Raising Up Young Heroes: Developing a Revolutionary Youth Ministry

Efrem Smith is president and CEO of World Impact. As a preacher, motivational speaker and author, Smith is internationally recognized for his passion to see lasting life transformation, revitalized communities and further Kingdom advancement within churches. He also consults on issues of multi-ethnicity, leadership and community development for churches and educational institutions. Serving as founding pastor of The Sanctuary Covenant Church, a multi-ethnic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Smith also co-founded and was president of The Sanctuary Community Development Corporation. He served as superintendent of the Pacific Southwest Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church, providing leadership to 160 churches within California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Utah. An itinerant speaker and preacher with Kingdom Building Ministries and the Evangelical Covenant Church, he has been a keynote speaker for such events as Athletes in Action, Campus Crusade for Christ, Youth Specialties, Compassion International, Thrive and CHIC. He is the author of Raising up Young Heroes, The Hip Hop Church and The Post-Black and Post-White Church. Smith is a graduate of Saint John's University and Luther Theological Seminary. He is currently seeking his doctorate in Church Leadership from Bethel Seminar. He and his wife Donecia, along with their two children, live in the San Francisco Bay Area.