What We Do
SOUL, through various channels, seeks to recruit potential outreach workers and place them in urban ministries throughout Memphis. SOUL resources ministries through providing funding to Christian organizations that are called to expand their reach in the city. SOUL trains workers, through a two year curriculum covering the basic tenets of outreach, evangelism, discipleship, and educational programming, as well as other culturally relevant topics.
SOUL’s goal is to find individuals who are called to minister the Gospel to youth in neighborhoods that have been traditionally under-resourced. Furthermore, SOUL seeks to equip them to become stakeholders in the neighborhood that they are serving. As a result, we hope our efforts promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that reaches the youth of our communities, allows our neighborhoods to thrive, and transform our city in a way that glorifies God.
The SOUL program offered me the tools to do youth ministry healthily, effectively, and long term.
— Darius Person, SOUL Alumni
SOUL has helped me have a closer relationship with God and a clearer understanding of the children I mentor. After a couple classes at SOUL I realized my importance in the children's lives and I now see the impact that have on them.
- Carissa Smith, Soul Fellow
When I started SOUL I had just moved to Memphis to do urban ministry full time. Urban ministry is tough enough without moving into a new landscape with no community. SOUL eased the transition by surrounding me with like minded people with the same passion for youth I have!
- Emily Kennedy, SOUL Fellow