With a population of 7.3 billion people on the earth, over more than half of the population claims a faith consisting of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism and Buddhism. Oftentimes, children practice the religion of their family and while Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2010) happens to be the least religious generation, there are still many that practice and preach their faith. 

 

For example, in Columbia, Missouri, where MU is located, the church Urban Empowerment Ministries empowers people to impact the community. The ministry is run by a black husband and wife duo – Lester and Christine Woods. Prevalent at the services every Sunday is a plethora of events that black Columbian residents and black students looking to find a church home away from home come to. 

 

Students who reside in Columbia for nine months out of the year find comfort in Urban Empowerment and the people of the congregation. One of these students is senior Danae Nash, who has been attending the ministry for the past year.

 

“It is nice to have a church home where I see people like me in a small college town coming together in a place of worship,” Nash said. 

 

As far as serving the MU community, Urban Empowerment’s weekly church service attendance has a handful of MU students. Many of which are out-of-state and find solace in accompanying one another to receive the word of the pastor and bishop. “Despite the challenges that college students may face, we are pleased to know that they have a safe place and a church family that they can turn to and rely on,” Sister Charnell Hickman said. Sister Charnell is in charge of the youth at the church — the children school ages pre-kindergarten to middle school. 

 

2019 marks the year of faith, focus, and favor for Urban Empowerment where the church’s is mission to serve its community and the youth through the former. Leaders of the church hope its younger members will carry the tradition they have created thus far into the future. Per why it is so important to remain in communion with them. Lead paster Bishop Lester Woods is very involved and invested in the youth within the church, especially the college students. 

 

“What Urban Empowerment strives to do is to show a connection to the college community that they can not only fall in love with God, but be apart of the church, or rather be apart of the community through the church,” Lester Woods said. Further explaining the church’s involvement in the community, Urban Empowerment seeks to reach its younger members by hosting various events catered toward their needs and desires. 

 

The intimate moments college students experience create a lasting impression on younger members’ lives so that they may continue to live out their Christian faith by being active in their community. 

 

Recently, the church held an event catered toward the Columbia community called Super Soul Sunday. 

 

“Super Soul Sunday for the past couple years has been essential to my friends and I’s transition to Columbia and interaction with non-students.” Nash said. The event is for churchgoers to eat Thanksgiving-inspired dishes and converse with one another.  

 

Events aside, the ministry prides itself on five core values: fellowship, ownership, worship, leadership and discipleship. Pastor Christine Woods said she believes that no core value is expressed more than another and that they are all equally as important. 

 

“What the church values is something we want our members to find on their own with our help no matter the age, gender, race,” Pastor Christine Woods said. Christine Woods is familiar to the city of Columbia as she obtained her Bachelor of Science in family studies and a master’s degree in social work from MU. 

 

Using elements of church’s mission, vision and core values, Pastor Christine Woods invests her time and enthusiasm as First Lady to impact the women and young girls of the church.

 

With only four weeks left of 2019, Urban Empowerment has used this year’s unique theme faith, focus, and favor to implement in churchgoers’ lives and spirits. The church is working tirelessly to ensure the holiday season is joyful for not only the members but the community overall.