Meet the Authors

Tim Gossett is a long-time youth ministry and Christian education veteran, having worked as a youth director, a campus ministry assistant, a Christian education director, an educational consultant, a freelance writer, an editor, and a member of a camp staff. A graduate of United Theological Seminary, with degrees in Religious Education and Religious Communications, he is the author of several youth ministry books and many articles. He regularly blogs about Christian education and youth ministry, from his home in Ames, Iowa.

Kevin Alton is a United Methodist youth worker, worship leader, writer, husband, father, and friend. In his free time, Kevin enjoys songwriting and recording with his band, Purrington. Kevin has a particular passion for the confirmation process, considering it a gift to be present as youth are led through a significant doorway in their spiritual journey. Kevin lives in the Chattanooga area with his wife, Britta, and their two boys, Grey and Penner.

Rev. Dee Dee Azhikakath is an ordained elder in the Desert Southwest Annual Conference and has experience working in churches in Texas, New Jersey, Arizona, and England. She has served on the General Commission on Religion and Race and the General Board of Church and Society and has taught confirmation in rural, multi-church settings; in large, suburban churches; and in campus ministry.

Rev. Karen Trogdon Kluever is a deacon in the South Carolina Conference, serves as a minister to youth and college students, and has more than 20 years of experience in youth ministry. She developed and wrote Synago, for student-led, small-group Bible study, and has designed models for confirmation and youth Bible study in her local church. She enjoys planning and leading youth retreats, mission trips, and worship. Karen has undergraduate and graduate degrees in journalism, with a master’s in Christian education from Pfeiffer University. She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Kara Lassen Oliver, while at Vanderbilt Divinity School, took a job at the United Methodist National Youth Ministry Organization (now the Division on Ministries with Young People); and youth ministry has been forever woven into her life and journey. Inspired by the creativity, honesty, and important questions of youth, she moved into youth ministry in a local church in Nashville, Tennessee, and along the way became a writer and editor. Since July 2009, she has been serving with her family as Volunteers in Mission in Malawi.

Mark Ray, in more than 15 years as a volunteer at Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville, Kentucky, has taught middle-school and high-school Sunday school, led confirmation, served briefly as an interim youth minister, and slept on more hard floors and smelly mattresses than he cares to remember. He has authored or contributed to several curriculum and programming resources.

Rev. Chris Hughes is a writer, musician, retreat leader, and United Methodist pastor in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. For several years, Chris and his wife, Gloria, have led confirmation retreats for the Southeastern Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church. Chris has written and recorded music for several worship resources and is the author of The Porpoise-Given Life.

Rev. Taylor Burton-Edwards is an elder, serving as Director of Worship Resources, with the General Board of Discipleship. Previously, Taylor worked with the United Way and served in pastoral roles in four congregations in Indiana, including three small churches. He received his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and his M.A. from Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. Taylor and his wife, Grace, an Episcopal priest, have two sons, Jacob and Will.

Lanecia Rouse is a beloved, recovering sinner, who delights in music, photography, listening, writing, traveling, friendship, coffee chats with her sister, and kingdom living and loving. She serves in ministry at Belmont UMC in Nashville, Tennessee, where, for 5 years, she has been sharing the journey of faith with some amazing youth, after serving a year in the British Methodist Church, following her Master of Divinity studies at Duke Divinity School.