International Director - Mark S. Abbott
yce1@extremegen.org

Mark S. Abbott is currently serving as International Director of Youth and Christian Education of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee. He attended Lee College and Washington Bible College in Washington, DC for his undergraduate studies. Brother Abbott received his Master's Degree from the Church of God Theological Seminary. He has served as an evangelist, inner city pastor in Baltimore MD, and Milwaukee, WI, state director of Youth and Christian Education in Wisconsin/Upper Michigan, Pacific Northwest, South Georgia and Alabama. Reverend Abbott has written several articles and developed the administrative side of the Church of God Pioneers for Christ boys ministry, and while director in South Georgia, gave it to the Youth Department for use as an international program. He has taught in seminars, training and prayer conferences, Bible institutes, camp meetings and served on numerous committees and boards. Mark and Valerie Abbott are the proud parents of five sons, Mark Stephen II, Benjamin Paul, Joel Daniel, Caleb Isaac, and Jacob Aaron. Their second son, Ben, is married to Lara and they have blessed them with two beautiful granddaughters, Katelyn and Sarah. Since Brother Abbott began his ministry in 1975, he has had a genuine burden for young people. His focus and goal is to prepare and implement effective ministries for youth that will encourage spiritual stability and growth.

Assistant Director - Tom A. Madden
yce2@extremegen.org

Tom Madden is the Assistant International Director of Youth & Christian Education of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee. He received his Bachelors Degree from Lee University in 1979 and a Master’s Degree from the Church of God Theological Seminary. While serving as youth pastor at the North Cleveland Church of God he founded Winterfest, a local church youth group retreat. What began as a small gathering of teenagers and sponsors, 279 people and five local churches, has now blossomed into fourteen regional gatherings that minister to over 43,000 each year. The out growth of Winterfest has led the way in the establishment of other denominational ministries such as Master’s Commission and City Vision. Prior to his election as Assistant Director, he served as Youth Ministries Coordinator for the Church of God Youth & Christian Education Department from 1990 until 2004. He resides in Cleveland and is married to Charla (Parson) a kindergarten teacher at Michigan Avenue School. They have two children, Crystal and Chad.

Youth Ministries Coordinator - David C. Blair
yceyth@extremegen.org

David has been involved in youth ministry for the past twenty five years. He and his wife Janet have served as State / Regional Youth and Christian Education Director in the states of Arkansas, Kentucky, and most recently in the region of Delmarva-DC. Prior to entering state work they served local churches in Tennessee for nine years as Pastor of Youth. While in Tennessee their daughter Brittani LeAnna and son David Bruce were born.

David has served as an adjunct instructor for Lee University. He received a Bachelor of Science from at Lee University (1986) and a Master of Divinity from the Church of God Theological Seminary in Cleveland, Tennessee (1991). Most recently David received a Doctorate of Ministry from Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina. David completed two terms serving on the International Youth and Christian Education Board. He first served on the National Youth Leaders Association Board in 1987 and has served several terms since, as well as one term as a member of the National Children’s Ministry Association Board and as a member of the Smoky Mountain Winterfest Steering Committee for the past nineteen years. He has been actively involved in Winterfest for the past twenty three years.

David is called to help leaders at all levels discover and develop their leadership potential and giftedness to further the Kingdom of God. His desire is to see a generation become dedicated disciples of Christ and to train them to replicate themselves in others around them.

Youth Missions Coordinator - David W. Ray
yceywea@extremegen.org

David W. Ray has been preaching since the age of nine and
has been involved in the Church of God ministry to youth for
the past 24 years. Having served as youth pastor, pastor, state director of youth and Christian education and currently as youth mission's coordinator for the Church of God International Youth and Christian Education Department, with other administrative assignments. David recently completed a Masters of Christian Ministries with an emphasis in mission from the Church of God Theological Seminary. He is married to Debbie S. (Gray) and they have two children, Michael and wife Melody and daughter Athena.

Sunday School & Christian Ed. Coordinator - Tony P. Lane
ycessce@extremegen.org

Tony Lane has served as local church Christian education director, music director, youth pastor, Christian day school administrator and pastor. On the state level, he has served as state director of youth and Christian education in Iowa/ Nebraska, Great Lakes Region and Southern Ohio. He is presently serving as Sunday School and Christian Education Coordinator which also includes the oversight of children’s ministries. Tony attended Lee, but completed the requirements for both his B.A. and Master's degrees at Wheaton College and Wheaton Graduate School. He is an adjunct instructor in Youth Ministry at Lee University.

Tony is married to Joy, a real estate affiliate/broker at Coldwell Banker in Cleveland. They have two children, Josh and wife Joyce and Meagan.

Cross Cultural Youth & Singles Min. Coordinator -
Daniel J. Vassell
ycecarb@extremegen.org

Daniel J. Vassell Sr. a former teacher, youth pastor, pastor, State Youth and Christian Education Director, is now serving as coordinator of cross cultural youth and singles ministry. Daniel has been actively involved in youth and Christian education ministry for over twenty-nine years. He has served in youth and Christian education ministry in Jamaica, West Indies, Regional youth director for Toronto, Canada and state director of New York.

Daniel is a graduate of Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, Canada with a BRE degree in youth and Christian education. Daniel also attended the Church of God Theological Seminary, where he earned a M.A. degree in Christian Counseling and currently is pursuing his doctorate in marriage and family counseling. He is author of the “Love Factor in Marriage”.

Daniel is married to Jenny, they have two children James and Aleah.

Urban Ministries Coordinator - Mark Swank
ycemission@extremegen.org

Mark Swank is the Urban Ministries Coordinator which includes: CITY VISION, the urban ministry platform that all of the YCE Department’s urban efforts synergize under; THE MISSION Urban Discipleship Centers, which are collegiate discipleship and ministry training centers that’s goal is to mobilize a generation of disciples that will know, love, and follow Jesus Christ, and actively advance the Kingdom of God to the nations of the earth; and Alpha Omega Campus Ministry that reaches and mobilizes college students as well as offering training that endorses Campus Chaplains through the COG Chaplains Commission and certifies Campus Ministry Churches.

Mark received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Eastern Michigan University. In 1991 he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree from the Church of God Theological Seminary. He has also completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in Missiology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

Over the past twenty years, Mark has served as youth pastor, family pastor, missionary, and program planter for THE MISSION Urban Discipleship Centers. He and his wife Jody have four daughters.

Hispanic Ministries Coordinator - Robert Rodriguez

Robert Rodriguez was born in Passaic, New Jersey and the second of five children that were raised in the Church of God. His family has been with the Church of God for three generations.

Before being appointed as a Hispanic Youth Coordinator during the General Assembly of 2006, he served the calling that God had placed in his heart in many different ways. After acquiring a diploma in Pastoral Studies from the Hispanic Institute in Dallas, Robert felt a strong burden for youth ministry that led him to seek a BA Degree in Youth Ministries from Gordon Cross College in St. Petersburg Florida where he had moved to live closer to his family. He is presently seeking a Master’s of Divinity Degree from St. Petersburg Theological Seminary.

Seeking God’s will for his life he remained active serving as youth minister for 15 years. He served as Youth Pastor, Sunday School teacher, District Youth Director, Bible School Teacher and during his last six years as a Southeast Hispanic Region Youth and Christian Education Director. This young man has been successful professionally as in his personal life having been an example and mentor to many young single adults until 2005 when God gave him a beautiful wife, Dr. Nidia Urbaez. Nidia is a professional specialized dentist and has served as missionary with YWAM. Nidia also has a heart to serve the Lord reaching the harvest of our international youth and children.

Robert has a pastoral heart which he believes God is leading him to mentor and strengthen the YCE Hispanic leadership. He believes in training to develop talents and abilities for leadership. We are blessed to have this wonderful talented couple in our Department.