Dave Rahn

I was an unchurched teen until I heard about Jesus. Then everything changed. I figure there must be lots of teens like I was who simply don't know what is possible because they haven't met Jesus. So I began my work with Youth for Christ as a Campus Life director while still in college (Huntington University) back in 1972 and continued full time after graduating. My new bride, Susie, joined me in the adventure and is still by my side, looking as good as she did when we married in 1976. Along the way I popped out for a 15 month race through an MA program in Educational Ministries from Wheaton College (1981), but quickly returned to direct work with kids in the Fort Wayne, IN, area. The organizational move in 1985 to start teaching at the college level didn't seem too radical because I was still coaching young people to do youth ministry. Soon enough a PhD from Purdue (1991) set me up for a nice 22 year run where I ultimately became a tenured, full professor at Huntington University. They gave me a long leash at HU, allowing me to do research and network and speak and teach and write widely. I slowly started to migrate back toward Youth for Christ, first in special consulting gigs and ultimately in 2007 as the VP and Chief Ministry Officer for YFC/USA. I retired from my YFC USA role (Sr Ministry Advisor) in June 2020, live in Middlebury, IN, still teach when I can, research a bit, network a lot, and am more focused than ever on living as a joyful, faithful companion with Jesus. My own two children have blessed Susie and me with 5 grandkids, so writing now has lots of new source material. I want to finish strong in this race I've been privileged to run for more than 50 years with Jesus.