The Link Institute Team

E-mail: drahn@huntington.edu

Dr. Dave Rahn is the Vice President of YFC/USA Ministries and director of Huntington University’s MA in Youth Ministry Leadership (www.youthministryleadership.com). He is a youth ministry researcher, author, speaker and leadership strategist.  Dave has over fifty published articles and three co-authored three books to his credit, is a contributing editor for YouthWorker Journal and writes the regular Outreach Notebook column for Group. 

His home is in Huntington, Indiana, where he lives with his wife, gets visits from his two college-age children, networks with youth pastors and—whenever possible—hangs out with high school students.  He’s been doing some form of youth ministry for over 33 years.

Dave received a B.A. from Huntington College (1976), an M.A. from Wheaton Graduate School (1981), and a Ph.D. from Purdue University (1991).  He taught at Huntington for 20 years after working for 13 years in various capacities with Fort Wayne Area Youth for Christ.  His co-authored books include: Contagious Faith: Empowering students in youth evangelism (with Terry Linhart, Group 2000), Starting Right: Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry (co-edited with Kenda Creasy Dean and Chap Clark, Zondervan/Youth Specialties 2000) and Youth Ministry that Transforms: A comprehensive analysis of the hopes, frustrations, and effectiveness of today’s youth workers (with Merton Strommen and Karen Jones, Zondervan/Youth Specialties 2001).  Dave has led research projects to determine the effectiveness of DCLA, discover common qualities of outreach-effective student leaders, follow-up sexual abstinence commitments, map the landscape of Protestant youth ministers in America, learn common factors in youth evangelism stories, and measure the effectiveness of Urban Youth Workers’ Institute strategies.

Dave is a member and past president of the North American Professors of Christian Education, the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry and helped to launch the Association of Youth Ministry Educators in the United States.  He also serves on the National Ministry Council of the National Network of Youth Ministries.

E-mail: kjones@huntington.edu

Karen joined the Huntington College faculty (and the Link team) in 1997 and currently chairs the undergraduate department of Missions and Ministries. With more than 15 years of experience in local church ministry, Karen is a frequent conference speaker, experienced writer, and regularly leads student teams through World-Changers' mission projects.  She also serves on the steering committee for the professional organization of Youth Ministry Educators.  Dr. Jones received her BS and MS from Southwestern Missouri State University.  She received her Masters and Doctorate from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

E-mail: tbergler@huntington.edu

Tom is the newest member of the Link team (he started in August 2000).  His ministry experience includes seven years working full time with University Christian Outreach on the campuses of Michigan State, University of Michigan, and the University of London. He was also Director and Co-founder of the UCO Spring Academy, an annual conference intended to equip Michigan Christian undergrads to be salt and light on their campuses.  Dr. Bergler received his BS from the University of Michigan, his MA from Wheaton, and his Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame.
 

While almost all of Link Institute's efforts are carried out by the professional team, there are select colleagues whose expertise may be useful to our youth ministry mission. They also share space with us as office partners. As associates they may occasionally be invited to participate with us in research, writing, networking, or direct ministry. These associates include Dr. Gary Newton, Dr. Gary House, Professor Luke Fetters (members of Huntington University's Educational Ministries department), and Kent Yost, Dave Ramseyer, Roger Vezeau (youth ministers).

There are occasional opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration with colleagues from sister colleges, graduate schools, and seminaries who have expertise and specialization in youth ministry. Through focused projects of a limited duration they may be invited to participate with us as partners in research, writing, networking, and direct ministry. It is our hope that these affiliates find their association with us professionally stimulating and that the mission of Link Institute might be multiplied through these talented colleagues.

Students who are enrolled in either the graduate or undergraduate youth ministry programs of Huntington University are sometimes invited to participate in one of the four strategies of Link Institute, as is appropriate to their preparation and passion.