Katie Sanchez

Katie Sanchez is originally from Cape Town, South Africa. As a teenager, Christ intervened in Katie’s life and changed her forever. A passion was born in her for Jesus and a calling on her life was confirmed to share the wonder of God’s grace with others in life, in service and ministry. Katie has been active in youth ministry leadership since 2003 in various settings, such as J-Life Africa, Christian Community Church in Johannesburg, Claremont Baptist in Cape Town, and at Journey Church in San Antonio, Texas.

In 2004, Katie got involved with J-Life Africa. In her first year she was part of a coaching team working in Johannesburg to revive a failing youth ministry.  In her second year she was part of the J-Life Across team (Performance Ministry), traveling to various communities around southern Africa. Jeff and Katie met while in ministry in South Africa and married in December 2006.

Some of the areas of involvement and passion for ministry has been centred on the following:

• Missions trips: She has participated in and led various mission trips around South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and the United States.
• Leadership training: She has run seminars on “God-centred music worship”, “Performing arts in Ministry”, “Leadership development”, Sonlife Africa “Strategy”, and “Evangelism: Tell the Truth”.
• Youth Ministry development: Katie has been successful in developing several youth ministries either from the ground up or struggling to get started.
• Katie has been published as a guest writer for a youth devotional publication called, “Khula”(2006).

After being exposed to the desperate need for the church to step up and reach a hurting generation of young people, Katie desires to impact young people for Christ through discipleship and to empower others in Christ-centred, disciple-making youth ministry.

Today, Katie works as the youth director with her husband, Jeff, at Poughkeepsie United Methodist and as a local missionary in New York for J-Life USA.