Dominick Sanchez Profile

By: Ashley Noelle Ver Beek, Contributor  

ALUMNI: Dominick Sanchez (Fresno 2023) 

ORGANIZATION: Urban Story Ministries, Fresno, California   

POSITION: Executive Director 

 

Dominick Sanchez (Fresno 2023) is the Executive Director of Urban Story Ministries in Fresno, California. He felt God’s call to be an “urban missionary” during his time at Zoe Bible College in Medford, Oregon. For over 10 years, Dominick has done ministry in communities experiencing gang violence, similar to those where he attended school growing up. Urban Story cultivates grassroots discipleship to build connections between Fresno communities and local churches. 

  

What led you to this work? 

I grew up with a challenging childhood. I had ADHD, faced rejection in school, and was raised by a single mother while my dad struggled with substance use. There were also health issues in my family. At age 12, I found myself in the juvenile justice system. When I gave my life to Christ at age 15, I felt a clear call from God: “You’re going to be a missionary.” This calling is why I am so passionate about ministry. I want to see people in the communities I serve who are often caught in cycles of gang violence not just visit churches but achieve spiritual maturity. 

Urban Story is all about the God who sees. God sees beyond surface judgments and understands the deeper narrative of these communities, and we want churches to do the same. We combine spiritual and practical approaches, addressing trauma and ADHD and providing crisis support and intervention while countering misinterpretations of behavior by churches that often lead to further rejection. 

  

What key leadership principles guide your work today? 

Balance is huge for me. For years, I was financially unstable, physically exhausted, and overworked. I was trying to navigate running a successful 501(c)3 without adequate support, which took a toll on my health. Now, I am more equipped with the tools and courage to stop and re-evaluate our approach to make our ministry more sustainable and avoid burnout. 

Another thing is the importance of community leadership. At first, we were only training church members to go out to the neighborhoods. Through community mapping, we realized we needed to pivot to a hybrid model, and now we are strategically engaging the adults in the community. It is all about relationships. Deep connections within the neighborhood are everything. Sometimes, I mentor the entire gang. You’ve got to call them community leaders before they look like community leaders. We communicate a lot via testimony: I share my story and teach them how to share theirs. We help kids create healthy connections so they can begin to move away from those lifestyles. 

I started a beta version of DVULI with my team, and it has been a huge asset to see people learn administrative and leadership skills. We plan to make it into an internship so community members and teens can participate. 

  

Where have you seen the impact of your ministry?  

The impact of our ministry has been significant. We’ve created networks of support with local ministries for crisis intervention, including helping a family of 15 that was unhoused for three years find stable housing. There are rehab programs, family centers, housing resources, and more. We connect churches to local youth and neighborhoods, and we focus on cultivating community leadership. By addressing trauma and understanding ADHD, we’re able to break down barriers and foster genuine connections. We strive to raise up spiritual fathers and mothers who can become community leaders. 

Our Firestarter program has been transformative. We’ve had individuals from our neighborhoods dealing with severe issues like schizophrenia, drug addiction, and alcoholism transform their lives through our Firestarter classes. One notable case is Allen, who now actively participates in church, evangelizes his community, and leads Bible studies in his home. Graduates from this program lead Bible studies at their schools and homes, sharing their faith with peers and adults alike. We use our outdoor programs to teach the gospel to young children, and we’ve seen kids as young as six leading their peers and adults to Christ. 

Our commitment to community leadership has also borne fruit. We’ve engaged local leaders in our ministry, empowering them to take ownership of practical aspects of our outreach. This approach empowers kids and adults, reinforcing a sense of responsibility and connection within the community. 

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