Vision

The Ministry is determined to empower millennial 20-and 30-somethings to refuse to see their lives apart from Christ and to ever explore what it means to be uniquely themselves and deeply Christian in their homes, communities, schools and workplaces.

We have set all that we hope for upon the conviction that God’s Way is best for us. We individually and collectively commit all that we know and have yet to know of ourselves, to all that we know and have yet to know of Jesus Christ.

History

No textbook definition can fully describe us—our identity, mission and passion. Yet, our credo sums up who we are, with one pledge and it simply says this: we have committed all that we know and have yet to know of ourselves, to all that we know and have yet to know of Jesus Christ.

Study our ministry timeline and see how boldly it reflects this. Established in 1996, a time when most church programs focused on youth and left an entire demographic of young believers underserved, YAM was founded on the vision of The Reverends Floyd and Elaine Flake to create a ministry that encouraged fellowship and acknowledged the many practical and spiritual needs of young adult Christians.

Former Assistant Pastor The Reverend Roderick D. Belin was the first to bring together this segment of the congregation until he was preceded by The Reverend Tiate Carson in 2000. Through Reverend Carson came our weekly Young Adult Bible Study and Young Adult Conference. The entrance of 2004 ushered in new leadership for the ministry as Reverence Carson left to pastor and our current young adult minister The Reverend Terrance M. McKinley arrived with a refined vision and new identity for YAM.

Now in our thirteen year, the body of young adults at The Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral of New York has embraced a unique shape and distinctive voice. The ministry is now determined to empower millennial 20-and 30-somethings to refuse to see their lives apart from Christ and to ever explore what it means to be uniquely themselves and deeply Christian.

Our current annual calendar remains expansive. Young Adult Conference, at first a two-day event in 2004, has now become the capstone of our ministry year. Taking the shape of an annual multi-day event, the conference has steadily grown over the past five years and introduced a new generation of preachers with fresh vision and fresh seed to empower and motivate us to go deeper in faith and devotion. YAM’s 2008 Conference even reached beyond cultural and regional borders, drawing attendees from Arizona, Puerto Rico and the Netherlands.

“I have always wanted the Conferences to be a time of renewal for our church,” enthuses Reverend McKinley, “and a time to hear from preachers who have a tailored message for this generation. Every year, the Conference has been a time of sowing and reaping, when we come together, get centered and get empowered!”

Young Adult Bible Study in the Cathedral on Friday nights has mirrored the achievements of the Conference since its’ beginning in 2004. Known for its fellowship and commitment to collective discipleship, our Friday Night service has attracted young believers from Vermont, Connecticut and New Jersey to worship with us. In 2007, YAM outgrew its meeting place in the chapel and moved to the sanctuary to accommodate its tripled membership and welcome other young adults from across the city.

YAM’s Saints and Starbucks, an extension of Young Adult Bible Study, has taken its passion for fellowship outside of the four walls of the Cathedral since 2006. Originally a small group of YAM members meeting at a local Starbucks in Queens to dialogue about the challenges young adult Christians face, Saints and Starbucks has gradually grown into several small groups of Christians meeting at coffeehouses across the city to discuss all aspects of faith.

YAM Outreach has also extended its scope, as it partnered with the St. Albans-based non-profit organization African Center for Community Empowerment (ACCE) in March 2008 to establish an after-school mentoring program for at-risk youth. Through the agency of several YAM members, the mentoring program has steadily evolved into its own unique ministry, aiming to introduce the Word to young teens and pre-teens and encourage fruitful lifestyles through cultural workshops and creative arts.

And our pressing forward knows no limitations, as the path ahead will add new pinnacles to our timeline.

“We want to look more like the kingdom,” declares Reverend McKinley. “It does not yet appear what this ministry shall be, but the goal is to create enthusiasts that are light and salt; liberated to uniquely be their best selves in Christ.”