Welcoming New Leadership
We are excited to introduce to you, Taylor Sims, the Los Angeles Fuel Network Leader. Taylor is the Youth Pastor at Revelation Church of God in Christ in South LA. She comes from a long line of pastors and church leaders. Growing up in the church, she describes herself as always having been a “church girl” with a calling to serve the Church. Never having run from her calling but also aware she was not fully surrendered to Christ, she knew it was not yet the time for her to commit to a life-calling to ministry. Over time, God prepared her heart and mind, and it was at 13-years-old when her faith became her own during a church youth trip. Since then, she has dedicated her life to serving the Lord with her whole heart..
In 2016, she did a nine month internship with Oasis church in Los Angeles, where her mother also served on staff. In addition to being a family of ministers, Taylor inherited a strong business mind. Her intentions at the time were to conquer the world in business, however in a mentoring conversation with the Oasis Pastor, she was challenged to consider how her experience and knowledge of business could be applied to the church. She was then able to see a place for logistics and strategy while molding kids in the image of Christ–merging her passions. After her internship, she returned as the youth pastor to her father’s church where he is the lead pastor. Today, she is passionate about discipling young people towards Christ while also teaching them how to find their own places in the church. It gives Taylor great joy to have the youth serve alongside her in various parts of the ministry. She has created a space for them to know they belong and be utilized by the church, regardless of their years and depth with Christ.
In addition to this clear path and vision over her life, Taylor leads young people to Christ in part because of the generations of leaders that poured into her throughout her own upbringing. She experienced the love and dedication of healthy leaders before her. She saw the sacrifices and intentionality made by volunteers and pastors, including those of her own father as he once served as the youth pastor.
Her entire life, she had a front row seat and inside look of the challenges and victories of youth ministry. She saw how her father brought joy to the youth but also how the youth gave him great joy, loving what he did every day. As much as the youth are fueled by their leaders, Taylor, her father, and the other leaders before her have been equally fueled by the youth themselves. The youth are now such a significant part of Taylor’s life and she looks forward to meeting them each week.
We have had the privilege of journeying alongside Taylor in her leadership development after her father introduced her to UYWI and the church sponsored Taylor in the UYWI Certification Program. She has been deeply blessed and strengthened by her cohort as they continue to sharpen one another in resources and strategy even years after graduation. She is excited to encourage that same spirit of collaboration into the LA Fuel Network.
She has experienced firsthand the significance of networking and releasing burdens among other neighboring youth workers. Taylor shares honestly, “Pastoring youth is not easy, and so many youth pastors and leaders around the country are serving with minimal support. Having a network and the support of other leaders to release the heavy things you experience every day is so helpful. I am excited to connect with and learn from the other leaders.” She is excited to also foster this same posture in the other youth workers within the network.
Your partnership with Urban Youth Workers Institute is essential for training and developing generations of urban leaders in understanding their rich value within the Church. We are excited to see the LA Fuel Network grow under Taylor’s leadership. We invite you to pray over her new role, the growing connections for the LA Fuel Network, and the development of networks across the country.
Thank you for believing in the next generation of urban leaders. Your support is developing urban leaders and reaching young lives with the Gospel across the country! Together, we are Building for the Future and investing in 5X the growth throughout 2025.
Bless you,
TOMMY NIXON, CEO
Urban Youth Workers Institute