Steve Argue

steve1_sepia

Steve is the Executive Director of the Contextual Learning Center and Adjunct Professor of Youth Ministry at Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. He is the Co-Founder of Intersect, a ministry that provides leadership training and consulting to emerging leaders in ministries around the world. Steve is currently a doctoral student in the Higher Adult and Lifelong Education (HALE) program at Michigan State University.

Steve has a primary interest in youth ministry and the emergent conversation. Steve is a recognized communicator, author, and columnist. He keeps a regular speaking schedule, teaches youth ministry at GRTS, has a standing column with Dave Livermore in Group Magazine, writes monthly for Group’s Church Volunteer Central Youth Ministry Column, and is on the steering team for the Emergent West Michigan Cohort .

Steve completed his MDiv from Trinity International University (Deerfield, IL) and his BBA at the University of Wisconsin- Madison. He has over a decade of experience in youth ministry serving as the Associate Pastor of Sr. High at Elmbrook Church (Brookfield, WI) and co-leading at a leadership training organization in the Chicago area.

Steve lives with his family in Grand Rapids, MI. He is an avid marathon runner, a coffee lover, and looks for excuses to get to the mountains. Life's highs are sunsets with Jen, hot chocolate and poetry with Kara, the skate park with Elise, and My Little Ponies with Lauren.

Contact Steve

PRESENT POSITION

Executive Director, Contextual Learning Center
Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

Adjunct Professor, Youth Ministry
Grand Rapids, Cornerstone University
Grand Rapids, Grand Rapids Theological Seminary

Co-Founder
Intersect, Inc.

HIGHER EDUCATION

2007- Present, Doctoral Student
Michigan State University
Higher Adult and Lifelong Learning (HALE)

1990-1996, Masters of Divinity (MDiv)
Trinity International University. Deerfield, IL.
Primary interest in Church History and Christian Thought

1984-1988, Bachelors of Business Administration (BBA)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Finance and Marketing

PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYMENT

2002-2003 Youth Ministry Co-Director.
Sonlife Ministries. Elburn, Illinois.

Jointly lead Sonlife Ministries, a non-profit leadership development organization which conducts training and consulting in more than 72 countries.
Established mission, vision, and values for the future direction of the organization.
National and International communicator and teacher.
Authored new training materials.
Led national/International direction for high school and middle school student training conferences.

1994-2001 Associate Pastor- Sr. High Ministries
Elmbrook Church. Brookfield, WI

Lead 400 students and 40 leaders.
Oversaw a paid staff of 4.
Adjunct Professor for Youth Ministry at JETS (Jos Evangelical Theological Seminary) in Jos, Nigeria (1999).
Youth Pastor Consultant for World Vision.
Spokesperson for World Vision 2001 30-Hour Famine.
Member of World Vision Leadership Team to Peru (1999).

1999-2000 Associate Pastor- Jr. High Ministry
Elmbrook Church. Brookfield, WI

Led ministry through a challenging transition after the suicide of our Jr. High pastor.
Jr. High Ministry serves 400 students and 75 Leaders.

1989-1993 Consultant-Defined Contribution Area
Hewitt Associates. Lincolnshire, IL

Maintained record-keeping and reporting for companies’ 401(k) plans.
Involved with project management and consulting.

PUBLICATIONS

2008

Argue, S. "Where am I?” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. June, 2008.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2008, May/June) "Exit”. Group 34 (3).

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2008, January/February) "A Journey of a Thousand Miles”. The Journal of Student Ministries 3(1).

Argue, S. "Exhaustion.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. May, 2008.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2008, March/April) "Missional Being”. Group 34 (2).

Argue, S. "Called. Wanted. Appointed. Sent” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. April, 2008.

Argue, S. "Changing Change.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. February, 2008.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2008, January/February) "Speaking Out”. Group 34 (1).

Argue, S. “Reflections.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. January, 2008.

2007

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2007, November/December) "Converting Conformity” Group 33 (6).

Argue, S. “Enter.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. December, 2007.

Argue, S. “Dear Volunteer.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. November, 2007.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2007, September/October) "What's So Amazing About Youth Group?” Group 33 (5).

Argue, S. “Junk Hours.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. October, 2007.

Argue, S. “Superhuman?.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. September, 2007.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2007, July/August) "There's No 'u' in Missions” Group 33 (4).

Argue, S. “College-Age Volunteers.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. August, 2007.

Argue, S. “Going Beyond Superhuman.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. July, 2007.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2007, May/June) "Moving Beyond Image Toward Imagination” Group 33 (3).

Argue, S. “Forgetting Students.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. June, 2007.

Argue, S. I Can't Listen When I'm Talking.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. May, 2007.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2007, March/April) "'Guide': the New Leader” Group 33 (3).

Argue, S. “Check-ups Prevent Check-outs” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. April, 2007.

Argue, S. “Unplug to Reconnect.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. March, 2007.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2007, January/February) "Can I Have a Do-Over?” Group 33 (2).

Argue, S. “Knowing Nothing is Everything” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. February, 2007.

Argue, S. “Leading by Invitation.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. January, 2007.

2006

Argue, S. (2006, November/December) “Saddened Over Youth Ministry's Battle Cry.” Journal of Student Ministries. 1(4).

Argue, S. “Tell Me a Story.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. December, 2006.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2006, November/December) “The Great Invitation.” Group 32 (7).

Argue, S. “Suffering From Parentnoia?” Group’s Church Volunteer Central's Featured Article. November, 2006.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2006, September/October) “God of the Past, Future, and Ever-Present.” Group 32 (6).

Argue, S. “You Don't Believe in Volunteers” Group’s Church Volunteer Central's Featured Article. October, 2006.

Argue, S. “Called and Sent Volunteers” Group’s Church Volunteer Central's Featured Article. September, 2006.

Argue, S. “Volunteers are Good for Nothing” Group’s Church Volunteer Central's Featured Article. August, 2006.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2006, July/August) “Beverly Hills, That's Where I Want to Be.” Group 32 (5).

Argue, S. “Retreating from Summer into Fall” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. July, 2006.

Argue, S. “Short-Term Mission, Long-Term Vision” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. June, 2006.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2006, May/June) “Summer-time Blues.” Group 32 (4).

Argue, S. “Good Grief- Graduation” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. April, 2006.

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2006). 5 of 8 chapters in Youth Ministry in the 21^st Century. Loveland, CO: Group.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2006, March/April) “The Longest, Deepest Time of Year for Youth Ministry.” Group 32 (3).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2006, January/February) “New Year’s Resolution: Be Amazingly Average.” Group 32, (2).

Argue, S. “Are We There Yet?” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. March, 2006.

Argue, S. “Love in the Plural.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. February, 2006.

Argue, S. “Happy Deep Year.” Group’s Church Volunteer Central. January, 2006.

2005

Argue, S. (2005). “The Minority Majority: Women in Youth Ministry.” Group’s Volunteer Central. December, 2005.

Argue, S. (2005). “What Do You Give a Volunteer Who Gives Everything?” Group’s Volunteer Central. November, 2005.

Argue, S. (2005). “Volunteers with Faces.” Group’s Volunteer Central. October, 2005.

Argue, S. (2005). “The He(art) of the Message.” Group’s Volunteer Central. September, 2005.

Argue, S. (2005). “Volunteerism: It’s Actually About Me.” Group’s Volunteer Central. August, 2005.

Argue, S. (2005). “Connecting Parents in a World of Outsourcing” in Plugging in Parents. Loveland, CO: Group, 131-33.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore(2005). Explore2: Shema, Creed, Formation. Grand Rapids, MI: Intersect.

Argue, S. & D. Livermore(2005). Explore1: Shepherd Through Following. Grand Rapids, MI: Intersect.

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2005). “Youth Ministry by the Num83r5.” Group 32, (1), 32.

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2005). “Don’t Go Solo in your Self-Improvement.” Group 31, (6).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2005). “An Appeal for In-Your-Face Evangelism.” Group 31, (5).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2005). “Focus through the Family.” Group 31, (4).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2005). “Taking Storytime to the Mat.” Group 31, (3).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2005). “Taking Youth out of Youth Ministry.” Group 31, (2).

2004

Argue, S. & D. Livermore(2004). Encounter. Connecting Ourselves with the Person, Life and Ministry of Christ. Elburn, IL: Sonlife.

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2004). “No Shirt, No Service?” Group 31, (1).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2004). “Ecclesia, Semper Reformanda.” Group 30, (6).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2004). “Modification, Formation, Reformation.” Group 30, (5).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2004). “Following Leaders.” Group 30, (4).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2004). “The Follower’s Prayer.” Group 30, (3).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2004). “Reclaiming the ‘Fellowship’ Hall.” Group 30, (2).

2003

Argue, S. & D. Livermore. (2003). 24-7 Link. Streamwood, IL: AWANA.

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2003). “New and Improved?” Group 30, (1).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2003). “We the People.” Group 29, (6).

Argue, S. & D. Livermore (2003). “Ready to Go Bible Studies: Peter.” Group 29, (6).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2003). “Hey Youth Group! This is my Body.” Group 29, (5).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2003). “MTV, PS2, Thai, German, Jesus.” Group 29, (4).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2003). “What if?” Group 29, (3).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2003). “The Heart of the Matter.” Group 29, (2).

2002

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2002). “Jesus, Is, Therefore I Think.” Group 29, (1).

Argue, S & D. Livermore. (2002). “Jesus Call to Follow, Not Copy.” Group 28, (6).

PRESENTATIONS

Speaks regularly at national conferences, churches, retreats for adolescents and adults
Regular Speaker/Presenter at National Youth Workers Conventions, Youth Specialities
Adjunct Professor role at various institutions including Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, Biblical Seminary, and Northern Baptist Seminary.

PROFESSIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND AFFILIATIONS

AYME (Association of Youth Ministry Educators)

IASYM (International Association for the Study of Youth Ministry)

NNYM (National Network of Youth Ministries)

ATFE (Association of Theological Field Educators)

Ordained Minister of the Gospel, 1994