Urban Life Center Marks Five Years, Gives 300 Backpacks to Baltimore Students

Baltimore, Md. — During a festive afternoon, Urban Life Center celebrated five years of ministry in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 15, when volunteers distributed 300 backpacks to students at Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School.

Cristina Macena, co-founder and project manager of Urban Life Center, said the backpack giveaway reflects the center’s mission since it opened in 2021. “There’ s no better way to promote the love of Jesus to those around us than by attending to our community’s needs,” Macena said. “People need to know we can make a difference.”

Adventurer clubs and families collected the backpacks during the Chesapeake Conference’s Adventurer Family Weekend, held May 29-31 at Mt. Aetna Retreat Center. Families and community donors gathered 315 backpacks and school supplies, and Urban Life Center prepared them for distribution at its Eastern Avenue location in Baltimore. 

The center served 250 students through a similar drive in 2025 and set a goal to reach more students in 2026.

Urban Life Center, a ministry of the Chesapeake Conference of Seventh- day Adventists, opened its doors on Eastern Avenue on August 13, 2021. Paulo Macena, then lead pastor of the Ellicott City church, and Diego Boquer, then pastor of the Baltimore-White Marsh church, founded the center as a gathering place where friendship and service could open the door to the gospel. David Klinedinst, evangelism and church growth director for the Chesapeake Conference, helped guide the project from the start.

At the ribbon-cutting ceremony, Jerry Lutz, president of the Chesapeake Conference at the time, called the center “a gift to the city of Baltimore.” Frank Bondurant, who was vice president for ministry development at the Columbia Union Conference, said the church “needs to be willing to go wherever people are,” and added, “Where are people? They’re in the cities.” Gary Krause, director of Adventist Mission, described the center as “an excuse for making connections,” while Jose Cortez Jr., associate ministerial director for the North American Division, said, “We love the city because of people.” Since then, the Chesapeake Conference has planted more than 25 churches, and membership has grown from about 16,500 to 19,022 today.

Five years after its ribbon-cutting, Urban Life Center continues to support the community through donations received, by building connections, and by sharing the practical gospel with those most in need. 

To learn more about the Urban Life Center, visit here.