The (Whole) Christmas Story

How many times have you heard and told the Christmas Story? The arrival of the baby Jesus prophesied to a young Mary by the Angel Gabriel, announced to a group of shepherds in a field, turned away by an innkeeper, eventually born in a manger, and then visited by wise men or kings (depending on…

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Do Not Grow Weary, Youth Leader

Do Not Grow Weary Thumbnail

Article By: Jordan Francis Leading people is an absolute grind. Sometimes it can feel like you are putting in a lot of work to see very little return in the physical. Im sure we’ve all asked ourselves why we chose to go into this profession or, better yet, questioning if God even called us to…

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A Heart to Serve, the Courage to Lead, and a Calling to Stay

Andy Profile

A HEART TO SERVE, THE COURAGE TO LEAD, AND A CALLING TO STAY Andy Fierro , Program Marketing Manager Meet Andy Fierro! An empathetic, sincere, and warm-hearted individual who has been a member of the UYWI family for nearly 16 years. Now serving as the Program Marketing Manager, Andy has been with UYWI through many…

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From the Next Generation to the Now Generation

Kaitlyn Estevez cover

FROM THE NEXT GENERATION TO THE NOW GENERATION Kaitlyn Estevez , Youth Director at Revive Church Kaitlyn lives in San Pedro, California, and is a former student and now the Youth Director for Revive Church, a multi-campus church in Long Beach and El Monte, California. She is also a graduate of the UYWI Urban Youth…

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Open Hands: Noemi Chavez leads Women in Urban Ministry

Noemi Chavez

OPEN HANDS: NOEMI CHAVEZ LEADS WOMEN IN URBAN MINISTRY Noemi Chavez , Lead Pastor at Revive Church Noemi Chavez’s radiant smile glows brightly when she talks about the transformative opportunities urban women leaders can access and develop through UYWI’S NXT LVL Leadership Coaching. Noemi’s nearly 30 years of service in ministry and training have helped…

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Fueling the Future

Jay English

FUELING THE FUTURE: UYWI IS DRIVING CONNECTION AND ENGAGING YOUTH LEADERS FOR CHANGE Jay English, Co-Campus Pastor at Journey Church Beach Park It was Jay English’s bright and bold personality, boisterous laugh, and deep desire to serve both the youth and youth workers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that sparked the connection between Jay and Tommy Nixon,…

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What’s Happening in the Certification Program

Certification Program Featured

The UYWI Certification program, formerly known as 90 Degrees, after a brief hiatus in 2020, relaunched in the Fall of 2021.  The program is a year-long journey for leaders and offers both leadership development and personal development designed to equip high-capacity urban leaders with key elements of effective leadership in ministry. The certification was created…

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Trauma-informed care and focus on mental health in youth ministry

trauma-informed

The Church has been a central component in the lives of youth for generations, and for good reason. As research shows, a young person’s faith can be a protective factor against negative behaviors and outcomes. However, despite one’s faith and the church, trauma-informed care is often not emphasized enough or even talked about within the…

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