Mike Yaconelli, frontrunner in youth ministry, dies October 30 from tragic car accident.

RENOWNED youth worker, author and speaker at events like Greenbelt Mike Yaconelli has been killed in a tragic car accident. The accident occurred on Wednesday night, 29th October outside the speaker's hometown of Yreka, Northern California. He passed away early Thursday morning. The death marks a devastating loss for the international youth ministry community. Birthed out of the Jesus Movement, Yaconelli's work has been a huge influence to most youth ministry work today. He was the owner and co-founder of Youth Specialties, founder of the Christian humour magazine The Whittenberg Door, and is the author of a number of books, including Dangerous Wonder and Messy Spirituality. He was also the Dangerous Wonder columnist for Youthworker Journal. Said Roy Crowne, national director of Youth For Christ UK, "Mike will be sadly missed but the good news of his writings and resources will live on. I will remember Mike as a fun, enigmatic friend who always stayed on the edgy side of youth work, continually grappling with the latest contemporary issues and concerned for the youth worker's soul and well being. Mike had a sharp mind, a good soft heart and a constant desire to reach that lost kid and see him or her transformed by the Gospel."