It's amazing to watch as participants of the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative journey through the process of being challenged and empowered in new ways. But once they complete the process, you marvel at the adventure they embark on now that they see themselves as true champions of breakthrough leadership skills. Most claim their lives, ministries and communities will never be the same and we say, "That's what we had hoped."

The Initiative had a profound impact on me personally and the ministry I direct. At a crucial juncture in both my personal life and ministry, I was able to receive wise counsel. I will forever remember the Orlando conference, where I was shocked to see real life ministry leaders whose marriages had ended from a lack of balance. I also remember having my urban ministry philosophy thoroughly challenged, especially from the teaching about gentrification.

The Initiative has always done an amazing job at providing a much-needed boost of encouragement. For example, Tammi and I had such a fun evening at the western dance at the San Antonio reunion. I have also loved getting to meet such high-quality, committed urban youth leaders from around the country.

Chris Jehle, Kansas City
2001 Alumni

The Initiative truly is a gift from God and it works. Breakthrough does occur. It greatly changed my life and the way I approach leadership, ministry and my community. I apply the Core Values to my life daily, realizing that God called me to do some things. Not ALL things! Through my work in the Initiative, I became a servant leader who now views the community and my work through a different lens. Thank you, DeVos Initiative for giving me the tools I needed to make a change in my life and in my community.

Dionne Peeples, Portland
2003 Alumni

The Initiative helped me restore balance between my personal and professional life. The core values have made me a better person (you can ask my wife) and the breakthrough skills have made me more effective and efficient in ministry. I still use the tools I learned in 1998 in my ministry today. The Initiative has also given me a ministry network throughout the country.

Orlando Rivera, Orlando
1998 Alumni

The DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative has changed my personal life and ministry in many ways. The principals for leadership have affected my family time, relationships and youth ministry by enlarging my thinking about how ministry is accomplished. Since my thinking has changed, my actions followed. I recommend DVULI for anyone who desires a sustainable change in the way they work, think and act.

Virginia Ward, Boston
1998 Alumni

The training I received from the Devos Urban Leadership Initiative helped me put a magnifying glass up to issues I was struggling with in ministry. It didn't just help me identify those issues but it gave me the tools to deal with them. I have leveraged relationships to help raise funds, volunteers, and other support for the ministry. And I have been able to empower others to do their job better or be able to serve others.

Leslie Goforth, Memphis
2004 Alumni