Today we’d like to introduce you to Bob Schrimpf.
Hi Bob, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I grew up in Fallbrook (after moving at age 9 from Minnesota). 11 siblings. Father died when I was 8. Played Water Polo in high school, was an All American and recruited to play at UCLA. Had an invite to try out for the Olympics as I transitioned into college but with a sudden cancer diagnosis to my mother and the murder of my college roommate and the fact that we wound up boycotting the 1980 Olympics all factored into me leaving CA for a small Catholic School back East. Upon graduating I began an unplanned 35 year career in Youth Ministry in La Jolla / Pacific Beach. At one time the ministry that started with 20 teens had close to 700 now attending weekly meetings. This success brought me all over the country and I helped found a national youth conference that attracks 50,000 teens annually. I also was a teacher/campus minister at UNI High (prior to becoming Cathederal Catholic). I also founded and was the head coach for La Jolla High’s Water Polo program (which recently won the CIF Open Division this year). I was full time staff at Young Life, Life Teen and other organizations, and became a nationally speaker. Eventually I would get my Masters at Santa Clara and took a job as a Pastoral Associate in Pt Loma and received a Masters. Finally I published a book (God Speaks) which went to #1 on Amazon, I now work for a national organization that focuses on revitalizing the church.
I married a beautiful woman, Marta Timossi, whom I met in college. I have three kids and two grandkids who all live local.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I was going to be a financial planner with an older brother upon graduating from college. However, what was supposed to be a short term job to pay for living expenses while I got my brokers license turned into a full time obession. I fell in love with ministry and through the the losses I experienced in life (Parents dying young, three friends in high school tragically dying including my college roommate) made me exteremly focused on my purpose here on earth. I took what I knew about faith and parlayed it into a national ministry that launched dozens of minstries and set hundreds if not thousands of teens into lives filled with compassion a care. “Graduated” teens from my ministry have gone on to be national speakers, politicians, law enforcement, Super Bowl champs and even TV stars. My pastors pushed back as our ministry grew well beyond anything they could support. They loved the numbers, but felt they were ‘paying’ for something they didn’t imagine possible. As budgets ballooned and the need for more staff I took to fundraising to assist us in our mission. Our ministry was to be open for all who wanted to come and regardless of faith/background. We just wanted a safe place for teens to grow and be supported in their morals and values.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Upon graduating from college a priest in La Jolla hounded me to interview for a youth ministry position. Back in the 80’s, if you played the guitar and could take teens camping you were hired! I only took the job to pay living expenses while I pursued a career in finance and went back to school to get a broker liscense. After one year I fell in love with the teens and what I was doing serving the Lord in a special way. We went from 20-30 kids meeting on Monday evenings to over 700. I worked with Young Life and other Christian organizations to develop a comprehensive ministry unlike anything in the West. It caught the attention of my alma mater back east and soon the Franciscan University I attended asked me to write and host regional youth conferences of 2-3K teens a weekend. Eventually I brought it all the way to San Diego and we had almost 5K at our first conference held at SDSU and Cox Arena. The summer conferences now reach over 30K teens each year. I took what I did very seriously and refused to quit becasue of minimum pay an limited resources. The Gathering Youth Ministry became known across the US and I taught ministry practices and spoke at dozens and dozens of conferences teaching the techniques that opened the door to our successful ministry. I am proud my youth group kids have grown up to be leaders in all areas of life here in SD and Nationally. Everything from Super Bowl Champions, to Titans in business I have seen these teens grow up, embrace their faith, and use their skills to make this a better world giving back to many many more –
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Currently I work for a national ministry called Evangelical Catholic. I am blessed to be able to serve the Lord in a capacity that is allowing me to reach a far greater audience than just teens and youth ministry. I am the Western Expansion Coordinator working in Catholic Churches all across the Western US. My book, God Speaks, is about how we hear God in prayer and is a powerful and personal witness to my life of listening to Him. As mentioned, it was a #1 best seller on Amazon. I am most proud of my wife and family. Though I worked 7 days a week growing up an was gone for stretches of time I always made time for each child and worked constantly at being a good father and husband. I knew i would eventually be judged on that and I did not want to fail. My life goal was to invest heavily on the family and I am proud to say I have three amazing, loving, caring kids and wife whom I adore –
Contact Info:
- Website: bobschrimpf.com
- Email: bob@bobschrimpf.com
