Paul has more than 35 years experience in youth and family ministry and congregational development. He has served as a parish pastor, camp director, and taught for 17 years in theological education.

Paul was the developer and first director of the Center for Youth Ministries of Wartburg Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa. While in this position he launched the now familiar youth ministry certification schools and trained more than 700 youth ministers. Paul has led seminars and workshops on effective practices in vibrant faith formation, and in youth and family ministry, throughout the United States. Paul has also served as a national leader for the Lutheran youth gatherings.

He is a certified adventure facilitator and utilizes adventure education methods, including low and high element ropes courses, in many of his classes and seminars. He is a certified camp director serving as adjunct faculty to the Outdoor Ministry Concentration through Luther Seminary's Masters degree program in St. Paul, MN. He is co-author of many books and articles including:

• UP THE CREEK WITH A PADDLE: BUILDING AN EFFECTIVE YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTRY
• FROGS WITHOUT LEGS CAN'T HEAR: NURTURING DISCIPLES IN HOME AND CONGREGATION
• COMING OF AGE: EXPLORING IDENTITY AND SPIRITUALITY IN YOUNGER MEN
• OPERATION FUZZY SQUIRREL: EFFECTIVE YOUTH MINISTRY PRACTICES

He is the co-developer of the “Hand in Hand: Partnering Home and Congregation” training events and “Four Key” training events. Both are designed to equip congregations and leaders in effective faith formation practices. When not working he enjoys life on any lake or body of water, time on a bike or snow ski's, or snorkeling. He and Elaine have been married 34 years and enjoy the company of their children, Amber 24, Josh 28, and extended family. He is the proud grandfather and Monday-daycare-provider of James Malcolm Hill, 15 months.

Dr. David W. Anderson is the Director of Congregational Renewal and Leadership at The Youth & Family Institute 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 latest book, From the Great Omission to Vibrant Faith, (August, 2009), is the first installment of his Vibrant Faith Series, a collection of three books on how congregations and homes can pass on and live a vibrant faith in Jesus Christ

"To the world you may be a nobody, but to somebody you may be the world."

All Christians are called to the ministry of caring and need to be equipped to share God's love with others. As National Peer Ministry Director, Lyle is a popular speaker for youth gatherings and is known for affirming people's gifts and challenging them to learn and apply new skills.

Lyle has over twenty years experience in leading dynamic youth ministry programs. He has an MA in Youth Leadership from Luther Seminary in St. Paul and serves as an adjunct faculty at Concordia University and Augsburg College. Lyle has authored several books and resources, including Heart Ignite, Enhancing My Friend's Self-Worth, Scripture Talk, Real Questions, Growing Groups,and the Peer Ministry Training Manual.

Lyle learned early on in ministry that training others to care about youth was the only way to grow a group. He was introduced to Dr. Barbara Varenhorst in the mid 80's and found a method and tools for training that took youth and youth leaders far beyond anything else he had seen or used to help nurture faith.

Lyle is also known for moving people. Literally! The audience is involved from the start. Moving around in a game, lending a hand with a demonstration, or coming on stage for an interview. Moving bodies is only a beginning, as hearts are also moved. Lyle has a gift of passion - a passion that is contagious and helps others find their own excitement for faith and service. His heart has always been and always will go out to those that are working on the front lines with youth and their families. His hope is to challenge, stretch, spark a passion, and pass on skills.

What do youth say about Lyle's speaking? "Lyle rocks the party. He was awesome!" "It was cool to put to work right away the stuff he told us", "Great job packing so much information into a small time." "He kept me interested, I'm really interested in becoming a peer minister."

Dick brings the vision and skills of 38 years of ministry as an ordained Lutheran pastor. Over 20 of those years he spent as a parish pastor in congregations in South Dakota and Florida. He has served as pastor of three-point parishes and very large congregations. For 3 1/3 years he served as assistant to the Bishop of the Nebraska Synod of the ELCA.

Since 1994 Dick Hardel has served in the following roles at The Youth & Family Institute - Executive Director, Director of Vision and Creative Ministry, Director of Wellness Ministries, and now Senior Fellow. Dick is a creative thinker, author, teacher, pastor, international speaker, editor, publisher, coach, consultant, retreat facilitator, and clown (trained by older Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus clowns). He is husband, father, grandfather, brother, godfather, uncle, and friend. There is not much in the life of a congregation that Dick has not experienced.

Some of the resources authored or co-authored by Dick are: Blest Be The Pie That Binds; The Cross in the Sawdust Circle; Passing On The Faith (new edition 2008); FaithTalk® With Children; It's For L.I.F.E!; Tag, You're It!; A Breath of Fresh Air(DVD)

As the Director of Women's Ministries, 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.”

Marilyn Sharpe knows it's all about faith! She is the Director of Cross+Generational Ministries at The Youth & Family Institute.  She is a congregational coach, trainer, writer, presenter, speaker, and teacher.  She presents with energy, passion, and contagious enthusiasm.

A parent for 36 years and a grandparent for four years, Marilyn knows first hand the joys and sorrows, the triumphs and challenges of being a family.  She believes that all Christian adults are called to be faith parents to God's children.  A Certified Family Life Educator, Marilyn has been a parent educator for 30 years, committed to helping parents become the best and most effective they can be. She teaches parents to celebrate their strengths, give and receive support, and glean wisdom from other parents. Marilyn helps faith parents and congregations work together to pass on faith and values to the children we all cherish.  She knows that all the generations bring gifts to the body of Christ and that connecting them is essential.

Formerly a high school English teacher and a confirmation teacher and director for 23 years, Marilyn has a passion for kids and their families. She believes that families are the classroom for teaching all that is most important, the crucible for refining the best in each of us, and a safe harbor from life's storms.

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.

Jim supports the creation, planning and promotion of The Institute's 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.

With thirty years in sales and marketing, Patty Matthews brings broad experience, expertise and enthusiasm to The Youth & Family Institute as our Marketing Director. Prior to coming to The Institute, 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 The Institute is fueled by her faith, being a parent of 5 grown children and grandparent to two 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.

Jim Mullen joined the staff of The Youth & Family Institute in December of 2003, bringing with him a degree in business education and a career in retail sales and distribution management and services. He is smart, resourceful, efficient, hardworking and unflappable. The staff loves working with him and appreciates his non-anxious presence, his quick grin, his creative problem solving, and his ability to always find a way to do what needs to be done.

Jim lives with his wife Sandy and their daughter Kari. They are all actively involved at home, with Kari's school and activities, and in their congregation. What a joy it is to have Jim on the team!