Unity creates space for Hispanic youth to encounter Christ

When Neri-Enrique Mizael Borja Gonzalez attended Unity Conference for the first time as a 13-year-old, he expected another church event because, as a pastor’s kid, attendance was not exactly optional.

But somewhere between the worship music, the fellowship and the preaching, something shifted.

“Church kind of felt like school at the time,” Borja said. “Coming into Unity and seeing the lights and hearing the modern music, it was honestly refreshing. It made me feel welcome.”

Hosted through Hispanic Ministries of the Arizona Mission Network, Unity gathers Hispanic teens and young adults from churches across Arizona for a weekend of worship, biblical teaching and community. Through support from the Arizona Mission Offering, the conference has become a place where students encounter Christ in a personal way.

For Borja, Unity became more than just an annual event. Over the years, it helped shape his leadership, ministry perspective and calling.

Daniel Martin (left) and Neri-Enrique Mizael Borja Gonzalez (right) lead worship at Tempe Christian Church.

“A lot of the sermons and workshops gave me new perspectives and things I could take back to my church,” he said. “It has definitely been a blessing in my life.”

Today, Borja serves as part of the leadership for Unity, creating opportunities for even more students to attend. 

“What a blessing,” he said. “You meet so many people from different churches, and over time it really becomes family.”

Borja said Unity creates a unique environment for Hispanic youth, many of whom grow up balancing cultural expectations, church traditions and the pressures of modern life.

“Unity is a safe space,” he said. “It’s an outreach for Hispanic youth. The worship is modern and refreshing, and students realize there’s something here for them.”

He believes those moments matter because they help students see that faith is not distant or outdated but personal and life-changing.

“I hope students come and encounter Jesus,” Borja said. “You never know what God can do in somebody’s life during one weekend.”

The Arizona Mission Offering plays a vital role in making conferences like Unity possible, Borja said. Through the cooperative giving of churches across the state, students have opportunities to worship, connect and grow spiritually.

“This isn’t only about funding an event,” he said. “It’s about creating a space for youth to encounter Jesus.”

Unity is one of of seven areas of ministry that receives support from the Arizona Mission Offering. The goal for the 2026 offering is to raise $225,000, with $32,142 going to each category of ministry, including Unity. The theme for 2026 is We Connect, based on Galatians 6:2. 

As planning continues, Borja hopes students leave with more than memories.

“Unity is family,” he said. “It’s a Christ-centered gathering that unites youth through worship, teaching and life-changing encounters with Jesus.”

Learn more about the Arizona Mission Offering at azmn.org/amo

Anna Zeledón, a freelance writer living in Glendale, is a member of Iglesia Bautista Central, Phoenix.