Our Leadership
Executive Leadership Team
Dave Jones
Executive Director
Dave and his wife, Gina, have served in ministry 40 years, with the majority of those years ministering to young people and their families in Denver. Dave has served the Lord in a variety of settings including a group home for troubled youth, a lockup facility for teens, prison ministry and inner city Denver. In more recent years, Dave's calling has been to equip, coach and encourage ministry leaders who have a heart to serve the "least of these," as Jesus described in Mathew 25. In addition to his role with Denver Leadership Initiative, Dave leads a seven-month program called "TEAMM" that assists urban ministry leadership teams with becoming more aligned and effective in their calling. Whether it is Christian leaders or ministry leadership teams, Dave’s passion is to help others with focus, direction and self (and team) care. Dave and Gina have been blessed with a long marriage and they have three adult sons who they deeply adore.
Niecy Locricchio
Director of Soul Care
Niecy is a spiritual director, retreat creator and guide, and companion to those in the prayer pilgrimage of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. She is founder of The Soul Care Place (thesoulcareplace.com), visioned to journey with others to experience greater wholeness, healing and intimacy with the God who loves us. With over 20 years of ministry experience, Niecy is passionate about coming alongside others to tend to God’s voice in both ordinary moments and life transitions. Her practice draws upon Ignatian Spirituality, to hold space for creative experiential practices to open new avenues for connecting with God. As a recovering perfectionist and overachiever, Niecy has found creativity, play and slowing down to be life-giving practices in her spiritual rhythm. She loves to spend time with her husband and family, especially her granddaughter. You might spot them paddleboarding, Latin dancing, or playing laser tag.
Christine Martinez
Administrative Director
Christine served in ministry for over 20 years at His Love Fellowship. Currently she is ministering with Resilience Church.Her heart is to encourage others by supporting them as they serve Gods people. In 2003 Christine completed a program for leaders through the Mestiza Institute. During the program year God continued to show her how He was going to use the skill set she learned in the Body of Christ. Christine is an alumni member of DLI class of 2012. She has raised 4 beautiful daughters Alyssa, Lorena, Jenn and Erica with her husband Eric.
Leadership Board
Phil Abeyta has been called to "HELP" (Honor, Encourage, Love, and Pray) for urban leaders.
He is the Executive Pastor at Redeemer Temple Church in Arvada, whose primary responsibility is developing staff, preaching, counseling and leading outreach efforts.
He is also works for the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative (DVULI), a national leadership development program for urban youth workers in Christian organizations and institutions. He oversees Denver, Albuquerque and Phoenix as liaison for DVULI.
Phil is also a board member and presenter for the Denver Leadership Initiative (DLI).
Phil has been a follower of Christ since he was a senior in Denver's North high school (a long time ago!). He has been married to the same amazing woman for 44 years. He and Cathy have seven kids (4 married) and currently have 17 grand kids. He loves to fish, golf and spend time in San Diego, whenever he can.
For Phil, serving the Lord, and helping others to do the same is his life's calling!
Phil Abeyta
Associate Pastor
Redeemer Temple
For the past 30 years, Salt and Marcie have lived and worked together serving as urban missionaries in Northeast Denver where Salt was raised. Salt and Marcie have three adult sons Jesse, Chris and Shawn, of whom they are very proud. Currently, Salt and Marcie give leadership to Urban Youth Ministries and interact with many youth from the Denver and Aurora neighborhoods. Their current calling is to train and walk alongside urban leaders.
Salt Wall
Urban Youth Ministries