Rock the World Youth Mission Alliance is a Christian ministry with roots in the Evangelical stream of the Anglican tradition. We are a freestanding 501(c)(3) founded by the Rev. Whis Hays on August 11, 1989. With a 14-year track record of leading successful student ministries in California, Connecticut, and Virginia, he felt God’s call to train others. He was concerned to do two things: give young people the opportunity to take initiative in pursuing ministry opportunities that older Christians might not even consider, and to maximize the effectiveness of the Church in ministry with students and youth, especially in evangelism, discipleship, and leadership development with students middle school through college age. In 1989 Whis established this organization (originally known as Youth Quest) to address this dual mission.
In 1990 we launched the Josiah Project, our leadership acceleration program for college students. "JP" is our constant core program and prime instance of our mission and values. At the invitation of John Rodgers, then Dean and President of Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, Rock the World also began a partnership with Trinity to develop & offer graduate-level education for youth ministry within the Episcopal Church.
Since that time, Rock the World broadened its horizon to serve and partner with various churches and mission agencies. Throughout the 90’s and the early years of this century, we added regional retreats and national conferences, began engaging in missionary ministry with young people beyond the borders of the US, hosted and launched a variety of programs, and have fostered student initiatives extending into urban America and to the ends of the earth.
There have been two leadership transitions at the Executive Director position. The first was intentionally temporary in 2002-03 while Whis was on a sabbatical year mandated by Trinity School for his faculty responsibilities. Meredith Borel led Rock the World that year with Whis largely absent. Under her leadership Rock the World grew permanently in various ways. We later attempted a permanent transition in 2010-11 that didn't work out. In both instances, Whis returned to the Executive Director position in accordance with the wishes of the Rock the World Board. A future succession plan is in process, relying on the attainment of sustainability factors currently being pursued.
Most importantly, the ministry God has given us continues to bear fruit. Through our leadership network we have over a hundred trainees and graduates serving in various church, school, and other ministry contexts, spread out across nearly half the states in America and multiple foreign countries. These graduates and trainees form a voluntary group that pursues ministry together, provides a support system beyond the local context, incubates new ministries, and collaborates to make our core training programs truly effective. This leadership network is one of the truly unique strengths of our ministry.