Paul Jennings

Youth Program Director: Paul Jennings earned a B.A. in K-12 Special Education from Hope College and is a Certified Teacher. In 2019, he joined the Alongside team following 28 years of teaching in public schools and 7 years of missionary work with Youth for Christ. Paul values his abilities to teach, listen, provide support, and form connections with teenagers. His passion lies in guiding teens to recognize their worth in the eyes of God and to understand that they are loved unconditionally. He takes pleasure in assisting teens in cultivating authentic relationships within a genuine and nurturing community. Married to Shelley, the Youth Coordinator, Paul has four adult children. A highlight of his role at Alongside is welcoming families with teenagers at the start of each program. Paul delights in easing the anxiety and uncertainty of new participants, as he introduces himself, ensures they feel acknowledged, eases any tension, and stirs excitement and anticipation for the growth that awaits them in the teen program. Paul and Shelley serve as the teen programming staff implementing similar language to what is taught in the adult seminars so that communication can take place within the family during the MedRefresh retreat. Allowing teens to express themselves helps them to share the hurt, losses, stresses, traumas, along with the exciting and amazing miracles that God does in, and within, the family and communities in which they are serving.