Joe Novenson has spent over 40 years shepherding God’s people with a pastor’s heart and a deep love for Christ. He came to faith in high school through the compelling witness of Barb—now his wife of nearly 50 years—and soon sensed a call to ministry. Joe studied at Westminster Theological Seminary, where he was shaped by leaders like Ed Clowney and Jack Miller, and went on to serve churches in Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee, most notably as senior pastor of Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church. These days, he pours into younger pastors through mentoring and preaching, which he considers sacred privileges. Joe and Barb delight in time with their three children, five grandchildren, and the many friends God has placed in their lives.

Ben Birdsong is a church and para-church student ministry veteran and currently serves as the European Expansion Director for First Priority Global Ministries, where they are seeking to raise up a generation of students to reach their peers with the gospel. He is also an adjunct professor teaching children, youth, and family ministries at Birmingham Theological Seminary. Ben also helps churches with custom curriculum through Your Youth Ministry Curriculum and authors with book projects through Birdsong Innovations.

Ben has bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Human Resource Management from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, a Master of Divinity degree from Samford University’s Beeson Divinity School, and a Doctor of Ministry in Ministry to Emerging Generations from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary.

As an author, Ben has written the devotional books Words from the Cross: 7 Statements that Will Transform Your Life, journeying through Jesus’ final moments before His death, and James: Everyday Faith. He is also a monthly contributor for parenting and family ministry content for Birmingham Christian Family magazine.

Ben lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and is married to Liz. He enjoys reading, writing, and watching movies. You can learn more about Ben online at www.benbirdsong.com.

Kristopher “Boz” Boswell is a writer, speaker, and Managing Editor of Student and Event Resources at YM360. Before stepping into publishing and content development, he served in pastoral ministry for more than 10 years, investing in students, families, and discipleship. After serving in the U.S. Army, Boz attended Union University and also studied at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of Basic Training: Prepare for Battle, a devotional that helps believers understand and engage in spiritual warfare through a biblical lens.

Boz currently lives in Alabaster, AL, with his wife and two daughters. He carries many titles, but his proudest is Full-time Girl Dad, which mostly means being outnumbered and occasionally attending tea parties.

Matt Brinkley’s ministry experience spans over 40 years. He is a graduate of Covenant College (BS) and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (ADiv). After serving as a youth pastor in Macon, GA, and Montgomery, AL, he moved to Atlanta to serve as student pastor at Perimeter Church in 1991. Eleven years later, Matt’s responsibilities there broadened to include leadership of the Nextgen Division and oversight of all ministries related to children and youth. In 2006 he went on staff at The Vine Community Church (PCA) serving as the Nextgen director and the oversight of adult discipleship until 2013.

At the beginning of 2024, Matt transitioned to serving part-time as the Associate Director of PACT Ministry which he founded in 1996 that serves and encourages youth pastors across the country in their personal walk with God, family and life balance, and strategic ministry.

Matt is the author who has written four books (Mistaken Identity, Stay the Course, FOUR, and Dating by the Book), along with five discipleship manuals. He is a sought-after speaker for retreats and conferences. Matt and his wife Vickie have been married for 40 years and have three grown children… Matt Jr., Andrew, and Mary Beth, and five incredible grandchildren… Nathan, Luke, Olivia, Elena, and Hudson.

Come and Rest. Speak and Listen. Weep and Laugh. Sit and Move. Doubt and Rebuild. Rage and Rejoice. Untether and Belong. Mourn and Make new. Go and Live. I hope to create some of these experiences with you if you commit to working with me because I believe it is through new experience that change really happens. My path to Elbow Tree came through the Chattanooga Fellows program where I began to learn what it means to be human, body, soul, and mind and the purpose found in living a story within a story.

Jason and his wife Erin live in Roxboro, NC, and have three children. Jason has served in student ministry for 20 years, and as Pastor of Students & Discipleship at Westwood Baptist Church since 2006. A graduate of North Greenville University (B.A.), Liberty University (M.A.), and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.), Jason earned his Doctorate of Education from Southeastern in 2021 with a focus in student ministry and discipleship. Jason serves as a Research Fellow for the Center for Parent Youth Understanding (CPYU) and teaches in the area of student ministry at Southeastern Seminary. He is passionate about leading students to know and supremely treasure Jesus, and about encouraging student ministry leaders to take seriously the sacred calling of shepherding students and parents toward spiritual maturity.

Patrick Everett grew up in East Ridge, Tennessee. He came to Christ as a young adult and brings over 17 years of experience in student ministry in the North Georgia area to First Baptist Church. He attended seminary locally and obtained a Master’s degree in Pastoral Studies in 2007 and is pursuing a 2nd Master’s degree at Belhaven University. Patrick married his wife, Brittany, in 2008, and they have four children, Isabella (12), Isaiah (9), Isley (5), Isla (3), and another girl due in April.

Matt Flanagan has served as the Children & Student Ministry Consultant for the Kentucky Baptist Convention since 2018. He served in student and discipleship pastor positions at four churches for 27 years prior to joining the KBC. Matt is passionate about equipping and encouraging leaders in children and student ministries and helping churches reach and disciple the next generation. Matt graduated from Centre College with a BS in mathematics and physics and a Master’s in Theology from Campbellsville University. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Student Ministry from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. He married his wife Felicia in 1997, and they are proud parents of Caleb (married to Emma) and Eli. Matt and Felicia are members of the First Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Bardstown. Matt enjoys disc golf, camping, and talking sports.

Doug Franklin started LeaderTreks in 1994 to see students reach their potential. For over twenty years, he has trained students and youth pastors alike, developing them into leaders serving in God’s Kingdom. Before starting LeaderTreks, Doug was a youth pastor for twelve years but discovered his true passion was discipleship and leadership development. He is married to a wonderfully creative woman named Angie, and they live in Wayne, Illinois.

Jeff Glenn is a 30+ year veteran in student ministry, serving as a student pastor, mission leader, trainer, and network coordinator in Middle Georgia. He now serves as the Georgia Coordinator for the National Network of Youth Ministries, connecting with youth leaders across the state—passionate about strengthening leaders through collaboration.

Reagan Frogge has been the Next Generation Minister here at FBCFO since 2020. She is passionate about working with students and allows God to lead the Kid’s Ministry in exciting directions. She graduated from Liberty University with a degree in Religion with a specialty in Apologetics and a Master of Arts in Christian Ministry. Before she joined our team at FBCFO she served as discipleship leader at Young America Ministries and as a Master-at-Arms in the US Navy. Reagan and her husband Jacob have been married for three years & had their first born in November of 2023!

Josh has spent twenty years in youth ministry fueled by a single obsession: seeing teenagers trade a hand-me-down faith for a bold, activated identity in Christ. He’s at his best when helping young people realize the local church isn’t just a place they attend, but a movement they participate in. Josh loves nothing more than watching the Gospel click for a student, seeing them grab hold of their place in God’s story and start living with a contagious, Kingdom-minded purpose.

As Director of Ministry Operations for Christian Endeavor (CE), Josh helps churches flip the script on traditional youth ministry. He coaches leaders to move away from the “Hippo” model of passive consumption and toward a “Honeybee” strategy of equipping students to be active contributors who own their faith and impact their communities. Whether he’s writing new resources, leading youth leader trainings or speaking at youth retreats, Josh is all about building discipleship strategies that actually stick.

In addition to his role with CE, Josh enjoys spending time with his wife Justine and four kids (who are entering the teen years!) on their small farm, drinking coffee and smiling like crazy. When you connect with Josh, be sure to keep an ear out for his classic catchphrase, “so good!”

Chris Hargrove joined YM360 in 2024 as the Managing Editor of Youth Pastor Resources. Before joining the YM360 team, Chris served in youth ministry for 15 years in various church sizes, including smaller and multi-site churches. He finds joy in encouraging, equipping, and supporting youth leaders through coaching, writing, speaking, building relationships, and encouraging them as they pour into the next generation. He still loves serving students (especially those wild middleschoolers), challenging them in ping-pong, and helping them discover who God is and who God calls them to be.

Chris holds a Master of Arts in Discipleship and a Master of Divinity in Leadership from Liberty University. You can often find him enjoying a member’s only pizza slice combo from the famous Sam’s Club with his family throughout the year. Chris is happily married to his wonderful wife, Carrie, who homeschools their two daughters.

Crystal Holland is the youth director at North Shore Fellowship in Chattanooga TN. She providentially found herself in youth ministry after a pastor invited her to volunteer with a fledgling youth group and has never looked back. She finds middle schoolers to be the unsung heroes of our congregations, and delights in getting to be with students in God’s word on a weekly basis. When she isn’t playing 9-square & eating pizza with students, you can find her with her husband and 3 kids at their neighborhood park.

Brian has been working full-time with families since 1993. He has had the privilege of speaking at more than 600 conferences, schools, churches, and camps from coast to coast as well as several international locations. Brian is a prolific writer for parenting magazines, most notably Parenting Teenagers, Parent Life, and Homeschooling Today with more than 80 articles published.

He is the author of four books: Engaging Your Teen’s World, Tech Savvy Parenting, How You Always Meant to Parent, and Raising Responsible Teens in a Digital World. Brian has been featured as a parenting coach on more than sixty radio shows and TV programs including FOX, ABC, and NBC affiliates.

Brian has had the privilege of being just a small part of the process as God turns the hearts of parents toward their children as well as children toward their parents. After serving for thirteen years in positions ranging from a youth pastor to a camp director to a school administrator, Brian stepped out and created 360 Family in September 2004. Most recently, he launched Screen Smarts—a one of a kind technology course for parents that now includes tens of thousands of parents!

With over 48 years in student ministry, Eddy McBroom has served as a student pastor, consultant, speaker, network leader, and mentor across Tennessee, Georgia, and Alabama. He now serves with the National Network of Youth Ministries as the Southeast Coordinator, connecting with and encouraging youth leaders across the region—believing wholeheartedly that we are better together.