Meet the YBL Team

Rev. Jamelle Jones was raised in Dayton, Ohio. Author of You are Enough…You Matter, Immeasurably More, and Believe Again. Jamelle graduated from Eastern Kentucky University, where he majored in Philosophy and minored in Middle Eastern religions. Upon listening to the Holy Spirit, Jamelle moved to Texas. While doing ministry in Texas, he received his Master’s at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. Currently, Rev. Jamelle Jones is a Full-time local pastor serving as campus pastor of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Louisville.

Claire Hart serves as Fusion USA’s Prep for College Manager. Fusion exists to help students find hope in Jesus and home in the local church. Claire’s role specializes in equipping churches and leaders nationwide to faithfully prepare, transition, and commission their students from high school into adulthood by overseeing their Prep for College resources. Claire has a Master’s in Leadership from Asbury Seminary and a Bachelors of Art in Education from the University of Kentucky. She served on staff in student ministry for a decade and previously served as the Director of Student Ministries at a church in Lexington, KY.  Outside of her passion to equip, teach, and disciple students, Claire loves spending time with her husband, Ben, who is an adolescent therapist, their daughter, Dottie, and their dog, Pancake. She also has a passion for holistic wellness and body image and serves as an exercise motivator where she teaches cycle, boxing, and strength training.

Dr. Brian Shelton is a Professor of Theology at Asbury University. While he’s written books on theology and the journeys of the New Testament apostles, one of his favorite things is to engage high schoolers on theology, the Bible, and leadership. As someone who found identity and purpose in serving others from his own youth group, it is meaningful for him to participate in this great experience at YBL.  Brian loves hiking, and he is segmenting the Appalachian Trail, on track to finish if he lives to be 110. He regularly teaches in Rome, Italy, where he enjoys leading college students to the most important sites of church history. With his wife Sally, he has three daughters, which helps him appreciate the value of quality youth ministry programs even more.

Dr. Suzanne Nicholson came to Asbury University after teaching New Testament for 16 years at Malone University in Canton, Ohio. She received her Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from the University of Durham in England, an M.Div. at Asbury Theological Seminary, and a B.A., magna cum laude, in journalism from the University of Minnesota. Dr. Nicholson is an elder in the Global Methodist Church. She currently serves on the Council for the Wesleyan Covenant Association, the editorial board of the Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies, and is the Assistant Lead Editor for Firebrand, a new online Wesleyan magazine. Her publications include an 8-week Bible study on Women in the New Testament for Seedbed, a chapter on Ephesians in the Wesley One Volume Commentary, and her book, Dynamic Oneness: The Significance and Flexibility of Paul’s One-God Language. She and her husband, Lee, have two college-aged children.

Dr. Jay Moon served 13 years as a missionary with SIM, largely in Ghana, West Africa, among the Builsa people, focusing on church planting and water development, along with his wife and four children. He is presently a Professor of Evangelism & Church Planting and Director of the Office of Faith, Work, and Economics at Asbury Theological Seminary. He authored six books and also edited five books, including Intercultural Discipleship: Learning From Global Approaches to Spiritual Formation. In addition to his role as a teaching pastor in a local church plant, Jay holds a Professional Civil Engineer’s license and his MBA focused on social entrepreneurship. His hobbies include ax throwing, small business incubation, and tree houses.

Dr. Brian Hull is the Gardner Scholar and Professor of Pastoral and Christian Ministries at Asbury University, Founder of the Youth Becoming Leaders High School Christian Leadership Institute, and Director of the Forged: Youth Ministry Coaching Program. He has his Ph.D. in Intercultural Studies from Asbury Theological Seminary. Serving in church ministry for more than 30 years, including work at the local church and denominational levels, Brian continues to preach, present and write about the church, culture, and youth ministry. He recently co-authored the book, Youth Ministry As Mission: A Conversation About Theology and Culture, with Patrick Mays. Brian is married to Carol and they have four children

James K. Hampton is the program coordinator for YBL. In his spare time, he serves as a professor of youth ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. A veteran youth worker, author, and speaker, Jim has spent 35 years of ministry focused on adolescents and the church. He is married to Carolyn, and they have two adult children. 

Caleigh Smith is the Assistant Professor of Youth Ministry at Asbury University, the Director of Youth Becoming Leaders: High School Christian Leadership and Global Transformation Institute, and a coach with Forged: Youth Ministry Coaching Program. She received a BA in Youth Ministry from Asbury University and an MA in Youth Ministry from Austin Seminary. Caleigh has been pursuing God’s call to youth ministry since middle school, and she is passionate about training both staff and volunteers in the field of youth ministry. Caleigh has been married to her husband Trevor for 9 years.

Jenna Brock is the Assistant Director for YBL. She graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree and has worked with youth, youth pastors, and churches for over 16 years. Jenna is an active community member, serving in her church and on the board of AdventureServe Ministries. Jenna and her husband, Roger, have been married 10 years and have three boys. They all love to be outside as much as possible.

Dr. Jonathan A. Powers is the Associate Professor of Worship and Interim Dean of the E. Stanley Jones School of Mission and Ministry at Asbury Theological Seminary. He graduated from Asbury University in 2003, from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2009 and holds the Doctor of Worship Studies from The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. Jonathan has a passion for the intersection of liturgy and spiritual formation in the life of the church. He and his wife, Faith, have two daughters.

Kevin Becht is the Executive Director of Youth For Christ Southern Indiana. In addition to his local role with YFC, Kevin also served as a contributing editor of The YFC Three Story Bible and The Life Bible-zine with Tyndale Publishers, as well as a member of the Leadership Formation team for YFC USA. He and his wife, Kristi, both graduates of Asbury University, have three grown children, all of whom are Asburians, as well as one granddaughter.

Joshua Becht serves as Student Minister of Community Life at Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana. Prior to joining the staff of Northside, Joshua served alongside Kevin, the YFC Southern Indiana, as a local Campus Life director. He and his wife, Lizzy, both graduates of Asbury University, have been married for five years and have one daughter, Hazel.