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Do Not Grow Weary, Youth Leader
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…
Read MoreA Heart to Serve, the Courage to Lead, and a Calling to Stay
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…
Read MoreFrom the Next Generation to the Now Generation
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…
Read MoreOpen Hands: Noemi Chavez leads Women in Urban Ministry
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…
Read MoreFueling the Future
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,…
Read MoreThen and Now: UYWI a living testament to “whole person” ministry
THEN & NOW: UYWI A LIVING TESTAMENT TO “WHOLE PERSON” MINISTRY Jeremy Del Rio, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Thrive Collective I was eight years old, walking the streets of New York beside my parents and two younger brothers to bring the love and freedom of Jesus Christ to anyone who would listen. I was…
Read More30 Years, Decades of Impact
“We believe that it is through the efforts of urban youth workers — who lead and disciple urban youth — that the tide of disinterest in following Christ will change.” 30 YEARS, DECADES OF IMPACT To quantify how many hearts have been healed, mindsets transformed and stereotypes challenged after an encounter with the UYWI movement…
Read MoreWhat’s Happening in the Certification Program
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…
Read MoreSet Free: What Juneteenth Means For ALL of U.S.
Today we celebrate. But we also grieve that it’s taken 156 years for African Americans to be included, truthfully, within the history of America and the American Dream. TEARS WELL UP IN MY EYES As I sit here watching the signing of Juneteenth as a national holiday, tears well up in my eyes. I think…
Read MoreDISCIPLESHIP IN THE AGE OF VIDEO GAMES
If the church continues to ignore and dismiss video gaming, we will miss out on one of the biggest opportunities to reach into the culture and connect with our youth and their families.
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