Baristas at The Whosoevers include Audrey, at left, and Norah right (Photo by Jeff Perez)
By Steve Bertel
It’s not unusual for them to show up at a skate park.
Or a high school gymnasium.
Or any other place where teenagers have gathered.
Though the locations may vary, their powerful message remains the same: “… that every life has value, every life has purpose, and true freedom is achievable with a true relationship with Jesus Christ.”
That’s one of the mottos of The Whosoevers, a worldwide outreach ministry helping young people who are struggling with addiction, depression, peer pressure, mental health issues, or feelings of hopelessness – by empowering them to discover their “true identity and purpose.”
The ministry’s website touts: “When we step onto a stage or into a school, we don’t just talk. We connect. We bring hope where it’s needed most – because we’ve been there, too. This isn’t religion. It’s a rescue mission.”
Or, as co-founder Ryan Ries points out, “Every day, students are bombarded with messages that distort truth and give them a false perception on reality as they continue to scroll through social media. By showing up right where they’re at … we meet them in their world and offer hope that’s real and relatable.”
The group take its name from John 3:16 “… that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Ries and his buddy, Sonny Sandoval, founded The Whosoevers Movement back in 2009. And not only are they believers who “talk the talk” in sharing God’s Word, they also “walk the walk” in the youth world: Sandoval is frontman for the hard-rock Christian group P.O.D. – which stands for “Payable on Death,” representing the band members’ belief that Christ’s death on the cross paid for our sins. The group boldly brands itself as “too Christian for the world and too secular for the church.” But if you haven’t heard their music, don’t worry – many have; the band’s 2001 album “Satellite” went triple platinum. And Ries is a former Circa (stylized as C1RCA) Footwear pro skateboard team manager who produces music festivals and live concerts throughout the country. Which is how he originally connected with Sonny Sandoval … and the idea of the Whosoevers Movement materialized.
Originating in southern California, where its two founders are from, the Movement began by holding music festivals and conducting outreaches with public high school students in California. It later expanded into Arizona. Then Texas. Then into more and more states. Before long, it had grown nationwide – then worldwide; it now offers hope and shares the gospel with young people in Australia, Japan, Mexico, and countries in Central America.
“Our mission is the Great Commission” Ries said – referencing, of course, Matthew 28: 19, 20 where Jesus told his disciples “… go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” The group’s goal is to reach 100 public and private schools throughout the world every year.
Its typically 30- to 45-minute evangelistic outreach events include faith-centered music, testimonies from entertainers, and an inspirational message from Ryan Ries. “Then we close it all out with a no-pressure altar call,” said the Movement’s Chief Strategy and Operations Officer, Nick Anaya. “We want to share the gospel with these young people, then help them get plugged-in locally, be it to a youth ministry or a youth group or a church in their area, where they can learn more about the love of God.”
For years, The Whosoevers Movement did not have a global headquarters – that is, until Ries made a rather serendipitous trip – some say “a God-appointed trip” – to Idaho. He came to Boise to scope out area skate parks that could host outdoor Whosoevers events. As it turned out, the Airbnb where he stayed was owned by Tucker Maile, the lead pastor of Calvary Chapel church at 123 S. Auto Drive, near the busy intersection at Cole and Franklin roads, in west Boise. (The church is now called simply Calvary Boise.) With the common interest of working for the Lord, Ries and “Pastor Tucker” quickly got to know each other and “their friendship created an instant bond,” Nick said.
Then, several years later, early on the morning of June 17, 2015, an arson-caused fire ripped through the church’s New Again Thrift Store, just a block or two away. In fact, flames did so much damage, the store had to undergo extensive remodeling … to the point where church leaders felt the new structure was honestly “too nice” to reopen as a thrift store.
Long story short, knowing The Whosoevers needed a home base for its ever-growing efforts, Calvary offered the building to the Movement to use as its global headquarters, with the goal of not only continuing its work worldwide, but to also reach the unsaved in the Treasure Valley.
Today, if you’ve ever passed through that busy intersection, you no doubt have seen the group’s distinctive all-black building with bold white lettering emblazoned on the sides. At first glance, one might think what used to be the popular thrift store was simply converted into a warehouse of some sort. But looks can be deceiving. Inside, the 7,200 square-foot facility includes a spacious coffee shop/lounge, a concert hall/events center, a “green room” where musicians can relax and prepare before going on stage, and plenty of space for administrative offices.
It has a chic, ultra-modern dark motif throughout; but the message the group conveys – through music, ministry, and even through the Bible-verse artwork adorning the walls – is far from dark. “Many of us have abused alcohol, drugs, name the world’s flavor,” said Nick. “We all fall short of the glory of God. Not one of us is sinless. Not one. Whether you’re a liar or a murderer, we’re all equal. Sin is sin. But the good news is: we can all be redeemed – and we can all be saved – through the love of Jesus Christ.”
The building has ample room for events of all sizes – from a small Bible study attended by just a handful to a sold-out rock concert attended by hundreds; its design allows for some 300 people inside and an overflow crowd of some 1,500 in its adjoining parking lot.
As a nonprofit organization, funding for The Whosoevers Movement comes “all by faith,” Nick pointed out. “We are still struggling and can always use financial help. We have graciously received several one-time grants that have helped our vision come to fruition. Plus, artists, tradesmen, and even electronics experts have come forward. So there has been a lot of help from the community. But more help is always needed. We rely heavily on the community to support us. Events and projects cost money, so that’s why we are so thankful for potential sustainable revenue platforms like our coffee shop.”
Nick called the shop “the perfect location to attract the coffee connoisseur” – explaining it this way: “We’re at a heavily-trafficked intersection. Plus, people can even stop in and enjoy a latté while their vehicle is being repaired at one of the mechanics shops right down the street [along Auto Drive’s famed “dealership row.”]” Tentative plans call for the coffee shop to be open to the public from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. seven days a week, except holidays. “It can be a safe place where the community – believers and non-believers – can come together, a place where creative minds and/or people of the same artful interests can meet. Again, no matter what their beliefs are,” as Nick put it. What’s more, the baristas are evangelists in their own right, serving coffee while serving the Lord.
The concert venue/coffee shop/community meeting place officially opened its doors in September – its crowded grand opening celebration sponsored by local affiliated Christian radio stations 89.5 FM KTSY and 88.7 FM “Project Nation.” Entertainment was provided by Boise’s own “Christian hip-pop” artist Kurtis Hoppie; Ohio-based Electronic Dance Music producer/DJ Jimmy Rock; Electronic Dance DJ Mark3YTO5 (pronounced “marKEY-tos”) who plays ambient, trance, and deep house music; Lacey Strum – best known as lead singer of the alternative Christian rock band Flyleaf, whose songs have hit both Christian rock and mainstream music charts; and, of course, co-founder Sonny Sandoval of P.O.D.
Nick takes exception to views of traditionalists who feel the rap/hip-hop/hard rock/heavy metal music the Movement promotes may not be the best avenues to convey God’s Word, especially since those genres are commonly associated with the country’s secular – and often rough – “street culture.” “Our entertainers are all artists who love the Lord,” he countered. “They’re very discipled, very strong in their faith. They are caring, wonderful people who share their talents – and their testimonies – to bring in a greater audience to hear the gospel, youths who often find themselves surrounded by the world. It’s a joy having artists come in who are completely born-again new people.”
Now that its Auto Drive facility is up and running, thanks to the dedication of its five full-time staff members, the group plans to be laser-focused on reaching out to public schools, private schools, and skate parks throughout the Treasure Valley, “where we can hold everything from small events to large-scale festivals to help share the gospel and offer young people a course correction in their lives,” Nick said. “We’ve already talked with some local private school administrators who are very interested in having us come in and share the Word with their students, because private school students experience the same problems and go through the same struggles as those in public schools.” Although the group reaches out to schools and administrators, more often than not it’s high school student Bible clubs or FCA (the Fellowship of Christian Athletes) clubs who invite The Whosoevers onto their campuses.
As for what lies ahead in the organization’s marketing realm: it wants to produce another documentary – in 2015, it produced a documentary entitled The Whosoevers 365, capturing the first 365 days of the Movement’s early outreach efforts – and it wants to expand its merchandising lines. “Plus,” Nick added, “we want to collaborate with our artists and remaster some of our shows digitally, giving us the potential to reach millions of people with the gospel.”
And, as far as what lies ahead in the organization’s spiritual outreach realm: perhaps co-founder Sonny Sandoval put it best by saying, “… we will never stop believing in our young generation. It is this hope and love for them that will continue to inspire us to keep reaching them with compassion and truth.”
Steve Bertel is a multi-award-winning professional radio, television, print media, and social media journalist, who retired after a 30-year broadcasting career. Now a busy freelance writer, his debut suspense novel, “Dolphins of an Unjust Sea,” is available on both Amazon and Kindle. Steve and his wife of 43 years live in Meridian, Idaho. He may be reached at [email protected].
