We'd like to introduce you to Brad Voss, who has joined the Made in the Streets team in the new year as our brand new executive director! Based on what we've seen so far, we are certain that Brad is the right person to lead MITS into a new season of growth over the coming years.
Check out Brad's responses to five questions that shed some light on why we think he's so awesome (and think you will too!), then read on to catch the rest of his bio.
#1: How did you first hear about MITS?
I first heard about Made In The Streets from my friend Reg Cox after his visit back in the 90s. Over the last 20 years I had heard things about Charles and Darlene and their work in Nairobi, but we got to know a lot more about MITS in the last few years when we met Brenda and Troy McAdoo. In fact, our son has gotten to be good friends with Brenda and Troy’s kids via the youth group at The Hills Church in Southlake. In the last few years, following trips to West Africa and Rwanda, I was feeling a strong calling to use my ministry and business experience to serve with a non-profit who was doing work in Africa. I was so excited when I finally got the chance to sit down and talk about the work of MITS with Charles and Darlene because we immediately hit it off.
#2: What is a book, author, or person who has changed your life?
I remember reading an article about Bono’s (from the band U2) first visit to Africa back in the mid-80s. Bono, who was already a big rock star at the time, and his wife, Ali, spent six weeks working at an orphanage in Ethiopia. Even at 14 years old, I was so moved by that article that I decided right then that someday I would go work in Africa - my first visit to Africa happened 25 years later. Over the last 30 years, Bono’s focus on service and support in Africa has greatly influenced my life; along with books like Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, The End of Poverty by Jeffery Sachs, Phillip Gourevitch’s tragic book about the Rwanda genocide, and everything written by Brennan Manning and Henri Nouwen. Oh, and Darrell Gruder’s Missional Church and Shaping of Things to Come by Frost & Hirsch radically changed my view on church as mission.
#3: If you could tell our donors/sponsors one thing, what would it be?
We need your help. I know that sounds simple, but it’s so true. The United Nations estimates the current number of children living on the streets around the world to be somewhere around 150 million. By the year 2025, some reports suggest that this number could double to over 300 million kids living on the streets worldwide. That’s such a huge number! The challenge of loving, serving, and transforming the lives of those street kids is so big, but the number of people who could help is also really big. Frankly, we need as many people as possible to give financially; to donate their time; to visit MITS in Kenya; and to pray along with us that God will use all of us to make a huge difference in the lives of many, many, many street kids.
#4: If you could tell our students one thing, what would it be?
I guess I would tell them the same thing I would tell kids here in the United States, and that's actually three things. I would tell them, “You are loved; You are not alone; and It’s not all about you.”
I know that growing up is very hard and growing up on the streets is probably beyond the comprehension of most people. It is so important for these kids (as well as my own) to know that there are so many people out there that love them.
And it’s also important for them to hear and know that they are not alone. There are other people in this world who are willing to walk beside them and be in community with them.
But it’s also just as important for them to know that ultimately it is not about them. Regardless of their past circumstances, God wants to choose them and transform them so that they can help and serve others.
#5: If your family were a baseball team, what positions would everyone play?
That’s a funny question, because we love watching the Texas Rangers, but I don’t think any of us have ever actually played baseball.
So I guess I would probably play first base because it’s the closest to the dugout and I am definitely the most flexible.
My wife would be on the mound because she’s an incredibly creative artist - she could likely come up with some creative 35mph split-finger, sliding curve ball that rotates backwards - and no one would be able to hit it.
My son would probably either play in the outfield because he can cover a lot of ground, or catcher so that he could tell his mom what pitches to throw (which she would likely shake off).
And my daughter would be our shortstop because although she is the shortest, she always wants to be in the middle of the action. Not sure if we would ever win a game, but we would sure have fun - at least for an inning or two.
Brad's Bio:
Since 1995, MITS has been carrying out a mission to love and serve at-risk youth on the streets of Nairobi by meeting their physical, emotional and spiritual needs, loving them fully, equipping them to earn a living and sending them out to a new life. We've learned a lot about what works and doesn't work in street ministry over the last twenty years. Charles and Darlene Coulston have taught us what it looks like to keep Jesus' ministry at the center of everything that we do.
That's one reason we're so excited to welcome Brad Voss to the team.
Brad comes to MITS with twenty years of valuable experience of his own—as a youth minister, preacher, consultant, and leader. Brad is passionate about developing the natural skills and talents of our team, so that together we can achieve our mission to love and serve street kids, in Kenya, across Africa, and around the world.
While developing his professional skill set, Brad also devoted himself to working with youth and serving with nonprofit organizations. For the past 15 years, Brad has spent multiple weeks each year speaking at camps, retreats and youth events across the country. Brad serves as a director and MC for Group Workcamps Foundation, a non-profit organization providing camp and home repair experiences for tens of thousands of students and adults each year.
At the same time, Brad and his family have worked closely with several nonprofit organizations, including Touch A Life, His Chase and Global Health Innovations, to support the care and rescue of orphans and child slaves in Ghana and Rwanda.
Brad lives in North Richland Hills, TX, with his wife, Shannon, and their two children, Phoebe and Judson, where they all play an active role in their local church, schools, and community.
Brad is a graduate of Abilene Christian University, where he earned two degrees: a BS in Communications and a MA in Religion.
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