youthESource Authors
YouthESource is the resourcing website of LCMS Youth Ministry. Our articles are written by pastors, DCEs, commissioned workers, professional and lay youth leaders from the field. We are grateful for their work in resourcing ministries across the country. Find out more about them below.
Blake Brockman
DCE
Blake Brockman is the Director of Youth & Family Ministries at Peace Lutheran in Antigo, WI. He loves his wife Hannah, sports, and being creative with writing and his YouTube channel. Blake loves to learn and teach practical ways to walk with God.
Brianna Dehn
Brianna is a St. Louis native who has been writing plays for middle school, high school, and college age youth since 2014. She loves writing scripts that are relevant to youth on current topics. In 2019, Brianna’s play, “Disorder in the Court,” was published by Pioneer Drama Services. This play has been performed in over 40 schools and community theaters across the United States and Canada. She has also written Vacation Bible School scripts for Concordia Publishing House. Brianna loves using her Christian values to create resources that can be used in children and youth ministries.
Sarah Dibbern
Director of Christian Education
Sarah is a DCE at Woodbury Lutheran Church in Woodbury, MN. When she’s not teaching kids/teens about Jesus and coming up with hashtags for church-wide events, she enjoys taking pictures around the Twin Cities and spending time at her cabin in Northwestern Minnesota. Sarah’s known for her love of coffee, hatred of mornings, and creating games that involve hiding Rubber Chickens at the various campuses of WLC and then forgetting where she hid them.
Eric Dunn
Director of Christian Education
Eric Dunn is the Director of Chistian Education at Trinity Lutheran Ministries in Edwardsville, Illinois. He grew up in Missouri. He has a degree in Psychology and his DCE certificate with emphases in youth ministry and family life ministry from Concordia University Nebraska. He has worked on a planning committee for the national youth gathering and serves on the youth advisory board of the Southern Illinois District of the LCMS. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Melissa, and their three kids. He also enjoys reading and watching Cardinal baseball.
Paige Edgington
Director of Christian Education
Paige Edgington graduated from Concordia University, Nebraska in 2012 as a DCE with a degree in Theology. Paige went into ministry because she was passionate about creating a safe place for youth to grow in faith and be in community. She currently serves as Director of Outreach and Coffeehouse Manager at Fairmount Ministries & Coffee Co. in Wichita, Kansas. This is her 6th year with the campus ministry at Wichita State University through Fairmount. Paige and her husband, Cooper, have a 10-year-old Cocker Spaniel named Lego. In her free time, she loves to read, go on walks and hikes, spend time with family, and enjoy coffee and conversation with friends!
Heidi Goehmann
Dcs and LCSW
Heidi is a deaconess and licensed independent mental health professional, which is a fancy way of saying she loves Jesus and figuring out how our brains work. She provides therapy and writes and creates resources about those things at heidigoehmann.com. She loves her giant dog, Star Wars, hockey, adventures, and new ideas. She lives in Norfolk, Nebraska with her husband, four kids, and 1.5 dogs in her not-quite tiny house.
Kristin Highley
Director of Christian Education
Kristin is a servant of Christ who is blessed to currently be serving as DCE at Risen Savior Lutheran Church in Broomfield, CO. Originally a California native, Kristin has a masters in teaching from Biola University, as well as a masters in theology and DCE certificate from Concordia Irvine. She spent several years in Georgia before being called to Colorado. She is overjoyed to be the mother of Samuel and wife of Colten, who also serves full time at Risen Savior as Worship Director. In addition to enjoying her dream vocation, she also loves running, baking, music, history, and strong coffee.
Casey Kegley
Pastor
Casey is the associate pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Valparaiso, Indiana. He is married to his high-school sweetheart, Beth, and they have four kids: Boaz, Adah, Eliana, and Ezra. He loves to eat good food, make new friends, and cheer for all his beloved Wisconsin sports teams.
Brandon Metcalf
Seminarian/DCE
Brandon has been involved in youth ministry since 2013 and loves any chance to work with God’s people to help them hold onto the promises of God. He is a contributing author to “Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry” and “Word of Strength and Promise: Devotions for Youth” and has spoken at district and national youth gatherings. He enjoy Frisbee, volleyball, and board games but his greatest joys come from being a husband and father.
Ben Meyer
Pastor
Ben Meyer is a husband, father, pastor and child of God. He has served as a pastor in Missouri, Illinois, and now at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunbury, Ohio and has presented at the Rural and Small Towns Missions national conference and the LCMS National Youth Workers Conference. He serves as the chairman of the Central Ohio Lutheran Mission, which exists to help reach Ethiopian and Somali immigrants with the gospel. He enjoys sports, fishing, hiking, reading, BBQ and spending time with his family.
Cassie Moore
Director of Christian Education
Cassie Moore is an author, speaker, and Director of Next Gen Ministries at St. Mark Lutheran Church & School in Houston, Texas. She’s author of “Authentic Youth Ministry: Straight Talk about Working with Kids, Teens & In-Betweens”, contributor for “Connected for Life: Essential Guide to Youth Ministry”, and an upcoming historical fiction series. She grew up in Illinois & Minnesota, has a degree from Concordia University in Irvine, California, has worked on national & district youth gatherings, and enjoys speaking nationally. She loves observing culture, travel, & talking to strangers. She and her husband, Pastor Tyler, have two dogs. Connect with her at cassieahmoore.com.
Dave Rueter
Director of Christian Education
Dr. Dave Rueter has been in DCE Ministry for more than 20 years. He currently serves on staff at Our Savior, Livermore, CA. He is husband to Andrea and father to James and Wesley. Dave is the author of Teaching the Faith at Home and Called to Serve both from CPH.
Julianna Shults
Director of Christian Education/Managing Editor
Julianna Shults is a DCE serving a Program Manager for LCMS Youth Ministry. With a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Community Development, Julianna served congregations in Florida and Chicago. She writes for the Youth E-Source, co-authored Relationships Count from CPH and co-hosts the podcast End Goals. Julianna is a self-proclaimed nerd, coffee snob and obsessive aunt.
Thomas Wiemer
Lutheran Teacher
Tom Wiemer is a Called Middle School teacher in Luxemburg, WI. His wife, Rebecca, is a gifted DCE who serves the same parish. They have one son, Miles. While his job and Miles take up most of his time, but he loves going for walks, playing basketball, exercising, and attending sporting events as much as he can.
Alan Wunderlich
Lutheran Teacher
Alan Wunderlich has been blessed by God’s grace to have been able to work in youth ministry and school education for over 40 years. It has been an awesome ride!! In addition to the blessings of ministry, he has been truly blessed to be married to his wife Kim for over 36 years. They have four awesome children and this past April their first grandchild was born. He currently serve as Director of Student Ministries and Assistant Principal at Immanuel Lutheran Church and School, Washington, MO.