The youth ministry at Shiloh Church in Oakland will host its first Reload Youth Rally on Wednesday, Jan. 15, open to young people from grades 6-12.

The event is designed to bring young people from all walks of life together and will open with a hip-hop gospel performance by Christian rap artist CJ Emulous.

“We felt like our students needed to be recharged mentally and spiritually,” said Pastor Jules Moore. He and his wife Lani have been the youth pastors at Shiloh for the past three years.

“This youth rally is just the beginning. Our primary goal is to jumpstart the three-day youth conference we’re doing later on this year,” he said.

“We wanted a grassroots approach to gather the youth and youth workers of the Bay to seek God. We believe in change in our city, and we know [that] begins with the young people.”

As a native of Oakland, Moore feels he can relate to issues that young people face today, and he wants to encourage churches to work together for a safer community.

“We try to really bring a wide range to meet the students where they’re at,” Moore said.

“There’s all this violence, there’s a lack of fathers. Something has to be done differently. We want to step out and be that bridge in the city.”

“We felt like we needed to be the ones to get out there and connect with other churches,” he said. “If we’re going to change this city, we’re going to have to work together.”

The event is free and starts at 6 p.m. at Shiloh Church, 3295 School St. in Oakland. For more information, call (510) 261-2052 or visit www.shilohchurch.com.

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