The Bay Area Urban Network Inc

THE BAY AREA URBAN NETWORK IS AN OAKLAND BASED URBAN YOUTH PROGRAM WHOSE MISSION IS TO BRING HOPE BACK INTO THE LIVES OF OAKLAND'S YOUTH.

THE BAY AREA URBAN NETWORK CONTINUES TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE CITY OF OAKLAND. OUR YOUTH DIRECTORS EASILY TOUCH BETWEEN 500-1,000 PEOPLE WEEKLY DURING THEIR FACE-TO-FACE STREET ENCOUNTERS. ON AVERAGE, 400+ HOME VISITATIONS TAKE PLACE EACH WEEK AS WELL. OUR BUSES TRANSPORT YOUTH TO OUR EVENTS AND BRING EVENTS TO THEM. GOD'S POWER STILL STANDS FIRM AND RELENTLESS AS WE SEE AN AVERAGE OF 100-120 STUDENTS AT OUR FRIDAY EVENTS, 80-120 CHILDREN AT OUR SATURDAY PROGRAM AND 40-65 YOUTH RETURNING EVERY WEDNESDAY EVENING FOR DISCIPLESHIP AND 25-40 YOUNG ADULTS MEETING TWICE MONTHLY.HERE'S A BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF SOME OF THE MINISTRY OCCURRING BECAUSE OUR YOUTH DIRECTORS ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT "LEADING A CITY TO GOD":S.L.I.C.E. (SAVING LIVES IN CAMPUSES EVERYWHERE) SLICE IS A 30 MINUTE PROGRAM THAT POINTS OF LIGHT HOSTS THROUGHOUT THE WEEK IN JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOLS IN OAKLAND. SLICE, A WEEKLY LUNCHTIME GATHERING, IS WHERE OVER 500 YOUTH RECEIVE A SLICE OF PIZZA AND A "SLICE OF LIFE". WE DISCUSS RELEVANT ISSUES SUCH AS: DEPRESSION, PURITY, DRUGS, GANG VIOLENCE, ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, FAMILY MATTERS, ETC. WHICH EMPOWER THE YOUTH OF OAKLAND TO RENEW HOPE AND HEALING IN THEIR LIVES. FELLOWSHIP GROUPS (BIBLE STUDY)INSTEAD OF HOSTING ONE LARGE CLASS, WEEKLY THE POINTS OF LIGHT YOUTH PROGRAM CAN BE FOUND HOSTING SMALL GROUPS THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF OAKLAND. DURING THESE SMALL GROUPS YOUTH ARE TAUGHT PRACTICAL WAYS TO APPLY FRIDAY NIGHT'S MESSAGE TO THEIR EVERYDAY LIVES AND HOW TO TAKE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR FAITH. MAN CAMP & D.O.V.E. BANQUETWE ALL KNOW ONE OF THE MOST INTENSE BATTLES FOR OUR TEENAGERS IS THE BATTLE FOR PURITY. OVER FIFTY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN GATHER AND ENJOY ACTIVITIES THAT CHALLENGE THEIR OUTLOOKS AND BELIEFS ON WHAT A MAN OR A WOMAN IS. MAN CAMP IS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR YOUNG MEN AND PUTS FOCUS ON TACKLING SIN AND PARTICULAR ISSUES IN THE LIVES OF YOUNG MEN. THE D.O.V.E. BANQUET, STANDING FOR DAUGHTERS OF VIRTUE AND EXCELLENCE, IS A NIGHT WHERE THE YOUNG LADIES ARE ABLE TO DRESS UP AND BE SERVED, FOR THE NIGHT'S FOCUS IS FOR THEM TO SEE THEIR TRUE BEAUTY, RATHER THAN THE DEFINITION GIVEN BY THE MEDIA OR THE ATTENTION BOYS WILLINGLY GIVE THEM FOR APPEASING THEIR VISUAL APPETITE. EACH GROUP PROVIDES A MEAL, GAMES AND ACTIVITIES TO BUILD TEAMWORK AND SMALL GROUP TEACHINGS TO BETTER CATER TO THE SENSITIVITY TO EACH YOUTH'S SITUATION. PRACTICAL AND RELEVANT COMMUNICATION OCCURS AND MANY OF THE STUDENTS PRAY AND ASK GOD FOR THE STRENGTH TO STAY SPIRITUALLY AND SEXUALLY PURE. LEADERSHIP CAMPTHREE TIMES A YEAR A SELECT GROUP OF HANDPICKED TEENS GET AWAY TO LEARN ABOUT DEVOTIONAL LIFE, SERVANTHOOD, EVANGELISM, VISION AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. SIXTEEN TO TWENTY FIVE OF OUR 200 YOUTH JOIN THEIR LEADERS IN RAISING SUPPORT FOR THIS EVENT. SOME OF THE MOST HARDENED KIDS ARE BROKEN BY GOD'S POWER. ONE YOUNG MAN STATED THAT HE HAD NOT CRIED FOR YEARS BUT LATER WAS OPENLY WEEPING. MANY OF THOSE AT CAMP ADMIT TO SEEING GOD SPECIFICALLY MOVE INTO THEIR LIVES AND ARE SPIRIT FILLED FOR THE FIRST TIME. BEAST FEASTBEAST FEAST IS OUR ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DINNER FOR THE YOUTH OF OAKLAND AND THEIR FAMILIES. WITH OVER 150 PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE, YOUTH AND THEIR FAMILIES ARE SERVED HOT THANKSGIVING MEALS AND ENCOURAGED TO BE THANKFUL DURING THIS HOLIDAY SEASON. WE ALSO ASSURE THEM THAT THEY ARE NOT INSIGNIFICANT OR OVERLOOKED BUT THAT THEY ARE SEEN AND MOST IMPORTANTLY LOVED BY GOD. OVER 50 PLATES ARE PREPARED FOR LEFTOVERS AFTER THE EVENT TO BE TAKEN HOME. CHRISTMAS OUTREACHCHRISTMAS OUTREACH IS HELD THE FIRST PART OF DECEMBER EACH YEAR TO BRING THE SPIRIT AND MEANING OF CHRISTMAS TO THE LESS FORTUNATE RESIDENTS OF OAKLAND. WE EMPHASIZE THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS, RECOGNIZING THAT THIS MAY BE THEIR ONLY CELEBRATION OF THE SEASON. CHILDREN ARE GIVEN GIFTS AND STUFFED STOCKINGS AND FAMILIES RECEIVE A CONTEMPORARY VERSION OF THE STORY OF GOD'S GIFT TO MANKIND. ABOUT 1,700 PEOPLE ATTEND THIS EVENT. EASTER OUTREACHEASTER OUTREACH HONORS FAMILIES THROUGH THE CELEBRATION OF THE RISEN SAVIOR. FOOD, GAMES, AND AN EASTER EGG HUNT ARE A PART OF THE DAY ALONG WITH A PRESENTATION OF THE GOSPEL AND THE STORY OF JESUS' LIFE. ABOUT 1,500 PEOPLE ATTEND THIS EVENT. HARVEST FESTHARVEST FEST IS HELD AS A SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO TRICK-OR-TREAT ON THE STREET. WE HOLD A FAIR WITH SEVERAL GAME BOOTHS, FREE CANDY FOR ALL, AND INSTEAD OF A HAUNTED HOUSE WE BUILD A REALITY HOUSE WHICH HOSTS A DRAMA WITH A MESSAGE. ABOUT 1,200 PEOPLE ATTENDED THIS YEAR.