Youth ministry leader to speak

On Tuesday, Shepherd will speak in the 11:05 a.m. chapel service in Christ Chapel. His message, “Stories That Change What We Do,” will be based on Luke 10:25–37. That evening, he will give a lecture entitled “Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Youth, Culture and Faith”  in the chapel at 7:30. Shepherd will also speak in chapel on Wednesday morning at 10:05 a.m. on the topic “Switch Off Your Anti-Virus Software,” which is based on Mark 4:10–12. The public is invited to attend any of the sessions.

Shepherd is a freelance researcher, trainer and writer in youth ministry and mission as well as the editor of the Journal of Youth and Theology, the academic journal of the International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry. He is also completing the final stages of his doctoral work in youth ministry at King’s College in London. His research is on the relationship between young people’s cultural and faith identity development.

Prior to his current position, Shepherd spent 14 years working as a local ministry director for Youth for Christ in the United Kingdom. Through those years, Shepherd was involved in developing and supporting work in areas such as Bosnia and Bath. His main interest is enabling the church to engage in mission to those currently beyond its reach.