Our Staff

Kara Eckmann Powell, PhD

Leader and Educator
Dr. Kara Eckmann Powell serves as an Assistant Professor in Youth and Family Ministry and the Executive Director of the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary.   Prior to that, Kara was an Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry and Practical Theology at Azusa Pacific University.  In 1994, Kara graduated Magna Cum Laude and received a Master of Divinity degree from Bethel Theological Seminary West, and received her PhD in Practical Theology from Fuller Seminary for her work in Pastoral Role Expectations in 2000.  She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in the field of Human Biology and graduated with Honors from Stanford University in 1991. 

Youth Worker
In addition to her roles at Fuller Seminary, Kara currently volunteers in student ministries at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena.   She was also college pastor at Lake Avenue Church from 1995-1998 and was the Associate Youth Minister at San Diego First Assembly of God from 1991-1995.  During college, Kara gained an ongoing commitment to church/parachurch partnerships during her time on Young Life Student Staff in the Stanford area.

Author and Speaker
Kara is the author of a number of books and articles, including Deep Justice in a Broken World: Helping Your Kids Serve Others and Right the Wrongs Around Them (co-authored with Chap Clark, Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2008), Deep Ministry in a Shallow World: Not-so-Secret Findings about Youth Ministry (co-authored with Chap Clark, Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2006), Help!  I’m a Woman in Youth Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Speciaties, 2004), Mirror, Mirror (Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2003), the Good Sex Curriculum Guide (co-authored with Jim Hancock, Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2001), and was the General Editor for the 16-volume Gospel Light Pulse Junior High curriculum.  Kara has also contributed chapters and sidebars in several leadership and youth ministry resources, including Starting Right:  Thinking Theologically About Youth Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2001), Postmodern Youth Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2001), Youth Talk Outlines (Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2000), and Hot Illustrations for Youth Groups (Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2000).   Kara is also a regular speaker at Youth Specialties National Youth Workers Conventions, Forest Home Christian Conference Center, as well as retreats and conferences across the country.

Other interests
Because of Kara’s commitment to empowering women, she helps lead ymwomen.com, a ministry whose mission is to encourage, equip, and connect women in youth ministry.  She’s also a member of the Zondervan/Youth Specialties Academic Advisory Board and has been a board member for the Foundation of College Christian Leaders since 1997.  Kara maintains her License to Preach with the Assembly of God denomination. 

Personal Information
Kara lives in Pasadena, CA, with her husband Dave, who is a medical device engineer, and their children, Nathan, Krista, and Jessica.  

Brad M. Griffin, MDiv

Administration, Research, Writing and Equipping
Brad Griffin serves as the Assistant Director for the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at Fuller Theological Seminary. Prior to that, Brad coordinated worship arts for Fuller’s Chapel programs. In 1998, Brad graduated from Asbury College with a BA in Psychology, and holds a Master of Divinity with a concentration in Youth, Family, and Culture from Fuller. Brad coordinates the Center's research efforts, writes, leads workshops, develops resources, consults with youth workers, and manages the private foundation grants of the Center. His personal research interests are in the intersection of worship and identity formation among adolescents, and the power of a worshiping community to positively develop the identity of its younger generations. Brad has co-authored articles for the Journal of Student Ministries and YouthWorker Journal, as well as a chapter in Deep Ministry in a Shallow World: Not-so-Secret Findings about Youth Ministry (Zondervan/Youth Specialties, 2006).

Youth Ministry
Brad has been involved in youth and worship ministry for the past twelve years. Beginning with camp ministry and moving to a church student ministry staff role in college, he then served a United Methodist Church in central Kentucky for six years before moving to Pasadena to pursue MDiv work at Fuller. Brad and his wife Missy have a passion for junior high, senior high, and college student ministries, and love to lead wilderness adventures or short-term mission experiences. Brad serves as a speaker and worship leader in the Los Angeles area and a volunteer in youth and worship ministry at NewSong Church in San Dimas, CA. Brad also teaches youth ministry as an adjunct instructor at Azusa Pacific University.

Other interests
Outdoor lovers, Brad and his family especially enjoy backpacking and camping in National Parks whenever possible. In addition, Brad has long had a heart for international missions.

Personal Information
Brad lives in Pasadena, CA with his wife, Missy, who is a mentor and tutor for a non-profit college scholarship organization, and his two daughters: Anna Joy and Kara Hope.