In 1992, while a student at what is now Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, I responded to God’s call to live among and serve the urban poor. Along with a couple of my friends, we opened our inner-city apartment to homeless men. When we observed people running in and out, day and night of another apartment in our building, we soon realized that crack cocaine was being sold there (We accidentally moved into a crack-house). One night a gun battle erupted between the dealer and one of his customers.
However, we sensed an even stronger calling. While we worked with the G.R. Vice Unit and the neighborhood association to rid the street of the drug houses, I teamed up with Servants Center to help launch a transitional shelter for homeless men and worked as a supervisor of a recreation program at Coit school until it closed. During my time as a supervisor, I realized the overwhelming needs and problems among the neighborhood youth. Over 60% of these kids lived in poverty, while over half of them came from single-parent families. Several were victims of chronic neglect and abuse. Many joined gangs, experimented with drugs and alcohol, and developed promiscuous lifestyles. In 1995, not only did I marry Sherilyn(who developed a heart for the 'hood while attending Moody Bible Institute), but the two of us also joined with Servants Center to develop an inner-city ministry reaching at-risk youth and their families from the neighborhood. Along the way, we began forming partnerships with neighborhood organizations such as Campfire USA, and Coit and Eastern Elementary Schools. We also formed partnerships with local churches of like faith such as Berean Baptist to ensure that urban youth and families receive long-term discipleship.
Nevertheless due to strategic developments in 2003 and with the blessing and assistance of Servants Center, we launched a separate faith-based, non-profit inner-city organization, Urban Transformation Ministries (herein referred to as UTM). UTM continues to serve over 300 at-risk inner-city youth, young adults, and their family members in the Belknap-Lookout and South Creston communities of Grand Rapids. Activities include: small-group Bible studies, one-to-one mentoring, basketball outreaches and tournaments, outdoor camping, youth church(Thursday Night Hype), service learning, leadership training, employment assistance and crisis interventions.
For the past twelve years I also taught the church-at-large throughout the midwest how to do urban/poverty ministry through workshops and seminars. In addition, as an adjunct professor, I taught a couple of urban ministry courses at Cornerstone University and accompanied their students on a mission trip to inner-city LA.
I graduated with a bachelor of Music degree from Cornerstone University in 1991 and a Master of Arts degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary in Intercultural Studies in 2006. I most recently finished my thesis, “helping resolve the missional tension between evangelism and social responsibility by rooting mission within the doctrine of creation.”
Most importantly, I am married to a godly woman, Sherilyn, who has been my life and ministry partner for almost thirteen years. We have 4 children (Tiera-9, Jalen-7, Ashlyn-5, and Sahara-19 months).
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