Multiplying Kingdom Impact
Christopher Stewart's ministry journey began not with a dramatic conversion, but with a sister's honest confrontation. Growing up as the oldest of seven siblings in the Inglewood area, Christopher knew church life intimately—but knowing about God and surrendering to Him proved to be two very different things.
She looked me in the face and said, 'You know church, but how you are living doesn't match what you profess with your mouth. You don't look like Jesus.
It wasn't until 2011, that Christopher began surrendering his life to Christ. It was around that time he started losing everything—money, housing, and security. It was through those circumstances, Christopher truly surrendered his life to follow Jesus. Living with his father in difficult conditions, he finally allowed God's Word to become alive in his life. It was during this season of complete dependence that he met his future wife, Sasha, and stepped into youth ministry.
Innovating Youth Ministry
Christopher's approach to youth ministry was revolutionary for his context. Coming from a church that had been his spiritual home for 30 years—what he describes as a "Bible bootcamp"—he realized that the traditional methods he was familiar with wouldn't connect with the young people he was called to serve.
His solution was radical and relational: The first hour of youth service became about playing Super Smash Bros and eating cereal (which he bought with his own money), followed by worship and a 20-minute message, then small groups. This approach transformed everything.
Ministry Growth Through Relationship
Started with 4 youth → Grew to 25 active participants
"Transformation and growth happens through building relationships. Get to know their favorite color, cereal, show...If you do that, your differences won’t matter."
Navigating Transitions and Challenges
Christopher's ministry journey included significant transitions that tested his calling and character. After leaving his home church due to philosophical differences about ministry approach, he moved to Bridge South Bay—transitioning into a more affluent church community.
This multicultural ministry experience taught him invaluable lessons about universal human needs. "Pain is pain," he learned. "No matter where we come from—drugs, neglect, shame, pornography—it's not about what they have, but their pain."
The Call to Lead Pastor
While enrolled in the UYWI Certification Program as a youth pastor, Christopher experienced an unexpected transition. In early 2022, while also serving as a regional pastor for Four Square (overseeing youth pastors and speaking at various churches), he visited Jesus House OC on his way to San Diego.
I forgot my notes, everything, and preached everything from my mind. The lead pastor shared with me later, while I was preaching she felt there was a hand behind her saying, 'He is next.'
Four months later, Christopher and Sasha were invited to pastor Jesus House OC. The decision required significant sacrifice—leaving his T-Mobile job meant taking a significant pay cut, right when he was due for a raise. But they followed God's leading into full-time pastoral ministry.
Crisis and Rebuilding
Christopher's greatest test as a lead pastor came during a youth camp in July 2023. A veteran youth leader's inappropriate handling of a conflict situation forced Christopher to make the difficult decision to remove him from youth ministry. The decision was right, but costly—the church lost the majority of its congregation.
The Crisis
Lost majority of congregation after making difficult but necessary leadersihp decisions.
The Recovery
Church has grown from 12 to 50-70 people, with new families joining weekly.
The rebuilding process has been challenging but rewarding. Christopher had to return to work temporarily, but the church has steadily grown. They recently celebrated their 7-year anniversary as a church and Christopher and Sasha's 2.5 years as pastors.
UYWI's Impact: Holistic Ministry Tools
Christopher connected to UYWI through his friend Alexander, who was going through the UYWI Certification Program. What he found was more than just youth ministry training—he discovered holistic leadership tools that would prove invaluable in his transition to lead pastor.
The cohort was led with such pastoral care... When I went into pastoring, I pastored with the same intentionality and care for people. I now make sure others are good before moving on to the next thing.
The UYWI Certification Program provided Christopher with several key elements that shaped his ministry approach:
- Framework and Pathway: Moving beyond just "slipping into the Bible" to providing clear progression steps for struggling youth
- Holistic Ministry Vision: Understanding ministry as more than just preaching and asking for money
- Cultural Bridge-Building: Freedom to minister from his urban perspective while connecting with suburban contexts
Pastoral Care Model: Learning to prioritize people's wellbeing before program advancement
Current Ministry Impact
Today, Christopher serves in multiple capacities that demonstrate the breadth of his calling:
Ministry Reach
Jesus House OC: 30-40 weekly attendance and growing, half being youth
Four Square Regional: On a team of 4 overseeing next gen leaders that connect with approximately 5,000 youth annually.
His story of impact includes young people like Eli, who commuted from a challenging neighborhood but never missed youth service, and who later announced his calling to youth ministry. These relationships, built through consistent investment and genuine care, continue to bear fruit years later—proof that disciples were making disciples.
Looking Forward: Vision and Partnership
Christopher's vision for continued partnership with UYWI reflects his heart for urban ministry expansion: "A lot of people in LA/OC know about UYWI, but in South LA, my context, they don't know who UYWI is. We need to expand our reach and resource all urban areas."
His journey from a youth pastor in the UYWI Certification Program to a lead pastor rebuilding a church demonstrates the power of holistic leadership training. The tools, relationships, and pastoral care model he learned through UYWI continue to shape how he leads, disciples, and creates space for the next generation.
My job is to become the platform and not just let people stand on it. People are only going to learn so much from me... The Urban Church is a melting pot of people, ages, and perspectives. We need different perspectives.
The UYWI Difference
Christopher Stewart's story illustrates the transformative power of UYWI's holistic approach to ministry leadership. By providing not just youth ministry techniques, but comprehensive leadership tools, pastoral care modeling, and cultural competency, UYWI equipped Christopher to navigate these transitions in his ministry journey—from youth pastor to lead pastor, from suburban to urban contexts, from building to rebuilding.
His ability to rebuild Jesus House OC after significant loss demonstrates his commitment to Christ. UYWI has taken great joy in being a port of Christopher’s growth and leadership journey, helping to provide leadership principles that extend far beyond youth ministry into every aspect of pastoral leadership and community building.
Multiplying Impact Through Resource Partners
Our UYWI's Resource Partners, through their generosity, are developing leaders like Christopher to create exponential kingdom impact. When Resource Partners invest in Urban Youth Workers Institute, they're not just supporting individual growth; they're enabling the development of leaders who will rebuild ministries, disciple the next generation, and expand God's kingdom in urban communities.
Stories like Christopher Stewart are being replicated across the country as Resource Partners enable UYWI to develop leaders who understand that ministry is about relationships, cultural competency, and holistic care. These leaders are rebuilding churches, starting new ministries, and creating disciples who make disciples.
Christopher's vision for UYWI to "reach and resource all urban areas" reflects the ongoing need for Resource Partners who share this heart for developing indigenous leadership in underserved communities. Every dollar invested in leadership development through UYWI creates leaders who, like Christopher, will impact thousands and develop other leaders for decades to come.
Resource Partners don't just fund programs—they fuel movements. Christopher Stewart's journey from youth pastor to church rebuilder demonstrates that when we invest in developing leaders with holistic tools, we create sustainable impact that extends far beyond any single ministry or moment.
Champion a Leader. Fuel the Gospel. Build the Future.
Our year-end goal is to raise $750,000 so that we can train 500 additional urban youth leaders in 2025 to reach and disciple more youth with the Gospel. At just $1,500 per leader, your gift directly champions leaders like Christopher who are rebuilding ministries, developing disciples, and expanding Kingdom impact in urban communities across the nation.
Please join us by making a year-end contribution at uywi.org/donate. Your generosity will not only transform individual leaders like Christopher but will also multiply Gospel impact across entire communities as these leaders develop the next generation of urban ministry champions.
When you champion a leader, you’re fueling a movement that extends far beyond what you can see.
Bless you,
TOMMY NIXON, CEO
Urban Youth Workers Institute