Evangelist Adrian Young: Spreading the gospel through giving

By Cecelia Campbell Livingston

Evangelist Adrian Young is on a quest to make a difference in the lives of struggling women and babies by donating well-needed items such as food and clothes, which he funds out of pocket, or with the help of contributions from donors who partner with him in the initiative.

Young, who founded Adrian Young Christian Ministries International, a non-profit charitable organisation, also pastors a local church at Hope Gardens every Sunday. He said he was inspired to start the outreach based on his own struggles growing up.

Last week, he gave out clothing and food items during “charity week,” where he traversed the areas of Kingston, St. Catherine, and St. Andrew, spreading love through tangible means.

Evangelist Young revealed in an interview with the Freedom Come Rain newspaper that he began his outreach five years ago, and it has since gotten more serious since Dr. David Mongar, the head bishop of the Ecclesiastic Council of Apostles and Prophets and the pastor of the New Wine International Tabernacle based at Hagley Park Plaza, ordained him as an evangelist on October 5, 2019.

Young said his ministry does a lot of street meetings and charity work.

“We do our best to help young, needy women, especially baby mothers who just can’t afford anything. Charity Week/Month are the days we give away clothes for females and babies, food, and anything else donated to the ministry by various persons,” he shared on the initiative.

Carrying out his giving project doesn’t come without its challenges, as Young said, lack of financial support, and ministry helpers sometimes results in him being the ‘lone crusader’ taking to the streets and disbursing supplies to those who need them the most.

“Everything I do, is just God and me. I want to build houses for needy women to live in, like an orphanage. Also, I want to build a storeroom where people can come to collect food if they have nothing to eat and a ‘feed the city’ restaurant where needy persons can come to eat for free,” he said of his long-term goals for the organisation.

He stressed also that establishing the Adrian Young Christian Ministries Charity Centre islandwide is also in the pipeline.

Young, who was born in Clarendon, grew up in the Milk River and Park Hall areas of the parish. The first of five children for his parents, he was baptised at age 12 at the Milk River Open Bible Church, where he later served as a deacon, Sunday school teacher, and youth president.

As a graduate of the Jamaica Open Bible Institute (JOBI), located at Twickenham Park, Spanish Town, he was the youngest graduate from his batch. He was also the only one in his family who turned to the Lord and serve as a pastor.

His father did not hide his disdain for the choice he made, and according to Young, he hated him for that.

A bit hurt, but determined, he held fast to his calling, dug deeper into his faith, and walked with the Lord. He never missed an opportunity to share the gospel and was excited by street evangelism.

Eventually, Young left Milk River to live in Kingston as he sought job opportunities. He soon continued his walk with the Lord by being a member of a popular “charismatic church” for a number of years. He continued his seminary training by attending Kingdom Life of Supernatural Ministries. Because of his love for street side preaching, which he never discontinued, and because the church didn’t like it, Young said the church removed him from their membership register.

“It didn’t stop me. I finished the theological training, applied for my ordination, and got it. After preaching and doing charity on the streets, I decided to start a church so that whenever anyone gave their lives to the Lord, they could have a local church to attend.”

Young, reflecting on his ministry, said he enjoys it, and nothing gives him more joy than to know that he is making a difference in the lives of others.

Looking ahead, he is hoping that more mission-minded people will see the need to partner with him and play their part in filling the needs wherever they are.