IT’S NOT A PROGRAM.
IT’S A FAMILY.

OUR MISSION

To empower youth, through faith in Jesus, to become leaders and give back to their communities.

Belong

We all long to belong somewhere.

Believe

We were created for relationship with Jesus.

Become

We are becoming more like Christ every day.

Our Story

No matter what we do, where we’re from, or what we look like, we all have this deep need for something more. The I AM 24/7 movement started in Grier Heights in 2009 with a soccer ball, a bag of candy, and a couple of soccer players from the Charlotte Eagles. They brought a simple message of transformation: “Jesus loves you and has a plan for your life.” The coaches kept coming and the relationships started forming. That message was shared weekly through time together and evolved into these soccer “coaches” moving into the neighborhood. Today, there are 6 teams, both soccer and basketball, engaging and coaching youth year-round, providing not only instruction in sport, but tutoring, Bible study, travel experiences, and intentional Leadership Development nearly every week of the year. The staff still live in the community creating a family feel with deep relationships that are empowering for all involved. The prayer of the I AM 24/7 movement is to see individuals from every part of our city, every area of society, from our schools to the workplace, come to a greater understanding of God’s love for them and their call to bring hope and change to our world.

Generational Impact

I AM 24/7’s unique model of ministry targets youth on their teams to be leaders of the next generation. The I AM 24/7 Leadership Development Program engages, equips, empowers, and then employs these young men to be the next generation of life influencers in their own communities. These high school students own their role as leaders in the community and are employed part-time as coaches for I AM 24/7’s younger sports teams. This program also exposes our student leaders to a variety of other contexts via relational mentorship and a variety of trips, including overseas mission trips. The alumni of this program have now become young professionals, some with college degrees, and others serving in the military all over the country. We pray that the seeds of the Gospel would continue to produce much fruit in their lives and that they would be lights in their community everywhere they go!

By the Numbers

70

Players

9

Church Partnerships

43

Volunteers Tutors and Coaches

20,000

Hours of Life-on-life mentoring

Meet some of our alumni

  • Deron Huggins

    Deron’s life has been at the heart of I AM 24/7 since the beginning.  After joining his first team with us at the age of 9 he made a commitment to follow Christ.  By the age of 12 he was helping coach younger kids and leading small group devotions.  Upon graduating high school with honors he received a scholarship to attend Western Carolina University where he studied sports medicine.  He is currently an athletic trainer at Queens university and comes back often to serve the community.

  • Jeremiah Cleaves-Herring

    Jeremiah is a long-term community legend, known by the youth as Coach Big Foot.  He was the program’s first goalkeeper and a part of the first Leadership Development Program we ever ran.  Jeremiah is now a young professional in Charlotte working a number of jobs including as an assistant at a legal firm all while continuing to produce art through music production.  Since graduating high school Jeremiah has served with us in a number of different capacities and continues to serve others everywhere he goes.

  • Gerson Gonzalez

    Gerson grew up playing soccer in the streets, but never had a team.  He joined our very first soccer team in 2009 and thrived not only as a player, but a leader within the program.  Once he graduated high school he started working with his father doing flooring and after 2 years started his own company which he still runs today.  Gerson has a passion for youth and serves as a youth leader with his church as well.