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Cheryl A. Crawford, Ph.D., is an expert in adolescent development, youth ministry, and practical theology, with 40 years of ministry experience, and has written and presented on a variety of topics pertaining to ministry to adolescents and emerging adults. As co-researcher and co-author of Sticky Faith, her passion for understanding and encouraging developing faith in adolescents and emerging adults continues. Crawford is a member of the Association of Youth Ministry Educators, and serves as Senior Editor for the Journal of Youth Ministry, an academic journal directed towards youth ministry educators.

Stephen Martin has been active as an educator, music pastor, conductor, composer, and arranger for the last 20 years. He has arranged and scored music for film, symphonic orchestra, big band, vocal jazz, and chamber groups. Over the course of 20 years, he has led over 250 volunteers in music ministry. He currently serves as Program Director for the Music & Worship program at Azusa Pacific University, teaching courses in worship arts leadership, worship design, arranging, and orchestration. Stephen is currently pursuing a Doctorate from Claremont Graduate University in Church Music, with an emphasis in Conducting. He holds a M.A. of Music in Trumpet Performance from the University of Southern California, and a B.A. in Music Performance, Education, and Composition from APU. He is married to his beautiful wife Shannon of twenty years, and has three wonderful children, Hannah, Rayna, and Micah.

Jennifer M. Buck is an Assistant Professor of Practical Theology at Azusa Pacific University. She holds a Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Theology from Claremont Graduate University and an M.Div. from Fuller Theology Seminary. She is a licensed minister in the Evangelical Friends church and served for 8 years on pastoral staff. She is the author of Reframing the House: Constructive Feminist Global Ecclesiology for the Western Evangelical Church (Pickwick, 2016).

Matt Elofson, Ph.D., has over 25 years of youth ministry experience and currently serves as Professor and Chair of the Department of Practical Theology at Azusa Pacific University. He is also a member of the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education, Association of Youth Ministry Educators, and American Academy of Religion. Matt’s primary areas of interest for youth ministry research are culture, evangelism, mission, and technology.

By day, Daniel Gillooley is a M.Div. student at Azusa Pacific Seminary and handles marketing for the Center for Vocational Ministry. By night, when he’s not nose deep in theology textbooks or the Bible, you can find him mountain biking, backpacking, snowboarding, and extreme sledding (a new and recent hobby), just to name a few. He also enjoys video games, reading novels, telling stories, and watching good films.

For over 20 years, Gregg has been involved in urban outreach, street-level youth ministry, and youth ministry education. He holds the position of Associate Professor of Youth and Urban Ministry at APU, and moonlights as an instructor at the LA Dream Center. He is an active consultant and passionate voice for urban and intercultural ministry.

Jenn Graffius is the Associate Director of the Center for Vocational Ministry and an adjunct ministry professor at Azusa Pacific University. She has experience in Church Ministry and Campus Ministry, including leadership in Fuller Theological Seminary’s and Princeton University’s Chapel and five years as Director of Student Ministries at Glenkirk Church. Jenn was the first person ordained in The Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians (ECO). She is a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary (MDiv) and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Christian Leadership at Duke Divinity School.

Freddy Rivas is the Assistant Director of the Center for Vocational Ministry. Over the last year nine years he has ministered to undergraduate students who are called to vocational ministry. He received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Azusa Pacific University and a M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is an ordained pastor within Evangelical Friends church and has served in pastoral leadership for 18 years. Freddy recently planted Living Hope Church in the Los Angeles area. He loves spending time with his wife and four children.

Melissa Spolar is the Mentoring Assistant in the Center for Vocational Ministry at Azusa Pacific University. Melissa is currently getting her M.Div. at APU and has a background in ministry both in the church and on school campuses. She currently works with students in discerning calling and preparing for vocational ministry.

Chris Neal directs the Youth Leadership Initiative at Azusa Pacific University, creating resources and experiences that help high school students explore and discover their ministry calling, in partnership with parents and youth workers. Chris is an alumnus of APU (B.A., M.Div.), has served in youth and family ministry for more than 13 years, and has been an adjunct professor of youth ministry for seven years. Chris also serves as the Los Angeles director for the Made to Flourish network, a network of pastors for the common good.