Dr. Karen Jones Education Ministry Related Experience Seminary and Professional Experience Professional Organizations Current Employment

Education:

• Bachelor of Science, Elementary Education with a concentration in Spanish, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, 1978.

• Master of Science, Elementary Education with a concentration in Remedial Reading, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri, 1982.

• Master of Arts in Religious Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas, Spring 1993.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Education with a major in Youth Ministry and a minor in Foundations of Education, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. Spring, 1998.

Ministry Related Experience:

Writer- 1982 to present. Curriculum writer for LifeWay Resources. Recent works include the 1999 World Changers Pre-project study manual, contributions for American Baptist Quarterly, Christian Education Journal ("Refining the Image: A Vocational Perspective of Youth Ministry)  Group Magazine, and Youth Worker Journal. Current projects include a chapter in Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry: Approaching Youth Ministry from the Perspective of Practical Theology and co-authorship of a book describing LINK Institute's recent research project, "A National Study of Protestant Youth Ministers in America."

Youth Discipleship Specialist- Missouri Baptist Convention, 1987-90, and LifeWay, 1987-present.

Conference Leader- 1981 to present. Specializing in youth ministry and Christian education, Karen has led conferences for youth and adults in numerous states and foreign countries. Recent conferences include Youth Specialties in Denver and Nashville, and presentations at the 1997 and1998 annual meetings of the North American Professors of Christian Education.

Minister to Youth
First Baptist Church, Kimberling City, Missouri, 1982-89.
Western Hills Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1991.
Connell Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, interim, 1994-95.
University Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1995-96.
First Baptist Church, San Antonio, Texas, interim, 1996.
Huntington Baptist Church, Huntington, IN-Youth Ministry Consultant, 1997-May of 2001.

Seminary and Professional Experience

President of Student Religious Education Association, 1992-93.
Youth Lab, Co-Captain, 1993.
Recipient of the Presidential Merit Scholar Award in Religious Education, 1993.
Presidential Blue Ribbon Committee, 1996.
Advisory Board for Youth Worker Journal, 1998-2001.
Recipient of the Southern Baptist Research Fellowship Award for Excellence in Research, 1998.
Youth Link 2000 Committee Chairperson for the St. Louis Site., 1999-2002.
Youth Ministry Educators Executive council, 1999-present.
Journal of Youth Ministry, Book Review Editor-1999-2001

Professional Organizations

International Association of Youth Ministry.

Journal of Youth Ministry, Book Review Editor, 1999-2001.

National Network of Youth Ministries.

North American Professors of Christian Education.

Southern Baptist Research Fellowship.

Youth Ministry Educators, Chair of Executive Board, 2001-02.

Youth Ministry Executive Council, 1998-present.

Youthworker Journal- Advisory Board, 1998-2001.

Current Employment

Assistant Professor of Educational Ministries, Department Head, Huntington College, Huntington, Indiana, 1997-present.

Associate Director of Link Institute for Faithful and Effective Youth Ministry, 1997-present.

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