Winter 2012

Connect, Give, and Make a Difference!

By Amy Unrau

Who are the at-risk? Five pre-teen girls arrive and settle into chairs. The chairs are arranged in a small circle in a small room, and while it doesnt resemble a schoolroom, I am studying, and I am learning. Sometimes its a specific question or assignment: Describe the perfect father. What are 5 things youre really good at? Write down a problem that you have. Sometimes its just listening to their chitchat about boys and school and homework. I have learned that in this small group of girls, two have an incarcerated mother, four live with their grandmothers, one has never met her biological father, and one has a father so uninterested in her life that I dont even think I would cry if he died. The Word is opened around that small circle, and we take in the truth together. We process life in light of what He says about it. Although Im not always convinced they are gung-ho and getting it, the girls will be around the circle next week, too. When you hear the phrase Engage in reaching at-risk youth, it could seem a little nebulous kind of like Help the starving children in Africa. Envision that small circle of girls and mix in a few other dynamics living at or

below poverty level, frequent moves, the availability of drugs and you have a good snapshot of the at-risk youth of Phoenix. What can I do? You might recall that in previous editions of Perceptions this year, we highlighted a few specific ways you can be engaged in reaching at-risk youth: Learn Serve

Maybe you could have a drive at your church to collect items such as backpacks, socks, or school supplies for Aim Right to give to children. Last Christmas, a family contacted us and wanted to adopt a needy family in our community. They carefully chose and wrapped gifts for each person and even delivered them with a homemade meal! How can I give? My first interaction with Aim Right was as a donor. A mission board presented an opportunity to sponsor an inner-city teen to attend summer camp. I did, and later received a hand-written note from a teen, thanking me for their memorable camp experience. Perhaps you, too, could help a teen have a life-changing experience next summer at camp, or maybe you can sign up to be a monthly donor. Do you live in the Valley and have household items, antiques, appliances, furniture, or clothing that that could be sold at our spring auction or one of our yard sales? Your junk could be someone elses treasure and bless Aim Right with much-needed funds as well. Will it make a difference? In the words of Jesus: Whatever you did for one of the least of these...you did for Me. (Matt. 25:40) For more ideas of how you can be involved and make a difference, check out the next page!

Relate

Pray

Two final ways you can be a link in the chain of extending Christs love to youth are to: Connect Give How can I connect? Perhaps you could share with a friend about Aim Right, or invite a friend to serve at a program or event with you. Also, you could open your home to host a house party for others to learn about Aim Right in a relaxed setting. While our annual fall banquet is already past, begin to pray about being a table host at the banquet next fall. A host simply invites others to fill a table at the banquet.

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LEARN

Take a tour of Aim Right & its community | Read a book related to the issues of at-risk youth (Battle Cry for a Generation by Ron Luce) | Listen to a video testimony of a youth | Participate in an Aim Right Book Club

RELATE

Mentor an at-risk youth (suggested: meet at least 2x per month) | Be a host family for a ministry intern (suggested: invite 2x per month for a family activity or dinner)

SERVE

Volunteer for a weekly program: Kids Klub, Recreation Center, Teen Night, Tutoring | Volunteer for a summer program: VBS, Work projects Join a committee for a fundraising event | Help with The Mobile Pantry

CONNECT

Share with a friend about Aim Right | Invite a friend to serve at a program or event with you | Host a house party or table at our annual banquet Have a drive at your church to collect items for children (backpacks, etc.)

PRAY

Pray for the needs and issues of at-risk youth & the ministries that serve them | Pray for Aim Right staff by name | Join a community prayer walk in one of the neighborhoods where Aim Right ministers

GIVE

Sponsor a teen to attend summer camp | Donate used furniture, clothes, or household items for a community yard sale | Sponsor a table at our annual banquet | Designate your United Way contribution to Aim Right

PERCEPTIONS

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The Mobile PantryFeeding Hungry Families

When The Mobile Pantry debuted at Aim Right in October, around 40 families came to receive food. In November, 120 families were served, with around 6,000 pounds of food distributed! Every second Thursday of the month, St. Marys Food Bank comes with a truckload of fresh fruits and vegetables and other bonus items such as bread or baked goods. A crew of volunteers (many from within the community) sort the food items and then give food to families as they drop in throughout the morning. To volunteer, e-mail darrell.aimright@gmail.com.

Help at The Mobile Pantry!

Thursday Dec. 13 or Jan. 10 7:45-11 :00 am

Sharing Jesus with a Misguided, Fatherless Generation

Working with inner-city youth can be a challenge, especially for someone who came from a small town in Ohio. There is not a day that goes by that we do not love the place God where God has called us. It has been amazing to see God work and move through young peoples lives, and we continue to thank God for working! Recently in our Teen Night program we have been talking about different topics such as: Respect, Forgetting the Past, and Breaking Addictions. When talking to inner-city youth about these topics, it can be like talking to a brick wall at times. Often teens are hesitant to really let these topics speak to them. They come up with questions like, If she doesnt respect me then why should I respect her? or My past/addictions are just a part of me, and that is part of life. When I hear these comments and questions, it breaks my heart because behind it is an attitude that says, I cant change or I dont want to change. In my opinion, there are two reasons behind this attitude. Reason one is our mainstream media. Our media through movies, music, magazines, and TV says that until I am satisfied with what I have (clothes, gadgets, house, etc.), I will not be happy. I think we all know that this is a vicious cycle; we will never truly be happy with material
Caleb, Stephanie, & Madison Reed Caleb serves as Teen Ministry & Intern Program Director.

By Caleb Reed

...it breaks my heart because behind it is an attitude that says, I cant change or I dont want to change.
things. This mindset flows over into how we respect ourselves and others. It tells us that we dont have to respect others until they make us happy and meet our needs. This is the very mindset that the youth of our city have. It can be challenging that our youth think like this, but it is exciting to see their minds working and thinking when talking about these topics. The second reason is that we are working with a fatherless generation. Let me explain. The majority of the youth we work with day in and day out do not have a father figure in their home. They are living with a mother and a few siblings if they are lucky, or with a grandparent or aunt and uncle. Living life without a father in the home causes most youth to miss out on some key factors of growing up. For some,

this doesnt seem to affect them at all, but the majority are affected. Lack of a father in the home does not give a young person someone to look up to. A father typically challenges us to do better, become stronger and wiser, and respect ourselves and others. Trying to teach these attributes to a young teenager is difficult if they have missed out on it all of their lives. When you tell a young person they have potential and can do better and be stronger, their eyes begin to glow! As you continue to pray for Aim Right, would you please pray for this fatherless generation? Pray that we would be

...one out of every three children in America...lives in a home without their biological father present.
Promoting Responsible Fatherhood, June 2012, whitehouse.gov

able to speak truth and life into the youth of our community. Also pray that people would step up and be called to mentor and disciple young peoples lives; there are many youth that need this one-on-one time to give them a model to live by. That model to live by would reflect the life of Jesus Christ. I pray that you are living a life that reflects that of Jesus, wherever you are. As Paul encourages us to be imitators of Christ, imitate Him in the home, the marketplace, and in the workplace.

Personnel:
President/Founder: Darrell Bacher

1013 N. 13th St. Phoenix, AZ 85006

Phone: (602) 462-1987 Fax: (602) 462-9686 E-mail: info@aimright.org Website: www.aimright.org
For weekly updates, visit our blog The Corner of 13th & Roosevelt at

Board Members: Arlen Godshall Chris King James Miller Kevin Hudson George Nungesser Teen Ministry/Intern Director: Caleb Reed

aimright.blogspot.com
Mission Statement: Established in 1991, Aim Right Ministries provides after-school recreational activities, educational tutoring, and moral and spiritual training for at-risk youth and children living in central Phoenix. Working in cooperation with local churches, we desire these youth to be evangelized and discipled for Christ.

Office Administrator: Amy Unrau Ministry Interns: A.J. and Jewel Miller

Donations Needed!
Suggestions: Sewn items (quilts, comforters, afghans), antiques, quality furniture, glassware, collectibles, home dcor, or gift certificates

Long-Term (1 Year): Ministry Interns Be a part of impacting lives! Our current team is stretched to capacity, and we are praying for more workers to join us. Will you seek God about this opportunity? You can find an application online at www.aimright.org. Short-Term (1 Week): Youth Groups Be a light in the inner city next summer! Hands-on ministry opportunities include teaching children through Vacation Bible School and helping the poor through a variety of service projects. E-mail Amy at amy@aimright.org for more details.