The nationwide hub for coffee-house-style youth & young-adult ministry — resources, free leader training, and a growing network of Grind chapters. Starting on the East Coast. Every denomination. Every young person. Welcome.
"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12
The coffee-house model at the heart of The Grind isn't borrowed — Felix built and ran it more than 20 years ago, out of decades on the front line of youth ministry. What national programs later made popular, he was already doing: coffee, music, real conversation, and a short, honest message that meets young people where they are.
Felix is a certified Master Guide (Advanced) and a conference-certified youth-leadership trainer — someone already credentialed to train and certify other leaders — with the full Pathfinder honor set and decades as a Pathfinder club director and youth leader. Neusa brings the same heart for mentorship and community. Together they've spent their lives developing young people from childhood faith into adult conviction.
Now we're scaling what we pioneered — into a national hub that equips and certifies leaders everywhere to do the same. We're not here to babysit. We're here to build leaders.
Our certification standard is backed by a real training pedigree — not a self-appointed badge:
Master Guide — Advanced
Conference-certified youth-leadership trainer
Full Pathfinder honor & certification set
Decades as club director & youth leader
Everything we do flows through these three principles.
A place to belong. Before you can grow spiritually, you need to feel safe. We build that space — authentic, judgment-free, and alive.
Growth that's intentional. From the first visit to leading others — a clear path from curiosity to conviction to multiplication.
Faith in action. Not hidden, not performative — lived. Fellowship, study, prayer, and service that others can see and experience.
We're becoming the nationwide hub for coffee-house-style youth & young-adult ministry — starting on the East Coast, growing across the country.
The go-to library for everything youth & young-adult (to age 22) and coffee-house-style programs.
Explore resources →Learn to start and run your own Grind, under our guidance — free training through NEIademy.
Start training →A growing network of local Grind coffee houses. Bring one to your community.
Start a chapter →Everything you need to build real community for young people — free and growing.
The model, the vision, and how a Grind night runs.
Youth protection, waivers, ratios, and policy templates.
Run-of-show, hospitality, music, and games.
Short-message formats and discussion guides.
Sponsorships and support to keep the doors open.
Building a safe, judgment-free space.
Four certification tracks take you from safety-first fundamentals to a launch-ready, certified chapter leader — free, self-paced, and guided by us through our academy.
Youth protection, background checks, adult-to-youth ratios, chaperone & emergency policy, and mandatory-reporter basics. Required first — the gate for every leader certification.
Certification: Certified in Youth Protection Required PrerequisiteUnderstanding ages 14–22, the discipleship path, building community & belonging, communication, and leading volunteer teams.
Certification: Certified Youth Ministry LeaderOur founder-authored coffee-house playbook: the model & vision, running the night (hospitality, food, live music, the "Super Short Sermon"), moderation & safe space, Bring-a-Friend growth, sponsorships, and the launch playbook.
Certification: Certified Grind Chapter Leader → Eligible to open a chapterLegal/entity/insurance basics, the digital stack (site, chat, phone, blog), marketing, and measurement. Optional, for leaders scaling up.
Certification: Certified Ministry OperatorPathway: Youth Protection → Foundations → The Grind Model (capstone). Each track ends with a quiz and a verifiable certificate; complete the capstone plus a signed chapter agreement and safety proof to be approved and listed in the network.
Bring a Grind to your community — under our model, brand, and guidance.
Complete the free Ministry Leadership track on NEIademy.
Adopt our safety, conduct, and brand standards.
We review and welcome you into the network, under our guidance.
Open your Grind and get listed in our directory.
Nieto Ministries is an independent, Christ-centered ministry — all denominations, all young people, fully inclusive. We're not here to divide by label; we're here to build the next generation together.
What we're building — one gathering at a time.
Friday night coffee house for ages 16-22. Music, food, short messages, real community. Twice monthly.
Launching Summer 2026Quarterly outdoor experiences. Camping, hiking, team challenges. Building courage and connection in God's creation.
Coming 2027Quarterly community service. Faith made visible through action. Teams serving together, growing together.
Coming 2027For youth ready to lead. Public speaking, event planning, mentoring skills. Preparing the next generation of church leaders.
Coming 2027Gatherings, services, and community nights. Come be part of it.
Moments from our community, programs, and gatherings.