Youth Ministry Guru's
Amy Valdez Barker is a youth ministry advocate and a life-long United Methodist. Growing up in the church as a youth who was empowered to lead, Amy is full of stories in which youth have lead the church in making a difference in the world. She started out as the youngest Board member (at 12 years old) ever to be elected to the General Commission on Religion and Race. From there she served on three other General Agencies and Chaired the World Methodist Council Youth Committee from 1996-2001. She loves working with young people and enjoys making the Gospel come to life and making it relevant for youth. She has spoken in many contexts, including being a keynote speaker for the Iowa Annual Conference Youth JAM and Youth Annual Conference as well as leading Adults in Youth Ministry through the Youth Ministry Institutes, both jurisdictionally and nationally. Currently she is enjoying being in a local church getting to know the youth of Athens First UMC. Contact her at amy@athensfirstumc.org or via phone at 706-540-9865. Preferred
Contexts: Youth, Young Adults and Adults in Youth Ministry.
Rev. Amy Valdez Barker, Minister of Families with Youth: Athens First UMC
Rev. Terry Carty, Executive Director of The Youth Worker Movement
Rev. Terry Carty is currently serving as the Executive Director of The Youth Worker Movement of The United Methodist Church. He has been working with adults in youth ministry through the General Board of Discipleship and in his current position for over 20 years. He has been researching, training and developing programs for adults in youth ministry and has a true heart for equipping leaders in The United Methodist Church. He is admired and sought-after by numerous denominational leaders. His heart and soul is all about ensuring that youthworkers are ready to reach youth!Contact him at tcarty@youthworkermovement.org or via phone at 615-263-0530. Preferred Contexts: Adults in Youth Ministry. Available for: Youth, Young Adults and Adults in Youth Ministry.
Terry Carty, Executive Direction of the YouthWorker Movement
Charles Harrison, Executive Director Center For Wesleyan Renewal, Richardson, Texas Known as the "Red Shoe Evangelist" Charles Harrison has been in youth ministry for over 20 years. Serving in various capacities of youth ministry from local church, to jurisdictional to conference and national youth ministry programs, Charles has caught the flame of the Wesleyan movement of Youth Ministry. Currently he serves as the Executive Director of a new non-profit organization that seeks to renew the Wesleyan spirit of Evangelism and Outreach amongst youth in the Methodist traditions. His high energy and quirky attitude are dynamic for touching and transforming the lives of young people in our church. He is sure to engage any audience that is youthful or young at heart. Contact him at charles(at)mcyouth.org or charles(at)CFWR.org, http://charleswharrison.com, or via phone at 972-333-9870. Preferred contexts: Youth, Young Adults and Adults in Youth Ministry.
Charles Harrison, Center for Wesleyan Renewal
Steve Heyduck is a self-described postmodern follower of Jesus, having learned how that could be a good thing from Jim McClendon, Stanley Hauerwas, amongst others. He stays connected to youth and pop culture by participating in many forms of communication with the Millennial world. He currently serves as the Central Texas Conference Youth Coordinator, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Central Texas Conference Youth in Mission. He and his wife Rachel have tag-team spoke at several events around the South Central Jurisdiction. Steve is an avid ‘blogger’ and keeps his thoughts on youth ministry in the public realm for all to learn and see.
Contact him at sheyduck@sbcglobal.net or via phone at 254-715-4956. Preferred Contexts: Youth and Young Adults.
Rev. Steve Heyduck, Minister at First UMC McGregor, Texas
Rev. Mike Selleck, Director of Connectional Ministries North Georgia Annual Conference Rev. Mike Selleck is a long-time Youth Ministry expert who has served in youth ministry positions for over 30 years. He is a dynamic leader and served as a Youth Minister, Conference Youth Leader and is currently serving as the President of the Youth Worker Movement. Known for his contribution to Methodist Youth Ministry, Rev. Selleck is the author of UMY Handbook published by the UM Publishing House in the early 80's. Rev. Selleck has a heart for bringing youth to Christ and has and always will be an avid youth ministry supporter. You can contact Rev. Selleck at mselleck(at)ngumc.org or at 678-533-1441 . Preferred Contexts: Adults in Youth Ministry Available for Youth Events and limited other engagements.
Rev. Mike Sellek, Author of UMY Handbook