EMPOWERING INDIGENOUS LEADERS IN EVERY CITY
Explore our active Location Sites across Michigan and West Africa—each led by dedicated apostolic leaders serving their neighborhoods through street outreach, discipleship, and community renewal.
Forefront
Focused in the second ward of Benton Harbor from the ministry house "mission outpost" at 250 Empire St.
Hesed
Establishing a loving presence in communities to grow disciples and partner with neighbors across Brightmoor and Highland Park.
Vanguard
The first official site of Urban Apostolic Network, serving the south and north sides of Kalamazoo since 2009.
Sierra Leone
Connecting people to the Love of the Father and to His Son Jesus Christ across Freetown, Bo, Kenema, and Panguma.
Forefront — Forefront Ministries
Forefront Ministries in Benton Harbor was born in the summer of 2011 and is the second official site of Urban Apostolic Network. Focused in the second ward of Benton Harbor, Forefront offers all of its services from the ministry house "mission outpost" at 250 Empire St.
Besides the weekly meal outreach program, the team offers benevolence help to neighbors for bills, discipleship classes and Bible studies, monthly communion service, emergency housing and more. Forefront is led by Nate Bull and Vernon "Tokyo" Guidry, who is a lifetime native of Benton Harbor.
Nate Bull
Nate Bull started doing street ministry in 1999 and has been doing inner city church planting since 2009. His desire to find and empower indigenous leaders for work in the Kingdom of God has led him to do street work around the world. Nate received his ordination from the Reformed Church in America and he and his wife Starr have four children and three grandchildren.
Hesed — Hesed Community Church
Hesed Community Church is a developing church initiated by the UAN in the neighborhoods of Detroit. With a specific mandate to impact disinvested areas of Detroit, Hesed establishes a loving presence in communities in order to grow disciples and partner with neighbors to address community needs. We are currently consistently present in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit as well as the city of Highland Park.
Mark VanAndel
Mark VanAndel has been a resident of Detroit since 2005. Committed to the work of justice, Mark's extensive ministry experience and his commitment to partnership and collaboration gives him the flexibility to successfully navigate the many circles necessary to do inner city work with excellence. Ordained in the Reformed Church of America, Mark and his wife Kristen have three adult sons.
Vanguard — Vanguard Church
Vanguard was the first official site of Urban Apostolic Network. Starting on the south side of Kalamazoo in 2009 and expanding to the north side in 2011, Vanguard engages in many forms of ministry including street outreach, house church, Sunday gatherings, food distribution, morning prayer meetings, neighborhood benevolence, ministry houses and more. In alignment with our desire to empower indigenous leaders, Vanguard is led by Esteven and Ariel Juarez who are both lifetime natives of Kalamazoo and who live in one of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in the city.
Esteven Juarez
Esteven "Esto" Juarez is a former gang leader from Kalamazoo and has been helping to lead Vanguard Church since 2013. His passion to see the Lord infiltrate all sections of society led him to previously serve as a City Commissioner where he used his lived experience to advocate for the vulnerable of Kalamazoo. Esto and his wife Ariel have three children.
Sierra Leone — Vanguard Street Ministry SL
Vanguard Street Ministry Sierra Leone, was planted in 2012 during a missionary trip. The efforts in Sierra Leone reach across multiple cities like Freetown, Bo, Kenama, and Panguma, and with a ministry house site built and located in Panguma. Connecting people to the Love of the Father and to His son Jesus Christ is the mission and deep desire of those involved. Ministry efforts range from street ministry, feeding communities, bible studies, education, youth sport ministries, and annual soccer tournaments. Transformation is happening every day due to strong indigenous leaders - Roda and Alimamy, among others on their team, and their willingness to answer the call from the Lord to lay down their lives so others can live.
Roda Muslimani
Roda is a former football (soccer) player in the Sierra Leone National Premier League. In 2012, Roda became a pastor and has committed his life to the Kingdom of Heaven. He is passionate about education, supporting students/local schools with resources, youth sports, vocational training, and sharing the Word of God in all of these avenues. He serves their communities and shares the love of Christ with dedication and diligence. Roda lives in Freetown (capital of Sierra Leone) with his four children.
The 89's — ALLI & NATHAN MASHMAN
Alli & Nathan Mashman launched the 89’s in June 2023 after contributing monthly to Roda and his ministry. They quickly realized that the needs of Roda’s ministry and community exceeded their individual capacity. Undaunted, they quickly realized that by becoming strong advocates, they could exponentially increase the impact Roda and his ministry could accomplish in his community by obtaining extra resources at home. Through leveraging their combined experience in street ministry, web design, social media marketing, fundraising, and non-profit work, the 89’s was born.
Their goal is to secure the ongoing contributions of 100 individuals and/or families committed to giving $89 per month to Roda and his team's ministry efforts in Sierra Leone. Hence the name, The 89's. They plan to execute this goal through leveraging the generosity of their customers via their E-Commerce brand www.bubblepopclub.com.
The Urban Apostolic Network is the fiduciary partner of The 89’s.
PARTNER WITH OUR LOCATION SITES
The Urban Apostolic Network (UAN) is a network of churches and five-fold ministers who are called to partner together to see the Kingdom of God established in inner cities around the world.