Author Bios

Roland Martinson

Roland Martinson is academic dean of Luther Seminary and has served there since 1977 as dean of students, and professor of pastoral theology and ministry and pastoral care.  In 2001 he was named Carrie Olson Baalson Professor of Children, Youth and Family Ministry. Rollie was the convener of the leaders of the seven denominations for the Exemplary Youth Ministry Study and the project director of this landmark study funded by the Lily Foundation.  He has been a life-long enthusiastic youth minister, as well as a trainer and supporter of youth ministers, youth ministry, and the church.  He was a participant the Search Institute’s original “Effectiveness of Christian Education” study.

His works include: OMG: A Youth Ministry Handbook (2010); Coming of Age (2006); Gearing Up for Youth Ministry in the 21st Century (1992); Effective Youth Ministry, A Congregational Approach (1988); Bringing Up Your Child and Ministries with Families (1986); and A Joyful Call to Ministry (1982).

John Roberto

John Roberto is president of LifelongFaith Associates (www.lifelongfaith.com), editor of the journal Lifelong Faith, and coordinator for the Faith Formation 2020 Initiative (www.faithformation2020.net). John also works on the Vibrant Faith Ministries team as project coordinator of the Faith Formation Learning Exchange (www.faithformationlearningexchange.net). John works as a consultant to churches and national organizations, teaches courses and conducts workshops in faith formation, and has authored books and program manuals in youth ministry, family ministry, and intergenerational faith formation. John created the theory and practice of Generations of Faith—an intergenerational, lifelong approach to faith formation; and administered the five-year Lilly Endowment funded project to develop lifelong faith formation in Catholic parishes across the U.S. His latest publications include Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life, Becoming a Church of Lifelong Learners, and four volumes of intergenerational learning programs in the People of Faith series. John was the founder and director of the Center for Ministry Development, where he worked for 28 years.

You can connect with John and his work through Lifelong Faith at http://www.lifelongfaith.com

Wes Black

Wesley Black is Professor of Student Ministry and Associate Dean for the Ph. D. programs in the School of Church and Family Ministries, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. He has served in local church and denominational youth ministry since 1967. Before coming to his present position, he was youth specialist in discipleship at the Baptist Sunday School Board  (now Life Way Christian Resources) in Nashville, Tenn.

Wes is the author of several books on youth ministry, including two textbooks and numerous articles in journals, periodicals, and curriculum pieces. He was involved in the national research study of Exemplary Youth Ministry. Wes has also done extensive research in a personal project, The Faith Journey of Young Adults, exploring the factors in the problem, “Why do some teenagers drop out of church after graduation and some do not? ”

http://www.swbts.edu/