About Me
I am a youth worker, teacher, speaker, and writer. I love young people, and my favorite adults are ones who also love young people. I’m a husband and father of five. And most importantly, I’m a follower of Jesus. I think God created me for comic relief, because I am rarely able to take myself too seriously for very long.
Since I still can’t figure out what I want to do when I grow up, I have two jobs plus a bunch of freelance stuff. Throughout the school year, I teach English and journalism full time at East Hickman High School, a rural Tennessee school not actually located in (or near) any incorporated towns. My biggest part-time job (well, part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer) is serving as the resource director for the Center for Youth Ministry Training.
In a freelance capacity, I’m a lead consultant with Youth Ministry Architects, and I do a little freelance writing and speaking (mostly retreats, camps, and conferences for students and youth leaders, though also some corporate training events) through DevelopMinistries.
Comments
Comment from Will Penner
Time September 1, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Thanks, Ted. Yeah, my wife and kids all have some health issues we’re a little concerned about, but we’re getting through it so far. And I did have a good birthday; thanks for the thoughts.
Comment from John
Time September 28, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Awesome blog…are you preaching some now? I won’t get to see ya’ll at YS so squeeze Brent a little extra for me!
Comment from Will Penner
Time September 28, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Thanks, John. Not much preaching; just filling in from time to time. Bummer you can’t make it to YS, but we’ll definitely give Brent an extra noogie on the head for ya’!
Comment from Deborah Arca Mooney
Time November 30, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Hey Will — Can’t seem to find your email address at the moment, but wanted to send you word about an exciting new Faith on Campus video contest we’re sponsoring here at Patheos.com. This is an exciting opportunity for college and seminary students of all faith traditions to share their faith in a creative way .. all videos will be posted at Patheos for viewing and voting and there is a $2500 cash prize (along with great publicity on our site and Washing Post’s On Faith’s site.) We would be most grateful if you’d help us spread the word to your community and get some of your students involved! The minimum age limit is 18, but there is no upper age limit — anyone who is a “student” of any age is welcome to contribute!
See below for details and links to the contest site. Would LOVE for you to blog about the contest, share on Facebook, and/or forward this email to your students, faculty or include in newsletters, etc. Here is the direct link to the video contest info if you blog or Facebook about it: http://faithoncampus.patheos.com. There is also a poster you can download and post on campus bulletin boards here: http://media.patheos.com/Documents/PatheosVideoPoster.pdf
Thanks for your help spreading the word! And advent blessings to you!
Peace-
Deborah Arca Mooney
Religion Portal Manager
Patheos.com
darcamooney@patheos.com
415.828.9332
PATHEOS, ON FAITH LAUNCH “FAITH ON CAMPUS” VIDEO CONTEST
DENVER – Nov. 12, 2009 – Patheos.com, the world’s premier online destination for global dialogue on religion and spirituality, is calling on all students with a digital video camera to share their perspectives on their faith with the launch of a video challenge targeted at college students and young adults across the country.
“Faith on Campus” will be open for video submissions from Nov. 12, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010. During that time, students can also promote their entries and encourage votes through the end of January.
To promote the contest, Patheos has partnered with On Faith, an online feature from The Washington Post and Newsweek, to advance the dialogue on religion and the critical issues of today.
“Patheos and On Faith are two of the leading sites in the world dedicated to driving the dialogue across the world’s many faiths,” said Leo Brunnick, CEO of Patheos. “In this partnership, we’re shining a spotlight on young people and letting them show the world what their faith means to them.”
A distinguished panel of judges will select the winning video submission, which will be awarded a cash prize of $2,500. Three runner-up prizes valued at $1,000 will also be awarded for the following three categories:
1. Why I am a [fill in your faith]
2. How I live my beliefs on campus
3. Rituals and practices of my faith
A fifth prize of $1,000 will be awarded to the audience favorite, based on the audience vote at Patheos.com.
The judges for the video contest include some of the most respected figures in today’s conversation on religion:
· William A. Graham, Dean, Harvard Divinity School
· Craig Detweiler, Pepperdine University
· Rabbi Brad Hirschfield, Blogger, Author, and Radio Host
· Sally Quinn, Co-Founder, Washington Post‘s On Faith
* Lisa Miller, Religion Editor, Newsweek
For more information on the video contest or to submit an entry, visit the site’s Web page at http://faithoncampus.patheos.com.
Read the press release at http://www.patheos.com/About-Patheos/Press-Room/News-Page/Video-Contest.html
Click on the following link to view a short video clip of Sally Quinn (Washington Post) and Leo Brunnick (CEO, Patheos.com) introducing the contest:
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/panelists/sally_quinn/2009/11/faith_on_campus_student_video_contest.html
Download a copy of the contest poster at: http://www.patheos.com/contest/information
Comment from Tim Rios
Time February 4, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Will, ya woodland animal, how in the frak are you?
It’s Tim from Highway Video in case you don’t remember. We spent plenty of time hanging at the YS conventions!
hit me up on e-mail, my brutha from anotha mutha…
Tim =)
PS – give my best to the little lady!
Comment from Deborah Arca Mooney
Time March 15, 2010 at 2:22 pm
hey will, check out this new interview with Mark Yaconelli at Patheos. would love for you to link to it from you blog if you like it! it’s classic mark – thoughtful, honest and passionate. here’s the article link: http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/Wonder-Fear-and-Longing.html
Thanks for sharing this article link with your readers and sharing mark’s good words on prayer out into the world! peace,
deborah
Comment from Will Penner
Time May 29, 2010 at 8:07 pm
Nice to hear from you, Tim. Are you still working with Highway Video?
Comment from Ted
Time August 26, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Will, blog looks great!
I love the layout you chose. I did not realize this about Christine. I’m so sorry. Darla said she knew about it but I certainly did not. I hope you had a great birthday!