Bob Ditter is a therapist and author who specializes in working with youth and their families. He is a consultant for the American Camping Association and has worked with summer camps since 1982.

Read a May 17, 2013, article by the Orlando Sentinel about one women’s religious mission trips with youth groups.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), for matching grants to states to provide abstinence education and, at state option, mentoring, counseling, and adult supervision to promote abstinence from sexual activity, with a focus on groups that are most likely to bear children out-of-wedlock.

The Emerging Leaders Network is a community of friendship, exploration and theological conversation among people interested in emerging churches and faith communities. They focus primarily on shaping young adults into religious leaders by a “head, heart, hands” philosophy of understanding, application and feeling.

Mark Oestreicher is president of Youth Specialties in El Cajon, Calif. He is a leader in the emerging movement. Youth Specialties markets training seminars, conventions and educational materials to Christian workers. Oestreicher has authored and contributed to more than 60 books and training materials that help youth workers present traditional Christian concepts to the modern youth sensibility.

Lauren F. Winner is the author of numerous books, including the popular Girl Meets God: A Memoir (Random House, 2003), about coming to Christianity in her 20s. She holds a Ph.D. in the history of American religion and lives in Durham, N.C.

John Kenney is pastor of the Quest Church in Augusta, Ga., affiliated with the United Methodist Church. (“We’re real people who don’t have it all together, but who are taking the journey of life together.”). Quest Church is focused on the relationships in the community and the exploration of faith by ancient and contemporary models and means.

Brad Jackson is pastor of the 40-member emergent church The Well in Feasterville, Pa. He started and pastored a Sunday night worship community known as The Table. This ministry reaches out to 20 to 30 year-olds with the Gospel and the goal of bringing young adults to follow Jesus Christ.

Melissa Deckman is professor of political science and public affairs at Washington College in Chestertown, Md. Her specialties include religion and politics and women and politics. She wrote School Board Battles: The Christian Right in Local Politics (Georgetown University Press, 2004) and “Christian Right School Board Candidates” for the Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics (Facts on File, 2003) and […]