Inspiring Hope in Teen Moms
Shanita Mickie, Young Life, YoungLives
Shanita Mickie is YoungLives Metro Richmond Coordinator. As of November 2015 Shanita became YoungLives Metro Richmond Coordinator after volunteering with them for over 6 years. YoungLives desires to come along teen moms, bringing compassion, advice, and spiritual direction. We strive at not casting stones, but writing a message of hope in the sand by showing and sharing Jesus love.
YoungLives would not be able to reach these teens without God’s grace, and our wonderful, mentors, volunteers and committee members. They provide spiritual guidance, childcare, transportation, dinner, fundraise and a host other important needs for the ministry.
Currently we are reaching pregnant and teen moms at John Marshall High School, Henrico High School, and Highland Springs High School. In 2016 we desire to reach more teen mothers on the south side of Richmond at Huguenot High School, James River High School and Armstrong High School.
Shanita’s hope is for YoungLives ministry to reach as many pregnant and teen moms as possible and give them the best resource in life that they could ever receive; Jesus.
Young Life, Young Lives
1510 Willow Lawn Dr., Suite 224
Richmond, Va. 23230
(804) 301-9031
Ministering Among Muslims
Bill and Suzanne
Bill is a teacher of biblical Christianity to Muslims and Islam to Christians. Bill and Suzanne work to create an atmosphere of mutual respect between these two suburban communities which enables genuine friendship building and open communication of their beliefs. As team leader for a large church planting team among refugees, Bill also advises the church planter and trains the staff in cross-cultural ministry.
In the Heart of the City
Kip Hart, VCU InterVarsity
Kip Hart is working on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University in the heart of the city of Richmond. As a campus staff member of VCU InterVarsity, Kip is directly involved in student leadership development, student discipleship and witnessing with these students to the campus at large. The mission of VCUInterVarsity is to transform students and faculty, renew campuses and develop world changers.
Developing Student Leaders
Rob Hodous, InterVarsity at the University of Richmond
Rob and Julie felt God calling them to work with InterVarsity during 2003 and began working at the University of Mary Washington in 2004. They, and their three children, love working with college students and are excited to continue serving with InterVarsity at the University of Richmond. Rob oversees all of InterVarsity’s ministry at the University of Richmond which includes the undergraduate chapter, the Umoja Gospel Choir, and strategic outreach to fraternity and sorority students. Rob spends most of his time working to disciple and develop current and potential student leaders. The ultimate goal is a student-led community that is both missional and transformational, and realizes InterVarsity’s national vision of “Students & Faculty Transformed, Campuses Renewed, and World Changers Developed.”
The Power of Presence
Tim Toy, Young Life, Metro Richmond
Young Life doesn’t start with a program. It starts with adults concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don’t happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency. We believe in the power of presence. Kids’ lives are dramatically impacted when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God’s love with them. Because their leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose.
Tim supervises Young Life staff and starts new work in the less accessible regions of metro Richmond, including Goochland, Louisa, East End, and Southern Chesterfield.
Young Life’s goal is to reach 2 million kids by 2016. The organization wants more kids to hear about Jesus, but we realize we need a bigger vision and strategy than what we have had previously.
Reaching Out to Youth
Brian Griffith, Young Life, West End Richmond
As the Area Director for Young Life in the West End of Richmond, I model a healthy Young Life ministry in the area by spending a large amount of my time doing direct ministry at Deep Run High School. The Area also has volunteer-lead clubs at Freeman, Godwin, and Hermitage high schools. We have a specialized ministry, Capernaum, for kids and young adults with disabilities from all around the local community.
Our volunteers are an essential piece to our ministry. A very important part of my job is to recruit, train and supervise volunteer leaders and the local committee (Adult Ministry Team).
I oversee development and management of the local area budget with committee leadership.
Lastly, I develop and manage a plan for both present and future ministry in the area that would involve expansion to all high schools in the area. We currently plan to start Young Life at Glen Allen and Tucker high schools in the near future.
Opening Doors
Matt & Erin Bouknight, Young Life, Chesterfield County
Matt and Erin are on staff with Young Life in Chesterfield County. Young Life is a non-denominational outreach ministry that introduces adolescents to Jesus Christ and helps them grow in their faith. Young Life targets dis-interested kids who would never darken the door of a local church. Young Life works to reach out to these kids by meeting kids “where they are at” and earning the right to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Matt is the Area Director for Young Life in Chesterfield County and therefore supervises the volunteers who work in our five Young Life clubs: Clover Hill & Cosby High School Club, James River High School Club, Midlothian High School Club, Monacan High School Club, and Midlothian Area Middle School Club. Learn more about Young Life Chesterfield County ›
Confronting God’s Grace
Reformed University Fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University
RUF is a Christian organization where you are invited to explore what it means to know and follow Jesus Christ. Regardless of your beliefs or backgrounds, RUF is a place where you will be challenged with the truth claims of Jesus, embraced by the love of Jesus, and confronted with God’s grace to you.
Making Connections
International Student Inc (ISI) serves international students, scholars, and their families in Charlottesville and helping them adjust to their new setting and make American friends. Learn more ›