Spring-Summer 2012

Engagement: How are you doing?

Charles Swindoll tells this story: A Greek class was given an assignment to study the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:2537. As is true in most classes, a couple or three of the students cared more about the practical implications of the assignment than its intellectual stimulation. The three carried out a plan where one played the Samaritan victim. They tore his clothes, rubbed on mud and catsup to create wounds, marked up his face and eyes, then placed him along the path that led from the dormitory to the classroom building. While the other two hid and recorded, he groaned and writhed, simulating great pain. Not one student stopped. They walked around him, stepped over him, and said things to him. Nobody stopped to help.1 They werent engaged. Whether it was indifference or busyness, they didnt involve themselves in addressing the need presented to them. If this had been a real-life scenario, the man wouldnt have received the help he desperately needed and might not have survived. In a recent Teen Night gathering, Caleb Reed spoke on the topic of fear and gave youth the opportunity to write their prayer requeststheir fearson index cards for staff to read and pray over later. The response really was overwhelming as teens began to stream to the back table for pen and paper to write their requests. What was on their hearts? Some were scared of being bullied at school, of having to make the transition from junior high to high school. Some needed prayer for a mom or dad who was in jail; another requested prayer for a serious health condition. Others wanted a better relationship with God and with their teachers. Some wanted to stop doing bad things. On the outside, these teens may not appear that bruised or beat up. They have the right shoes and sufficient hair gel to keep their do of choice looking good, but emotionally and spiritually they need help. Will you be engaged in the cause of reaching at-risk youth with the hope and love of Jesus? Over the next year, we will be exploring six tangible ways (hint: check out the balloons!) that you can be engaged in this cause as God leads you. You may not be called to live in the inner city, but there are simple ways you can be engaged even in the comfort of your own home thousands of miles away from Phoenix. First, you can LEARN. If you live in the Valley and have never been down to the corner of 13th & Roosevelt, come take a tour of Aim Right and its community. Read a book related to the issues of at -risk youth. We recommend starting with these: At-Risk Youth: Bringing Hope to Hurting Youth by Dr. Scott Larsen Battlecry for a Generation by Ron Luce Listen to a video testimony of a youth. Participate in an Aim Right Book Club. Second, you can RELATE. Mentor an at-risk youth. Your time commitment could vary, but we suggest interacting with the teen at least twice a month. Be a host family for a ministry intern. It can be difficult for an intern to be away from home and family for a year. What about inviting an intern to your home for a meal or including them in a family activity? Suggested interaction with the intern is two times per month. Take the challenge and become engaged, whether it is through learning more about at-risk youth or by relating with a teen or intern. We would love to hear how God is leading you to be involved! Simply return the enclosed reply card to us indicating how you plan to learn or relate, or go online and take the brief poll at our blog home page: www.aimright.blogspot.com.
1

www.oneplace.com. The Good Samaritan devotional by Insight for Living. Thur. June 10, 2010

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GOOD NEWS IN SUNNYSLOPE

If you entered Sunnyslope Elementary on a Wednesday afternoon, you might find a classroom full of energetic kids ranging from first to sixth grade. These kids would not be studying typical lessons; instead, you might hear a song being sung about Jesus, a kid taking a prayer request and praying for them, a Bible story being told, or perhaps even an invitation to receive Jesus as your Savior. How can this be going on at a public school? Thanks to Child Evangelism Fellowship who made this after school Good News Club possible, they went all the way to the Supreme Court to provide an after-school club that teaches and evangelizes kids in their own public school! CEF is. by Jewel Miller A.J. and I have had the privilege of leading an A.J. & Jewel, already Sunnyslope Interns established Good News Club at Sunnyslope Elementary for the past school year. We were amazed at how well-behaved and interested the kids were each week to not only learn about Jesus but also make decisions to ask Jesus into their hearts. We have finished club for the year at a total of 68 kids and many professions of faith. We hope to continue this awesome opportunity again next year. Pray that the school would continue to be open to our club, pray for kids to participate in our club, and pray for changed lives! Do you want to start a Good News Club at your childs public school? Contact CEF:
Child Evangelism Fellowship PO Box 348 Warrenton, MO 63383-0348

Tutoring students earned a Pizza Party and an Ice Cream Sundae party by reading over 300 pages each.

Caleb shares the Word at a Teen Night gathering.

dedicated to seeing every child reached with the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, discipled and established in a local church.

Children love participating in theme nights at Kids Klub. Can you tell that this was HAT NIGHT?

Online: cefonline.com

The

You will find it is easier than you might think!

Matt Yoder, Team FUN

Special thanks to ministry volunteers Matt Yoder and Jeff Chupp who have stepped down from their roles as leaders of Team FUN and Impact Group (Teen Bible Study), respectively. Matt and Jeff, we thank you for your investment in the lives of youth!
PERCEPTIONS

Prayer Box

The Prayer Box is a recent addition to Teen Night. If

theres anything teens want prayer for, they fill out a card and put it in the box. Then staff pray over each request at our weekly staff meeting. It has been encouraging to see the teens desire for prayer!

Jeff Chupp, Impact Group

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Teen Camp Sponsors Needed!

Plans are underway for Aim Rights annual Teen Camp that will be held July 9-13 in scenic Colorado. As much as possible, the week of camp is designed to be a distraction-free time where teens leave the city, their ipods, and their cell phones behind, and find themselves immersed in activities and teaching that point them toward beginning a relationship with Christ or strengthening their relationship with Him.

You can be involved by sponsoring a camper for:

Proceeds from the Spaghetti Dinner will benefit our Teen Camp fund. Enjoy a great meal plus meet some of the teens who will be going to camp this year!

nation Cost: Do

THANKS
for again helping us to have a successful benefit auction! God provided wonderful weather for the weekend and generous bidders and donors. Proceeds of the event totaled just over $18,000. If you donated items, participated in a quilting circle, bought some bake sale items, or invited a friend, we appreciate your support of youth!

URGENT NEED FOR: ministry interns

Are you: -18+ years old? -willing to serve for one year? -wanting to make a difference? Perhaps God is calling you to Phoenix! Internships are available for males or females beginning this fall. We ask that the initial support raised or pledged is $4,500, with the remaining amount earned through a part-time job while on assignment. Applications are available online at www.aimright.org.

AIM RIGHT FIRST FRIDAYS

7:00-10:00 PM JUNE 1
You may not know what First Friday means, but our local teens certainly do! Every first Friday of the month, there is an art walk less than a mile away from Aim Right. Local artists display their work, and musicians and all kinds of vendors add to the atmosphere as well. It draws a crowd from all over the Valley, and unfortunately also draws many youth away from coming to Teen Night. Aim Rights inaugural First Friday event was held in May as a Christ-centered alternative with live music, a snack stand, graffiti art walls, and sharing by Mike Elia. Bring a lawn chair and come check out our next First Friday event on June 1!
Sanctum was one of the live bands.

DO YOU KNOW AN INTERN

serving with Aim Right?
Why not surprise them with a card, letter, or package to let them know you are thinking about them and praying for them, or give a donation towards their support? Send in care of the intern to: 1013 N. 13th Street, Phoenix, AZ 85006

Mission Statement: Established in 1991, Aim

1013 North 13th Street Phoenix, AZ 85006 Phone: (602) 462-1987 Fax: (602) 462-9686 E-mail: info@aimright.org Blog: aimright.blogspot.com Website: www.aimright.org

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.

President/Founder: Darrell Bacher Board Members: Arlen Godshall, Chris King,, James Miller, Kevin Hudson, & George Nungesser Teen Ministry & Intern Director: Caleb Reed Office Administrator: Amy Unrau Ministry Interns: Tiffany Graber, Laura McDowell, A.J. and Jewel Miller, Seth Roggie, Evan Stoltzfus

We are updating our e-mail list to transition to a more frequent, cost-friendly way to communicate with you. If youd like to be included in our e-mail updates, please fill out your e-mail address on the enclosed card and return it to us, or e-mail amy@aimright.org. Thank you!