SEED Urban Ministries

04/14/2026

Are you feeling abandoned… or wondering where God was in your pain?

Our newest devotional, “Forsaken,” reflects on one of the most powerful and sobering moments in Scripture—when Jesus cried out from the cross, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

If you’ve ever wrestled with loneliness, suffering, or the feeling that God is distant, this message is for you. 💛

📖 Read the devotional here:
https://seedurbanministries.substack.com/p/forsaken?r=2jmxve

Share this with someone who needs encouragement today. 🙏

Sowing A SEED

04/08/2026

stuck in negative thought loops???

We all find ourselves stuck believing unhelpful narratives that don’t align with God’s truth for our lives. BUT there’s a way OUT!

We can partner with Holy Spirit and ask Him to guide us through the process. He has given us agency to interrupt these thought loops!!

“We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭5‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

04/07/2026

Hoy queremos invitarte a leer nuestro nuevo devocional: “En el Nombre del Señor.”

En medio del ruido, las responsabilidades y las luchas diarias, recordar el poder y la autoridad del nombre de Jesús puede transformar la forma en que vivimos, oramos y caminamos cada día. 🙏

Este devocional es una invitación a detenernos, reflexionar y renovar nuestra confianza en Aquel que sostiene nuestras vidas.

📖 Léelo aquí:
https://open.substack.com/pub/seedurbanministries/p/en-el-nombre-del-senor?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer

Si te anima, compártelo con alguien que necesite esperanza hoy 💜

Sembrando una Semilla

03/12/2026

Sowing A SEED//

“Honor God with your body.”
- 1 Corinthians 6:20 NASB

Thought:
If God made intimacy, then why should singles, couples, and parents teach and practice waiting until marriage?
Because everything God creates is good, but everything good has a purpose, and every purpose has a boundary that protects the blessing. Waiting is not God withholding joy. Waiting is God safeguarding your heart, guarding your future, and preparing the gift to be received in the way He intended.

For singles, waiting becomes an act of worship that says God, I trust Your design more than my desires.
For dating couples, waiting becomes a declaration that your relationship is built on honor, not impulse.
For parents, waiting becomes a truth to model and teach, reminding your children that intimacy is not a toy of culture but a treasure of God.

God made intimacy powerful, sacred, and life-shaping. It was never meant to be practiced outside the promise of a covenant because a covenant is the only environment strong enough to carry its weight. Outside of covenant intimacy, it can confuse, distract, or wound. Inside a covenant, it strengthens, unites, and blesses.

Application:
Singles can honor God by choosing purity as a path to a stronger future marriage.
Couples can pursue holiness together by inviting accountability and pursuing a relationship built on honor.
Parents can shape the next generation by teaching that God’s gifts work best in God’s order.

Waiting is not missing out. Waiting is growing up in faith so that when God gives the blessing, you are ready to hold it, honor it, and protect it.

Takeaway:
If God made it and called it good, then trusting His timing becomes the doorway to His blessing.

“God’s way is not restrictive. It is protective, and it always leads to joy.”
Elisabeth Elliot

Blessings,
Pastor Gil
Seed Urban Ministries

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03/12/2026

New Sowing A SEED from our founder, Pastor Gil Contreras!

Sowing A SEED

03/10/2026

New 'Sowing A SEED' from Pastor Gil Contreras is out now on Substack. Click here to read :

Sowing A SEED

02/25/2026

Faith is like currency! We can choose to partner with what God says and see it grow!

— Take some time and ask the Holy Spirit how you can invest your faith. Are there specific pieces of evidence you can start training your eyes to look for? 👀

02/19/2026

A Celebration of Courage and New Possibilities //

On February 11, 2026, a meaningful and inspiring celebration took place at the North and South Campuses of Chapman Partnership as participants from Cohorts 15A and 15B, English cohort, graduated from the Life Skills Training Class. A combined total of 31 graduates marked this milestone, each one representing perseverance, growth, and a commitment to building a stronger future.

Throughout the program, participants engaged in focused instruction designed to strengthen emotional wellness, communication skills, job readiness, and spiritual development. Facilitated by Seed Urban Ministries, the Life Skills Training Program equips individuals with practical tools and renewed confidence, empowering them to move forward with clarity, stability, and purpose.

Chapman Partnership’s dedication to providing housing, healthcare, education, and employment services continues to create the stable environment necessary for transformation to take root. Together, this partnership ensures that growth is both sustainable and life-changing.

The celebration was further enriched by the generosity of True Food Kitchen, whose team prepared nourishing and thoughtfully presented meals in honor of the graduates. Their contribution reflected dignity, compassion, and a shared commitment to serving the community with excellence.

“Our mission is to strengthen, empower, educate, and develop every client entrusted to us so they leave not only informed, but equipped, confident, and capable of building a transformed future.”
Pr. Gil Contreras, President of Seed Urban Ministries

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the 31 graduates of Cohorts 15A and 15B. Their achievement stands as a powerful reminder that when individuals are supported, equipped, and believed in, lasting change becomes possible.

Thank you for standing with us as we strengthen individuals, families, and our community together.

- Pr. Gil Contreras
President

02/10/2026

We’ve all been needy in prayer!! And the Lord is okay with that! Let’s be honest before the Lord, and then allow Him to shift our perspectives and soften our hearts. I pray that God helps us to declare WHO HE IS when our souls are in despair. Lord teach us your ways!! - Kristine

“Teach me Your way, Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭86‬:‭11‬ ‭NASB2020‬‬

Leave a 🕊️ or 🤍emoji in the comments if this blessed you!

02/07/2026

Life is the ultimate Super Bowl — every choice, every moment, every act matters in the championship God has called you to.
Pr. Gil Contreras

Join SEED Urban Ministries to empower youth and families through Christ-centered mentoring, counseling, and community impact programs.

02/07/2026

Sowing a Seed
The Super Bowl of Life

Verse
“Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
1 Corinthians 10:31 NASB

Thought
Every year millions of people across the world stop, gather, cheer, and watch the Super Bowl — not just a game, but a cultural moment of unity, anticipation, and climax where everything matters for one final outcome. Experts describe it as more than a championship; it’s an event that transcends barriers and becomes one of the most shared experiences on the planet — where social divides fade for the sake of a common purpose. 

Players and coaches don’t treat the Super Bowl as just another game. Legends say that reaching and winning the Super Bowl represents the culmination of countless hours of practice, sacrifice, and focus. It is the defining moment where a season of effort meets its ultimate test. 

In the same way, God invites us into a greater “Super Bowl” of life — a life lived not for trophies or applause, but for His glory. The race we run as believers is not a fleeting moment on TV — it’s an eternal calling where every choice matters and every act of faithfulness counts.

Application
Just as athletes train relentlessly with a goal that defines their season, we are called to live with purpose in Christ.
Ask yourself:
• Am I living today for the applause of people, or for the applause of heaven?
• Am I focused on the eternal victory that God promises?

The Christian life is about intentional living, where every daily moment becomes part of our own championship journey with God. We press on, not as hopeful spectators, but as active participants running toward our ultimate prize — Christ Himself.

Takeaway
The Super Bowl brings people together for a brief moment; but God calls us to be together with Him forever. Live today like you’re playing in the Super Bowl of life — with focus, heart, and an eternal perspective.

Pastor Gil Contreras
Seed Urban Ministries
Under Pastor Gil Contreras
February 7, 2026