THE BLAZE

THE BLAZE IS HERE!!!
What's up world? I'd like to welcome you to THE BLAZE! We are a ministry located in Columbia Missouri that is ON FIRE for Christ!!!
THE BLAZE is all about the ultimate Christian hip hop worship experience.
Christian Rappers, Steppers, Dancers, Halarious MC's, and special guest speakers to bring God's word in a way that touches lives on whole new level! Plus much much more.
THE BLAZE is located and hosted by the hottest church in the Midwest...Urban Empowerment. 2400 N. Stadium in Columbia, MO.
If you have any questions or comments just drop us a line. God bless you and thanks for stop'n by!
THE BLAZE...The story behind this incredible ministry.
It started with nothing more than hope and lots of dreams . . . dreams of troubled youth, dreams of reaching out, dreams of helping to create a better future. But how? What could one young woman do to make a difference in the lives of others? Alone, she could do little, she realized, but with God's help, there was much that could be done.
This was the beginning of The Blaze, an urban ministry dedicated to bringing the gospel to the streets in a way that would be meaningful and relevant to today's youth. "I was inspired and encouraged when I heard about Pastor Phil Jackson and Tha House, a hip-hop church in Chicago, Illinois," says Liz Welpman, the visioneer behind The Blaze. According to Pastor Jackson, "the hip-hop culture is all around us! In the clothes youth wear, in the music they listen to, in the ways they express themselves. It is the language they speak, the rhythm they move to. It is a culture familiar with the hard realities of our broken world, the generation raised with rap knows about the pain. They need to know about the hope."
Liz, too, was familiar with the hard realities of life. She grew up in a broken home, faced many hardships as a teen, and later, struggled with an addiction to alcohol. She traveled many wrong roads, but now, sober and born-again, she's passionate about reaching out to todays youth with a message that is filled with hope.
The vision of The Blaze first came to her in January, 2007. In the spring, Liz joined Urban Empowerment where she met Pastor Lester Woods. She shared her vision with him, and he encouraged her to make it happen. A short time later, her father was diagnosed with mesothelioma (a rare cancer)and given only a few months to live. Liz spent most of the summer at his bedside, sharing with him the love of the Lord and her vision. Making The Blaze happen now took on an even deeper meaning.
Following the death of her father in August, Liz pushed forward, and a month later Urban Empowerment opened up Columbia's first hip-hop worship service . . . The Blaze! Since then, The Blaze has become Urban Empowerment's monthly service. Featuring the hottest Christian rap artists, powerful guest speakers, and a variety of creative arts performances, The Blaze is a life-changing experience.
"The goal of this ministry is to provide an environment that is positive, holy, and real to these young people," says Liz. "I desire to bring the gospel to the streets rather than expecting the street culture to conform to the traditional church setting." From a mere hope, to a burning desire, The Blaze has now burst forth with a fiery passion. You can catch the flames at 6:00 PM on the second Saturday of each month at Urban Empowerment.