Young America Ministries Leadership
A faithful board of directors prayerfully oversees Young America Ministries.
Our board is responsible for ensuring that the ministry fulfills its core mission. This is done by regularly meeting while actively overseeing the critical operational functions – ministry budget oversight, leader performance evaluation, strategic performance management, and legal compliance.
Most importantly, our board of directors serves as our prayer partners in ministry. They seek to lead us toward God's design and desire. We are thankful for the support and guidance they provide.
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meet our team
Wes & Kelia Williams
FOUNDERS
Wes and Kelia Williams started Young America Ministries to help at-risk and neglected children living in their own community.
They began by raising money to meet the physical needs of children living in poverty-stricken neighborhoods. They quickly saw that the greater spiritual needs of these children must be met to bring about any lasting impact.
Wes and Kelia celebrated 32 years of marriage and have 4 children - Emma (Dom), Zane (Kasee), Cora (Noah), and Tate - and 3 grandchildren.
They have faithfully served as Ministry Founders on the Board of Directors, guiding this ministry for the last 20 years.
Nathan & Carrie Cravatt
CO-FOUNDERS
Nathan and Carrie Cravatt met Wes and Kelia Williams in the spring of 2005 and started the first branch of Young America in the Hickory Grove community of Ringgold, GA. Nathan grew up in a Christian Boy's Home, where his family worked with at-risk teens; his experience there prepared him to work with teens for over 25 years.
Nathan and Carrie have been married for nearly 30 years and have 4 children: Austin (Kate), Alayna, Elise, and Mia. In 2023, God called their family to plant Hope Church in Asheville, NC. In the fall of 2024, a devastating hurricane and near-fatal health crisis for Nathan brought the Cravatt family back home to Chattanooga to serve once more.
Patrick & Brittany Everett
MINISTRY DIRECTORS
Patrick and Brittany began volunteering with Young America in 2006. Brittany felt God calling her into full-time ministry while she was in high school and made a decision on a summer retreat to accept this calling for her life. She came on staff at Young America in 2007 and now serves as a Ministry Assistant to Patrick.
Patrick earned a master's degree in pastoral studies from Covington Theological Seminary, which he has used to serve as our Ministry Director since 2012.
They have been married for 16 years and have 5 children: Isabella, Isaiah, Isley, Isla, & Indiana. Patrick is also Associate Pastor at First Baptist Church, Fort Oglethorpe, GA, where his focus includes involving our Young America children and families in a local church environment.
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Eric & Shelby Byrd,
Children & Youth Discipleship
Noah Grell,
Worship Leader
Noah & Cora Boersen,
Tutoring Program Director
Children & Youth Discipleship
Can you give your time?
The gift of time is one of the most valuable resources people have to give today, mainly because there is so little of it to go around. That's why every volunteer is so vital to our ministry. We seek individuals with the heart to share Christ with families living in physical and spiritual poverty. We provide training and abundant resources to prepare you for volunteer work. You can use the form below to contact us or check out our events page to see how you can be involved. We would love to talk with you about giving your greatest gift - your time.