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.

Cloud of WitnessesThis is a cool shot from an activity in Doug Fields’ message on Saturday night. Everyone wrote a “faith blocker” and tossed it into the air. People were asked to pick up one of the papers that landed near them and pray for that person and their faith blocker. It was a cool, interactive community experience.

Anyway, it’s a small world because I keep bumping into people who know Guy.  Karen and I met a former intern of his, Andrew, this fall at another event. Andrew offered to volunteer at NYMC, and as we chatted a story emerged about his journey in youth ministry, meeting Tony Dungy, the death of  a dear friend, etc. We were blown away–and have Andrew’s story into the general session program on Friday night.

As I was talking with Guy last week he shared more bits and pieces to the story, and both of us were in awe of the significance of a common thread through the details. The story keeps unfolding into some deeper areas that touch on the legacy left by many people.  God’s fingerprints are everywhere on this–and after we talked, Guy sent me an email recapping some of our conversation, and a few more of his thoughts. It’s a conversation and keeper email I’ll treasure for a long time–one that I’m saving to refer back to on the days I’m burned out and bitter and can’t see the big picture past the yucky life details. Here’s some words from Guy Wasko’s email that should resonate with almost everyone:

I have only a small handful of experiences where God has blessed me with the rare opportunity to see and realize that He has been working through and using me to make a difference (leave a legacy) in those around me. From a phone call from a student that I haven’t spoken to in months to, the ongoing story of Andrew Smith, I am grateful for those small glimpses that remind me that it is He that is working and restoring and rescuing…not me!

I talked with Danette Matty, an energetic, dynamic youth worker from Minneapolis who is leading the Women in Youth Ministry Affinity Group, and teaching a few workshops (one on setting boundaries, one on recovering from the aftermath of a youth ministry scandal/mess, and one just for volunteers) We burned up the phone for nearly 2 hours–talking conference schedule and workshop content–bouncing ideas all over the place. Danette has such a sparkly nature–but with a powerful groundedness, transparency and intelligence that makes her brilliant.

We landed on a great plan to shift some workshops a bit and offer late-night breakouts on some hard hitting subjects. We added a new ”recovering from the aftermath” breakout for Sunday night based on our interesting discussion on setting appropriate boundaries in youth ministry–and what can happen when there aren’t boundaries. Danette shared some painful stories about situations that resulted in tremendous pain for some youth workers–and for the youth workers who followed in the footsteps of the mess.

It’s cool how the conference is “owned” by the hearts and minds of the people who are coming to serve in speaker and ministry mentor roles. (and by youth workers who are willing to share their thoughts!)Everyone has an opinion–backed by years of experience, success and failures that give such authentic dimension to every detail!