David Runnels joined the staff in the summer of 2011.  David has a passion for helping youth to develop a lifelong relationship with Christ.  During his more than 15 years of youth ministry, David has learned that in all things (games, relationships, retreats, worship, missions, study or hanging out) the message of Jesus must be present. For any ministry to have lasting impact, new leaders must be identified, trained, and mobilized. It is not enough to help people get into heaven. We must also work to help get heaven in this place.

David believes that youth ministry should be modeled after Jesus’ ministry. During his earthly ministry, Jesus was active in making disciples. That work included winning the lost, building believers, and equipping workers. But Jesus did not stop there—he placed high priority on another essential aspect of disciple making: multiplying and sending leaders. Jesus’ apprentice leaders, led and empowered by the Holy Spirit, gave birth to the disciple-making movement we know as the Christian church.

Through the church, Jesus continues his disciple-making work in our world today. An essential part of that work is multiplying and sending a new generation of leaders. Youth ministry is a place for such leadership development to occur. 

Within a our youth group at Northern Hills, young believers who have developed into workers are identified, encouraged, equipped, and mobilized to become leaders within the youth group itself and within the congregation at large.