Rev. Lee Yates
Lee is a teacher, storyteller, networker, advocate, problem solver and trauma educator. His sermons invite us to imagine how the text was first heard and how God might still be speaking through it today.
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While his roots are in Kentucky, Southern California has been a second home to Lee ever since he came out to attend Chapman University. In 2016, the Yates family followed Rev. Mandye Yates’ call to a congregation in Fullerton, and Lee accepted God’s call to Covina Community Church.
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Over the years, Lee has become a trusted guide for congregations trying to reimagine faith formation, a strong voice for the importance of trauma informed care as part of Church life, and regularly offers apology to those who have been hurt by the Church over the years. His ministry has matched our congregation’s passion for reaching out to those who others have forgotten or pushed aside.
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Lee also serves as the Managing Editor for InsideOut Camp Curriculum and does consulting for other congregations in a variety of areas. You can find his work in “Faith Formation with a New Generation,” (published 2018) and on websites such as VBSco-Op.com, FaithShaping.com, and DiscipleShare.org.