From Fear to Faith
A Young Leader's Journey to Purpose
At just 22 years old, Delmy Cruz carries herself with the confidence of someone who has discovered her calling, but it was not always this way. As she serves as the Youth Director of The Army of God Youth Ministry (T.A.G. Youth) at Templo Emanuel in North Bergen, New Jersey, Delmy reflects on a journey that began with running away from her calling and led to the opportunity of transforming the lives of 35-40 young people with the Gospel in her bilingual congregation.
Delmy’s story begins as many pastor's kids do—born into the church, raised in service, and expected to follow in faithful footsteps. Her family moved from Jersey City to North Bergen when she was around 10-years-old to serve a congregation that is 90% immigrant families in the Church of the Nazarene denomination. While she began serving in dance ministry at age 7 and taught Sunday school as a teenager, Delmy spent an entire year actively avoiding the youth director position that was clearly meant for.
I ran away from the calling of becoming the youth director for about a year.
Delmy admits, her voice carrying the weight of that internal struggle. COVID-19 led to many changes in their church. It was her own parents who had stepped in to serve as interim youth pastors while also serving as the Lead Pastors. The fear of failure paralyzed Delmy, but eventually, "God broke that barrier and Jesus spoke to her," she explains. In 2022, T.A.G. Youth was officially established with Delmy at the helm, supported by a leadership team of eight youth and college students.
Delmy's passion for youth ministry stems from multiple roots, but the strongest is personal transformation. Between ages 14 and 19, she experienced what she calls her own "Egypt"—a period where God's rescue became the foundation for everything that followed. "I would not be here serving youth if God did not transform my heart and save me," she reflects. This personal testimony drives her desire to help young people see Jesus "in a different light—not in a religious way, but about faith, about love, about fearing God in a way you want a relationship to love him and know him more."
I would not be here serving youth if God did not transform my heart and save me.
Leslie's Story: From Anxiety to Advocacy
The impact of Delmy's ministry can be seen most clearly in the story of Leslie, a young woman who has been serving alongside Delmy for the past 5 years. When Delmy first met Leslie, she was a shy young girl trying to find her identity in Christ. Leslie was 16 when they began working together in kids ministry, and Delmy was 19. What followed was a discipleship relationship that would transform both their lives.
"Before serving, she struggled with communication and was trying her best while serving,” Delmy recalls about Leslie. But through consistent discipleship over five to six years, Leslie has blossomed into someone who "has not been able to stop telling people about Jesus" and is "always looking for ways to get closer to God."
The transformation was gradual but profound. During COVID-19, when many ministries struggled, Leslie stepped up to serve in Sunday school. Despite initially feeling unsure about her role, Leslie became what Delmy describes as "a servant of the King” and truly committed to the calling. Now entering her sophomore year in college with plans to become a physician assistant, Leslie serves as a counselor and Sunday school teacher. More importantly, she has become a mentor to other girls struggling with social anxiety, helping them find their voice and overcome their fears.
"If you met her then, she would have been a totally different person," Delmy marvels. "God broke that shell. Coming out of her words, 'If it wasn't for God, I would not be here.'" Leslie's journey from a girl "so afraid to even show her face" to someone confidently "doing the Lord's work" exemplifies the kind of transformation Delmy hopes for all her young people.
Discovering UYWI: The Game-Changing Connection
Delmy's approach to ministry was significantly enhanced when she connected with Urban Youth Workers Institute (UYWI) through Pastor Tito Rivera, who leads a Nazarene church in Newark and serves as an instructor for the New York cohort. Pastor Tito, who directs next-generation ministry for the metro New York area, contacted Delmy when she was just months into her youth director role to share with her the opportunity to receive training from UYWI in how to lead urban youth.
The UYWI Certification Program provided Delmy with concrete tools and frameworks that transformed her ministry approach. One particularly impactful lesson involved a Venn diagram exercise that Delmy implemented during a youth conference. "We used that diagram and method during a youth conference, split into groups, and wrote down characteristics of what a person in youth ministry is like and what the youth wanted youth leaders to be," she explains. The exercise created an immediate connection among youth who had never met before, fostering fellowship and breaking down barriers.
Perhaps even more transformative was UYWI's MAP (Ministry Action Plan) methodology, which Delmy used to restructure her entire leadership approach. "I used the UYWI model with my leadership team to create a clear vision and mission—determining our goals for 6-months out," she describes. The process helped her leadership team get excited about implementation and gave her ministry a clear direction for the first time. "We haven't been able to map out our ministry like that before. Now, we have clarity as leaders, our youth, and even our overall congregation."
I used the UYWI model with my leadership team to create a clear vision and mission—determining our goals for 6-months out.
The program also taught Delmy crucial lessons about delegation and leadership development. "UYWI taught me I need to delegate and it's okay if my leaders mess up," she reflects. "It’s okay to allow the team to fall and get back up and for me to help them along the way." This philosophy has enabled her to assign specific roles to team members—some handle fundraising ideas, others manage social media and content, while still others focus on brainstorming and planning youth camps and conferences.
Delmy's vision for the future involves continuing to implement UYWI methods while expanding her impact beyond her own ministry. She's particularly excited about contributing to Monday Morning Church, a platform where she can share her experience as a young woman in ministry. She counts it a blessing to share how UYWI has impacted her and her ministry. Previously, she shared with the UYWI online community how she has been inspired by her mother who serves as co-pastor while juggling full-time work and doctoral studies. "Youth worker timeline is 4-5 years. I don’t want that for leaders today," Delmy says, explaining her desire to encourage other youth workers and extend their ministry longevity.
Redefining What Ministry Means
The most telling aspect of Delmy's transformation is how she now views her calling. What once seemed like an impossible burden has become a joyful mission. "I want youth to Love God and to know that a calling doesn't require a mic or position on stage," she explains. "A calling for all of us is to make disciples. I want youth to know that. You don't have to be on stage, speaking, doing music, or leading tech to serve God. He can use what you in ways you are already skilled. He will transform you in ways you can't imagine."
Through UYWI's training, Delmy has learned that effective youth ministry extends far beyond traditional church programming. "I am looking forward to implementing UYWI resources as a part of our discipleship plan. I want youth to know that God is fun, and you can do it in a good way," she says. "Youth is more than sitting in a pew for a few hours. It's friendships and connecting with the God that loves you."
The Ripple Effect of Equipped Leadership
As Delmy continues to serve her bilingual congregation of hardworking families, her story demonstrates how the right training and support can transform a reluctant leader into a confident disciple-maker. Her journey from fear to faith, supported by practical tools and frameworks from UYWI, has created a ripple effect that extends from her own leadership team to young people like Leslie, and potentially to countless future youth workers who will benefit from her experience and encouragement.
The young woman who once ran from her calling now embraces it fully, knowing that "all glory to God" and understanding that effective ministry happens when leaders are equipped not just with passion, but with practical skills and proven methodologies that enable them to develop others with confidence and intention.
Bless you,
TOMMY NIXON, CEO
Urban Youth Workers Institute