Phil Bell.

Brilliant.  Bloody brilliant, mate.  Phil and I share the same heart and mind for youth ministry.  Kindred spirits – different continents.  Phil’s from England….which instantly makes him sound smarter and more interesting than the rest of us.  Truth is – he is REALLY smart.  He ‘gets’ youth ministry.  And he’s so stinkin’ humble about it, you’d never know he gets it if it weren’t for his blog!!  I subscribed to Phil’s blog long before I knew who Phil was – he offers practical, timely, sensible wisdom for youth workers.  I can’t tell you how many times Phil has called to encourage me, challenge me, collaborate with me, or check-in on me.  He’s a true friend….

He’ll be your friend, too – but you gotta hurry up and get registered for SYMC.  It’s almost sold out.  You can also be his friend on Facebook while stalking him on Twitter.

Darren Sutton is writing our ‘Real Stories from SYMC’ series.

Ben Halsch.

Ben is the blanket to my Linus!  I don’t know what it is about Benny, but he brings a quality of ‘safe’ to every encounter.  He always picks just the right time to call or text with an encouragement.  When I walk into a planning meeting and see him there, I know all the ‘behind the scenes’ stuff is done.  When he’s my roommate, I sleep well…because he’s not going to use me as the butt of his jokes (even though I most assuredly keep him awake with me praying….um, I mean…snoring).  If I ever called him and said “Ben, I need you in Corpus Christi right now”, I know he would come.  (And don’t think I haven’t considered it a time or two.)

You need to know Ben!  you can do that by coming to SYMC this year….and by finding him on Facebook or Twitter.

Darren Sutton writes the ‘Real Stories’ series.  You can find HIS real stories on his Facebook or Twitter.

Jason Lamb.

I remember the first time I sat at a round-table discussion with Jason.  I wanted to pull out all my hair…and then I wanted to begin on his!    We were not speaking the same language.  Looking back now, I realize I was on an FM station and Jason was satellite radio!  We were tasking specifics and Jason was on big picture….universal picture, really.  I wanted to accomplish the task at hand.  Jason wanted to know how accomplishing that task would affect global youth ministry for the next twenty years.

That’s how Jason thinks.  Big picture.  Widescreen.  Jason has recently transitioned back into local youth ministry (and I’m told is feeling the hurt!)  But truth be told, his heart was always there.  From his role at Dare 2 Share to his many ministry endeavors, his truest and always well-revealed heart is youth ministry.  And while I think he’s always been right there in the trenches, regardless of where his office was….it’s nice to have him standing nearer the same battlefield I’m on!

You’ll meet lots of experts in student ministry at SYMC.  Some of them may even be teaching a conference!  Register now.  And find Jason in all his glory on Facebook or Twitter.

Darren Sutton is writing our ‘Real Stories’ series.  Find him on Facebook or Twitter…alot.

Tony Myles.

I actually heard about Tony through my wife, Katie.  (See story #31.)  She served on a peer panel alongside him and several other youth workers.  Shortly after, I discovered Tony and I would be serving on a peer panel together.  Everything Katie said about him….totally true.  He was sensible and pragmatic, but transparent and authentic.  His words were loaded with wisdom and experience.  And I was shocked…..because Tony has crossed to the darkside.  He serves as a senior pastor.

Recently, Tony and I were spending some time together.  I was facing an issue similar to a situation he recently had faced.  I was so impressed with his listening ear.  I walked away from that conversation NOT with a gaggle of answers (which I wasn’t really seeking anyway.)  But I did leave thinking ‘Wow.  I would love that guy to be MY pastor.’  His congregation is surely blessed.  I hope they know it.

You’ll be blessed by lots of pastoral care and wisdom at SYMC - but only if you hurry up and get registered.  And if you’re looking for Tony, you can find him here.

“Real Stories’ is written by Darren Sutton.  Facebook and Twitter enjoy his company alot.

Leneita Fix.

In this woman, there is no guile.  (Unless you consider those who would dismiss kids who are poor, needy, rough-around-the-edges, and from the ‘hood.)  Now THAT will raise the lioness in Leneita Fix.

A true confession – I didn’t actually get to know Leneita during SYMC.  I don’t recall how I came across Leneita’s blog - I just remember her storying ability when I read it for the first time.  Leneita was running late for a plane, lost her contacts, just had one of ‘those’ days – and she wrote so well about it that I felt like I was riding shotgun through the day with her.  It led to our collaboration on several projects – and, eventually, a face-to-face meeting through SYMC.  She’s wise.  She’s definitely an expert and passionate about students.  I’m honored to be her colleague and friend.

And the thing about Leneita…you can be her friend, too!  Find her on Facebook & Twitter - or just register for SYMC this year.  (Time is ticking on the discounted offer!)

Darren Sutton is the author of  the ‘Real Stories’ series.  He’ll be leading some workshops at SYMC – or you can find him on Facebook or Twitter.

Katie Sutton.

My all time favorite SYMCer!!  Last year I had the privilege of leading a connect group with Katie.  I’ve had the privilege of sharing my life and ministry with her for the past 24 years.  She is wise, passionate, beautiful, and holy.  She is absolutely the unsung hero of our student ministry – and I think everyone around me knows it.  The only reason anything I’ve done in student ministry has met with any measure of success has been because God saw fit to join me with this woman.

I am so proud to serve with her – and serve her (though I’m rarely good at that!)  This year, she’ll be teaching youth workers how to better understand and minister to their spouses and she’ll be teaching spouses how to stand alongside their partners in life and ministry.  I’m honored to carry her books.

No other conference invests in the total life of the youth worker like SYMC.  Register today – and bring your spouse.  Meet Katie before you get there at glasshousespouse.com – or find her on Twitter and Facebook.

Darren Sutton is writing the ‘Real Stories’ series and married to The Glass House Spouse.  Find more ‘unbiased’ stories at everyonescalledtoyouthministry.com.

Andy Brazelton.

Andy embodies someone who is called to youth ministry – and knows how he should express it.  I love that Andy embraces his call in a unique way.  I love that Andy’s method of impacting students comes through quality resources and equipping the adults who lead teenagers.  And I especially love that he has leaned into that calling – embraced it – without apology.  (You can tell every time he gets called to stand in front of people how much he embraces his ‘behind-the-scenes’ life.)

But I want to bring Andy out front today.  It’s his commitment to youth ministry and heart for youth workers that make The Simply Youth Ministry Conference happen.  He has become a good friend – and he is a really good man – and a great youth ministry.

Meet Andy at SYMC this year.  Get familiar with his more ‘distinctive’ qualities on his blog, Facebook, or Twitter.

The ‘Real Stories’ series is written by Darren Sutton.  His blog, Facebook, and Twitter are just a few of the places he pontificates!

Brian Ford.

I am totally humbled by this guy.  Brian has recently transitioned to a new state and new ministry.  In the process, he and his wife, Kim, adopted a teenage daughter – their first child.  By all the standard stress tests, this guy should have had a nervous breakdown a long time ago.

But when I see his Facebook posts….it’s Scripture.  Almost always.  It has to be what keeps him so grounded and so focused.  He is so in love with his family – it oozes from every cell.  He is passionate about his students – I hear it every time he talked about his church and his students.  He is friends with his pastor – what a rarity!!  All of that  most assuredly comes from his love for Scripture.

He brings the Word.  Everyone does at SYMC – that’s why you should register!

Interact with Brain on his blog.  Or just look him up on Facebook or Twitter.

Darren Sutton is the author of the ‘Real Stories’ series.  Find him on Facebook or Twitter.

Doug Franklin – Jim Burns – Dan Webster

The trifecta!  Plus about an extra 100 people!  These three guys represent one of the things I love most about SYMC!  No rock stars!

Get this.  These guys (and all the conference personnel), are eating lunch with folks, hanging out in the book store, spending time connecting with ‘regular’ youth pastors just like me.  I’m mentioning these three guys specifically because last year, each of them carved out about 30 minutes amid a VERY packed schedule to spend some time connecting with my wife and I and sharing some amazing wisdom with our podcast audience.  Seriously?  When was the last time you felt personally connected to anyone on your conference line-up, much less known by them.  Good grief!  Last year I saw people having dinner with Derwin Gray, sharing coffee with Gungor, and talking down the hall with youth ministry veterans like Duffy Robbins, Doug Fields, and Les Christie.

For youth workers.  By youth workers.  ALL youth workers.  Register here – you’re running out of time for your discount!

Learn more about the ministries of Doug Franklin, Jim Burns, and Dan Webster – and catch them, and other youth ministry gurus, along the hallways at SYMC!

The ‘Real Stories’ series is written by Darren Sutton.  Facebook and Twitter are some of his common hangouts.

John Mulholland.

I can only describe John as deep and dirty.  Here’s what I mean.  John doesn’t mind climbing the hard questions.  And he doesn’t mind dragging you up the mountain as he climbs.  I love that.  He gets his hands dirty dealing with real issues of real life for real Christians.  I read his blog….and mostly I just feel like a spiritual idiot.  He digs deep – and slings a little dirt while digging.  He’s raw and honest and embraces who he is in Christ – even if it doesn’t jive with who others THINK he should be.  I love that – and I love the challenge he brings.

You can be challenged at SYMC – but only if you register.  Connect with John (if you dare) on Facebook.

The ‘Real Stories’ series is written by Darren Sutton.  Connect with him on Twitter or Facebook.