On the Summit’s Horizon: Nygel Simms
By Rev. Christopher Riley
FWIS Contributing Writer
“I only came to Fort Wayne for a few weeks. I came to support my best friend and fellow Waycross, Georgia native, Josh Raines who can now be heard on STAR 88.3 FM.” During that time, I began to pray for a faith community. God led me to First Assembly of God. My Mom later asked the question: Do you think God is leading you to move to Fort Wayne?”
Simms came to the Summit City at 21 and will celebrate his 32nd birthday later this month.
“While at First Assembly, I met Laurie Atz whose spirit was contagious and she asked me to help grow their young adult ministry. Later Chi Alpha Campus Ministries were birthed at IPFW (now Purdue Fort Wayne) and Indiana Tech.”
“I later had the opportunity work with Youth For Christ, an organization where I learned the best practices of youth ministry with great mentors like Chip Clark.”
Clark invited Simms to become the City Life Director of Youth for Christ in 2016. He quickly rose to the ranks of National City Life Director. In 2022, Simms resigned to launch the National Young Leaders Institute (NYLI), a nonprofit aiming to engage, equip, and empower the next generation with a Christ-centered focus through camps, conferences, curriculum, and cohorts.
“Through a Christ-Centered focus, NYLI engages, equips, and empowers the next generation of leaders, unleashing their God-given potential by introducing them to possibilities and encouraging them to dream without limits.”
“His latest venture, the National Young Leaders Institute, is a testament to his commitment to empowering youth and creating a brighter future for them by providing various opportunities for them to explore their gifts and cultivate their talents with a support network built with the youth’s current and future needs in mind,” said Ranesha Smith, Director of Student Success and Advising at Purdue University Fort Wayne.
One of the National Young Leaders Institute’s signature programs is the E-Sports Camp.
With 97% of teenagers aged 12-17 actively involved in video games and three-quarters owning gaming consoles, the need for our community to invest in harnessing this interest for the benefit of the younger generation has never been more pressing. Currently, only a few high schools in Northern Indiana have an Esports program. Presently, only 3 out of 7 high schools in
Fort Wayne Community Schools boast an E-sports program, and 2 of these are inadequately equipped to support their growing clubs. The NYLI E-Sports camp aims to address this issue by donating our equipment to FWCS High Schools with the greatest need (borrowing them back
for our winter and summer camps).
The next Winter E-Sports Camp:
Event Details:
• When: December 27-28th, 1-4 pm each day
• Where: Heartland Church, 1025 Vance Ave, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805
• Who: Middle and High School students
• Cost: $25 per Student
Registration: www.nationalyoungleadersinstitute.com
NYLI has also coordinated a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) Camp.
STEAM Camp creates a Christ-centered environment where young people experience first-hand career opportunities and where they are exposed to the stories of courageous adults in the STEAM marketplace. Throughout STEAM camp, young people engage in authentic relationships and life-changing moments. Campers from all walks of life encounter hands-on experiences, career exposure, and times of reflection in a holistic way.
Save the Date and Mark the Calendars: STEAM CAMP 2024; July 24-27-Huntington University’s campus. Campers from Washington, Ohio, Illinois, North Carolina and Indiana have participated in the past.
According to Simms, the STEAM Camp was so powerful that young people gave their lives to Christ in the middle of a company site visit. The Steam Camp gave the students an opportunity to see past their traumas and what was happening in their lives right now.”
“Nygel Simms is a beacon of transformation and empowerment for youth. Through his unwavering leadership, networking, and ministerial skills, Nygel has exemplified the power of personal growth while uplifting others. His dedication to advocating for the upward mobility of youth through access to education, economic, and community resources help position youth as the leaders of tomorrow.” said Smith.
In addition to Smith, Simms is blessed to have others who believe in the vision of bringing the Gospel in to the world of Generation Z (1995-2010) and Generation Alpha (2011-2024) which is considered a Post Christian Generation. Josh Raines, Reggie Blackmon (Youth for Christ) Youth Advocate Renai Byler and Mark Robinson of Brotherhood Mutual serve as the Board of Trustees and collaborate with Simms to facilitate youth career exploration with a goal of understanding their purpose and a sense of identity and belonging.
“He has created paths of success for countless young minds. With a strong belief in community support and relationship building, Nygel has fostered an environment of collaboration and unity for youth and the community leaders he has invited alongside him over the years to contribute to the shared vision of making an impact on the lives of youth and ultimately our community’s longevity and future.” said Smith.
“The Lord wants me to deal with leadership development. Lead Leaders to impact marginalized communities and to continue serving our young people.”