Can anything good come out of the inner city?  Is there hope for the rubble and chaos in our urban centers? God's bride, His Church, is the hope! Transformed lives are arising out of the rubble of the city. World Impact missionaries are committed to making disciples and empowering them through the establishment of healthy, community-led, Christ-centered churches.  The seeds of these churches are planted when missionaries whose homes are in the low-income, high-crime neighborhoods of Fresno develop relationships with their neighbors, invite them to backyard barbeques and holiday events, pray for people as they walk through the community, invite people to Bible studies, and demonstrate the love of Christ in practical ways--offering rides, distributing food, helping with homework or filling out job applications, helping families move, and assisting with other needs that come up on a daily basis.  Someone has said, "People don't care what you know until they know that you care."   The truth of that statement is evident in our experience as missionaries in the inner city.  We are privileged to offer those trapped in the despair that characterizes life in our urban centers the only hope for lasting change--new life in Jesus Christ.

Games, crafts, Bible lessons and snacks draw kids to after-school neighborhood Bible Clubs.  Children have fun and learn about the God who loves them.  They take what they learn home with them, and often curious parents want to know more when they hear a child quote a memory verse, sing a new song, or ask them to sign a permission slip for an outing.  Relationships are built between children, parents, volunteers and staff.  These connections can lead to opportunities to address practical and spiritual needs of families.

Teen Club offers weekly times to hang out together, have fun, eat, and take part in Bible studies and in worship.  We also take teens to camp, the beach, the mountains, and to college campuses to expose them to what is beyond their limited world.  Fund-raising events are put on by the young people to help cover the cost of these events.  Teens can also apply for our Leaders-In-Traning (LIT) program which involves planning and running teen-club events, serving summers at The Oaks Camp, doing assignments under the oversight of a mentor, and leading younger children in neighborhood Bible Clubs.

The Urban Ministry Institute of Fresno is a satellite of The Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI) in Wichita, Kansas.  Its focus is men and women who serve in urban churches, ministry and missions.  Our program provides excellent theological course work and Christian-leadership training through seminars, workshops and classes taught by qualified and experienced faculty.  No one is excluded because of past educational history; many students never had the chance to finish high school; some have not completed grade school.  The cost of course work is kept affordable so that anyone who knows Christ as Savior and feels God's call to urban ministry can be equipped to do what God has called them to do.  The application process includes a referral from the applicant's pastor.

Sonshine Thrift Store provides quality goods at affordable prices.  Sales generate income for the ministry.  The store depends on churches and individuals to donate new and used clothing, furniture, appliances, household goods, shoes, books, and nick-knacks.  It not only seeks to meet the needs of the ministry but also meets needs in the Fresno community by providing clothing and household items at exceptionally reasonable prices.  Most adult clothing, for example, costs $2 per item, while children’s clothing costs only $1 per item.  Our store is only possible because of our faithful volunteers, some of whom have been serving for years.  Click here for more information.