Duana Cisney has over eleven years experience at both church and diocesan levels and continually seeks to serve youth in new ways. She received her Advance Certification in Youth Ministry at the Seminary of the Southwest. As a teenager, she faced some tough challenges and regrets not having had a safe church family to walk alongside her. She wants our teens today to know that they will make mistakes and that God will be there for them no matter what. She feels it is important for students to know they aren't perfect, but they are made in the image of God and that alone is wonderful. She lives in Greensboro, North Carolina.

“Cross Words is an accessible and relevant devotional for today's youth. The weekly format accommodates teenager's busy schedules and journaling allows them to make their own interpretation and think for themselves. I have not seen a book that offers these characteristics and I am looking forward to using it for confirmation and graduation gifts.”––Andrea McKellar, The Episcopal Church in South Carolina

“Duana Cisney’s Cross Words daily devotional is beautifully written, connected to the liturgical year, and utterly relevant: touching on topics ranging from relationships, consumerism, life transitions, and even joy. The inviting reflections and prayer prompts are a fantastic way to encourage and empower youth in their own personal faith journey. Cultivating a daily practice of personal prayer can be as daunting as it is inviting for people of all ages, but this book will help shine a light along the way.”––Paris Ball, Director of Christian Formation and Shrine Mont Camps, Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

“Crosswords: A Devotional for Youth provides weekly prayers and devotionals for youth throughout the church and calendar year, and in each liturgical season. These devotions are a great way to send young people out into their week with tools for reflection. The book is a great way to help teenagers connect prayer and scripture to their daily lives. The questions provided serve to help them to go deeper and make space to stop and think in their busy lives. I am looking forward to sharing this with the young people with whom I engage in ministry!”––Sue Cromer, Youth Minister, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Arlington, Virginia

“What a great youth devotional! This compilation of relevant scripture, ample space for journaling, Book of Common Prayer references, and more will help youth to not only grow in faith through prayer, but it will help reinforce their Episcopal identity in the process. The thought provoking questions will encourage students, especially high schoolers, wrestle with and apply the Word to their every day lives and help them relate God's story to their story (and vice versa). It’s a gem, and I’m grateful I now have a new go-to gift for Confirmations, Graduations, Sweet 16s, and more.”––Melissa Rau, Lead Consultant with Ministry Architects