What If? You made the difference?
Maritza Rebollar was born in the U.S. but grew up in Mexico. She loved her life and community there, yet at 17-year-old she returned to the United States despite wanting to stay in Mexico. Today, Maritza shares that the move kept her from choosing many different things as it shifted the trajectory of her life away from the world and towards a relationship with Christ.
Upon starting her life in the States, she was invited to attend church. She shared her perspective of Christians at the time as, “Christians were different, and I wasn’t going to become a Christian.” Through attending youth group, she found a place where she could be herself and feel safe. Speaking only Spanish at the time, it was a community that was helpful in making friends. Over time, she became more active in the church, attending bible studies and participating a lot. It is the place where she became dedicated to Christ.
As she was serving in the church, the leadership team went through various transitions due to life changes. Maritza felt called to step-up to fill the gap, but due to being female, she was unable to take the role. She stayed dedicated to serving God and the youth as a leader. As time passed, her calling for youth ministry grew, and she knew she would need to serve elsewhere in order to step into her calling in the way God was leading her. Out of this, she began attending a friend’s church. As the youth director, her friend gave her many growth opportunities to learn and grow in leadership. It was there where she learned how to lead bible studies, lead prayer, and began learning English to better communicate with English-speaking youth. It was the first time she felt there was a seat for her at the table in ministry.
Again there would be a ministry transition ahead of her as the main pastor left the church before Covid. With the hit of Covid, the church unfortunately did not make it and no longer exists. In 2021, Maritza joined Unidos South OC (Unidos), a ministry she saw helping the community a lot throughout the pandemic.
Initially, she started by simply talking about Jesus with young people over pizza. During that season she was feeling unequipped to share a Gospel message with the youth and felt as though she needed to have the gift of preaching in order to do so. However, God carried her though, and she began preaching God’s Word to the youth.
While meeting Maritza at the Christian Community Development Conference (CCDA) for the first time in 2021, I shared with her the great value she brings to the table in the community at CCDA and how deeply young people like her are needed. In having heard this, she shared that it affirmed that she and her commitment to youth mattered. From there, she heard about the UYWI Certification Program, Fuel Networks, and the free online resources through UYWI.
Maritza’s desire to know “how to do youth ministry” grew stronger and stronger. She wanted to know what steps to follow. She knew she and her team were making plans and reaching youth, but without any guidance. She had been hearing about the LA Cohort for the UYWI Certification Program, and finally via social media, she reached out to learn more.
She shared, “I desire to learn how to do ministry better and to be a good steward of what God has placed in my hands. It took two years, but FINALLY I started the LA Cohort with the full support of my directors.”
These classes each month became a church community for her. It was a place with other youth pastors and leaders where they could talk through ministry issues and victories. It was clear that her facilitators, Pastor Bobby and Vanessa, truly cared for them as they supported them in their ministries. Maritza reflected,
“Every time I would leave class crying and crying all the way to my house, because it was what I needed during that time–a place of belonging. It was a place where we shared goals and stories, there were no divisions, and there were no competitions. It was a time of coming together, always supporting one another, and learning the skills of what to do or not do. It was beneficial spiritually, mentally, and socially. Through the UYWI Certification Program, I learned a lot about myself, my gifts, my personality, how I work when I am healthy and when I am not. The LA Cohort was the roadmap to youth ministry that brought a lot of confidence since I had no background in formal biblical training. I was only learning by myself. Now I feel more confident. I know I don’t have all the answers, but I feel more equipped and more prepared. It is always good to see leaders at the Fuel Network. It is very helpful to come together, talk through our sorrows, challenges, victories, and prayer requests.”
Before going through the UYWI Certification Program, Unidos South OC was focusing primarily on spiritual matters, but now they take a more holistic approach. They have Bible studies, prayer, and small groups, but now they also have a focus on sports outreach, mental health, projects in the community, mentorship, cultural field trips, and academics. They also partner with other organizations that bring in resources for the youth. Through these partners, they build relationships with the same representatives that come through once each month to meet the youth. Throughout the week they serve roughly a total of 50 students in a 875 square foot condo.
When asked why Maritza stays in youth ministry, she expressed, “I want to be the person that I did not have while I was growing up. I want to be their mentor, a friend, the person they can come to and talk with to ask for advice.” She desires to help the next generation through their difficult experiences such as the ones she went through while growing up–her father’s passing, having moved to a new country, etc. She desires for these young people to meet God at an early age. She shared, if they do then that is what brings her joy. Her desire is to make one impact every day, even if it is with the same person. She believes she moved from Mexico to the US to serve in God’s mission here and to be His instrument, His hands, and His feet with the youth, helping them to know and experience God so their lives may be changed.
One student that Maritza has been able to support in her walk with Christ is Kacie. Alongside her brother, Kacie started participating in programs with Unidos in 2022. Initially her mom came to register her youngest brother, but quickly realized Unidos did not have a club at her school, Capo Valley High School. Although she was not yet a Christian and did not understand the full impact of having a club at her school, she advocated strongly for Unidos to start a program there. Through Kacie’s growing relationship with the team at Unidos and attending their programs, they were able to become more involved at Capo Valley High School. Kacie’s passion and commitment has even opened doors for Maritza to speak at the school’s First Generation Graduation Ceremony.
Camp has been a significant instrument for the ministry as it is a time for youth to step out of their circumstances and connect with God. In God’s perfect timing, Kacie became a Christian while attending camp. She continues to actively attend church with Maritza, learning about God, and loving worship. God has transformed her life over these past few years. Before attending Unidos, Kacie just wanted to be at home. Now, she is all out, helping at school, with her teachers, the community, other youth, and both the student and staff lead teams. She is serving, speaking in public, and representing the organization through testimonial videos. She has flourished and grown into this person that even Kacie doesn’t recognize. Her family is now more involved as well, including her parents and youngest brother. They never miss a day and are always inviting friends. Kacie recently received a full ride scholarship for a local Christian university and desires to do youth ministry full-time.
Kacie’s journey of a desire to serve without yet knowing Christ is common at Unidos South OC. They have several student leaders that come to set-up the space and snacks, pray, share Unidos’ values and agreements, to welcome others, and to lead games. They are active in serving and giving back, so much so that other leaders will come in and compliment the involvement of the youth and how they own the program. It is an avenue of making the community their home and an opportunity for them to learn about Jesus.
UYWI has helped Maritza and Unidos South OC develop their strategies and programs through her experience in the UYWI Certification Program. She sees UYWI’s significant potential for growth through the Spanish curriculum as there are a lot of young leaders in and out of the United States that do not have access to these types of resources for free! She herself is a UYWI Urban Ally through a monthly gift. She gives back because of the quality of her experience and the commitment of UYWI to develop urban leaders to be the role models youth need to live transformed lives by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
As we continue our year-end campaign, our aim is to raise $550,000 by December 31st. This will ensure we continue equipping the next generation of urban leaders with the tools, knowledge, coaching, and networks to reach more youth with the Gospel. We invite you to join us in this life-changing work.
Would you prayerfully consider making a special year-end contribution to support our mission of developing youth leaders who disciple young people with the Gospel? You may do so on our website at uywi.org/donate.
WHAT IF? …YOU made the difference?
Thank you for your continued partnership and support to continue to reach youth with the Gospel.
With gratitude and hope,
TOMMY NIXON, CEO
Urban Youth Workers Institute