Who are the PR1ME classroom instructors?

Big Group Gathering Speaker: Duffy Robbins Nationally known Youth Speaker & Youth Worker Trainer Associate Professor of Youth Ministry at Eastern University St. David’s, Pennsylvania

Steve Keaton is the founder and executive director of Tsunami Ministries.  He is a 19 year veteran of youth ministry and began his journey into the abyss of youth ministry at University City UMC in Charlotte, NC and while serving the inner-city youth as a Charlotte Police Officer.   Steve has served at churches in the Charlotte, NC area, Rock Hill, SC, Yadkinville, NC and currently he is the Grand Pu-bah of Student Ministries at Mt. Tabor UMC in Winston-Salem, NC. Steve does a bit of speaking around the country at youth events, youth worker training events, seminars, conventions, bingo nights, bake sales, demolition derbies, yard sales and more. He has been a youth speaker at large youth ministry conferences, as well as intimate youth ministry retreats.  Steve's style of speaking and relational ministry ability make him extremely effective in covering a wide range of topics which today's teens are dealing with.

Bert Giles is the Director of Youth Ministries at University City UMC in Charlotte, NC.  A graduate of Davidson College, Bert has worked with teenagers in many different capacities for twenty-one years.  His experiences include the public school system, a military prep school and the juvenile court system.  In his 17th year of paid youth ministry Bert says that he finally realizes how to have “balance” in your life and ministry – “Con someone else into doing it!!”.  Bert says that the key to having a strong, solid youth ministry is the volunteer adult leaders and helping them to figure out how best to serve the Lord in the ministry as they invest themselves in the students.  Bert serves on the Board of Tsunami.

Ryan Frazier is the Associate Minister of Students at Mt. Tabor UMC in Winston-Salem, NC and the Minister of Leadership Development for Tsunami Ministries, Inc. Despite his young age, Ryan is an experienced youth worker. After spending his college years as a youth volunteer in two churches he graduated in May 2009 from Winthrop University with a degree in Sociology. He has talents in several areas of ministry including youth, music, and mission trips. When Ryan isn’t working with the youth you can probably find him in the middle of the woods somewhere camping.

Val Kinney started in volunteer Youth Ministry in 1985 after an Honorable Discharge from the US Navy. He has worked with 9 different Youth Directors at three different United Methodist Churches.  First in Jacksonville, FL then Largo, Florida and currently at St John's UMC in Rock Hill, SC .  Val believes that his ministry is to show Youth that being a Christian means you can still have fun within the boundaries of our Christian beliefs.  His favorite picture of Jesus is the one when it shows Him laughing.  Val believes that Jesus joked and laughed with his disciples along with being serious and reverent.

Joy Murphy is a graduate of Winthrop University with a degree in Special Education and a Minor in Dance.  After teaching high school students with special needs for 5 years, she felt called to into full time youth ministry, which took her to Chapin United Methodist Church in SC.  She is now the Minister of Christian Education at Sea Island Presbyterian Church in Beaufort, SC where she lives with her husband Brian, and son Morrison.  She enjoys spending time with family, exercising, making scrapbooks and being at the beach.  Joy serves on the Board of Tsunami.

Brad MacKay currently resides in Charlotte, NC, where the majority of his ministry takes place.  During any given week you can find him dividing his time between three different organizations to which he lends his musical gifts and leadership. Brad has a great passion for music and student ministry which he developed during his time in youth group at University City UMC and in college at UNC Charlotte.  Beside his musical gifts, you may find that Brad is a little bit of a geek in hiding and very creative. These two qualities have helped form the role that he often plays in ministry.

Bob Richardson is the charmed husband of Susan, the proud father of Lurline, a blessed member of Dr. Earl Wilson's flock at Mt. Tabor UMC, and a Peer Counselor for Insight Human Services, a division of the Partnership For A Drugfree NC. Bob is a recovering alcoholic and addict who, by God's indefatigable grace, has been clean and sober for thirteen years.

Courtney White has been in Youth Ministry for sixteen years, the last three as a “professional” as she currently serves as The Director of Youth Ministries at Mt Holly UMC in Rock Hill, SC.  After graduating from Clemson University she held jobs in the golf, mortgage and fitness industries but finally has found her true calling in Youth Ministry.  Courtney believes that no matter the resources of your church (budget, volunteer leadership, facilities) it does not matter if your ministry is not first built on individual relationships. These relationships lead to the teachable moments that you love to see.  Courtney serves on the Board of Tsunami Ministries.

Charlie Brown currently serves as the Minister of Youth at Weddington United Methodist Church just south of Charlotte in Weddington, NC.  Charlie grew up in Hickory, NC at St. Lukes UMC.  In 2002 Charlie became the first graduate of Pfeiffer University to obtain their undergraduate degree in Youth Ministry.  Charlie has been serving in full time youth ministry for over seven years.  Due to the influences of his parents, grandparents, friends, family, and congregation, Charlie is and will forever be actively seeking to be the disciple of Jesus that God calls him to be. Charlie is passionate about providing youth with opportunities to develop strong foundations for lifelong service to God.   In 2007 Charlie received Certification by the United Methodist Church in Youth Ministry and is currently completing his Masters in Christian Education at Pfeiffer University.  Charlie is also a certified candidate for ordination as a Deacon in the United Methodist Church.

For the past five years, Jonathan Spangler has served at Oak Ridge UMC where he oversees The Ridge student ministry and The Refinery young adult ministry.  Jonathan is a youth ministry veteran of ten years and is fully committed to sharing Christ’s love with teenagers and college-agers around the world.  During his first few years in youth ministry, Jonathan received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Christian Education with an emphasis in youth ministry from Gardner-Webb University and a Master of Arts in Church Ministries from Liberty Theological Seminary.  Jonathan also currently serves on the task force Young Adult Ministries and the design team for SpiritUs in the Western NC Conference.

Kevin Ward has been the Director of Youth and Young Adults Ministries at Williamson's Chapel UMC since November of 2006.  He has his Masters in Christian Education from Pfeiffer University and is in the process of being ordained in the United Methodist Church!  He has worked full time in the church for almost 10 years and also spent many summers on staff at the UMC Camp Tekoa.  In addition to working in the church, Kevin has led workshops, spoken at youth rallies and spent many hours working and training student leaders.

Matt Sherrill is the director of Youth Ministries at Mt. Zion UMC and has been there for seven years. He is a Recreational Management graduate from Appalachian State University and also has a Masters in Christian Education degree from Pfeiffer University. Matt has a great passion for sharing Christ with everyone.

Brian R. Murphy is an attorney with the law firm of Mikell, Weidner, Wegmann & Harper, LLC in beautiful Beaufort, South Carolina.  Hailing from Fort Mill, South Carolina he attended Winthrop University and the University of South Carolina, School of Law.  Brian got his start in youth ministry by relating to middle school guys.  This wasn’t too difficult however, as Brian shares their maturity level.  Brian now focuses his ministry involvement with Tsunami Ministries, Inc. where he also serves as a director.  Brian is married to Joy Murphy and they are blessed with a son, Morrison.