Laurie Polich Short is a speaker, author and associate pastor of Ocean Hills Covenant Church in Santa Barbara, California. She has spoken to more than 500,000 people at youth conferences, women's conferences, denominational gatherings, colleges and churches around the country. She is the author of Finding Faith in the Dark; When the Story of Your Life Takes a Turn You Didn't Plan as well as thirteen books for youth and youth workers. She was on the speaking staff of Youth Specialties for fifteen years, and is listed as one of Compassion International's featured speakers. Laurie is a graduate of UCLA and Fuller Theological Seminary. Laurie lives in Santa Barbara with her husband Jere, and step son.