Derek Bates

Derek grew up in rural Virginia, graduated from James Madison University and Covenant Theological Seminary, and is now in his third year as the campus minister of RUF at the University of Pittsburgh. He enjoys sports, literature, coffee, and watching people.

Luda was born in Ukraine, moved to Saint Louis, MO when she was a child. She graduated from Saint Louis University, having attained three degrees while studying in three different countries. She speaks multiple languages and may well be a spy. She enjoys reading and cooking.  

We have two children. Caleb is three years old, and is now capable of being a global menace. We love him anyway...very much so. Abiel Joy is one year old, and though she's undeniably cute and cuddly, she is a perfect sidekick for Caleb in his quest for world domination.

Alan Shlemon

Alan Shlemon of Stand To Reason ministry will be YXL Northeast's morning speaker and assisting with our off camp outreach using materials from STR Place.  Alan has dedicated his life to training Christians to thoughtfully articulate their faith and values. He realizes that when people are properly equipped, they’re more confident about talking with others.  Because they become more skilled in maneuvering in conversation, they’re more effective at sharing their faith. He is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach and is currently pursuing his graduate degree at Biola University. He lives in San Diego, California with his wife, Jennifer, and two children.

Alan will teaching the following topics:

Ambassadors for Christ: The Essential Skills: Get trained so you fulfill your role as a knowledgeable, winsome, and persuasive representative on critical issues of the Christian worldview.

Tactics in Defending the Faith: You’ll learn how to recognize faulty reasoning, expose bad arguments, and use questions instead of statements to make your point.  

Never Read a Bible verse: Are you interpreting the Bible correctly? Though anyone can pick up the Bible and learn from it, it’s also possible to miss the proper meaning of passages written in a different time, culture, and language. This is a must-take class for every Christian eager to accurately understand and be transformed by God’s Word.  

For more information visit Alan's page at Stand to Reason...