We hope everyone’s year is off to a great start! Here at InsideOut, we love to take time to make sure you know the people behind the well-oiled machine that is your UPCI Youth Ministries.

So we interrupt your regularly scheduled articles to bring to your attention just a few members of our great team and remind you what we are all about!

Our Purpose: Educate and Engage

The Mission of UPCI Youth Ministries is to serve the local churches of the United

Pentecostal Church International, partnering in their efforts to evangelize and disciple young people into becoming fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.

Our Method:

– Providing training programs for youth and those involved in youth ministry.

– Providing missions opportunities for exposure to evangelism.

– Providing resources for evangelism and discipleship.

– Perpetuating spiritual growth through ministries and events geared toward youth.

– Engaging youth and churches in missions and ministry through Sheaves for Christ.

Josh Carson joined the UPCI Youth Ministries in the fall of 2013. Before coming to St. Louis Josh served on staff in Tallmadge, OH and also as the Ohio District Youth President. Josh has now served in youth ministry for over sixteen years. Josh is honored to be an Ordained UPCI minister and is extremely passionate about leading this generation of Apostolic Youth to reach the world! Josh met the “love of his life” Rachel while attending Indiana Bible College, and they have been married since 2002. He LOVES being dad to his amazing four children, Canan, Carver, Kadynce, and Casen. Josh enjoys reading, writing, spending time outdoors, running, Mexican food, and more than anything, wrestle time with the kids. The motto at the Carson house is, “these are the best days of our lives.” Currently, he is pursuing his Master’s Degree at UGST.

Justin Reinking joined the UPCI Youth Ministries in January 2017. Before coming to St. Louis, he was privileged to serve as a member of the Oklahoma Youth Department. He was blessed to serve the OK Youth for nearly 10 years, serving as Sectional Youth leader, Senior Bible Quiz Coordinator, Youth Secretary, and Oklahoma District Youth President for six years. Justin was a full-time Youth Pastor in Dewar, OK for 10 years serving under Pastor Matthew Martin at the Dewar United Pentecostal Church. Justin is an ordained minister of the UPCI and believes in this generation of Apostolic youth. He met his beautiful bride, Kimberly, while traveling in Oklahoma and their relationship grew while attending Indiana Bible College together from 1999-2003. In July 2001, they were married and have three handsome boys: Noah, Elijah, and Micah. The family enjoys sports in the backyard, game nights, and family walks. Justin enjoys running and basketball, and he considers himself a Reuben sandwich connoisseur (see Shapiro’s in Indy).

Michael Thomas joined the UPCI Youth Ministries team in January of 2018. Before joining the team, Michael lived in Gadsden, Alabama where he served on staff at Church on the Rock as assistant pastor and youth pastor. Michael has been involved in youth ministry on the local and district level for over fourteen years. His youth ministry experience includes serving as youth pastor, sectional director, district youth secretary as well as youth president for Alabama. Michael is privileged to be an ordained minister of the UPCI and is excited to serve this incredible generation of apostolic youth and young adults in a, “this is that” moment of time! Michael met his beautiful wife at an Alabama youth camp and after many years of pursuit convinced her to marry him. Michael and DeAnna have been married for 11 years now and are parents to a five-year-old, blue-eyed ray of sunshine named Myla Joy. Michael also attended Gateway College of Evangelism/Urshan College and continues his educational pursuits through Hope International University. Michael enjoys running, kayaking, golfing and going on adventures.

Seneatha Clayton fell in love with missions the summer after high school on her first trip to Central America. When asked by the UPCI Youth Ministries to serve in the AYC ministry, Seneatha saw this as an opportunity of a lifetime. The chance to serve with youth across North America on the mission field was a dream come true! Seneatha graduated from Missouri State University with her bachelor of science degree in accounting and plans to finish her master’s degree in the future. Along with her love for numbers, she enjoys volunteering, event planning, and all types of travel. She has served on different leadership teams in administration, Bible Quizzing, and other areas revolving around youth ministry. As a young person, her life was impacted by youth ministry and the people involved, so she takes every opportunity to pour back into the youth of today.

Kyle is a graduate of Gateway/Urshan with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical and Christian ministry. He is married to Melanie and they have two amazing children, Ezra & Eliza. Kyle and family attend the Sanctuary UPC (Pastor Mitchell Bland) where they serve as the Hyphen leaders. They have a strong burden for youth ministry and missions. Kyle loves reading just about anything, taking pictures, doing anything in the great outdoors, and working with his hands. Main responsibilities: Administrative Assistant to the Youth President. Onsite meeting management. Event management. Office Clerk supervisor.

Cindy Sorrels has worked as an Administrative Aide for the UPCI Youth Ministries since January of 2005. Her main focus and favorite part of the job is working with the Apostolic Youth Corps program. She is inspired by the hundreds of incredible young people who sign up each year to take part in AYC. She attended Indiana Bible College, and has a love for all things music! Her other passions include family, traveling, shopping, and good iced coffee. The loves of her life are her nieces: Gracelyn, Macyn, and Shaelyn. Main Job Responsibilities: Apostolic Youth Corps and Event Onsite Registration

Mark joined the UPCI Youth Ministries team in 2019. He graduated from Urshan college with a B.A. in Christian Ministries. He previously was a licensed stockbroker before coming to Youth Ministries to help with finance. Mark currently serves as the S.F.C. coordinator on the youth team for the Outlet Student ministries at A.P.C. under youth pastor Brad Delong, (pastor is Steve Willeford). He has been on a couple of mission trips, one to South America and one to Europe. He is passionate about our young people and connecting with them as they grow in their walk with God. Mark is also passionate about family, traveling, the outdoors, fishing and tacos! Main Job Responsibilities: Event/Ministry Finances and Event Pre-registration

Tamra Schultz has worked as an Administrative Aide for the UPCI Youth Ministries since August of 2005. She enjoys assisting Bible Quiz teams, National Real McCoy students, and Sheaves for Christ Scholarship applicants. She loves being a part of New Life St. Louis’s FUSION Student Ministries staff. Her favorite parts of ministry are working with students and young adults, amateur photography for her church, and community outreach opportunities. Main Job Responsibilities: Experienced & Intermediate Bible Quizzing, SFC Scholarships, Real McCoy, and Event Promotional Booths

Brayden is currently a student at Urshan College, working towards a Christian Ministries degree. He attends the Sanctuary, pastored by Mitchell Bland and is involved in music ministry. He loves youth ministry and hopes to be a youth pastor one day. His family is everything to him (especially his niece and nephew). Brayden loves singing, baseball, Chicago deep-dish pizza, and riding four-wheelers/camping with his friends. Camp time is his favorite time of year because he gets to hang out with his friends for a few weeks and see lives change in services. Main Job Responsibilities: Event/Ministry Inventory and Promotional Booths

Katherine Reid joined the UPCI Youth Ministries as an AYC office clerk in September 2018. She is currently a student at Urshan College, seeking a Bachelors of Arts in Christian Ministry. She has a passion for Youth Ministry and was a youth leader at her home church in Memphis, Tennessee. She is currently attending New Life St. Louis pastored by Aaron Batchelor, and her home church is GraceLife Pentecostal Church pastored by Bill Parkey. She loves photography, traveling, and coffee! Main Job Responsibilities: Apostolic Youth Corps Legal Forms and General Inquiries

We are here FOR you and we love to hear FROM you. Let us know what you would like to see, hear and do in 2020 and beyond. Thank you for being such a great part of God’s kingdom. Next month we will introduce you to more of our staff and ministry leaders!

https://upciyouth.com

Rachel Skirvin is a lover of travel, nachos and the gospel. She is a graduate of Urshan College and will most likely always call it Gateway. She just recently married her best friend and together they are serving at The Pentecostals of Cooper City in South Florida.