Education

• Doctor of Philosophy, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1988
• Master of Religious Education, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1983
• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, University of Southern Mississippi, 1980

Teaching Experience

• Professor of Youth Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999--present
• Associate Professor of Youth Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999 - present
• Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1994-1999
• Adjunct Professor, North Georgia Campus, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 1992-1994
• Guest Professor: Bryan College, Dayton, Tennessee (Staley Lecturer); Louisiana College (Staley Lecturer); Baptist College of Florida; Howard Payne University, Brownwood, Texas; Alliance Graduate School, Quezon City, Philippines; Seminario Bautista, Havana, Cuba

Teaching Specializations

• Youth Ministry, Adolescent Development, Leadership, Administration

Ministry Experience

• Interim Pastor, Crosspoint Baptist Church, Baton Rouge, LA 2004-2005
• Interim Pastor, Dunwoody Baptist Church, 2002-03
• Interim Youth Minister, FBC Picayune, Ms. 1997-1998
• Minister with Students, Dunwoody Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA, 1989-1994
• Minister of Youth and Education, First Baptist Church, Winnfield, LA 1984-1989
• Minister of Youth, Memorial Baptist Church, Metairie, LA 1981-1984
• Minister of Youth, Rowland Hills Baptist Church, Stone Mountain, GA 1980-1981

Publications

Articles/Chapters in books

• "Meaningful Moments with God: A Book Review, " Discipleship Training, 1990.
• "Youth Discipleship Taxonomy Equals Growth, " Discipleship Training, 1991.
• "Waging Peace," Straight Trak Teen Bible Studies, Vol. 7, 1993.
• "Out of Focus" (chapter), Help Peer Pressure, Nashville: Convention Press, 1993.
• "Myths About Money," Straight Trak Teen Bible Studies, Vol. 5, 1993. "SBC Youth: Better or Worse," Youth Ministry Update, October 1994.
• "Why Do I Believe That?" (chapter), Countdown: 20 Bible Studies for High School Seniors, Nashville: Convention Press, 1994.
• "Who Am I?" (chapter), Countdown: 20 Bible Studies for High School Seniors, Nashville: Convention Press, 1994
• "Responding Right to Authority That's Wrong," Straight Trak Teen Bible Studies, Vol. 8, 1994.
• "I Was a Teenage Leader," Youthworker Journal, Winter 1994.
• "Assimilating New Youth Church Members Through Mentoring," (chapter) in Basic Youth Stuff, R. Clyde Hall, compiler. Nashville: Convention Press, 1995.
• "Mentoring Youth" A Paper Presented to The National Conference on Youth Discipleship, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, New Orleans, Louisiana, May 8-11, 1995.
• "Know Your Hero's Hero," Straight Trak Teen Bible Studies, Vol. 18, 1996.
• "Minister to the Mass," Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "Give What You've Got," Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "Spur Others Along, " Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "Courage to Encourage," Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "A Comfort Chain Reaction," Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "Strengthen Your Comfort Zone," Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "Words of Encouragement," Essential Connection Devotional Magazine, Nov. 1996.
• "Youth Education: Praxis, Process, and Partnering" in VBC Educator, Vienna, Virginia, May 1996.
• "The Changing Family" in Youth Ministry Update, October, 1996.
• "A Letter from Jeremy--What Teenagers Need Most (from their Single Parent)" in Single Pursuits, November 1996.
• "Theology and Youth Ministry," The Theological Educator, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Faculty Journal, Fall 1997.
• "The X-Faith," Straight Trak Teen Bible Studies, Vol. 23, 1997.
• "Designer Genes," Staight Trak Teen Bible Studies, Vol. 23, 1997.
• TM412 (contributor, Bible Studies), 1997.
• "Theology and Youth Ministry." The Theological Educator. Volume 56, Fall 1997.
• "CyberChristians of the 21st Century," in Youth Ministry Update, October, 1998.
• "Does the Church Need Youth Ministry?" in American Baptist Quarterly, Spring, 1999.
• "Family Friendly Youth Ministry in Southern Baptist Churches," Youth Ministry Update, 2000.
• "3rd Century Youth Ministry," Youth Ministry Update, October 2000.
• "Effects of Music Style Preference on Behavior in Christian Adolescents," Marriage and Family, Volume 3, No.3. 2000.
• "Analysis of Aggression in Adolescents" with Jim Graham and Rick Morton. A major paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association of Youth Ministry Educators, Toronto, Ontario, 2000.
• "Revisiting Strategic Planning in Youth Ministry," Youth Ministry Update, 2001.
• "Stones in the Jordan," Group Magazine May/June 2001.
• "Ministry" (chapter), Basic Student Ministry in the Kingdom-Focused Church, 2003.
• "Competencies in Youth Ministry" (chapter), This Way to Youth Ministry Companion Guide. Edited by Len Kageler, Youth Specialties/Zondervan, 2004.
• "Ask Allen" (on-going column) in Leading Student Ministry magazine, 2003-2006.
• "Thinking about Giving Up on Youth Ministry?" Leading Student Ministry magazine, Vol.3, No.4, Fall 2006.
• "Beginning With The End In Mind," Student Life Magazine
• Psalm 119 and Matthew 5 devotionals in Student Life Bible
• "Hello & Goodbye, How to Enlist and Disengage Volunteers," YouthWorker Journal, July/August 2008

Books

• Connected, Commited and a Little Bit Crazy with Randy Johnson. Nashville: Baptist Sunday School Board, 1996.
• Into Their Shoes with John Kramp. Nashville: Convention Press (Lifeway), 1996.
• Followology @ Collegiate Ministry. Nashville: Convention Press (LifeWay), 1998.
• Teaching Youth: Leaders, Lessons, and Lifestyles. with Richard Barnes. Nashville: LifeWay Press, 2000.
• Introducing the 21st Century Teenager with Dwayne Ulmer. Nashville: LifeWay Press 2001 (print on demand). Also downloadable (free) at http://www.lifeway.com/understanding/youth/index.asp
• The Retreat Notebook 2 with Judi Jackson. Nashville: LifeWay Press, 2000.
• TEACH: An Ordinary Person's Guide to Good Bible Study. Birmingham: Student Life Publlishing, August 2008.

Presentations

• "Biblically Centered Youth Ministry." Critical Concerns Course presented with Rick Morton at the Youth Specialties National Youth Workers' Conventions, 2007, in San Diego, Atlanta, and St. Louis.
• Connected, Committed and a Little Bit Crazy, Generation X, Youth Culture, Burn-Out, Spiritual Growth for Youth Ministers, Millenials, Parenting, etc.
• "Navigating the Media Maze" (a critical analysis of the media culture)
• Frequent speaker/preacher at youth camps, youth retreats, youth rallies
• Conference leader, training adult volunteers, Sunday school workers, full- and part-time youth ministers

Family

• Married to Judi Jackson since 1983 (and going strong). Judi is a writer, teacher, conference leader and worship leader. She graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Journalism and from NOBTS with an MRE in Youth Education, and earned her PhD in May 2005. Her strengths are in the areas of: personal fitness as it relates to ministry, women's ministry, and parenting.
• Children are Aaron (a sophomore at LSU) and Sarah (a senior at Ben Franklin High School)