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Don Posterski
As a nationally acknowledged researcher and author, Don Posterski has devoted his career to interpreting social trends and religious issues in Canada. Don recently completed his tenure with World Vision International as the Director of “Faith and Development”.

Utilizing research data, Don has written several books connecting the gospel with culture. These titles include Enemies with Smiling Faces: Defeating the Subtle Threats that Endanger Christians, True to You: Living Our Faith in Our Multi-minded World and co-author with sociologist Reginald Bibby, The Emerging Generation: an Inside Look at Canada's Teenagers, Friendship: a Window on Ministry to Youth, Teen Trends: a Nation in Motion.

Don and his wife Beth reside in Toronto, Canada.


Marv Penner
Marv Penner is an internationally known author, professor, motivational speaker, and youth ministry expert. He is currently the executive director of All About Youth, Director of Youth Specialties Canada, and oversees the Canadian Center for Adolescent Research, an organization that conducts research on Canadian youth culture.

Marv has authored youth curriculum for Gospel Light Publications and Cook Communications and is the author of such youth ministry books as The Youth Worker’s Guide to Parent Ministry and Hope and Healing For Kids Who Cut. He received his MA degree from Grace Seminary in 1985 and his D.Phil degree from Oxford Graduate School in 1993.

Marv and his wife, Lois, live in British Columbia and have three married children.


Chris Tompkins
Chris Tompkins is the current Managing Ministry Director of Muskoka Woods, a Christian youth resort that provides summer camp experiences for children from all over the world.

Before coming to Muskoka Woods, Chris received his under graduate degree from the University of Guelph, followed by a Teacher’s college degree at the University of Toronto. His love of working with youth led Chris to Good Shepherd Community Church in Scarborough, Ontario, where he spent 7 years as a Youth Pastor. Chris’s experience spans ten years of working directly with youth in the community, churches, local schools and now, at Muskoka Woods.

Currently, Chris oversees a full-time team where he leads 300 high school and college aged staff each summer. His experience and acknowledged expertise with this generation’s young people has led to an increasing demand for him to speak to both teens and adult youth workers.

Chris recently co-authored, with Don Posterski and Marv Penner the published research findings of "What's Happening: The state of youth ministry in Canada." This national Canadian research project is the first to amplify the voices of active youth pastors and youth workers in the nation.

Chris resides in Stouffville, Ontario with his wife and three year old daughter.


Muskoka Woods Leadership Studio
The ‘What’s Happening’ research project was sponsored by the Muskoka Woods Leadership Studio. Part of the Leadership Studio’s intention will be to enhance the influence of adults who work with today’s youth. The research gathered by the project will be a resource for the studio to this purpose.