Meet Javier Rodriguez | Non profit founder of UNRTHDX MVMNT

We had the good fortune of connecting with Javier Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Javier, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Well, I didn’t necessarily start a business—more like a nonprofit. I’ve always thought about starting something from scratch. Really, I feel like it was God who led me to it back in 2023. I was fasting and praying, and one day, I just started thinking about my dreams. I felt God say, “Well, when are you going to start?” I thought, Maybe later in life, but I felt God say, Start now so you can get prepared for later.

So, I started creating a plan to launch a nonprofit. I was already doing outreach at my local skate park by bringing pizza and leading a Bible study there. I decided to build my ministry around unique outreaches, so I called it UNRTHDX—short for “unorthodox.”

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My nonprofit organization is called UNRTHDX MVMNT. Our mission is to use unorthodox methods to preach the gospel by combining extreme sports culture with mentoring, evangelism, and youth empowerment.

We have just started, but we have already seen God move in amazing ways. Our main program is Skate Church, where we hold a Bible study at a skate park, bring free pizza, and share the Word. We have seen God moving among the skaters at Brook Run Skate Park. We are also preparing to launch mentoring groups to help skaters grow deeper in their faith, as well as camps for at-risk youth.

Jesus changed my life as a teenager after I lost my mother to a drug overdose. Because of how He transformed me, I want to see Him change other people’s lives too. I attended ministry school for four years and have been a youth pastor for six. In 2023, I started my nonprofit because I realized that many people don’t go to church—so if they aren’t coming to us, we are going to them.

It hasn’t been easy, and I have seen little success at times, but God has kept me motivated to keep going.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Of course take them to the belt line and Ponce.

Pollo Primo for food. Great Mexican chicken spot

Take them to my wife’s coffee pop up at el ponce restaurant.

Little 5 points

Stone Mountian

Jenis or big softy for ice cream

Little Rey

Thrift stores

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to my wife Paula . For always sticking by my side and supporting my dream. Shout out to My board members Efa Mboto and Earl williams. For believing in the vision.

Website: https://unrthdxmvmnt.org

Instagram: @URTHDX.MVMNT @sk8churchatl