Mark Yaconelli holds an MA in Christian Spirituality from the Graduate Theological Union and received a Graduate Diploma in the Art of Spiritual Direction from San Francisco Theological Seminary. He has led and developed national retreats for pastors, youth pastors, and youth for over ten denominations as well as for organizations like the National Youth Worker’s Convention and Zondervan’s National Pastors Convention. Mark’s research and ministry within the nationally recognized “Youth Ministry and Spirituality Project” has been ground-breaking in its exploration of spiritual direction, contemplation and ancient spiritual practices as the basis of discipleship with young people. From 1996-2004 Mark was the founder and director of Sabbath a spiritual formation week for people in ministry held in four cities each year.
Interviews and profiles of his work have appeared in the national media within the United States including the Wall Street Journal, ABC World News Tonight, Knight Ridder News Service, and The Osgood Files for CBS Radio. Feature articles on his work with teens have appeared in The Christian Century, Group Magazine, Youth Work Magazine and many other Christian publications.
Mark has contributed chapters to many books including Way to Live (2003 Upper Room) and is the author of Contemplative Youth Ministry: Practicing the Presence of Jesus (Youth Specialties 2006), Growing Souls: Explorations in Contemplative Youth Ministry (Youth Specialties 2007), Downtime: Teaching Prayer (January 2009) and is currently working on God is Trying to Break Your Heart (Fall, 2009).
Mark lives in Ashland, Oregon where he directs “Thirst” a weekly prayer service for college age adults. Mark and his wife, Jill, have two sons—Noah and Joseph and one baby girl, Grace. Hobbies include grape-stomping, fish-wrestling, hooting, and biking.
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The Presbytery of Los Ranchos
