Meet the YBL Team

Ebonie Davis has been a youth pastor in the Washington, D.C. area for over 20 years, and nothing excites her more than seeing young people experience the joy of knowing Jesus. She also partners with the Canada-based Coalition for Youth Ministry Leadership, helping youth pastors create strong, healthy ministries for students. Ebonie loves mixing real-life ministry with solid research to better understand what helps faith grow. She’s the co-author of Grit and Joy: Help for Bewildered Parents of Teens and has contributed to several teen Bibles and youth ministry resources. When she’s not speaking, writing, or hanging out with students, you can find Ebonie traveling with her husband, Clay, or spending time with their adult kids, Caleb and Lillian.

Aqueelah Ligonde is an enthusiastic speaker and leader with a passion for today’s generation of youth and women. Aqueelah holds a Master of Divinity from McCormick Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry and a Certificate in Black Church Studies from Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In 2011, she was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and became a member of the Presbytery of New York City. Aqueelah has worked with various organizations, institutions, and programs such as the Institute for Youth Ministry at Princeton Theological Seminary, Leadership Education at Duke Divinity, Fuller Youth Institute, Urban Youth Workers Institute, Youth Specialties, Holmes Presbyterian Camp, PC(USA) Young Adult Volunteer Program, and GenOn/Logos Ministries, plus others. For over a decade, Aqueelah served as Associate Pastor at the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Queens, NY. Aqueelah is an International Coaching Federation (ICF)-ACC certified coach. She is currently a Coach and Lead Consultant with Ministry Architects and Ministry Incubators, organizations that are designed to champion congregations and leaders to help them live into their full ministry potential.

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.

Dr. Joy Vaughn’s passion for lifelong learning and teaching led her to pursue a role in higher education. She holds a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies with an emphasis in New Testament from Asbury Theological Seminary. Joy’s area of expertise is in Lukan scholarship, and her dissertation focused on the possession and exorcism stories of Luke-Acts. Joy is happily married to Tim Vaughan, who is a ’97 graduate of Asbury University, and together they have a daughter.

Dr. James K. Hampton is one of the founders of 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.

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.

Dr. Chris Bounds is employed at Indiana Wesleyan. Bounds has served as a pastor and ordained elder in The Arkansas Conference of The United Methodist Church. He has published articles in popular and scholarly venues and contributed chapters or articles to popular and academic books. Bounds has co-authored three books: Holiness: The Power to Transform You, Your Church, and Your World with Jim Garlow, Christy Lipscomb, and Joann Lyon; Selecting Worship Songs: A Guide for Leaders with Constance Cherry and Mary Brown; Unholiness: Overcoming the Forces that Attack Your Soul with Jim Lo. He serves on the Board of Trustees of One Mission Society (OMS) and The Francis Asbury Society. Previously, he served on the Board of Directors for Good News: A Forum for Scriptural Christianity in The United Methodist Church and the Manchester Wesley Research Centre. He and his wife Tamara have been married for over 20 years and have two children.  

Dr. Jay Moon is a storyteller, strategist, and scholar with a passion for bridging faith, work, and mission. With 13 years as a SIM missionary in Ghana among the Builsa people, he has firsthand experience in church planting, water development, evangelism, and discipleship. Now a Professor of Evangelism & Church Planting at Asbury Theological Seminary, he also leads the Office of Faith, Work, and Economics, equipping leaders to integrate faith in everyday life.

A prolific author, Jay has written six books—including Intercultural Discipleship and Effective Intercultural Evangelism—and edited seven more. A sought-after speaker on church planting, marketplace mission, and evangelism, he has served as president of APM and GCRN and is the incoming president of AETE and ASM.

Beyond academia, Jay thrives in hands-on creativity, from building treehouses and throwing axes to mentoring small business innovators—always looking for new ways to connect faith and action.

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 Program Manager for YBL and 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.