We Proudly Introduce to You…the faces behind the re-vamped Simply Youth Ministry Blog Network! Our hope and prayer is that your soul is encouraged, challenged and pushed to grow through these in-the-trenches youth ministry voices!

MarriedToAYouthPastor.com – Amanda Maguire, Irvine, CA

About the author - I’m Amanda Maguire and I have been “Married to a Youth Pastor” for almost 12 years now. We have 3 kids, Dylan (8) and Molly (6) and Scotty (3). I worked in full-time youth ministry for 4 years, got married and got a “real job”, allowing me to continue to be a volunteer in youth ministry for another 4 years. We started having kids and now I’m just married to the Youth Pastor. I have great friends and a fun life! I have a passion and a calling for wives just like me, married to a Youth Pastor. I love to write. I love to do creative activities. I love to run. I love to shop. I love to dine out. And I would love time to do any of these things more.

MoreThanDodgeball.com – Joshua Griffin, Lake Forest, CA

About the author - I’m a pastor. My first calling is to the church and I’m honored to fulfill my life purpose as a youth worker. As long as they’ll have me, I’m in. Being in the trenches of leading a youth ministry is where I want to be and where I thrive. I’ve had great experiences in a little rural church in Michigan and blessed to be a part of of the high school team at Saddleback Church in the suburbs of LA. (check out the “More Than Dodgeball” book published by Group/Simply Youth Ministry.)

YMTechStuff.com – Brandon Early, Rockford, IL

About the author - I have been serving in youth ministry for nearly 20 years, am currently the Pastor of Student Ministries at First Evangelical Free Church in Rockford, IL, and am on a first name basis with several Best Buy employees. My wife Keri and I have been married over ten years and have three great boys. My four favorite things are Jesus, Chicago Style Pizza, my wife, and fighting off our boys with sweet ninja moves.

MoreThanGossip.com – Neely McQueen, Redmond, WA

About the author - Neely McQueen has been working with teen girls for over 15 years. She works at Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, WA. She is also married to a pastor and the mom of 3 cute kids. Neely is also the author of “99 Thoughts Every Girl Should Know” published by Group/Simply Youth Ministry.

JuniorHighMinistry.com – Kurt Johnston, Lake Forest, CA

About the author - Kurt Johnston leads the student ministries team at Saddleback Church in Southern California. His ministry of choice, however, is junior high, where he spends approximately 83.4% of his time. Kurt is also the founder of SimplyJuniorHigh.com, and he writes, speaks and looks for opportunities to encourage other youth workers. He likes to surf, ride dirt bikes and hang out in coffee shops. He is married to Rachel, and they have two teenage children, Kayla and Cole

SimplyInsider.com – Justin Boling, Loveland, CO

About the author - Justin Boling is the Marketing Coordinator for Simply Youth Ministry. In short, I was a full-time volunteer youth pastor for 10 years working with Junior High, High School and College age students. I was born and raised in Fort Collins, CO, but have been privileged to live in Wichita, KS and Manchester, UK before moving back to Colorado. Where I currently live in Loveland, CO with my wife Elaina and 1 year-old son Hazen.

YouthMissionsInsider.com – Jeff Thompson, Greeley, CO

About the author - Jeff Thompson, a veteran of youth ministry, serves as the Director of Youth Missions for Group Mission Trips – Workcamps, Week of Hope and The Big Day of Serving.

CollegeMinistryThoughts.com – Chuck Bomar, Portland, OR

About the author - Chuck Bomar is pastor of Colossae Church in Portland, Oregon and founder of CollegeLeader (CollegeLeader.org). He travels frequently speaking around the country to youth and leaders and serves as a consultant with churches and denominations, seeking to help leaders, in every context, care for and include college-aged people in everything they do. He’s author of 5 books with the most recent being Worlds Apart: Understanding the Mindset and Values of 18-25 Year Olds (Zondervan, 2011). He and his wife, Barbara, have three beautiful daughters: Karis, Hope and Sayla.

SimplyUrbanMinistry.com – Jeffrey Wallace, Decatur, Georgia

About the author - In the trenches of local youth ministry for nearly a decade, Pastor Jeffrey Wallace brings a fresh and relevant approach to how to develop and maintain an effective, healthy, relevant youth ministry within the local church. His straight-forward, illustrative and in your face style of ministry has impacted the lives of thousands of students and youth leaders around the world. His transparency, compassion for others, passion for students, love for ministry, and experience makes him an asset to the body of Christ and to leaders looking to take their ministry to the next level and beyond the box. He understands the importance of being a balanced communicator by having an inspirational and creative delivery to capture and captivate the audience in which he is ministering to.Pastor Wallace is often described as a mentor, motivator, and a friend. He is the President & CEO of Front Line Urban Resources, which focuses on training and mentoring other youth pastors and leaders and providing life-changing youth ministry resources to help build, establish, and maintain a vibrant purpose-driven youth ministry within the local church. He serves Pastor of Youth Development at Peace Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia and is author of “Urban Ministry from Start to Finish” published by Group/Simply Youth Ministry.

SmallChurchYouthMinistry.com – Stephanie Caro, Houston, TX

About the author - Stephanie Caro has been involved in ministry to youth and youth workers in the local church since…well, a long time – 30+ years. Her humorous, straightforward style keeps her busy presenting and coaching at conferences, training events, camps, mission trips, retreats, churches, etc. Her latest books are, “Thriving Youth Ministry in Smaller Churches” and “99 Thoughts for the Smaller Church Youth Worker,” published by Group/Simply Youth Ministry. Stephanie is a contributing author to several youth ministry resources in addition to her regular column “Smaller Church Youth Ministry” in Group Magazine. Stephanie is a lead consultant for Mark DeVries’ Youth Ministry Architects and the Director for their new division, Small Church Ministry Architects. She and her hubby, Steve, live in Houston, TX. All 7 kids are grown and out – praise God!