Our hope for Fuel Networks is to see a restoration and rebuilding of broken communities through leaders who connect, care, and collaborate for greater Gospel impact. The Columbus Fuel Network is proving to do just that.
One of those leaders is Monika Hahn, who serves as a Program Coordinator for Equip Skills Center, a ministry of Central Ohio Youth for Christ.
Equip Skills Center provides free training for young people interested in mechanics and working with their hands. Data shows that two out of three ninth graders won’t attend college. Yet urban youth often lack access to resources that lead to a living wage and in-demand careers. The center’s mission is to help students discover and develop their God-given abilities through technical and life skills training in a Christ-centered environment, offering them both a vision and a pathway to break cycles of poverty and serve their community.
“Teens get the chance to try something new and challenging in a safe environment,” Monika explains. “Even those who decide mechanics isn’t for them leave with practical skills and greater confidence in themselves.”
One student in particular stands out. J came to Equip Skills Center with an interest in cars but little experience. He was also struggling with his faith due to difficult life circumstances. “He was shy and withdrawn,” Monika recalls. “But over the year he spent in our program, he became a different person.” J not only gained mechanical knowledge and confidence but also rediscovered God’s love for him and a renewed sense of purpose. He began discipleship with a volunteer, completed the Young Leader Training at Youth for Christ, and now works in a paid training program at a local dealership. “J represents our hope for every student who walks through our doors,” Monika says.
Monika’s own journey into leadership began after graduate school, when she experienced God’s redemption firsthand. “He rescued me from a life of sin and selfishness,” she shares. “I felt He wanted to redeem my past by using it to help other young people.” Her passion for workforce development grew as she taught college students and was deepened by her experiences with her younger brother, who has autism. Watching him struggle to navigate high school and adulthood inspired her to help others like him find a path that honors how God uniquely designed them.
When the opportunity came to join Central Ohio Youth for Christ, Monika knew it was from the Lord. “I’m incredibly grateful to be part of an organization with such a holistic approach to ministry,” she says.
Through the Fuel Network, Monika has found pathways for carrying, caring, and collaborating with other leaders across Columbus. “It’s been so valuable to work alongside leaders who are reaching the same youth,” she explains. “Together, we can offer students more resources and stronger support because of the connections formed in this network.”
She adds, “Being able to meet monthly with other leaders to share our burdens and pain points has helped me process the lows that serving can sometimes bring. It reminds me that we’re not doing this alone.”
Monika’s story highlights three key lessons for leaders within UYWI’s Fuel Networks and beyond:
- Collaboration expands impact. Working with other leaders opens doors to new opportunities, resources, and support for youth across the city.
- Care sustains calling. Regular connection with peers helps leaders process the challenges of ministry and stay spiritually grounded.
- Connection fuels restoration. When leaders unite around shared purpose, entire communities begin to heal and flourish.
As the Columbus Fuel Network continues to grow, stories like Monika’s remind us that when leaders are connected, cared for, and equipped, transformation doesn’t stop with them—it spreads into every corner of their city.
