Our Mission

Our Mission is to revitalize and strengthen urban churches in the Metro-Detroit area by supporting and nurturing urban youth ministries. We strive to:

• Help revitalize the urban church;
• Provide a safe, structured, and nurturing environment for urban youth;
• Bring urban youth into full connection with the United Methodist Church;
• Address the unique needs of urban youth;
• Make new disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World.

The UMUYA is open to all urban youth (ages 11-18) regardless of nationality, race, sexual orientation, gender, ethnicity, or cultural background. For more information, please email Audrey Mangum, Rev. Esrom Shaw, Rev. Jonathan Combs, or Charles Boayue, III (Dean Chuck).

 

Our Team

Audrey Mangum
Director, Justice & Mission Engagement

Pastor Esrom Shaw
Executive Dean & Event Director

Pastor Jonathan Combs
2019 Camp Pastor

Charles Boayue (Dean Chuck)
Dean of Activities

Our History

The Urban Methodist Youth Camp (UMYC) was established in the winter of 2008 by Rev. Dr. Charles Boayue, Pastor Carter Grimmett, Rev. Dr. Darryl Totty,  Ms. Audrey Mangum, & Mr. Cliff Stallings. The purpose of the UMYC was to serve the spiritual, educational, social, and recreational needs of urban youth within the Detroit Renaissance District of the Detroit Annual Conference – (today known as the Greater Detroit District, Michigan Area Conference). It was designed to evangelize youth who are not yet aware of God’s saving grace and salvation – and to reinforce Christian values in youth who are already Christians. This was an annual, one-week overnight camping ministry each summer since 2009.  In the spring of 2015, the UMYC planning committee met to finalize a plan to expand the one-week ministry to a year-long ministry called the United Methodist Urban Youth Alliance (UMUYA). On Sunday, May 3rd, 2015, the UMYC planning committee met to endorse the newly formed UMUYA.