Meet Deb.

Here’s the most important thing you need to know about me: I value ALL young people and want to see them succeed! And, I know that one of the ways that I can help young people succeed is by serving those that work with and raise young people!

I help caring adults — youth pastors, ministry volunteers, parents, youth workers, etc. learn about positive youth development, troubleshoot challenges in working with youth, find encouragement.

27 Years of Experience

I bring over 27 years of experience in volunteering or working with youth. I guess you could say they are my passion.

Trainer, Facilitator, Speaker

I have experience training front line youth workers, facilitating groups, developing resources, and speaking at conferences.

Parent

I am a mom to 3 children – an adult son, and a teenage son and daughter. I am still in the trenches of parenting.

Every single day, I strive to follow God’s call up on my life — serving young people and those that work with them.

Why #Jesusismyhashtag?

I was frequently reminded by my daughter (who was 12 at the time) that I don’t know how to use some of the social media that’s out there. Of course, that was coming from a young girl who had limited experience.

While serving in our middle school ministry at church, I saw just how connected to technology middle schoolers were. Asking them to put away their phones for an hour and a half was like asking them to hold their breath for those 90 minutes. Each week, there were the hidden glances at phones when they thought my co-leader and I weren’t looking, comments like just a second while I snap a picture, and groans about shutting off their access to the outside world.

Week in and week out, I began to wish they hungered for Jesus that much. I longed for the center of their worlds to be Jesus instead of their smartphones. I wanted a relationship with Jesus to be what they turned to over and over in the day instead of social media. Late one evening after church, the phrase #Jesusismyhashtag was ringing in my ears.

God convicted my heart that I was to create a ministry that offered encouragement and resources to those that served young people. That was the start of the #Jesusismyhashtag ministry.

My Promise

I promise to listen, encourage and speak truth as we talk about the best ways to engage young people in relationships and faith development.

A Little More About Me

I have been married to my husband Tom for 27 years. Together, we have 3 children. We also have one bonus son whom we fostered for 3 years who has returned to his birth mom.

My bachelor’s degree is in Criminal Justice with a minor in Speech Communications. I have worked in juvenile corrections, in domestic violence shelters, at a Job Corps Center teaching independent living skills. I have also spent my free time volunteering in church ministry programs for both kids and youth.

One of my favorite jobs has been as a trainer where I taught front line youth workers positive youth development, service learning, and best practices in engaging young people. Additionally, I spent time in a 3 year training program for facilitation and strategic planning.

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10

The #Jesusismyhashtag Mission

To provide encouragement and resources for caring adults that work with young people.

To provide training in positive youth development and best practices in working with young people.

To be obedient to where God leads this ministry.