Mark Yaconelli is a writer, speaker, spiritual director and community activist. He is the founder and executive director of The Hearth Community, a nonprofit that assists towns and charitable organizations in cultivating compassion through personal storytelling. His previous books include Contemplative Youth Ministry and Wonder, Fear, and Longing. Profiles of Mark have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, ABC World News Tonight and Youthworker Journal. Mark lives in southern Oregon with his wife, Jill, and their three children.