Urban Transformation Ministries

I go into detail about these Popular Fatherless Myths in Our Culture I talk about.

https://joelashaffer.substack.com/p/popular-progressive-myths-about-fatherlessness-00f?r=2m6z5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&fbclid=IwY2xjawEsSVdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHU90569YpkW8QbTHZfP3pE2U7phTTS3ShnI5_D0tGxKJZUBRJ-zU7glKiw_aem_R8FIEn9fyBexV_sm5H_UXg&triedRedirect=true

Popular (Progressive) Myths About Fatherlessness in Our Culture Part 2: Luxury Beliefs

A little over 7 months ago, the man who mentored me, Don Tack, passed away. Since the topic of UTM's upcoming Lunch & Learn is about mentoring fatherless youth and adults, I'd thought I'd go a little deeper about how Don introduced me to life-on-life mentoring.

A Tribute to Don Tack Part 2: How I Experienced Life-on-Life Mentoring A Prelude to UTM's August 1st Lunch & Learn

Join us at North Park Baptist Church (Grand Rapids) tomorrow at noon for a brown bag Lunch & Learn on "Fatherless Myths in our Culture." My newest substack article reveals one of the many Myths we'll discuss, "The Myth that Most Black Fathers are Absent from their Children's Lives." My writing here is not intended to be a detailed, comprehensive analysis of black fatherlessness. I already went two hundred words over my intended limit. Instead, it's about creating discussion and interest in UTM's Lunch & Learn.

Fatherless Myths in Our Culture: A Prelude to UTM's July 18th Lunch & Learn "The Myth that Most Black Fathers are Absent from their Children's Lives"

https://joelashaffer.substack.com/p/popular-myths-about-fatherlessness

Popular Myths About Fatherlessness in Our Culture: A Prelude to UTM's July 10th Lunch & Learn The Myth that Children Born and Raised in the Traditional Two-Parent Family Structure are Never Fatherless.

Do you want to "take up the cause of the fatherless..." ?(Isaiah 1:17) Here are some book resources that can help.

12 Books to Read that Will Strengthen Your Ministry to the Fatherless If you desire to learn more about Fatherlessness and many of its related issues, I have compiled a list of 12 books that have been extremely helpful in shaping UTM's ministry philosophy and strategy for breaking the cycle of fatherlessness. Bradley, Anthony B.

A special thanks to Choice One Bank with their "May"king a Difference Campaign At ChoiceOne Bank, employees can opt into "Jean Day," allowing them to wear jeans for a donation on casual Friday's. Choice One polls employees on what organizations & causes are near and dear to them, and the funds are donated during our "May"king a Difference campaign! All donations come directly from ChoiceOne employees,

The $1,000.00 gift to UTM through their "May"king a Difference Campaign became the start-up gift for the Isaiah Promise Campaign which UTM launched yesterday, and will continue through the summer.

https://utmgr.networkforgood.com/

Today is National Fatherless Children's Day. It's a timely day to remember Isaiah 1:17, where the prophet Isaiah implores Ancient Israel to:

"Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow."

Click the link below to learn how you can "Take up the cause of the fatherless" through the Isaiah Promise, UTM's summer campaign.

Breaking the Fatherless Cycle Through the Isaiah Promise How You Can Help Make a Life Changing Difference Now America's Fatherless Crisis. "Far too many people are unaware that society's most pressing problem in America can be traced to the father's absence in a child's life." In fact, the statistics are shocking. Fatherless children are more likely to .....

https://utmgr.networkforgood.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR1B2vBzl1003Rwd0MuC8wvPid69H8FySuCd5OYLfWyA6OC9wMXRSe_azws_aem_AdkjRlS4_K8haxB79f6YXWsXRoCdzlikZSQgsaQIuakFIHlo3CoESjPSboIV2U0_imZJfBzD19WvGaw5iAzitwFi

Breaking the Fatherless Cycle Through the Isaiah Promise How You Can Help Make a Life Changing Difference Now America's Fatherless Crisis. "Far too many people are unaware that society's most pressing problem in America can be traced to the father's absence in a child's life." In fact, the statistics are shocking. Fatherless children are more likely to .....

National Fatherless Children's Day/Isaiah Promise Every fourth Sunday of June, ministries, non-profits, and churches shed light on the issue of Fatherlessness and its impact on communities across America. Th...

Pictures from our ROCK Basketball teen program these past 6 months.

Lunch with Chris yesterday was amazing! He mentioned to me that he was never taught what it meant to pray or how he should pray. What a great opportunity to just “Listen” and hear his heart. Chris gave me permission to share that he’d like prayer for discipline & focus. Thank you to all who support our ministry. Be One Make One!

“Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.
𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐮𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬;
plead the case of the widow.” (Isaiah 1:17)

Had lunch with Jack today, who I coached when he was in 5th & 6th grade and now he’s in college! We laughed, discussed family, dreams, goals, relationships and most importantly where God fits into it all. Again, Discipleship happens in Relationships!

Amazing time hanging out with some of our students yesterday at the car show! Discipleship happens in relationship. Isaiah 1:17

Tap In if you want to see Jesus made famous on every block!

Make Jesus famous on every block.

PLANT 616 is a catalyzing hub for the mobilization of missionary disciples into every crack and crevice of Grand Rapids and beyond. HOW ARE WE DOING IT?

23 monthly gatherings
15 neighborhood prayer walks
14 rising leaders
7 new churches commissioned
2 conferences hosted
1 Lord 1 mission 1 Gospel

We have big dreams for 2024 and we invite you to help us:

Discover, develop & deploy more missional leaders
Plant more churches (of all sizes & models)
Cultivate an ecosystem of Kingdom collaboration

Will you prayerfully consider making a gift today?

This Giving Tuesday would you consider helping us reach our goal of raising $25K by the end of the year? Help make Jesus famous on every block.

Click here then select Plant 616 GR from the drop down menu: https://tinyurl.com/u5k8fsaa

Come out and hear how God is using DD & others for to impact his kingdom!

Next Tuesday and Wednesday (October 24th at 6:30 PM/October 25th at Noon) we are honoring Deangelo “DD” Person Sr. with one of its Transformation Awards at UTM’s Breaking the Fatherless Cycle Fall Event/Fundraiser. DD has been deeply involved in UTM programs and mentoring relationships from the age of 5 all the way through adulthood to become a Godly man, husband, father and UTM volunteer who mentors fatherless youth and several of his sons’ close friends.

His story of overcoming just about every Adverse Childhood Experience you can imagine and the negativity of the streets (gangs, drug-dealing, sexually promiscuous lifestyle) through the power of Christ and the life-one life discipling relationships and programs of UTM is inspiring!

Lots of photos, including a few when he was a teenager! We’d really love to have you join us as we celebrate both the short-term and long-term victories of Breaking the Fatherless Cycle! https://www.facebook.com/events/346234777767789/346235931101007

We'd love for you to join us for our annual Breaking the Fatherless Cycle Fall Celebration Event on either next Tuesday Night at 6:30 PM or next Wednesday afternoon at Noon at New City Church (October 24th or 25th). https://www.facebook.com/events/346234777767789/346235931101007?ref=newsfeed As part of the Celebration, we'll be recognizing Navigator Neighborhood Missionaries Jim and Jodi Bartels. The UTM Transformation Awards that UTM gives each year at our Fall Celebration Event isn’t just recognizing a UTM alumnus that God is working through to help break the Fatherless Cycle, but recognizing dedicated volunteers and neighbors as well.

While Jim and Jodi volunteer each week at UTM’s Hype Remix, both are mentoring and discipling neighborhood students who attend Hype and many more throughout the community. God has blessed Jim and Jodie with the gift of Hospitality. Several of UTM’s teens view Jim and Jodi’s home as a haven and second home to them. There's much more I can say about Jim and Jodi, but you'll have to come and find out more!

Got Questions? Come and navigate through answers with us at Thursday Night Hype Remix from 6:00pm-8:00pm. (Sr. High only)

Check out Rodella's Story!

Rodella's Story (Loving All the Kids God Gives) Rodella's journey to becoming a mother, coming on staff with UTM, and how UTM students have become her kids/family

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4W9bTXVMXCw

KAA 2023 See How God impacted the lives of urban students from UTM, Navigators, Bridge St. Ministries, Community Kids, and NorthPointe Christian.

New UTM video featuring Dave-O sharing his story with one of our supporting churches.

Davien's story. (Discipleship through Relationships) How God used discipling relationships to take Davien (Dave-O) from his old life on the streets of GR to become a discipler of urban teens and young men.

Thursday Night Hype Remix is starting back soon and we need Volunteers. If you have a heart for Jesus and High school students, We would love to have you!!! Send us a message on how to move forward.

Hype Remix had one of their best activities last night! Our students will be talking about this the rest of their lives! So thankful for our partnership with https://www.facebook.com/kentcitybaptist (KCBC) The Dubridges from KCBC hosted a bonfire hotdog roast followed by Pastor Chris (KCBC's lead pastor) organizing a "Slenderman" Scare/Game that over 20 UTM students/leaders were part of, followed by smores and a devotional that pastor Chris shared to the group. Lots of God/Life discussions happened on the 30 minute drive back to Grand Rapids with our students!

We'd love for you to join us for our annual Breaking the Fatherless Cycle Fall Celebration Event on either Tuesday Night from 6:30-8:00 or Wednesday afternoon from 12:00-1:00 at New City Church. Here is the Facebook link. https://www.facebook.com/events/1776162672741414/1776162679408080/?active_tab=about

As part of the Celebration, we'll be recognizing former UTM student Christina L. Santos with one of our Transformation Awards. Christina was deeply involved in UTM programs and mentoring relationships from the age of seven until adulthood, and God used KAA to turn her heart towards Christ as a teenager. As an adult, God worked in her life to overcome many obstacles and toxicities, and she now thrives as a wife, mother, businesswoman, life coach, minister of the gospel, and author. She and her husband, Wilfredo J. Santos, co-founded and lead Restoration Church GR. I added some pics of Christina from the past and the present, including her speaking to our Hype Remix high school students.

Two years ago, UTM launched an online learning pod followed by an adventure learning lab to help struggling urban, under-resourced, neighborhood students from Palmer Elementary and Riverside Middle School with their schooling along with their social and emotional well-being during the height of COVID. As much as God used these programs to serve and impact many students, UTM is at its best doing life-on-life mentoring/discipleship relationships, not overseeing a full array of programs.

UTM has since partnered with Bridge St. Ministries to help them launch a 5 day a week after-school enrichment program at New City Church called Resurgence with Riverside middle school neighborhood students, including several kids who were part of UTM's learning pod and adventure learning lab. UTM provides both volunteer and logistical support for the Resurgence after-school program. Bridge St. Ministries has hired UTM alumni (former students from a decade ago) to staff both Resurgence after-school program sites.

Resurgence still needs volunteers. The time commitment is from 2:30-4:30 for one day (or more) a week. We need caring Christian adults as Van Drivers, Snack Help, and Mentors.

UTM launched Hype Remix this past Thursday Night. We had 18 high schoolers show up. They chilled with UTM staff and volunteers (12 of them) ate pizza, heard the gospel and played basketball, video games, and did a little spontaneous karaoke!