Mat Milthaler
Middle School Pastor of Student Union

With over 12 years of vocational student ministry experience, Mat seeks to help students experience true
community and a lifestyle of service. Mat is the Middle School Director at Vineyard Cincinnati and he and his
team work hard to celebrate all of the unique stages of the middle school years. Mat is a nationally published
author of the E|Merge curriculum series (Abingdon Press) and is a popular speaker for conferences, camps
and school assemblies. He is married to Hope, the Director of Choral Activities at Kings High School in Kings
Mills, Ohio, and they have two really smart little guys. Mat is also a huge Cincy Reds fan, loves to play rugby
and is running in his second consecutive half marathon in May!

Kurt Johnston
Jr. High pastor of Saddleback Church in Southern California

Kurt Johnston has been in junior high ministry since 1988. He is a ninja with middle schoolers, and it works
because he almost always wears something black. Kurt is married to Rachel and they have two awesome kids.
He is also an author of youth resources, the founder of simplyjuniorhigh.com, and a contributing editor for
Group Magazine. On a side note, Kurt surfs, watches sketchy movies with other, unnamed youth workers and
was the original inventor of “Bald is Beautiful” for youth pastors.