WHY to Fitness

Empowering the Youth: Guery Ulysse and Young In Faith

• Aaron O’Connell • Episode 26

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Imagine starting ministry at the tender age of 14 and it turns into a full-on ministry in the heart of your school and neighborhood. Sounds like a daunting task, right? That's exactly what Guery Ulysse, the founder of Young In Faith, did and continues to do. As we sat down with him, he unpacked his inspirational journey, right from his humble beginnings to the creation of a vibrant organization that empowers today's youth and students. He revealed the crucial role his mentors played, their belief in him led him to discover a passion that he himself was initially oblivious of – a passion for impacting schools and lost students. 

Navigating through the challenging yet rewarding terrains of faith-based leadership, Guery shared his struggles when dealing with adversity, especially when on the precipice of significant breakthroughs. His resilience, unwavering faith, and an enlightening perspective on how persisting through these moments allows God's truth to wash over you, offered much-needed strength and insights. Speaking from the perspective of being a spiritual soldier, he emphasized that even Jesus faced hate and false accusations. As followers, we need to be ready to tread the same path, armored by our faith. 

On a more relatable note, Guery shed light on the importance of contextualizing the Bible in a way that resonates with every generation. The key, he believes, is to offer a fresh perspective on an ancient text, making it digestible and relatable. We wrapped up with an encouraging note from Guery, urging listeners to persist no matter how hard life gets and to discover joy in Jesus every single day. Don't miss this inspiring discussion, as it promises to fan a spark of hope and faith in your hearts.

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Guery Ulysse:

God is not a God that's trying to take fun away from me. He's trying to give you that great life. The most games you can do is follow Jesus. The enemy wants to fly. Let's go, you know. You want to put on your boxing gloves. Let's go. Just generation living in darkness. I'm tired of it and it bothers and aches my heart and I'm like it's time to bring light inside these schools and do something that hasn't happened before.

Aaron O'Connell:

Welcome to the WHY to Fitness Podcast. I'm your host, aaron O'Connell, and today I am joined with Gary Ulysses of Young In Faith. How you doing today.

Guery Ulysse:

I'm doing good, man, I can't complain.

Aaron O'Connell:

Oh, that's great to hear. And, yeah, I saw that what you've been doing with Young In Faith you're the founder of Young In Faith and how you're empowering the youth and students and it just was inspiring me, so that's why I wanted to get you on this podcast, of course. So just tell me a little bit about not only yourself, but Young In Faith.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, well, bro, I appreciate you, aaron, for bringing me on. Man, I love this podcast, I love what you're doing. I just like I really believe this is going to change lives and this is going to be able to impact people around the community. So this is I'm honored to be on here, this is essential and I believe, again, there's more to come. But, yeah, a little bit about me is yeah, I'm 21.

Guery Ulysse:

I started doing ministry when I was 14 years old. So I pretty much started attending Christ's Settles and Church when I was 14. Really got super involved, got, you know, just in youth ministry. I had a lot of mentorship from a lot of pastors that really just were drawn to me. I was drawn to them but there was something that they saw in me that I didn't really see myself as a young kid. So, as I was attending St Eilish's High School, I got an opportunity to start, you know, doing youth group inside schools, which was first priority. So I started leading the way, started growing it out inside the schools, being given, given the opportunity to impact, you know, my classmates there.

Guery Ulysse:

Throughout the years I just got super passionate about schools, like super passionate about the lost, and I kind of saw like a gap right, like I saw a gap of like man. I'm going to church, I love church, I'm experiencing all that you know the church is offering. I'm God's changing my life, but then it's like man. I want that for my friends, I want that for my classmates and they're so blinded with their situations where they don't even know there's a good God that's for them. They don't even know there's a good God that wants to love them and then wants to give them a new life. And there was a gap. It was like, well, they weren't coming to the church, so I got to bring the church to them. So throughout high school, like my life was just dedicated to just impacting the school, changing the school, fighting for the lost, fighting for those that can't see for themselves and God has taught me a lot since I was 14.

Guery Ulysse:

I mean starting early. Like you know, there was a lot of things that I learned in ministry since then and God has just been pruning me, teaching me a lot. I'm just grateful for the, even for the opportunity, for the people Like I want to be here, unless the men that stepped up and say, hey, I want to, I want to pour into. Gary did that because I am now further in my life doing the things that God's calling to do impacting more students now, before.

Aaron O'Connell:

So that's awesome, thank you for sharing that. And you mentioned something in there that you said that the mentors that you had saw something inside of you that you didn't see in yourself, and that's, and that just reminded me probably, why you're doing what you're doing, because actually, a recent report that came out that says something along the lines of this generation, or at least Gen Z, is in so much depression, so much, so much anxiety, and a lot of it to do is with social media, the overuse of social media, and with that they're comparing themselves, with people's highlight roles, and with those highlight roles they're comparing themselves so they feel like they're lacking, they feel like they don't have this leadership skill, the boldness that people are showing, whatever it may be X, y, z, but you said you positioned yourself around mentors that saw something inside of you that you didn't see. And would you say that's what you're almost doing a little bit with within your ministry as well, as you're showcasing people that they are chosen, their real identity.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, like I mean, we live in a culture right now where students and Gen Z, gen Alpha, they're defined by what others think of them. So on social media, you can see that they're posting things on social media to grab validation and grab attention, to be seen, because I think everyone has a desire to be seen, to be wanted, and when you go to the wrong places to get that, you lose yourself. So I'm teaching on my platform, educating Students that you can find your identity in Christ alone and you can find yourself in Jesus in that word. And again, like for me, going back to myself, I could have been that one kid that was following the crowd in high school that was doing whatever I was doing smoking, going to parties and all those things and a part of me really I talk about it sometimes with the students a part of me was like man at times when I was living for Jesus, that when I saw everybody else turning up, I felt like man, I was missing out.

Guery Ulysse:

Right, because sometimes when you're living that holy life, you do feel like you're missing out, you do feel like you're not living a full life and I had to learn that man, jesus is fun, you can have fun, you can live right. God is not a guy that's trying to take fun away from me. He's trying to give you that great life. And now I understand fully why God kept me in the how you say it in guardrails, keeping me from things that were going to probably take me out. Because if I were to follow the crowd again the people that I impact now, the people that I, hundreds of students that I got to impact and that are listening to me that wouldn't have happened and there was an assignment on my life that I had to submit to. And that's what. That's what I encourage every student and everybody listening like without submission to the Lord, you can't really receive the full benefits.

Guery Ulysse:

You will never see the prize, you will never see the vision. And it does get hard, it does get lonely, the journey is lonely, but it's so worth it. You know, like that.

Aaron O'Connell:

Now, I really like what you said about guardrails, because that's actually an analogy that I use, and that analogy is picture yourself, you're on the 50th, 13th, 50th, whatever floor of a hotel and you got that balcony out there, but it's just a slab of concrete. Are you going to go out on that balcony? Are you going to bring your kids or let your kids go out on that balcony, If there's just a slab of concrete with nothing around but those guardrails? When they're there, it allows you the freedom to go out onto that balcony and a lot of times you're probably leaning against those guardrails so you can see and take in the marvelous view of God's creation. But if not, you're actually locked into the confines of your own room, which is man made. So then you might be dealing with the shabby paint job on the walls or the or the, you know, the stinky mattress or whatever it is that if you're in that hotel, but when you have those guardrails in place on that balcony, you can really experience it.

Aaron O'Connell:

God is the author of life. He knows what's best for us. And that's what a lot of people don't think is like oh, if I do the drugs, if you take away those, you take away that music, you take away the drinking, all those things my life's going to be boring. It's like no, back up and really look at those things and say almost all of them lead into anxiety, depression and straight up trouble, like if you're smoking weed, you can then get in trouble with the law, especially if you're in school. You know, if you're drinking and partying, the likelihood that you're going to get in trouble, make poor decisions, is high. And all of those things that you're scared of missing out, I always found is actually the things that were holding me in bondage. You were holding me into that anxiety and depression.

Guery Ulysse:

Even to go into that. What I was telling one kid the other day I was like you really don't know what you need until you come to the end of yourself, right yeah, until you come to the end of yourself and you kind of see that you're desperate. That's when you know you need a God, because when you're having fun, when you're having fun with sin, you're living that best life, that turn up life. You don't see, you don't? You're like, well, nothing is harming me now, nothing is doing anything now to me, like I'm having fun, but when you get hit with life, it's going to make you realize, like man, I need. This is. This is not working for me and you know my heart really breaks. Man, I have such a pastoral heart for the next generation. You know I was.

Guery Ulysse:

I was reading Paul and the story of Paul and he was obviously evangelizing, going out of the community to to reach those that were for the gospel, and he was talking I believe it was in the first Corinthians or second Corinthians, I believe where he was talking about really the people that have that he has ministered to, that have just still.

Guery Ulysse:

They still are not. Their hearts are hardened right, like their hearts are not, you know, really receiving the good news. And he's like man, my heart breaks for them that they, they know that, they know that there's something beautiful out there, but they still decide to stay where they're at. And he talks about the weight of the leading, and then you know, pastoring, and for me, sometimes I I would usually in ministry sometimes you put people before yourself, you know, because it's like man, this is my sheet, this is my flock, and not I want them to go further. You're willing to sacrifice yourself, for your time, your energy, to, to to bring that one person to Christ. And you know, man, that's what, that's what it's all about man really going forward and just kind of fighting for the lost, fighting the people that can't fight for themselves.

Aaron O'Connell:

Amen, amen, yeah, even, even.

Aaron O'Connell:

You know, the word says Jesus didn't come to be served but to be a servant, to own.

Aaron O'Connell:

You know, and that, and that's what gives us so much comfort, that when we are in those alone times because, you know, sometimes I kind of have a bone to pick when some people say like, hey, you know this is lonely and all that stuff.

Aaron O'Connell:

And you're right, it's especially lonely in the beginning when you are breaking off those friendships, when you are so used to the way of life that you are normally in, yeah, and you have to do that 180, that repentance, that and and turn away from those things that are holding you back. That is when you do get very lonely and I will admit that, but I just for encouragement for people that are going through that is when you start really diving in to the areas and and walking in your God given purpose and you're part of a church. Then it becomes, like you said, fun when you start having those friends that are around you. And yet in the beginning it's hard to make friendships that are really meaningful. But once they start hating that year, that two years or sometimes a lot sooner, you know, you then have people that have sustenance to your conversations, because when it's just empty about what did we do last week, what are we doing tonight?

Guery Ulysse:

You know it's so empty and never filling.

Aaron O'Connell:

But when you start getting those Christian friends, that community around you, when you start diving into small groups, when you start walking in your purpose, like you have, then you, when you have those people around you, the moment it does get lonely, they're actually there and power you yeah. And power you up and you can start having that fun, rejoicing, like going having a house party where you're just playing the guitar and worshiping the Lord. Yeah.

Aaron O'Connell:

You know, you don't leave empty, you don't leave feeling dirty, you feel empowered, clean. You're almost like Moses walking off the Mount Sinai with just so much light radiating from your face. You know so like. That's one thing. I do do realize that it sometimes gets skewed, but there is always there's, there's a season for everything Correct. But luckily, during that lonely time, it's our nature to go to the world. But as, as I've been working on my faith, getting a little bit on my walk, on my walk Now, now, now I'm able to dive into the word that much deeper during those lonely times and you start really having, like David come to life when he was in his caves, you know saying Lord, I am depressed, my bones are in misery, but my comfort is in you, lord, and you can still. You almost don't get lonely anymore when you contrast it with the loneliness I used to feel when I was all about myself, when I was smoking weed, when I'm like, okay, tomorrow I'm going to start, I'm going to stop this you know, then you don't do it.

Aaron O'Connell:

Yeah, that loneliness compared to the loneliness of when I'm with the world, where we're with God completely, night and day. Yeah, for sure that's fire man, but I do want to switch gears just a little bit, and I want you to talk more about what you're doing with schools, because that's. I've gotten the opportunity once to go to a group of wrestlers at a high school and talk to them, and I just love that you get the opportunity to do that. How often do you do that?

Guery Ulysse:

Well, so, first off, I'm a sub-teacher. Okay, so I chose to be a sub-teacher because it gave me the opportunity to connect with the next generation and I get to literally work at any school I want in Palm Beach County. Any school I want high school, middle school, elementary school, yeah, and I get to sit with students. I've been doing that past two years now, so I get to literally sit in a room with students, talk with them, have conversation with them, be a mentor, friend them in the classrooms and really, if you know of a sub-teacher, if you ever had a sub-teacher, they don't really do as much in the class You're really just kind of chilling the class of the students.

Aaron O'Connell:

They read off the assignments that the teacher gave them. You read this, do this.

Guery Ulysse:

So I was like when I found out I can get paid for this sitting, I'm like okay, all right, we ballin' that.

Aaron O'Connell:

You know, I'm actually writing notes right now. Maybe that can be my side gig.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, side gig, I'll get that money, but anyways but it was just a cool opportunity for me to do, excuse me, just to really like learn for what the kids are going through here. That hurts, and God has really put me in a position to listen, be a listener, sit and listen to the issues and the problems that are happening. Listen to the kids that are walking inside your classroom. They are crying for help. Listen to the surroundings, because I want you to be a fix for it. I'm giving you the resources to fix that issue.

Guery Ulysse:

So I had to sit in that and I got the opportunity to sit with teachers, talk with them in break rooms. I got the opportunity to. I have so many ratio of principals and system principals just for the work that I do inside schools and now with Young in Faith we are. This year we're actually launching two schools, which is Santa Lucia High School and Dr Congar State, which is a new school in Palm Beach County. It's been built and my goal in my heart is to create a youth service on campus for students to attend that will normally not come to us.

Guery Ulysse:

That wouldn't come inside the doors of a church. So my goal is to have it during both lunches. We're going to have food out there, games, making life for them, making great for them, and it's really for them just to get introduction of what the gospel really is. So I'm, you know again, like I see what's happening and God has put such a burden on my heart for this, and it's like man, what would it look like for crowded students, a rally of students to show up on a school campus and say, man, we want to hear Jesus and have fun, to have community. Kids want community. That's one thing they're always searching for. They want to have fun. When you tie that in with the gospel, it's a bonus, right? So if I bring pizza too, it's another, Of course of course.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, it's a. It's a great opportunity and I'm just really excited for what's going to happen. And I'll tell you this like it hasn't been easy getting this together. Still right now, as we speak, like there's a lot of logistics that come with this. There's a lot of leadership that comes with, especially for me.

Guery Ulysse:

It's like you know, you go back and forth for yourself like God, is this what you're calling me to do? God, is this okay, what do I need? He's like man. I already gave you the answer, gary to go do what I call you to do. You don't need a validation from people, you don't have to ask for permission. Go do what I have called you to do. Go out and spread the love. You're supposed to go out and reach those.

Guery Ulysse:

And the cool thing about what Paul was like he was talking about, he said I am not a pastor, but I feel as a pastor. Right, he was like man. I'm not at a church leading a flock, but I'm going out and reaching people. And I always question, I mean, why, if the church, which church is supposed to go out and reach and pack those people? But if we're just staying inside the doors of the church and not going out. That's an issue, because we need to go out in a broken world and call these people in and say, hey, there's love here, there's grace here, there's forgiveness here. You can find hope here, and that's the goal.

Aaron O'Connell:

Yeah, that's amazing because I pulled up some stats just before this and it started saying stuff like hey, more than half of Gen Z people know somebody battling depression. One in four has someone close to dealing with a drug addiction. One in five knows somebody who has died by suicide. Gen Z's 42%, gen Z 42 is about twice as likely of Americans over 25 to battle depression and hopelessness. The list just keeps going on.

Aaron O'Connell:

The suicide rate for people aged 10 to 24 increased by 56% between 2007 to 17, which 21 to 22,. Actually, 2021 to 22 is the first time that people between 10 and 24 actually took a little dip in suicide and I found that kind of interesting because every other age group went up, but that 10 to 24, and it just got me thinking how there is a revival that seems to be kind of going on in schools. There's people like you that are stepping up and going out and realizing that there's this huge need mental health disaster. That's going on and you are positioning yourself right there. One question I do have for you, because you were saying hey, you know it doesn't care what people say all that stuff. What are some challenges that you are facing to get it into the school Like is it school boards, that kind of, are getting your way. What are some of those challenges?

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, it's really so. This is what people need to know. Anytime you wanna do a faith-based thing inside the school, there's an Equals Act that covers you to bring inside. So legally someone can't tell you that, oh, you can't have a faith-based club or activity on school campus because that wouldn't be fair, it wouldn't be equal right. So that's covering everyone. And especially when I used to do mid-issue with First Barberies an amazing organization that's going inside schools and doing youth groups inside schools as well we learn sometimes you would get pushback from certain people that don't wanna have that at the school, and it's cool that the law is actually covering us in that aspect yeah, that's good.

Guery Ulysse:

I would say it's not anything on a school day and I mean I have so much favor and I love all these principals out here. They're doing such amazing things and they're just like, hey, whatever you need, we're here, and it's just God opens up those doors. I would say it's mostly spiritual warfare with me individually. I mean again different things that the enemy is trying to attack with mentally in my own personal life. Again, with all the logistics, this piece is not going together. This budget has to be approved. I have to get this money for this. Things are not moving.

Guery Ulysse:

So all the things that are happening, the enemy will love for me to give up. The enemy will love for me to fill in a towel because this is not for the week, leadership is not for the week. You get what I'm saying. So anytime something big is about to happen, you're always gonna get pushed back, and I learned that when I was 15 years old, when I was trying to get 100 kids in the room at San Luis's High School to hear the gospel, and ever since then there was a dog in me that's fighting. The enemy wants to fight like let's go, you wanna put on your boxing gloves? Let's go, because I know what's on the other side and I'm willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to fight. How long it takes for me to for that goal, that vision that God wants to be achieved. So I would say for anybody. Of course you can experience real trauma and again the enemy's gonna be attacking you when you're about to do something big and you know that you're doing something big when you're getting attacked too.

Aaron O'Connell:

So, yeah, yeah, I've experienced that and I'm experiencing that as well with this podcast just overall leadership. But I tend to get a lot of lies in my head that it's like no one really cares what you're doing, aaron, even though I hear that little story, this little story. But it's like I'll look at views on my podcast or listens or on any type of social media and it's like man, god, why am I not getting?

Aaron O'Connell:

the viewership, as all these other people like I'm doing it. Where's the favor that I normally experience in my life? You know, like those types of things. But then all of a sudden, I love that, god. As long as I stick it through, as long as I go to battle, like you said, there's always this, like glimmer of hope, this, always this breakthrough that I just did not expect, whether it be just like an unexpected donation. You know, like when that happens and God uses somebody from the church from the body of Christ, you know and is able to do that.

Aaron O'Connell:

That's just like reassurance. It's like, okay, it's small. And then finally the truth washes over me and it's like, wait a minute, I gotta show that I am just as willing to fight, just as willing to go hard, that I'm not gonna stop even with the least of these, because God says like, hey, he who is given a little does well with a little, will give him much more. Exactly, exactly. And I haven't done well per se for too long, because this podcast is still new with the little that I have. So it's like, why would God just give me all this amazingness? Because my history, if I were to look past my past five years, two years, it's like I go six months strong and then I have a bad month. When you get into that leadership, you can't have that bad month and you know and drop off and just drop the ball, because then everything breaks and then that's when Satan goes ha ha, I won and uses the world and the naysayers to point at you.

Aaron O'Connell:

So there's so often that I hear that. But because I did the work to dive in the word, because I've been planning this for years, I finally got to that point. It's like you know what. I'm no longer gonna have my KPIs, my key performance indicator, be views, dollars or any of that stuff. It's how many lives am I affecting? And when I have that, even if it goes from one to two, four to five, that's huge. That's another person that could be the difference between going to hell and going to heaven. And when you start thinking of it that way, it means I'm just gonna keep on doing that.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, I honestly think I heard this from Eric Thomas the other day. He said most of us just have to get out of our feelings, like we often get in our feelings and emotions when things happen. And for me, I can speak on that because I am sensitive person when something happens to me and people when I've been falsely accused what I've been you know, people have said this about me negative rumors and all those things. These things happen when you read the Bible. It happened to Jesus too, and if you're becoming more like Jesus, you can expect all these things to happen. And I mean I've been hit with nasty stuff, bro. Like I mean people think that I don't hear things, but again, like I've been hit with that and the enemy knows that, hey, I'm gonna have that person say something about you so he can fall off track. And again it's God will always send someone to reassure you of what you're supposed to do, like when I'm walking inside these schools. I kid you not, aaron, I'm walking inside these schools. They're like yo, you do young and faith. You do young and faith because I've been working so hard to push out TikTok, snapchat, social media, you know, put it branded out, so these kids are seeing my face on social media and they're like yo, that's that cool substitute, he has a podcast and all these things. And then I'm walking through.

Guery Ulysse:

There was a couple of months ago. I was at Publix on my break right, and I'm walking through Publix. Three boys come up to me, like yo I know you're from Young and Faith. Man, bro, your videos are amazing, bro, like you know, just in that time I was kind of discouraged because I was like sometimes you feel like are you, you know, are? Am I making an impact? Am I doing much? Am I? And it's those little small things in our head.

Guery Ulysse:

When we get in our head and get in our feelings, we allow those things to define us, but then the Lord's always going to send an angel to come speak to you he's going to send an angel to come remind you like, hey, you need to stand firm on my truth because I am doing something great Despite you, don't have to listen to anybody else, you don't have to get opinions from others, and I and I think it's really cool I want to say this I really think it's cool for us to seek wisdom from others, seek wisdom from pastoral you know pastors or mentors and leaders but sometimes you have to know that the Holy Spirit is speaking inside of you and you have to have your own discernment because sometimes, when you're doing things, not everyone's going to understand what you're doing. Now, everyone's going to understand oh, why are you doing? They're going to question that. And it's like, well, you're not called to who I am.

Guery Ulysse:

The Holy Spirit is speaking to me, god is speaking to me and he's telling me to do something crazy, and it may sound crazy, right, until it happens, which is crazy faith. And when it happens like oh wait, that was what you were talking about I was like, yeah, that's what crazy faith is. It's like you got to believe in it and, even though you don't see it, I have to keep going, you know. So, just to really have that discernment for yourself to say that, man, and that's why it's so important to get in the presence of the Lord, because you have to be listening to what he says something the Holy Spirit is going to be talking, yeah.

Aaron O'Connell:

Yeah, and even Jesus, you know, because it hurts when you hear it on like I hear I got comments coming left and right on social media oh, how stupid I am. You know like how weak I am. You know all these other things that I have to put myself into my daddy upstairs.

Guery Ulysse:

Like all these other.

Aaron O'Connell:

You know, like I just got one today that was like and this is how you can tell that he's homeschooled.

Aaron O'Connell:

And it's like, and the funny thing was, I was like I am homeschooled, yeah, you know, like just off of something, because I was just mentioning something about like how I don't listen to secular music, you know all that stuff. And they're like oh, and that's how you know, it's homeschooled, exactly, you know. And I was like, no, I just don't you know, and I try not to get into anything on the social media, but like it hurts that much more when people are close to you and they, when they say something, they don't believe you. But we have to understand that God even said, or Jesus said, a prophet's not honored, in his hometown especially, they're like, hey, all his brothers and sisters run around and like got almost angry at him like this is just the carpenter, yeah.

Aaron O'Connell:

You know all the people that he grew up with. So, like, usually you face that much more scrutiny when you're around everyone, but you know it's really getting to the point that it's like hey, I actually heard this from one of the biggest entrepreneurs out there, because I still follow those guys, alex Hermosi. Yeah, yeah, he just wrote a quote, I think it was today, and it said if everyone is understanding you, you're already late. Wow.

Aaron O'Connell:

That's fine, that's that's then, you know, because because if everyone understands the message that you have, and and and thinks you, what you're doing is amazing and everyone's already for you, it means that people are already doing it and you're just another drop in the bucket. So when you're doing something brand new, when you're doing something that's powerful, when you're shaking up foundations that the way of the world, people aren't going, to understand.

Aaron O'Connell:

They're not going to understand your message. That's why you have been called. Like you were saying, you're the one that has that message. You're the one that's bringing it to Palm Beach County, one of the most under churched communities in the United States. Yeah, you know of how many people aren't going to church and I just want to breathe that into you. You know that, like hey, it's a good thing they don't understand you right now, because that's why you're making such an impact.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, yeah. And as you're becoming a bigger influencer, you're going to get more critics, oh yeah. So the more influence you have, the more critics you're going to have in different areas. They may be silent, they may be open, but hey, that's not your business, right, it's not our business. Like, I'm focused on what Jesus called me to do and I I don't need anyone, like I told you. Like you know, we often look for some of the co-sign on our dreams and our goals and, again, you don't need anyone to do that. And the crate.

Guery Ulysse:

There's a lot of crazy things that I have put in my mind when I wanted to start young and faith four years ago, I started young and faith my senior year. Honestly, I didn't know what I was doing at the time. I was like, well, I'm going to start doing videos because I just I just felt like it was a season to start doing videos, right, and we went. We went into COVID that year, right, and when that happened, I started just doing videos, being consistent and all those things. There was a need for someone to start something, to speak life in this community, right In my school, and like I was like man, lord, just keep speaking to me on what to do and I took some.

Guery Ulysse:

I wasn't consistent at one time. I was like, you know, I don't know what I'm doing, I'll just do a video every five months or something like that. And now there's just such a burden where, like man, this is the biggest year we ever had, with the whole team, you know, with the ambassadors, the leader that we have on the show, so it's been crazy to see like the impact we had. One episode that hit up, you know, on social media, hit over 15 million views.

Aaron O'Connell:

That's the one with a man is the most gangster thing you can do is follow.

Guery Ulysse:

Jesus, the most gangster thing you can do is follow Jesus and brother, brother, jews, my guy and again we. I met him in a school. You know he, I was at a, I was at a parent night and his son goes to the school and we met and he saw he saw a Bible's on the table with you know that I was hosting the table and all that. He's like yo, what's this, bro? And I was like bro, it's it's youth group. At the school man, I was like bro, I respect that man and moving forward, I think when did I meet him? Like September. We exchanged, you know, social media accounts and all that.

Guery Ulysse:

Comes January there was a shooting in Palm Springs, not too far from here, and there was three students involved. There was one center for summer set and one center from Palm Central. Both died and what's crazy was they were supposed to graduate last year, they were supposed to graduate class of 2023 and they that didn't happen. So you have parents that are mourning the loss that kids are supposed to be graduating new year and this happens and it was, it was a part of us because of Fuller's decisions and drugs and all those things, and I was like man, like who didn't, who they didn't want to ever speak life into that kid and anyone ever shared the guy you know.

Guery Ulysse:

So that's where it led us to do that episode where we talked about the hood life you know, wanting to be gangsta, which a lot of kids in the community want to be gangsta, want to represent what the rappers are doing, the kids cool and all that. And for somebody like brother Jew to been through all of those things and overcome that, he's just a living testimony. But for him to use his voice now to impact the next gen is amazing. Man, it's just all God. It's not my views, it's God's views.

Aaron O'Connell:

So that's awesome. And speaking about like going viral, all that stuff, you know you were saying like, hey, you're going to have that pushback and I think I heard it somewhere that the things that go viral, 50% of people like it, 50% of the people hate it.

Aaron O'Connell:

That's why the news is so darn popular, because they just pit each side against each other, but you know you're doing something great when that happens, because then that means you're actually standing for something. You're not just becoming part of the crowd. Exactly, you're standing for something and Jesus stood for something. So many people Misunderstand Jesus. They think that, yes, he's the Prince of peace, but they think that, oh, if he was just so accepting. You know, we need to accept everyone in love. It's like I don't know about you, but my Bible says I don't think I came to come to a stretch for peace.

Aaron O'Connell:

Yeah, no, I came to bring a sword that a sword that you know that will then pit mother against you know, son, brother against sister, like that's what he really came to bring. Was that truth? Yeah, and when you are walking in that authority You're gonna be pissing people off Because they have demons inside of them and darkness cannot be where light is. So that is just a little bit of in just encouragement to our listeners that when you're feeling that pushback, when you're when you're getting pitted against each other, don't let the devil lie to you, to shut you up, to be like, oh, I'm causing turmoil. It's like no, no, no, no, you are doing exactly what you need to be doing. That's so good.

Guery Ulysse:

So good.

Aaron O'Connell:

What? What would you say some of the major success stories, or one or two, that you've seen in students life, without mentioning them by yeah, by by any name? But what are some things that you've seen in students lives?

Guery Ulysse:

Um, yeah, over a month ago I I was at Lake Worth Middle School. I had a student that I was. I had a seventh grade class student that I never made, never met before, walks in my class like yo, I know you from young and faith and all that right, and he was telling was like he was something like he's been watching my videos and I guess from his situation his parents were fighting a lot at home On the educator voice and all that and he said he will watch my videos. Um, say to you know, just kind of help him in that situation, I guess. So I For me, hearing that, it just felt unreal. My man, you, you watch my videos, you watch my stuff. Like I don't, you know, I didn't really believe it, you know. And then he was just telling me more into like, wow, like you do watch my videos. Because he was telling me, yeah, I remember that one episode with that and now, wow, you do watch my stuff. So it was cool for that one because it was like man, like you don't know who's listening, and there he is one of the many kids that are that are listening that one view. Sometimes we see views on Instagram like, oh, we got 30 likes and you don't even know. You know, like bro, that those couple of kids that are tuning into that are getting impacted, you know.

Guery Ulysse:

So that was like a big opener for me and really just like again, like the Just even what's about to happen inside these schools. Again, there's many stories that come out of that that I don't even know having even seen yet There'd be living testimonies that their Students are gonna be experiencing freedom and they're experiencing love and be getting out the pit that they're in. I just see God pulling people out of the pit at a school, you know, getting them out the side of the darkness, because you know, I'm tired of just seeing Just generation living in darkness. I'm tired of it and it bothers and aches my heart and I'm like it's time to bring light inside these schools and do something that has never been done before. And what a well, the story that I got man, uh yeah, that's what really I'm actually gonna say there's just a lot. No, of course, of course, because it.

Aaron O'Connell:

You have such an impact that you don't even see right now. You know, you, you get, you're encouraging so many people and just wanted to just shift into that next topic and I was just wondering what are some strategies that you use to make the gospel relevant to your students. Like you know, that make it interesting.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, that's. That's a good question. Um, so God has given me a gift and I now know my spiritual gift since I was 14, so I'm able to really relate and connect with anyone that I encounter. So I can meet you in a, in a, in the. For the first time in your life I can meet you and you're just drawn by me, like you're just drawn by my presence. So a lot of students are drawn by my presence just because of my, my character, how I love, how I, how I speak. There's drawing to that. You know.

Guery Ulysse:

I have students that come and like to my desk and they're just like near my desk. It's just wanting to talk with me. I'm my dude, I can go sit at your desk. Don't come on my desk, I'm like you know. But they come near me because I'm like man, you're cool, I want to be around you. So the strategy that I use is really relatability. You have to get on someone's level to and really hear from them on what they're actually dealing with, right. So my first, my first approach is like I love you, right, like that's. Love is the greatest Command that we have as believers to love on those that are lost. You can't love on somebody. If you don't love on somebody, sorry. If you don't love on someone you don't, you can't expect to reach them.

Aaron O'Connell:

I think I heard it's something like if people don't feel valued, they won't value what you have to say exactly yeah, so it's correct.

Guery Ulysse:

So, constantly adding I think John Maxwell said that but constantly adding value To the people that you want to be able to reach and just in general, like, adding value to people is what they're gonna, that's what's gonna help them see clearly Jesus, because we're called to do that. So for me, in the content that I that I Write for the show that we come together it's not only me on that's writing it, but I have ambassador. Student leaders are on the platform as well. We are we. We steward towards what students are going through. So I don't sugarcoat anything Because I did a date.

Guery Ulysse:

If the world's not sugarcoating stuff with them, what makes you think I'm gonna sugarcoat stuff? Yeah, you know, I'm saying, if they're listening to rappers and celebrities and how to live their life, and they're not sugarcoating stuff, I'm not sugarcoating anything. You that I'm gonna put truth and love with it. So we kind of put that together where, okay, this is a situation that's happening, this is what's going on with our generation. This is what's happening. We're gonna speak clearly to that. And again, I sit in the classroom with students and that's where I get some of my content from. I Listened. When I talk with them, I'm like oh, we need to do a conversation on that because someone needs to. Someone's dealing with that, you know that's awesome.

Aaron O'Connell:

And one thing that I've kind of noticed is you need almost contextualize the Bible in a way that is edible for each generation, for each culture, because the Bible was made for Middle Eastern's, written by Middle Eastern's, exactly, you know, for a Middle Eastern time. So that's why a lot of people beg oh well, what it takes away women's rights. It's like sorry, I don't know about you, but it actually did the most progressive for a women's rights for children.

Aaron O'Connell:

So for all these different, things they were the most progressive for give removing slaves, you know, like all of that type of stuff.

Aaron O'Connell:

But when it's written for that time period in that area, of course it's gonna mention it, you know, and but that's one thing that I've noticed with at least working with a younger generation when I do have that Opportunity is you need to bring it into context with them. Like, if you just go around and talk to people saying you need to be saved, they're gonna be like what do I need to be saved from? Yeah, you know it's like what do I need to be saved? But if you can really dig down into it, saved is actually the Greek word of sozo, yeah, and that can actually be Defined as to be made whole. Right, and when you can start looking at it's like to be made whole. This new generation wants to know about the present, the now, because I feel bad, I am anxious, I am depressed, I don't have x, y, z, I'm sad I have. I'm going through all this stuff and so instead of saying, oh well, jesus Christ can save you exactly.

Aaron O'Connell:

They're gonna be like what? But if they can, if you can sit there and be like, hey, he can make you whole yeah he can. When you give your life to him, he will remove those burdens. Yeah, the now is what I see. That will actually. That will resonate with the students that much more of how it benefits me now, because we know this generation, even my generation.

Aaron O'Connell:

It's hard to Sacrifice the now for the later and that's what that's what Christian Christianity is all about Dying to self picking up the cross daily for the now, because it's like a drop in the bucket of an eternal size bucket For the end. And the end is near, you know it's gonna come quickly, so we need to make get that message out but get, but contextualize it in a way that is palpable for the children and for the kids, you know, for students.

Guery Ulysse:

Yeah, you're right again. Relatability is where it's at and I'm telling you, once you get, once you get relatable with a person, it's easier to have a conversation with them.

Aaron O'Connell:

So that's so for sure, for sure. Well, is there anything else that you would like to depart with my Listeners, or you know, any final words, any message that you just would like to encourage them with, or any advice that you would like to give anyone?

Guery Ulysse:

man Hmm, as hard as it gets, keep going. You know you're too close to the door to give up now and a lot of us are super close and we're just throwing a towel. And if you throw in a towel you're not gonna see the promise and we have to keep going, as hard as life gets. You know, just cause you know you had a bad day, that doesn't mean it's gonna be a bad week. If you had a bad week, that doesn't mean it's gonna be a bad month. And we just have to really understand life happens. You know things happen. But to really find joy in Jesus every single day, cause I'm telling you, aaron, if I don't have Jesus in certain areas, well, fully in my life, I can't do what he's going to do.

Guery Ulysse:

I need him more now than ever, Because, with the doors that are opening, the opportunities that are happening, I'm like God, I can't handle that without your presence and I'm nothing without that. So you just have to really submit. Submit to God. You know everything it's about you, your ministry is about you, but it's about the people, about Jesus, and just keep going, you know.

Aaron O'Connell:

Yeah, that obedience always will result in more favor. You may not see it now, but when you keep planting those seeds, you will start bearing fruit in the right season. Yeah, that's why when can people find you?

Guery Ulysse:

On social media, everything. Yeah, so you guys can follow me on Young and Faith on Instagram and we have a TikTok Young and Faith films Snapchat Young and Faith same thing. My person Instagram is GaryJUlyssi on Instagram as well, and we're on YouTube again and you guys can be able to tune into all those things.

Aaron O'Connell:

Yep, and that's Young and Faith. Y-o-u-n-g-i-n. Faith, yeah, yeah, just make and serve for all the listeners out there because you never know how you know. I say Y2 Fitness all the time. They're like Y2, just number two.

Aaron O'Connell:

It's like no, no, no, no, I'm explaining Y2. Yeah, oh, okay, well, you know, thank you so much. You mind if I close this out in some prayer? Amen, let's do that.

Aaron O'Connell:

Dear Heavenly Father, I just thank you so much for joining me with Gary today and just for all the listeners that tuned in. Lord, I pray that this podcast inspires anyone that is watching to pour into the next generation, lord, because pastors the median age for a pastor right now is around 60 plus years old and we are gonna need a new generation to replace those pastors, lord, to be leaders. So I pray that this inspires somebody to just rise up and to be a leader, lord, and to pour into the younger generation, to be able to instill those leadership qualities in them. Lord, I just thank you just so much for just giving us the opportunity to speak through the media, to have this technology that multiple people can hear even though we're just in one place. Lord, bless this podcast, bless anyone that is listening, bless Gary and young in faith and just allow it to expand like rapid fire. And in all things, I pray in Jesus' name, amen, amen.

Guery Ulysse:

Thank you so much, gary, for joining me. Love you, bro, love you too, man.

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Aaron O'Connell

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