STORY OF THE WAY OF PILGRIMAGE

In the early part of 2005 youth and young adult leaders from a variety of traditions and parts of the country came to Nashville to dream and develop the latest resource in the Companions of Christ family of resources, The Way of Pilgrimage. Spurred by a felt and expressed need from local congregations, the resource was designed to meet young people and their leaders where they are and take them on a journey of spiritual formation and transformation called Pilgrimage.

Writers Sally Chambers, Jonathon Norman, Gavin Richardson, Kyle Dugan, Craig Mitchell, Ciona Rouse, Jenny Youngman, Steve Matthews and Kara Lassen Oliver rallied under the direction of editorial director Robin Pippin and prayed, played, planned, and wrote together over the course of many months. From their collective passion and experience, The Way of Pilgrimage was created. Once written, The Upper Room’s Companions in Christ team carefully revised, edited, and affirmed The Way of Pilgrimage, preparing it to join the Companions family of resources.

While modeled after the Companions in Christ foundational resource, The Way of Pilgrimage makes specific adaptations, including narrative vignettes that are relevant to young people’s daily lives and a newly added DVD. The Way of Pilgrimage aims to invite young people to see God’s movement in every step they take, to begin to see themselves as pilgrims rather than tourists on the journey of life.

Meet the Authors

	The Way of Pilgrimage Leaders Guide *Sally Chambers* Sally Chambers was born in England but moved to Ohio at the age of 10. She received her B.S. in human development and social policy from Northwestern University and her Masters in clinical social work from Ohio State University. Chambers has been involved with youth ministry for the past 16 years and is the youth minister at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Franklin, Tennessee.
	*Jonathon Norman* Jonathon Norman is minister to/with youth at Hermitage United Methodist Church in Nashville and the author of Worship Feast: 100 Readings, Rituals, Prayers and Guided Meditations. He's also the co-founder/worship leader for the InSearchOf worship community, a missional worship group rooted in contemplative styles of worship and prayer.
	*Gavin Richardson* Gavin Richardson is youth minister at First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville, Tennessee. During his 12 years of youth ministry, he has worked in camps and churches in the South and Northeast, sits on the board of The Edge Ministries and is co-founder of InSearchOf worship community.
	Choosing Pilgrimage, Volume I Kyle Dugan Kyle Dugan is the executive director of Immeasurably More, a Christian nonprofit organization based in Austin, Texas. He's a graduate of Lubbock Christian University and The Upper Room Academy for Spiritual Formation. Dugan enjoys hiking, fly-fishing, mountain biking and all kinds of outdoor activities.
	*Craig Mitchell* Craig Mitchell is lecturer in lay ministry studies at the Adelaide College of Divinity and Flinders University, South Australia. He has worked in youth ministry and Christian education for over twenty-five years at local, state, and national levels with the Uniting Church in Australia. Craig has authored numerous youth study books and articles on youth ministry. He is married and the father of three daughters.
	The Bible: Pilgrimage Travel Guide, Volume II Ciona Rouse Ciona Rouse lives in Nashville, Tennessee, and is a freelance writer for a number of United Methodist publications and groups. Formerly a director of The United Methodist Church's Shared Mission Focus on Young People, Rouse attends Belmont United Methodist Church and volunteers with the youth there.
	Prayer: Heart of the Pilgrimage, Volume III Jenny Youngman Jenny Youngman edits resources for youth and youth workers for The United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville, Tennessee. She has been a youth pastor, Sunday school teacher, youth group volunteer or mentor for about 10 years now and probably will be forever. Her favorite pastime is family time with her three-year-old daughter Gracie, infant son Myles and husband Mark.
	Companions on the Pilgrimage, Volume IV *Steve Matthews* Steve Matthews has served as a youth minister for 13 years and presently works for St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, Virginia. He has a M.Div. from Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, an M.A. in clinical psychology from Western Carolina University, and a diploma in spiritual direction from the San Francisco Theological Seminary.
	Stepping Into the World, Volume V Kara Lassen Oliver Kara Lassen Oliver is currently a stay-at-home mom and freelance writer. Previously, she served as a full-time youth minister at Belmont United Methodist Church in Nashville and worked at the United Methodist Youth Organization while completing her M.Div. degree at Vanderbilt Divinity School. She, her husband Jeff, and their two young children live in Nashville.