Posts Tagged ‘Youth’
What If? Youth Impacted their World Pt. 2
Youth Ministry Saves Lives Jesse Lobato, took one year of Bible college after high school and developed a deep tug towards serving the inner city. During that time, he read how Chicago was having a horrific amount of casualties. That year, several young people were killed as well as others who were in the wrong…
Read MoreWhat If? Youth Impacted their World Pt. 1
From Transitional Beginnings to Stability in Christ His father being wildly abusive in nearly every way towards his mother, Jesse Lobato and his two older siblings left New Jersey for Salem, MA with their mother. Jesse lived with his mom during the week and vacationed with his dad throughout the year. His dad had a…
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 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 MoreTrauma-informed care and focus on mental health in youth ministry
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…
Read MoreRemind me again why I do youth ministry
– By guest blogger Chris Lassiter I just had a “Remind me again why I do urban youth ministry” type of week. Our annual camping trip hit some major snags. Money came up missing. Curfews were missed. We even had a few physical altercations. Collectively, I had more challenges in one week than I’ve had…
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