HomeWord - Parenting Seminars: Presenters

Presenters

Our team of seminar presenters offer many years of youth ministry, counseling and parenting experience - and they are all excellent communicators!

Dr. Les Christie Les was born in Liverpool, England and is currently Chair of the Youth Ministry Department at William Jessup University. He has worked with teens for more than 40 years, serving as youth pastor at one church for 22 years. A popular and enthusiastic speaker with a love for teenagers and parents, he has spoken to audiences in 48 states and 11 foreign countries (so far). He has written over 200 articles in national magazines and has authored more than a dozen books. Les and his wife Gretchen live in Rocklin, California and have two grown sons.	Jim Liebelt Jim is a 20+ year youth ministry veteran and is the Senior Editor of Publications for HomeWord, which includes oversight of the monthly Good Advice Parent Newsletter and Today’s HomeWord daily devotional. Jim, who joined the HomeWord staff in 1998, has been a youth pastor, youth ministry trainer, parenting seminar speaker, served on the council of the New England Network of Youth Ministries, an adjunct youth ministry instructor at Gordon College, and a national presenter for Group Magazine Live. Jim and his wife Jenny live in Olympia, WA.
Veronica Cross de Tellaeche Veronica is a bilingual, multicultural communicator. She is a licensed Family Therapist and has certificates in Psychology, Teaching, Theology and Human & Science Studies. Veronica’s passion is to teach and equip families in our culture by applying Christian values. Veronica and her family live in Tijuana Mexico.	Abel Lopez Abel is a dynamic Youth Pastor for Mundo de Fe in Carrollton, TX. He is a graduate from Rehma Bible College. Abel is the president of Liderazgo Juvenil International and director of Dimension Juvenil an organization that trains youth workers in Latin America and the United States. With a passion for the teens of this nation and Latin America, Abel is crossing boundaries and building a dynamic program in his city. He is a sought after speaker both in English and Spanish youth leader training events. He and his wife reside in Dallas with their three children Daniel, Nathan, and Abby.
Mark DeVries Mark has served as the Associate Pastor for Youth and Families at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee for the past 19 years. He has authored or co authored a number of books, including Family Based Youth Ministry and The Most Important Year in a Man's/Woman's Life. Mark is the founder of "Youth Ministry Architects," a consulting service which helps churches move their youth ministries strategically forward. He and his wife Susan live in Nashville and have three grown children.	Joel Lusz Joel has ministered for the last 25 years with both Young Life and the local church. Currently he is the Youth Pastor at Suntree United Methodist Church in Melbourne, Florida. He has authored or co--authored numerous books including Just Shoot Me and Youth Ministry Lemonade--Turning Sour Experiences Into Leadership Success. Joel is the founder and president of "GoYouthMinistry," a ministry based web--site that provides churches and student ministries with resources, ideas, and encouragement. Joel and his wife, Angie, live in Melbourne with their two daughters, Koral and Willow.
Jim Green Jim has more than 40 years of youth ministry experience. He has worked with Youth for Christ, served as a youth pastor in several churches, and has worked as a high school mentor and counselor for troubled youth. Not only is he a popular speaker on youth and family issues, but one of his specialties is taking young people on wilderness and mission trips all over the world and teaching them life skills. He particularly enjoys working with kids who have trouble dealing with anger and communication issues. He and his wife Judy live in Alabama. They have three grown children.	David Lynn David is an original member of the Understanding Your Teenager seminar team and a veteran of more than 30 years of youth ministry experience. He has authored many books and resources including the best selling “TalkSheets” series. He and his wife Kathy developed the ministry Home Grown Faith which empowers churches, equips parents, and enables homes to pass on the faith to children and youth. David also developed Recovery Together, an innovative treatment program for adolescents and their parents. He lives in Arizona with Kathy and their two teenagers.
Dr. Chuck Neder Chuck is a respected youth ministry expert with over 35 years of experience. As CEO of PFR (Presbyterians for Renewal) Youth Ministry, he conducts dozens of national conferences each year for youth, youth workers, and parents. Chuck has served as a youth pastor in several churches, an associate pastor, a high school teacher and a college dean. Chuck and his wife Susan live in Chattanooga, Tennessee and have three grown sons and two grandchildren.	Duffy Robbins Duffy has worked with teenagers for more than 25 years and teaches youth ministry at Eastern College in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has authored many books for youth workers and teens including The Ministry of Nurture, Youth Ministry Nuts and Bolts, and This Way to Youth Ministry. He is also a member of the Youth Specialties "Core" training team and a popular speaker at youth gatherings and Christian festivals all over the world. Duffy and his wife Maggie live in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania and have two grown daughters.
Dr. David Olshine David is the director of the youth ministry program at Columbia International University's Bible College Division. He gives some leadership and oversight to youth and parent ministry in a local church.In addition to his teaching, he travels extensively speaking to youth, youth workers, and parents of teens. He has authored or co authored many books including Down But Not Out Parenting and The Revelation Letters. He and his wife Rhonda live in Columbia, South Carolina and have two children, Rachel (a young adult) and Andrew (a preteen).	Sonny Salsbury Sonny began his youth ministry career in 1956 and has served as a youth pastor in several churches and as a staff member with Youth for Christ and Forest Home Christian Conference Center. A talented musician, he is a pioneer in the field of contemporary Christian music. He is also an artist, illustrator, antique collector, and avid mountaineer. He and his wife Linda are now grandparents living in Yakima, Washington in a house full of antiques (and no, they are not antiques themselves)!!
Dr. Marv Penner Marv is chairman of the Youth and Family Ministry Department at Briercrest College in Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is also the Executive Director of the Canadian Centre for Adolescent Research and director of "Youth Quake," Canada's premier youth ministry event. He has authored such books as A Youth Workers Guide to Parent Ministry. Marv is a licensed marriage and family counselor in private practice. He and his wife Lois have been married for over 30 years and have three grown children.	Kendra and John Smiley Both Kendra and John are graduates of the University of Illinois and both former school teachers. John and Kendra are regular visitors on Midday Connection and Along the Way. Kendra is on the WMBI Morning Drive (Chicago) each Thursday. Kendra and John live on a working farm in East Central Illinois. They raised three sons on that farm and now author books and speak together. Their latest book is Do Your Kids a Favor – Love Your Spouse (Moody 2008). Kendra, the 2001 Illinois Mother of the Year, hosts a daily radio program, Live Life Intentionally and speaks nationally and internationally. John farms and is a retired USAF Reserves pilot.
Wayne Rice Wayne is the founder and director of Understanding Your Teenager seminars. He began working with teenagers in 1963 and has authored numerous books for youth workers, parents, and teens including Junior High Ministry, Cleared for Takeoff, Enjoy Your Middle Schooler and Read This Book or You're Grounded. He is also the co founder of Youth Specialties and a pretty good banjo player. He and his wife Marci live in Lakeside, California and have three grown children.	Tim Smith Tim is a family coach and speaker who has been involved in youth and family work for more than 25 years. He is the founder and president of "Life Skills for American Families," an organization dedicated to celebrating and empowering the family. Tim has authored many books, including 52 Family Time Ideas and Danger of Raising Nice Kids. Tim and his wife Suzanne live in Newbury Park, California and have two young adult daughters.
Leslie Snyder Leslie has been associated with HomeWord for the past 10 years as a trainer, writer, web counselor, and seminar presenter. She has served youth and families for 15 years as a youth advocate, a parent liason, and a youth pastor. She holds an MA in Christian Education and Youth Ministry from Nazarene Theological Seminary. Her passion for families led her to create "The Parent Network", a ministry specifically designed to equip and encourage the parents of adolescents. Leslie and her husband, Jim, currently serve at Woods Chapel Church of God in Lee's Summit, Missouri with their three children.	Dave Veerman For 26 years, Dave worked with Youth For Christ in Illinois and Louisiana, and served as the National Director of Campus Life. He has authored more than 60 books, many on youth ministry and parenting, including Dave's Complete Book of Junior High Ministry, Dads that Make a Difference, Getting Your Kid to Talk, Tough Parents for Tough Times, and Parenting Passages. He was also editor of The Student Life Application Bible. He and his wife, Gail, live in Naperville, Illinois and have two grown daughters.
Rich Van Pelt Rich is a youth and family ministry veteran of more than 35 years. He serves as the National Director of Ministry Relationships at Compassion International and regularly travels the globe advocating on behalf of poor children and their families. Every year Rich motivates and trains thousands of educators, professional and peer counselors, youth workers, and parents. He is an engaging speaker, a skilled trainer in youth ministry and parenting issues, and is considered a leading authority in the field of crisis intervention and teen suicide. He is co-author of The Youth Worker's Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis and The Parents Guide to Helping Teenagers in Crisis and serves on the Advisory Board of the Journal of Student Ministries. Rich lives in Denver, Colorado and is the single parent of Cliff and the grandparent of Kimberly Rae.	Dave Curtiss Dave Curtiss has over 35 years experience in ministry including twenty-six years as a local church youth pastor, seven years as a lead pastor, and currently leads youth ministry for the Church of the Nazarene in the United States and Canada. He is a much sought after conference and retreat speaker to thousands of youth and adults in all 50 states and 19 countries, as well as, author of over 100 articles for publications and professional journals. Most importantly he is married 35 years to his beautiful wife, Sarah. They have two grown children and two grandchildren.
Gary Sivewright Gary has a full-time speaking/writing ministry in the area of family and youth. He is a former Chaplain, Vice President for Campus Ministries, and Professor of Religion teaching youth ministries and Christian education at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, Mount Vernon, Ohio. Gary began his work at MVNU in the fall of 1991. Gary speaks to thousands each year in camps, retreats, revivals, conventions and conferences and has been a contributor to Holiness Today magazine. He and his wife, Carol, have been married for over thirty years and are the parents of two adult sons, Chad and Jason.