Loading....
GOD IN THE CITY 2023
Are you an urban Youth Minister?
You're invited to join us on April 29, 2023 for a conference designed especially for you and others serving youth in the urban context. Our God in the City Youth Ministry Leaders Conference will inspire and equip urban youth ministers with the resources to effectively reach youth in the urban context and to appreciate the beauty of the city; a place filled with abundance and hope, where God is already at work!
Participate in workshops like Youth Ministry 101, Music and Media as Vocation, Their Turf, Their Terms, and more. Come network with others serving youth in the urban context, and celebrate how God is already at work in the city.
Rapzilla will be back hosting the second annual 16-Bar Challenge. Last, but certainly not least, we’ll close out with a citywide youth rally, including performances by special guests (both far and near) you won't want to miss.
Join on your own or register your youth ministry team!
Can't attend the conference? You can still sign up to attend the FREE rally!
Use the promo code EARLYBIRD23 for $25 off.
The ticket price increases from $50 to $75 after March 25th, so be sure to register today.
Saturday, April 29, 2023
Loso is a Tampa, Florida Hip-Hop Artist, Battle Rapper, & servant of Jesus. His music and lyrics are meant to inspire and encourage. He began rapping to reach teenagers in juvenile detention centers and years later his mission is still the same. Impressing the culture isn’t enough, he must also impact it. He has been all over the country and overseas, opening up for some of the biggest names in Hip-Hop. Follow @everythingloso.
Justin Sarachik is the Editor-in-Chief of Rapzilla.com. He has been a journalist for over a decade and has written or edited over 10,000 articles for Rapzilla, Relevant, Christian Post, BREATHEcast, Crime Faces, CCM, Staten Island Advance, & more. He's worked with artists and brands on social media, marketing, and content creation. In addition to launching a number of podcasts and online shows, his first documentary is slated to film in the Fall of 2022. He serves as co-director and writer. Justin also spent 15 years performing in a band as first a drummer, and then eventually working his way up to frontman – rapping and singing in countless venues from Long Island, NY, down to Philadelphia, PA.
Rapzilla is a Christian hip hop online magazine. The website contains many sections such as latest news, album reviews, articles, interviews, music downloads, videos, release dates, and columns. Follow @justinsarachik.
JXHN PVUL utilizes his wide range of influences from Latin Trap, Reggaeton and hip-hop to share life lessons in music that offers healing and deliverance. His talents were nurtured by his music-loving uncle and he attributes his own passion for the art to his mother, who raised him on Latin sounds. JXHN PVUL uses his personal journey to challenge listeners to lead lives of hope. Follow @jxhnpvul.
Christian Artist, Content Creator, and Preacher. Vianca “The Grace,” of Puerto Rican descent, uses her artistry and platform to convey a message of purpose and hope. Compelled by the story of her birth, being born when doctors doubted her mother’s delivery, Vianca is convined that God allowed her to be born with a purpose and as miracle, to spark miracles in her generation. Steering through distinct sounds such as Reggaeton, Latin Trap, and hip-hop, her artistic expressions are wide for such a diverse audience. Vianca “The Grace” promotes “La Nenas Buenas” (the Good Girls) movement, to communicate a self-empowering and appreciating concept that is counter cultural to the music genre she navigates in. Vianca “The Grace” has worked with Award winning artist, Redimi2 to deliver “Me Corre,” which has surpassed 2 million views on YouTube alone. Vianca “The Grace” brings a refreshing message sonically and is set to impact the Urbano music scene. Follow @viancathegrace.
“Ripe” is the brand name of our community of creators based in the city of Philadelphia. Ripe in it’s current form is comprised of nearly 40 individuals that span multiple collaborative teams.
Our Ripe Artists, the Ripe Worship team, the Creatives’ Philly event team, & the staff of Ripe Creatives 501(c)3 work together to impact people under unified values and aligned purposes. This is executed through intentional and interpersonal community, creating content, curating events, and connecting artists together from across the region.
As “Family” is one of our core values, spouses of any individual team member are also invited into the community of Ripe. Through covenantal relationship - we build and serve together to bring forth restorative hope to the city of Philadelphia. Follow @ripeworship.
With Anthony “A-Ram” Ramos
Authentic evangelism shares the love of Christ with others. How we share the gospel is more important than the information we share. It is not about the number of souls saved, rather the quality of relationships. It is irresponsible to hit and run with the gospel. In the hood, we call it drive-by evangelism. The results are regurgitated “Christians” who have given their life to the Lord several dozen times, but lack a mature, intimate relationship with their Creator. In its proper context, evangelism must be closely aligned with discipleship. This workshop is about evangelism as authentic relationship and living in community so that young people can “see” and experience the gospel with you.
With Kayla Gonzales
What are the basics of youth ministry? EYLI believes that relationships are the concrete location of God’s presence between us. Programs and youth church services are important. However, the incarnation is about God meeting us where we are and healthy relationships model the incarnation. Learn how you can help young people be what God created them to be, and be formed in the process.
With Juan “Loso” Bedoya
Understanding and engaging youth culture. Culture is a powerful communicator of values. Each generation migrates from one culture to the next, all the while being influenced by the various value systems they encounter. This may be through music, language, entertainment, etc. Many churches have paid little attention to this reality and have almost lost an entire generation. Learn how culture works, how to respect and engage in it. Learn how to meet individuals where they are, talk their language, and how to help youth create a counterculture.
With Pastor David Medina
Mental health challenges are real, especially among our young people. What is the difference between malas mañas and a real mental health issue? It’s time to learn about this difference. This workshop will provide you with a better understanding of mental health, with a particular focus on anxiety, depression and suicide ideation. We will also clarify your role as a youth minister in this context and your boundaries. The goal is to have a youth ministry be a safe place for young people struggling with their mental health.
With Christine Nieves
With many urban youth workers being classified as multi-vocational, we understand the financial challenges that could prevent the freedom to dream in their ministries and the potential burnout this could cause to the urban youth worker. In this workshop we look to equip youth workers with the proper tools to develop and/or enhance their grant writing skills, that would assist their ventures to apply for funding for their ministries.
With Pastor Hector Vicenty
Stemming from the Biblical mandate Jesus assigned to His disciples, to “make disciples,” this mandate is an essential function of the believer. What does discipleship look like in the urban context for the urban youth worker? How does mentoring take form among youth who have no experience in the institutional church? This workshop will communicate the theory of mentorship among urban youth and some practices that would be helpful within the urban context.
With Justin Sarachik (Rapzilla) & Jxhn Pvul
Vocation, or the doing of what God is calling you to, first begins with who you are. This sense of identity then informs you of what you do. This will then enable you to explore your call to ministry with a particular focus on music and/or media. This workshop will provide you with a base on which to explore your vocation, using your interest and gifts in music and media. This will be an engaging workshop with facilitators who are living out their calling in these industries.
With Josiah Cedeño, Aable, Vianca “The Grace” & Scott Smith (Ripe Creatives)
God’s creative nature is reflected in all creation, including humanity (Imago Dei). We can observe this beauty (aesthetic) through various forms of art that humanity partakes in to bring light to God’s “invisible qualities.” In this panel, we explore how youth workers are leveraging their creative gifts in the arts to illustrate God’s beauty and connect people with the Creator through these mediums.
About Esperanza's Youth Leadership Institute
Over the past 15 years, National Programs has served the “least of these” by strengthening local churches, organizations, and individuals that serve the Hispanic community. We come alongside church leaders, youth leaders, and member with skills and resources to equip them for even greater success. Click here to read more about our current programs, including Renovación Pastoral for pastors entering ministry to be mentored by seasoned clergy; Thriving Congregations, to explore your ministry's connection and expressions in a changing world; and more!
Esperanza Youth Leadership Institute (EYLI) inspires vision and provides educational opportunities and resources for those that work with Latino youth to reach, disciple and give voice to young people to become agents of transformation in urban communities. We are proud to have more than 70 graduates of this program who are creating change each day in their communities!
This work is an outgrowth of Esperanza, founded by the Hispanic Clergy of Philadelphia to strengthen Hispanic communities, driven by the Biblical mandate in Matthew 25:40 to serve "the least of these".
Esperanza National Programs & EYLI
,
God in the City Conference & Rally 2023
Please select your ticket(s) below and continue on to complete your registration!
If registering a Youth Ministry Team, you must have 5 participating conference attendees. Please have the specific contact information for all participants (name, address, e-mail) before beginning your registration.
*If you will attend the rally after the conference, please select both ticket options before proceeding to check out.*
Youth Rally- Child/Youth Participant tickets will only require the name(s) of each child/youth participant.
God in the City 2023