of Religion for that year. He has a Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology. John was ordained a deacon of the church in 1980 and received his final ordination as a minister of the United Methodist Church in 1983. John has served five churches in Florida and has been at Suntree United Methodist Church since 2003. John teaches a portion of Church History focusing on John Calvin and John Wesley for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Gordon Hobbie received his Ph.D. in Interpersonal Communication with an emphasis in Marriage and Family from the University of Oklahoma in 1992. The emphasis of his Master’s work was Counseling Psychology. His graduate studies also included a two-year seminary program in Christian Counseling, which was audited at the International School of Theology. Gordon is licensed in Florida as a Mental Health Counselor, is certified by the state as a clinical supervisor and is a member of the American Counseling Association. He has directed the work of Emmaus Counseling Center since its founding in 1986. Prior to founding Emmaus, his clinical experience included eight years of counseling in local churches and individual, group, and family counseling in Oklahoma City. Gordon also served as an adjunct professor at Reformed Theological Seminary for nine years, where he taught graduate counseling courses and directed therapeutic groups. He continues to oversee graduate students in their counseling internship. He currently serves as a consultant with Rollins College Crummer Leadership Program. He is married with two adult children and two grandchildren. Gordon teaches Counseling Foundations for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Chris Kiesling earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Development and Family Studies from Texas Tech University in 2002 on the strength of his dissertation, My Sense of Spiritual Self: A Qualitative Study of Adult Spiritual Identity. He has a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary (1990) and a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies from Texas Tech University (1985). He has been the professor of human development and Christian discipleship at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, since 1998. He is in the midst of publishing his first book and has written numerous articles for multiple publications focusing mainly on the developmental issues surrounding faith formation. In addition he has written a host of published devotions and reviews. Chris teaches Moral and Spiritual Development for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Joel Lusz graduated from Taylor University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology and theatre arts in 1981 where he also played basketball for the Trojans. He received his Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1990. He has worked in youth and family ministry in the local church since 1981 serving currently at Suntree United Methodist Church in Melbourne, Florida. He is a certified trainer of trainers with HomeWord. Joel has authored and contributed to over eight books and multiple articles appearing in respected youth ministry publications. He has been a mainstay presenter at the Youth Specialties National Youth Worker Convention since 1996. His expertise has been shared with youth ministers at nearly a dozen other national conferences. Joel is the founder and President of GoYouthMinistry.com LLC, a ministry that provides churches and youth ministers with video, multimedia, DVD, CD, speaking, bible study, message and book resources. He coaches and teaches Technology for the Youth Ministry Institute.
David McEntire is a 1972 graduate of Florida State University, majoring in Psychology and Religion. David attended seminary at Duke University and graduated with a Masters of Divinity. He began serving churches in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1981. David has served churches in Plantation, Oklawaha, Ft. Pierce, West Palm Beach, and Lakeland, Florida. He has been a five-time delegate to the South East Jurisdictional Conference and a 2008 delegate to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church. David has served on several Florida Conference Boards and agencies including the Board of Ordained Ministry, the Conference Council on Ministries, the Florida UM Children's Home, Florida Southern College and the Florida Conference Board of Trustees. David teaches Staff Relationships focusing on forming a social covenant amongst local church staff members for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Kathy Rexroad has lived in central Florida since 1979. Kathy obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing in 1975, but while serving as volunteer nursery coordinator at a local Orlando area church in 1986, Kathy felt God’s call into a life of ministry. While serving for over 24 years at that church, she “grew up” with the children she served and became their youth pastor. As the church’s longest tenured staff member, she received the unique blessing of watching her former youth alumnae return to their church home as godly co-workers, spouses and parents. In December, 2010, Kathy retired from her ministry to the local church to serve her family and help with her grandchildren in Atlanta (twins!) and St. Petersburg. Kathy currently coaches, leads a small group, serves as a Youth Ministry Selection Interviewer, and teaches Student Leadership for the Youth Ministry Institute in Orlando, Florida.
Dave Sippel began working in youth ministry during the summer of 1994. From 2001 to 2010 he served as a youth director at the three of the largest United Methodist churches in the Florida Conference. Currently he is the Director of Young Peoples Ministries for the Florida Conference and is a lead consultant with the Youth Ministry Architects. Dave is a regular speaker for camps and retreats. He has also been a seminar speaker at several youth ministry training events. Dave is a graduate of Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky. He lives in Lakeland, FL with his wife, Teresa, and their two sons, Grant and Cade. Dave is a coach and teaches Planning Retreats and Trips for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Gary Spencer has been the Senior Pastor at First United Methodist Church Orlando since June 2003. Gary's gifts and graces uniquely qualify him for being the leader of a major church in a growing downtown community. Gary is a native of Florida, growing up in the West Palm Beach area. Gary attended Florida Southern College where he majored in Religion. After graduation from Florida Southern, he earned his Master of Divinity from the Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta. Gary was awarded his Doctorate of Ministry from Princeton Seminary, Princeton University in 1996. It was while attending Candler School of Theology that he met his wife, Judy, to whom he has been married for over 25 years. Judy and Gary have two adult children, Kirby and Katie. Gary teaches the Leadership series for the Youth Ministry Institute which includes five courses.
Dr. Don Sweeting, a graduate of Lawrence University, Oxford University, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Moody Bible Institute, is President of Reformed Theological Seminary-Orlando and Professor of Church History. Before coming to RTS-Orlando, Dr. Sweeting worked as a pastor for over 20 years. He planted a church in northern Illinois, and most recently, he served as Senior Pastor of Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church in Colorado. In addition to his ministry within the church, Dr. Sweeting has also taught church history at Denver Seminary. He was chairman of the Theology Committee for the EPC, and Dr. Sweeting serves on the Board of Trustees for Colorado Christian University. He also served as a board member of John Stott Ministries for Biblical Preaching and Scholarship, and on the international parent board of the London based Langham Partnership International.
Anne Taylor did her undergraduate work at the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota. She received her Bachelor of Arts in 1982. After college she moved to Orlando to begin her career in youth ministry at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park. During that time she received her Masters of Christian Education from Loyola University. In 1987 she was hired as the training director for the Institute for Professional Youth Ministry by the Diocese of Central FL . She held this position until she returned to parish work in 1991. After working at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in College Park, where she met her husband and started her family, she was hired by the Cathedral Church of St. Luke in 1995 as the Canon for Youth and Missions where she remains. Anne coaches, leads a small group and teaches Spiritual Disciplines, Sustaining Youth Ministry for the Long Haul, Fund Raising, Planning Family Events and Managing Parent Expectations for the Youth Ministry Institute.
|
Andy Cartee, since 1994, has been a youth minister in churches in Alabama, Tennessee, and Florida. He currently serves as Director of Student Ministries at First United Methodist Church of Winter Park. Andy received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University in Human Development and Family Studies and his Master’s in Theological Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. He is married to his lovely wife Keri and has two children. He has been working as a coach with YMI for four years and is excited about the investment and follow through that YMI is making in future youth ministers.
Scott Coupland serves as an Associate Professor of Counseling and is the Academic Director of the Master of Arts in Counseling degree program at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando. His counseling career began in 1989 after spending a number years as a cowboy and then a restaurant manager. After earning two master's degrees, he then completed a Ph.D. in marriage and family therapy from Texas Tech University. His teaching at RTS is enriched by clinical experience in medical school, hospital, university, and church settings. He has authored articles published in several professional journals. He is a clinical member and approved supervisor of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and as a licensed marriage and family therapist, he maintains an active private practice. His wife, Joan, is a physician and they have two daughters, Brynne and Cami. He is an avid scuba diver and saltwater aquarist. Scott teaches Family Systems Theory for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Kirk Dana has been in youth ministry since 1972, serving United Methodist Churches in Oklahoma, Florida and Tennessee. Currently, he is the Minister with Students at First UMC in Lakeland FL., as well as an Adjunct Professor of Youth Ministry at Florida Southern College. He graduated from Oklahoma Baptist University with a BA in Religion and from Scarritt Graduate School with a degree in Christian Education. He is ordained as a Deacon and is also certified as an Associate in Christian Education and Youth Ministry in the United Methodist Church. Kirk lives in Lakeland, Florida, with his wife, Tina, and is an avid backpacker, snow skier and cyclist. Kirk coaches for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Jonathan Grenz has more than 20 years of ministry experience. He has served as associate pastor in youth ministry and Christian education, lead pastor and director of a parachurch ministry. His ministry experience has spanned the Midwest, northwest, southern California, western Canada, and now Florida. He has led numerous short-term mission groups and recently has enjoyed opportunities to teach pastors in the Philippines and Ukraine. He graduated from Taylor University College and Seminary with a bachelor of arts and a masters of divinity. He received his Ph.D. from Biola University. Jon is a full-time faculty member at Palm Beach Atlantic University, teaching Ministry Leadership Studies and Student Ministries. He is married to Susan and has two children, Jesse and Phoebe. Jon teaches the Systematic Theology intensive for the Youth Ministry Institute.
James Halfhill is a seasoned youth director serving students and their families since 1997. He has spoken at camps, youth programs and school outreaches in various locations. James attended Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Church Ministries and Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia, working on a Master of Divinity in Practical Theology. James currently serves as the Student Ministry Coordinator at Killearn United Methodist Church in Tallahassee, Florida. James teaches Evangelism for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Kim Koi graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Rollins College in 1999, worked briefly with a non-profit community development organization before joining InterVarsity Christian Fellowship in 2002. The primary purpose of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship is to train, equip, and motivate college students to reach out among their peers on campus. A primary means of reaching out to the campus is through Small Group Bible studies which utilize the Inductive Bible Study method. Kim has led Bible studies in this way for her entire career with InterVarsity. Not only does Kim lead these Bible studies herself, but she trains student leaders in how to use this method in their own Bible studies. In her current role as the Area Director for Central Florida, Kim still leads Bible studies on college campuses, but also oversees the training of students in Inductive Bible Study throughout Central Florida. Currently Kim is a student at Asbury Theological Seminary. She has received the Robert E. Traina Inductive Bible Study scholarship. She will complete her Masters of Divinity degree in 2012. Kim teaches Teaching the Bible for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Brian Russell received his Ph.D. from Union Presbyterian School of Christian Education in 2002, a Masters of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1994 and Bachelor of Arts for the University of Akron in 1991. Brian is currently a professor of Biblical Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. He teaches the Old Testament and New Testament Intensive courses for the Youth Ministry Institute.
Browning Wood has been working with teens since 1985 serving Presbyterian churches in Texas, Georgia, and Florida. He graduated from Texas Tech University with a bachelors in Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Substance Abuse Specialties. He is currently working toward his Master of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Oviedo. He is married to his wife, Ronda, and has two children, Braiden and Baylee. Browning loves hunting and the outdoors. He teaches Small Group Discipleship for the Youth Ministry Institute.