Jeff Johnson (1948 - 1991) was the Director of Youth Ministry for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis. He dedicated his life to the exploration of creative ways of proclaiming the Gospel message to young people. He did so with integrity, compassion, conviction, and great hope. In one of his final published contributions to the field, Jeff summed up his vision of the effective evangelization of youth:

I hope that we in youth ministry keep surprising kids, not just with zany skits and bad jokes, but catch them off guard by showing up on their turf, without roles or rules to restrict our relationship with them. I hope we surprise them by calling them by name, as Jesus did to Zacchaeus. I hope our vulnerability quietly disarms them of their defenses. I hope our faith and lifestyle creates curiosity among the young, a curiosity that leads them to track down the source of the love they experience in our presence.
("Evangelization of Youth: An Incarnational Approach", in Access Guide to Evangelization, (New York: Don Bosco Multimedia, 1989, p. 75)

Jeff was a man of genuine humility, with a wonderful sense of hospitality, friendship, and humor - qualities he believed were at the heart of all ministry. He shared his own unique gifts through speaking, writing, developing pastoral and catechetical approaches, and materials. He was equally committed to empowering colleagues to share their gifts through the ministry.

Jeff never lost sight of the final aim of all youth ministry efforts: to invite young people into a life-giving relationship with Jesus, a relationship they could then celebrate within the Catholic community Jeff dearly loved.

As a man of deep prayer, and as one steeped in a love of the Scriptures, Jeff's life gave faithful witness to the Good News of Jesus. That faithfulness was apparent not only in his unwavering commitment to young people, but also in his love and dedication to his three children: Riley, Jesse and Joana: and his best friend, his wife, Carmen.

The Jeff Johnson Memorial Instructional Services Center is one attempt to keep alive the memory of a very special man who was with us for too brief a time.