Mike Yaconelli
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Mike Yaconelli (July 24, 1942 – October 30, 2003) - writer, theologian, and satirist. Founder of Youth Specialities [1] (the training organisation for Christian youth leaders); and The Door [2] (formerly The Wittenburg Door) satirical magazine. Quote: "Jump first; Fear later"
Yaconelli was also pastor of a small church in Yreka, CA - "the slowest growing church in America" as he called it. He and wife Karla used to share their time between Yreka and the Youth Specialities offices in San Diego, CA.
He wrote a number of books for youth leaders; and was a well received Christian conference speaker. He was a regular at the Greenbelt Christian festival [3] in the UK.
Mike was killed in a car accident in 2003.
On his last visit to Greenbelt in the UK, he said:
If I were to have a heart attack right at this moment, I hope I would have just enough air in my lungs and just enough strength in me to utter one last sentence as I fell to the floor: "What a ride!" My life has been up and down, careening left then right, full of mistakes and bad decisions, and if I died right now, even though I would love to live longer, I could say from the depths of my soul, "What a ride!" - Mike Yaconelli
