Leadership Stories
Be Valued
Sana Cotten is the Founder and President of Unashamed, Inc, a ministry she began out of a personal and deep felt need for support to young people, primarily ages 14-26, that are in and transitioning out of the foster care system. Her personal story, work, and dedication has been shared on platforms such as the…
Read MoreQueens Fuel Network Leader
KEVIN LAPIERRE FUEL NETWORK LEADER NYC, NEW YORK KEVIN LAPIERRE As the New York City Fuel Network embraces the winds of change, we are thrilled to present our newest leader, Kevin Lapierre. With a profound dedication to leadership development and kingdom work, Kevin steps into the role of Fuel Network Leader for New York, succeeding…
Read MoreFueling The Future
JAY ENGLISH CO-CAMPUS PASTOR AT JOURNEY CHURCH BEACH PARK “Jay English is leading the way in connecting passionate people who are ready to solve the unique challenges of urban youth ministry.” As a Fuel Network Area Director, Jay has spent the last three years collaborating with and connecting training, resources, coaching, and marketing support to…
Read MoreDo 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…
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