Aim Right Ministries

2012-01-26T14:25:00.000-08:00

Auction items are arriving! It's always exciting to see the variety of items that generous individuals and churches donate for the sale. This year's benefit auction will be held Saturday, March 10th, at 9:00 a.m. In addition, we are planning a Friday evening event on March 9th featuring a Chili Cook-off and a bluegrass concert. Come at 6:00 p.m. and use your tastebuds to help judge the chili, and then enjoy the concert at 7:30 p.m. Cost for chili and the fixin's is $5.00 per adult and $3.00 for children 7 and under. You can find more auction details on our auction site: Auction Website.

We have been blessed with a team of servants here this week from Ohio: Sarah Eichorn, Sarah Kramer, Sharla Hostetler, and Katrina Hostetler. From cleaning / organizing our supply closet, to raking the granite outdoors, to wiping down walls and ledges, to helping with children's activities, they've been wonderful volunteers! Yesterday they coordinated a Craft Day during Rec Center.

Some happy faces at a recent Teen Night:

Impact Group

2012-01-17T13:30:00.000-08:00

Last week Jeff introduced the topic of wisdom at Impact Group, and teens looked into the Word to figure out God's definition of wisdom and why it is so important.

This week, Evan facilitated the study, continuing with the theme of wisdom. He opened with a question, "If God came to you in a dream and said you could ask Him for anything you wanted, what would you ask Him for?" The teen who answered first said he'd like 5 more wishes, and several teens after him mentioned money.

There was a shift towards more serious, thoughtful responses, though, when a girl said, "I'd like to see my mom again." Her mom had passed away unexpectedly when she was only 13 or 14 years old. Soon others began to say things like "I'd like to see my twin brother" or "I'd like to see this relationship restored."

It was encouraging to see youth begin to recognize that people matter more than things.

Small groups of teens delved into the Scripture to learn about Solomon's request for wisdom, and then Evan led a large group discussion about the Bible passages.

Pray that these teens will keep seeking His wisdom!

Around Here...

2012-01-16T11:37:00.000-08:00

Tutoring for local 1st and 2nd graders began off last week. The main focus of the program is reading; in addition to the books and workbooks available for them to use, the students also really enjoy playing educational games.

Yes, that is Seth on the right in the photo above. He is back in Phoenix to complete his internship, after spending some time in New York working.

For the first Teen Night of 2012 (January 6th), youth enjoyed a night of pizza and games.

We were blessed with an abundance of donated bouncy balls. Most of them were given away to children as Christmas gifts, but teens have been enjoying the remaining ones. They're great for dodge ball!

Good News Club

2012-01-05T12:59:00.001-08:00

An e-mail I just received from CEF Phoenix (Child Evangelism Fellowship) highlights the prayer needs of the 16 Valley locations where Good News Clubs are held. Lord willing, this month Sunnyslope interns A.J. & Jewel Miller will begin leadership of the Wednesday afternoon Sunnyslope Elementary location, where 44 students are enrolled in the club. It is CEF's second largest class in the Valley.

A.J. & Jewel have been trained locally by CEF and have been volunteering at the Sunnyslope location for awhile. Other Aim Right interns plan to undergo CEF training so they can assist with the club as well. A typical weekly Good News Club session consists of an exciting Bible lesson, songs, Scripture memory, missions story, and review games or activities. Students must have a parent's permission to attend the club.

You may be wondering: Can you really attend a BIBLE class at a public school? YES! CEF's website explains: "In 2001, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled...that Good News Clubs can meet in public schools in the United States after hours on the same terms as other community groups."

Here are a few of the prayer needs of the CEF clubs in the Valley:

Pray for club leaders as they walk with the Lord personally -- that out of that relationship, they will study God's Word and prepare lessons for the children.

Pray for children to come to a saving faith in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Praise God for the 19 children that came to Christ in December. God is changing hearts and lives of these precious kids.

Pray for more churches to adopt local schools in their area so that the Good News can go out to more unreached children.

2011-12-22T13:13:00.000-08:00

On Monday evening, the teens girls from Impact Group (teen Bible study) enjoyed a gift exchange and Christmas goodies at Caleb & Stephanie's house.

Then, on Wednesday evening, around 50 children came to the final Kids Klub of 2011. With holiday break in full swing, we missed seeing several of our regular attenders, but we were able to connect with some of them afterwards to drop off their Christmas gifts.
Several volunteers acted out the Christmas story for the children.
After the play, it was down to the basement for grilled hot dogs and other snacks.

2011-12-20T14:12:00.000-08:00

Each year, a large church in the Valley puts on a Christmas show that is quite a production. There are numerous performances of the show, and some of the "standards" each year are the flying angels (trapeze artists), live animals (including camels), and snow falling on the stage -- plus much, much more that causes children's eyes to widen!

The Team FUN junior-high'ers attended one performance, and then we also took a group of younger children to a performance. Here are some photos of that evening, as the group waited for the show to start.

We are still able to purchase low-cost snacks through St. Mary's Food Bank, so the children enjoyed some treats while they waited.
On Friday evening, teens gathered for the final Teen Night of December, with some encouraging words from Caleb about not letting distractions get in the way of focusing on Christ.
There were a few contests in which teens could compete to earn prizes. Ever try to drink orange soda from a baby bottle? On Sunday evening, Aim Right staff, volunteers, and some guests gathered for the annual Aim Right Christmas dinner/party.
Lots of wonderful food!

The evening had a Christmas carol theme. Caleb came dressed as the Santa of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.
A.J. & Jewel came dressed as O Christmas Tree, and Jewel won the prize for being the most creative!Ding Dong Merrily on High, O Christmas Tree, the mommy of I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, and The Little Drummer Boy.
A creative bunch wrote a revision of The Twelve Days of Christmas to reflect "what Aim Right gave to me," and had a jolly good time presenting their humorous rendition. Some of the funnier lines were "two messed-up cars"and "five bags of expired chips," reflecting the fact that the intern vehicles have often been in the repair shop the past few months, and that sometimes the items we get from the food bank aren't so fresh anymore!

Points = Prizes!

2011-12-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

In September, we began logging "points" for each child that attends Kids Klub. Children received points for attendance, as well as saying Bible memory verses and participating in various theme nights, such as Crazy Hair or Mismatch Day. The children pictured below earned the most points and were awarded with special prizes. Special thanks to Ro & Lourdes for purchasing the prizes; the ones pictured below are only a few of the rewards that were given away yesterday evening.

Third grader Randy was the 4th place winner of a brand-new bicycle (pictured with Ro).

In 3rd place was Randy's sister Pati, who also received a sweet new set of wheels.

Second place winner--the top girl--was fifth grader Victoria. She received a digital camera.

Fifth grader Isaac earned 1st place and was awarded a Wii. After the awards were given out, a 1st grader proudly informed me that "the one who got the Wii is my friend." He seemed to be envisioning a lot of fun times in the future at Isaac's house!

Reading: It Matters

2011-12-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Darrell came to me with a slip of paper on which he'd jotted some notes from a recent meeting he'd attended. He was wondering if I would look online for statistics and research about the reading levels of 3rd graders and how that relates to high school dropout rates.

Right now, I haven't gotten much further than a lengthy report published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation in 2010. It's titled "Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters," and it was recently referenced in a 2011 article in The Huffington Post. Below are some excerpts from the report that I found interesting--as well as disheartening--since the children we primarily serve are low-income and black or Hispanic. Neither group fared well in the report's findings.

Millions of American children get to 4th grade without learning to read proficiently. And that puts them on the dropout track.

In 2007, nearly 6.2 million young people were high school dropouts.

Every student who does not complete high school costs our society an estimated $260,000 in lost earnings, taxes, and productivity.

High school dropouts are also moe likely than those who graduate to be arrested or have a child while still a teenager.

The shortfall in reading proficiency is especially pronounced among low-income children: of the 4th graders who took the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reading test in 2009, fully 83% of children from low-income families -- and 85% of low-income students who attend high-poverty schools -- failed to reach the "proficient" level.

The share of Black, Hispanic, and Native American students who score below proficient on the NAEP reading test is catastrophically high (89%, 87%, and 85%, respectively) and much larger than the share of low-income white or Asian/Pacific Islander students (76% and 70%).

Three-quarters of students who are poor readers in 3rd grade will remain poor readers in high school, according to researchers at Yale University.

By the time children from low-income families enter kindergarten, they are typically 12-14 months below national norms in language and pre-reading skills.

By age 3, children from wealthier families typically had heard 30 million more words than children from low-income families.

In 2009, 75% of 4th graders in Arizona scored below the proficient reading level.

In 2009, 63% of white 4th graders in Arizona scored below the proficient reading level, as compared to 80% of black 4th graders and 86% of Hispanic 4th graders.

Children who are poor readers grow up to be teenagers who are poor readers who become adults who are poor readers. And how can one who can barely read dig into God's Word? Christian Book Distributors suggests appropriate reading levels for these popular translations of the Bible:

King James Version - 12th grade

ESV - 10th grade

NIV - 7th-8th grade

NKJV - 7th grade

NLT - 6th grade

A reader below 4th grade level would struggle with any of those translations. Is that perhaps why it seems there are more and more "easier" (and perhaps "looser"?) translations and paraphrases being introduced today -- and not just for children, but for adult audiences? There are great spiritual ramifications when the majority of a country's citizens are incapable of reading well enough to study the Bible for themselves.

Several past presidents recognized the importance of Bible study. Consider these quotes:

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. - Theodore Roosevelt

I have always said and always will say that the studious perusal of the Sacred Volume will make better citizens, better fathers, better husbands...the Bible makes the best people in the world. - Thomas Jefferson

Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face. - Ronald Reagan

Sanctum 12.05.11

2011-12-12T16:08:00.000-08:00

December's worship service with the Sanctum Band included hot drinks, snacks, and Christmas carols, along with encouraging words about God's love from Bob Oxley, Sanctum leader.

Acquire the Fire

2011-12-05T15:02:00.000-08:00

This past weekend, a group of 24 teens and young adults from Aim Right attended the Acquire the Fire youth conference in Phoenix. The theme was "Normal's Not Enough--What Jesus did on the cross wasn't normal...neither are His followers!"

Please be in prayer for youth as they live out the truth they heard over the impactful weekend!

Christmas Party 12.03.11

2011-12-05T13:21:00.000-08:00

Even a grey, chilly day couldn't dampen the spirits of the children we took to a community Christmas party on Saturday. The party is an annual event sponsored by Phoenix businessman and philanthropist Jimmy Walker, and Aim Right was able to invite 10 children to the party.

Some of the highlights for the children were the snow pile, carriage rides, carnival foods, and the friendly costumed characters. Perhaps the best part of all, though, was that each child received a brand-new bicycle as a surprise gift to take home -- along with a bag of food and a frozen turkey to share with their families.

Thanksgiving -- Progressive Style!

2011-11-28T14:08:00.000-08:00

Youth had numerous opportunities to practice giving thanks when they boarded the bus on Saturday evening to celebrate Thanksgiving with a progressive dinner provided by staff and friends of the ministry.

Stop #1: A nice, healthy green salad at Luis & Delia's.

Stop #2: Delicious green bean casserole at Bob and Rachel's.

Stop #3: Scrumptious mashed potatoes topped with cheese and bacon at Jeff & Trisha's.

Stop #4: Fresh dinner rolls with homemade strawberry jam at Darrell & Julie's.

Stop #5: A dessert assortment of brownie bites, creme puffs, and danishes (along with coffee and hot cocoa) at Chris & Kay's.

Stop #6: Turkey time! The bird that is so apt to grace a Thanksgiving table appeared at the Progressive Dinner, too -- just at the final stop at the church, when most weren't so hungry anymore!

Special thanks to Caleb & Stephanie for planning the dinner (and preparing the turkey), and to all who hosted and provided food for the memorable evening of feasting!

From Kids Klub to Teen Night....

2011-11-21T15:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some of last week's events in photos:The newest attraction outside is a soccer goal. Obviously the fascination level is still high! A special grant from the county enabled us to purchase some new recreation equipment, as well as expand our outdoor lighting and add a large section of netting behind the basketball court.

[In the middle of writing this post, there was an interruption. A neighbor stopped by to report that a group of children had been playing in our bus, but scampered away when he caught them. Apparently they crawled in through a window. Mischief has been the name of the game today because earlier this afternoon, an intern spotted a couple of boys walking around on the roof of the intern guys' house. Can you tell there is no school this week?!]

The aforementioned bus, as it arrived at Kids Klub full of children last Wednesday Thursday evening, we invited 10 children to join us for a meal, skit, and games.

The interns + a few others did a humorous skit about prayer.

Teen Night was packed on Friday evening! Caleb spoke to over 50 teens about the things he is thankful for -- the Cross, the blood shed for sin, the nails that held Him to the cross.
Afterwards, it was S'more's time!

Banquet 2011

2011-11-16T13:47:00.000-08:00

In this season of giving thanks, we are grateful for the many guests who came to the Aim Right banquet on Saturday evening to celebrate 20 years of transformation and gave generously toward the needs of the ministry.

The Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort was the beautiful setting of the banquet, and the chefs there prepared a scrumptious meal for us.

Darius Rivera shared his testimony with the guests -- how God led him to Aim Right as a pre-teen and how He's used the ministry to impact his life.

Special thanks to all who participated as sponsors, hosts, guests, planners, and prayer warriors. You are appreciated!

Conversations

2011-11-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

There are afternoons and evenings when the camera bag slung over the shoulder goes unnoticed by the very person it's being slung around by, and good intentions to capture an event in photos don't pan out.

The shoulder was mine this week, so no photos...just some words.

Little Tyke was descending his apartment stairs to hop onto the Kids Klub van. He had on an over-sized leather jacket since the weather has finally taken a cool turn, and the babysitter or family friend (not his mother) was standing in the doorway to see him and his sister off. On his way down the stairs, Little Tyke felt compelled to share this information, "I have a fever!"

"Oh, you do?" I said, "Did you go to school today?"

The response: "Nope! But I took some Tylenol."

A gentle suggestion to Little Tyke that it wouldn't be a good idea for him to come to Kids Klub yielded no small amount of tears, but he complied and stayed home. Little Tyke's class made him a get well card, and the snack that was included with it perhaps sent a little sunshine into his evening.

I thank God for children that want to come to Kids Klub!

- - - - - - - - - -

The mother tearfully approached me a few weeks ago and asked for prayer.

"B may be a little upset this evening. We just found out that her dad needs to go in for lymph node testing. It might be cancer."

I told the mother we would pray and that I would pass the request along to B's Kids Klub teacher as well.

Fast forward a few weeks.

I asked B how her dad is doing.

"He has Stage 4 cancer," she said. "He hasn't been working since he's had doctor appointments. And he's going to have something called chemo." This she said almost with a question mark, as if she had no clue what chemo is or if she was even pronouncing it correctly.

She then said brightly, "But his work still has insurance for him."

I thank God that we can pray, and know that He hears, and know that He is control of fragile situations.

- - - - - - - - - - -

"Who is God?"

How do you begin to answer that question? Should you talk about His character, His creation, His love, His home, His work of salvation? Of course, ALL of it matters, but how do you condense God into a 10-minute expose to a 1st grader who apparently has a photograph of God at home, but doesn't understand Who He is?

I thank God for young minds who ask earnest questions -- questions that matter. And I thank God that He's given us a whole book of 66 chapters to learn about Who He is and teach young minds about Who He is.

Teen Bible Study + Fall Festival

2011-11-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

About a week ago, Jeff facilitated a lively discussion with teens about bringing change to their neighborhood. Do you want to see your neighborhood changed? What has God called you to do to bring about change? Is there even hope of change ever happening? Is change just about having a cleaner street or nicer homes, or is there a deeper issue?

Last Wednesday, our annual Fall Festival drew lots of children and lots of parents! The cake walk is a favorite event of many, and I noticed that several parents were as excited as the kids were to try to win a cake or other baked item.

Children earned candy by playing several games.

Intern Evan dressed as a clown and rode his unicycle.

2011-10-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

We had a "Mismatch" evening at Kids Klub recently. Wearing mismatched shoes or switching shoes with a friend at the last minute were the most popular options!

Our goal with having various themed evenings at Kids Klub is to encourage consistent attendance and participation. Last week we studied about God's call to Abraham to move far away. I explained to my 1st grade class that when God asks us to move somewhere, it could be so that other people will hear about Him and learn to know Him. One little boy said emphatically, "My mom doesn't know Jesus." He is living in a mission field, and we can pray that the seeds of truth that are planted in his heart on Wednesday evenings might not just affect him, but his family as well.

-------------

Joel completed his internship and will be flying back to Ohio this afternoon. On Friday evening, we celebrated his birthday at Teen Night -- just a few days late! He will be greatly missed!

Crazy hair + a few other moments

2011-10-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

For the past two summers, we've had a Crazy Hair Night at VBS, and the kids have loved participating in it. We had a Crazy Hair Night at Kids Klub yesterday. Creativity was flowing!
On Friday evening, Caleb shared with teens about God's amazing creation, from creating galaxies of stars to the human heart. Caleb wasn't able to bring a galaxy indoors, but he did bring a heart!
Rec Center continues to be a fun and safe place to hang out after school -- especially now that the weather is so much cooler!

2011-09-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

Rec Center yesterday:

Kids Klub - Yesterday was "Blue Shirt" night.

Can you tell?

Throughout September and October, kids are receiving points for attendance, memory verse recitation, and theme participation. Last week's theme was "Wristband Day," and children were encouraged to wear the wristbands we gave them on opening night of Kids Klub. Yesterday a student informed me that -he should get 4 points -- for attending, having good behavior (which we occasionally award points for), wearing a blue shirt, and wearing his wristband again!

---------------

In other news, the Mission Increase Foundation has awarded Aim Right a $15,000 Major Donor Matching Grant. Gifts of $1,000 or more before November 30, 2011, are eligible, as well as pledges of $100 or more per month over the next year. To date, nearly 25% of our goal has already been met. Praise God!

Teen Night 9.23.11

2011-09-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Darrell spoke at Teen Night on Friday evening. The topic was TRUTH. Some of the questions he challenged the teens with were: What is truth? Who is truth? Does what is true change depending on the circumstance?

Beyond Aim Right...

2011-09-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

I received a note today from Kelsi, who recently completed her internship and moved back to her home state of Indiana. She gave me permission to share a portion of her note here:

"Other news in my life is I'm going to start volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club next week...and on Mondays I'm in a ministry called 5 Star that goes into middle schools and teaches them values. It's an after-school program that is a Christian organization. God has opened so many doors, and I am truly amazed."

I love hearing reports like this from former interns. Many may live in rural communities now, but they still find ways to be involved in molding children and youth. Praise God for the ones He calls to serve in Phoenix, and for those He sends out as lights in other corners!

Kids Klub

2011-09-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Kids Klub began on September 7th with an attendance of 63 children, ages kindergarten through 6th grade. God has provided enough interns for us to add an extra class this year, since classes go much more smoothly the smaller they are! One of our goals is to remain intentional about connecting with each child, whether through weekly visitation or individual student and class outings. We want each child to know that God values them, and that we value them!

Getting to Know the New Interns

2011-08-25T16:35:00.000-07:00

As promised, here are some tidbits about our newest arrivals!

LAURA MCDOWELL

Where were you born? Washington, I0wa

Why did you decide to become an intern? I wanted to work with youth, and I felt God leading me here.

If money wasn't an issue, you'd be driving a: green mustang convertible

Toppings on your pizza would be: Cheese, pepperoni, cheese, sausage, cheese, bacon [Ya think she kinda loves meat 'n cheese?!]

A person you admire and why: My mom, because she's always there for me, even when I'm being difficult

Team sports you've played:Volleyball, track, cross country

Favorite Bible verse: Jeremiah 29:11

What motivates you to serve Christ? Everything He's done for me

You'd be excited to receive a gift card to: Wal-Mart [Hint, hint, friends and family!]

Phoenix is.... FANTABULOUS!

Next, meet:

TIFFANY GRABER

Countries you've visited: Africa, Belize

Favorite ice cream flavor: Mint chocolate chip

A hobby: Playing piano

What motivates you to serve Christ? Helping people is always a big motivation for me, especially people who are not as privileged as me.

A pet peeve: When people are disrespectful

You'd be excited to receive a gift card to: Starbucks [With a Starbucks on just about every corner, you can't go wrong with blessing Tiffany with a gift card!]

Something you miss about home: My dog

Where you were born: Washington, Indiana

Today's children and youth are searching for: Peace, joy, love, respect

Phoenix is....FANTASTICO!! and HOT!!!

And finally:

EVAN STOLTZFUS

Number of siblings: 4 brothers

If money wasn't an issue, you'd be driving a: 1967 Shelby Cobra GT 500

Favorite book of the Bible: Ephesians

Hobbies: Basketball, ping pong, unicycling [His cool factor is going to go WAY up with the kids!]

Why you decided to become an intern: Felt God calling me to Aim Right when I found it was the mission work I was looking for.

Toppings on your pizza: Pepperoni, pineapple, peppers [Nice alliteration, Evan!]

A pet peeve: Toilet paper turned backwards

You'd be excited to received a gift card to: Wal-Mart

Something you miss about home: Mom's cooking

Phoenix is: Awesome

Kids Church with A.J. & Jewel

2011-08-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Throughout the summer, A.J. & Jewel have been assisting Paradise Valley Mennonite Church with their Wednesday evening Kids Church. Jewel has been teaching the youngest class.

Yesterday's lesson was about Moses' encounter with the burning bush and God telling him to take off his shoes, so Jewel brought a few types of shoes for the children to see and try on.

Coloring is a favorite activity.

A.J. has been opening Kids Church with an exciting Bible story and also assisting in the youth class.

Despite a sizzling August, it's apparently never too hot to play outside!

2011-08-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

While other programs are still getting ready to kick off for the fall, teen Bible study has continued throughout most of the summer. Here's Monday evening's gathering -- a LARGE one! We added chairs...and added chairs....and added chairs!
Teens discussed and studied characteristics of good friendships.
We welcomed 3 new interns over the weekend -- Laura McDowell from Iowa, Tiffany Graber from Indiana, and Evan Stoltzfus from Ohio. They jumped head-first into training this weekand are also tackling a few work projects. One of the Kids Klub' classrooms is getting a fresh coat of paint.

Another update coming soon with some fun facts about the newest arrivals!

Camp Photos

2011-07-28T16:07:00.001-07:00

Sandi took so many fantastic photos at camp that it's hard to narrow it down to some to post here!

The Bacher 4 that went along...Darrell served as chapel speaker.
A fast-paced game night that involved blowing the ping pong ball so that it didn't fall off on your end of the table.
Gorgeous mountain scenery and horseback rides.

Intern Joel's group of guys. Christian (standing) served as assistant counselor.

Camp Director Caleb and wife Stephanie, daughter Madison, and Grandma Reed, who kept busy chasing Madison!
My group of campers

Jewel's group
Doing the trust fall can be a bit frightening!
You might call this perseverance.
Seth's group
Kelsi's group. Flerida served as assistant counselor.
A.J.'s group
Tim's group
Andrea's group

Back from Camp!

2011-07-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

Teen Camp in Colorado July 10-15 was wet, cold, challenging, sunny, uplifting, warm, tiring, fun, beautiful, and inspiring! Pray for these youth as they pursue following Jesus every day, not just being an occasional fan of Him. Photo credit goes to Sandi Shipley, who went along as camp photographer. More of her pics to come soon!

A camper wrote this in a thank you letter to a camp sponsor: "Hey, I want to thank you for paying for me. I had so much fun, and now I have God in my life. My life is so much better. Thank you so much."

One more description of camp: life-changing.

Group Photos - Week #2

2011-07-01T17:06:00.000-07:00

VBS in Pictures

2011-06-30T16:15:00.001-07:00

Customize your own free slideshow

VBS good-bye's and hello's

2011-06-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

Friday evening, the Berea group led VBS for the last night. The story was about Saul on the road to Damascus.
The painted frames turned out great!

I don't know how well you can read the text, but a child wrote "Gesus [heart] me."

Sunday morning, the Bereans headed home to Indiana.

Thanks so much for coming and blessing so many children!

The Pleasant View Mennonite youth group from Ohio endured orientation and visitation in 100+ degree heat, and then relaxed with a cookout provided by Aim Right in the evening, along with a time of worship and communion.

Yesterday evening, the Bible story was about Gideon, so there was jar [milk jug] smashing, water drinking, and torch making as part of games.

High-energy singing!

2011-06-24T16:31:00.000-07:00

Thursday was Crazy Hair Night. You might see a few evidences of that fact below! I was told that the offsite location went "all out" with crazy hair, but unfortunately I don't have any photos of that.

Even the littlest VBS'er had some spiked hair action!

Classes began work on their craft project -- painting photo frames.
This evening groups will paint the finishing touches on their frames. I have been busy printing group photos this afternoon, which will then go into the frames, along with the memory verse (Joshua 1:9) printed onto each photo. Let me just say...for the class below, God has gifted these ladies with amazing patience and gentleness with the very rambunctious K4-K5 class they've had this week! They have persevered through temper tantrums, whining, large class sizes, and a lot of strong wills.

VBS Wednesday

2011-06-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Children are learning the songs that go with the VBS curriculum and enjoy singing during opening and closing each evening.
Wade Winnalot #1 came back as game show host, for a toilet paper wrap game.
Attendance bounced over 55 children, so everyone got an ice pop as a treat in addition to the planned snack.
Each evening, a specific "GO" phrase has been highlighted, like "GO RISK" or "GO LEAD." Yesterday's phrase was:

The Bible story crew did a great job of acting out the story of Jesus' death on the cross and challenging students to "GO TELL" their family and friends about Jesus' sacrifice for them.This evening we're planning Crazy Hair Night -- Lord willing, some fun photos forthcoming!

More VBS!

2011-06-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

The Berea group is also coordinating VBS for Phoenix Inner-City Kids (PICK) this week. Here are a few photos from yesterday evening:

And VBS Tuesday evening at Aim Right:

VBS Time!

2011-06-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

It's VBS week #1! On Sunday afternoon, the auditorium underwent transformation into Studio Go! Game Show.

Sunday evening, Aim Right hosted a cookout for VBS volunteers, including a great bunch of folks (52, in fact!) from Indiana who have joined us to lead VBS.
Berea Mennonite youth...

The Sanctum band led in a time of worship after the meal.
The kick-off of Studio Go! with nearly 50 kids.

Overheard this week

2011-06-16T16:00:00.000-07:00

"I put my finger down my throat, but I couldn't throw up."

- Said by a 9-year-old boy in the backseat of my car, enroute from Picacho to Phoenix in a spur-of-the-moment trip. He and two other children (his cousins) had managed one night at Youth Haven Ranch, but on day #2, their homesick feelings peaked, to the point that one child had actually thrown up. Whether or not that one had chosen to use the finger trick, I don't know!

2011-06-15T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is a week of preparation for our two weeks of VBS, which begins June 20. The Berea Mennonite youth group from Indiana will be arriving on Saturday, June 18, and plan to lead the first week of VBS, which is primarily for children who live in a nearby public housing complex.

In researching the history of this housing complex (so that I could share some of the information with the youth group), I came across these articles and some interesting facts:

May 31, 2011 - Phoenix to Demolish Frank Luke Addition Homes
The Frank Luke projects were recently awarded a $20 million federal grant to demolish and rebuild homes, eventually transforming the community into mixed-income rentals.

The Frank Luke homes were built by the City of Phoenix in the 1940's. During that time, the city funded three segregated housing projects, one for Anglos (Frank Luke), one for African-Americans, and one for Mexican-Americans.

April 23, 2009 - Federal Grant Money to Upgrade Phoenix Housing Complexes
This is obviously "old news," but I know those stimulus dollars were used, because the majority of the complex has been repainted! I believe some were left unpainted, but perhaps they are ones slated for demolition.

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Pray for the Berea youth and our interns as they prepare to share Jesus with lots of children (we hope!) next week. The youth group plans to "divide and conquer" and bless another ministry to at-risk youth (Phoenix Inner-City Kids) by leading VBS for them as well.

2011-06-09T13:38:00.000-07:00

So far this week....

Teens met on Monday evening to pray together and discuss Bible study options for the summer.

A.J., Jewel, & Seth took 9 children to Picacho, AZ, to Youth Haven Ranch bright and early Monday morning.

A free breakfast and lunch program began on Monday. The meals are provided by a local organization and are available to children 18 years old and under. A mother of one of our Kids Klub children offered to start and staff the program, so there's now a little "cafe" in the old Choice Books building between the church and the house!

On Tuesday, the latest newsletter was rolling off the printer.

On Wednesday, your newsletter might have been folded, stuffed, sealed, and stamped by the A-J-K team (A.J., Jewel, and Kelsi).

On Wednesday evening, Kelsi and I took a van load of kiddos to a local church's VBS. They hadn't had the number of children they had hoped or prepared for, so it was a win-win for all involved -- the children loved it (so much they want to go every evening) and learned about forgiveness, and there was plenty of staff to teach them and love on them!

And still to come....

Another trip to VBS this evening.

Another trip to Picacho on Friday afternoon to pick up the campers.

The final Teen Night of the summer on Friday evening, where I hear there will be some "Minute to Win It" contests.

Rock Solid

2011-05-31T16:28:00.000-07:00

Are you rock solid?That was the challenge Caleb offered to the Teen Night crowd on Friday evening.

Being rock solid begins with having a life founded on Christ. Caleb illustrated the parable of the wise and foolish man.
Digging into the Word....

An invitation to come to the cross...
Darrell & Julie closed with a time of prayer for recent high school graduates Dora, Darius, and Edwin.
Steph made the yummy snacks -- rice krispy treats and Jello cake.

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We praise God for a wonderful Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday evening. Generous givers provided much-needed funds for this summer's Teen Camp.

Kids Klub Water Games

2011-05-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

After several weeks' lessons of Bible stories that involved Jesus and water (check it out...there are quite a few!), we had an evening of water games for the children.

Create a digital slideshow

Impact Group 5.23.11

2011-05-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

On Monday evening, Impact Group met at Jeff & Trisha Chupp's new home for a cookout and swimming.

These photos are misleading, because there were actually LOTS of teens enjoying the pool!

King of the Grill (aka Jeff)

Team FUN 5.20.2011

2011-05-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Team FUN met Friday evening.

Matt taught the lesson.

Who doesn't love an ice cream cone?

Graduation Time

2011-05-19T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here are photos of a few of "our" high school graduates this year. Congratulations, Juan & Dora!

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

Hopefully...more photos to come soon of the rest of "our" graduates. Don't want to leave them out!

Praises!

2011-05-17T14:33:00.000-07:00

On Sunday evening, Aim Right staff and volunteers gathered for their monthly potluck and also celebrated the arrival of this intern couple: A.J. & Jewel Miller, from Berlin, Ohio.

While it's always exciting to welcome new faces to Phoenix, with A.J. & Jewel, it was familiar faces we welcomed. A.J. served as an intern from 2004-2006, and Jewel (then a Swantz) served from 2005-2006. It was while serving with Aim Right that A.J. and Jewel discovered they shared more in common than just a heart for inner-city children and youth, and the rest, as they say, is history. A.J. and Jewel were active in kids ministry in Ohio before moving to Phoenix and anticipate facilitating a satellite location of Aim Right to work with kids in the Sunnyslope area.

Just for fun, here are some shots of A.J. and Jewel from around 6 years ago:

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In addition to God calling A.J. and Jewel back to Phoenix to serve, there's another praise to report: First Things First Foundation awarded Berea Mennonite's youth group a $1,000 scholarship to assist with expenses for their upcoming missions trip (next month) to help with Aim Right's VBS. Praise God for His provision -- of personnel needs as well as financial needs!

Kids Klub 5.11.11

2011-05-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Funny face time with Joel!

I was pinch-hitting for Kelsi on Wednesday evening and taught her class of 5-6 year old's. Praise God for His enabling, because I did not feel like a very qualified substitute. A few reasons:

- These kids LOVE Kelsi. Love, love, love her. In fact, as soon as we arrived at the church on Wednesday evening, several of her students exited the van, yelling "Kelsiiii!" as they raced to find her, not yet knowing that she wouldn't be there.

- Often, there are over 20 students in the class. They are 5 and 6 years old. And they are energetic. We've discussed dividing the class into two, but these kids have a special place in Kelsi's heart, and she'd rather just keep teaching all of them.

The Bible story was on Jesus' miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding, so the kids ate layered wedding cake (aka stack of peanut butter crackers), mints (M&M's), and punch (juice) during the lesson.

Then, a little project of coloring and taping on tissue paper for the water and wine. I had a great helper (Dora) who isn't pictured, but she was a wonderfully patient tape dispenser!
We ended with "Water, water, wine" (duck, duck, goose) outside.

Kelsi is back in town now, and I'm sure her students will be excited to see her again. I know that God has used her in special ways to touch many children's lives over the past Kids Klub season, and it's been neat to see how God has grown her passion for working with children not just in Phoenix, but also in Indiana when she returns home. God bless you, Kelsi!

Sanctum Finale

2011-05-10T16:48:00.000-07:00

Sanctum, a place set apart for twice monthly worship and reflection, held its last service yesterday evening before taking a break for the summer.

A shout out to this team for faithfully sharing their time and talents over the course of many months, to not just lead teens in making a joyful noise to the Lord, but a phenomenal-sounding one! Special thanks to Bob Oxley for coordinating Sanctum during this past season.

2010-2011 Sanctum Worship Team

Tim Miller, Jeff Chupp, Christian Valenzuela, Bob Oxley, Nathan Schrock

Ice Cream Sundae Party

2011-05-04T13:46:00.001-07:00

Since March 15th, tutoring students have been reading, reading, reading towards the goal of 210 pages each by the end of April. The prize? An ice cream sundae party! At least two students read over 500 pages, and ALL of the students met the goal, so yesterday was party time!

The week prior, I asked several students to write our their "wish lists" for their sundae toppings. That's why we had sprinkls, cheris, kiwis, banans, m-n-i-m-s, pink iceream, strawberys, and venla icecrim, among other ingredients.

We may or may not have sent home some hyper children.

Teen Night 4.29.11

2011-05-04T13:35:00.000-07:00

Youth were blessed to hear from Ro again on Friday evening. He spoke on making wise choices and opened with an attention-getting skit. With the bag over his head, he stumbled and fell, reached for a drink from a ketchup bottle instead of a Gatorade bottle, and sat on his plate of snacks. Ro challenged teens to not blindly make choices, but rather to listen to the counsel of God's Word and surround themselves with good friends.

A few photos from the week...and a good blog post

2011-04-28T14:24:00.000-07:00

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Perhaps you've considered serving as an intern or volunteer with Aim Right, but you're convinced you're too uncool or too old or completely out of touch with the realities teens face today. Check out this blog post from Leneita Fix, a petite blonde who's spent at least 18 years of her life sharing Jesus with kids in the inner city. She's learned that at the end of the day, it's not really not so much about who you are, but Who you're allowing to work through you!

2011-04-21T14:52:00.000-07:00

We celebrated Jesus' resurrection at Kids Klub last night. Special thanks to those who donated eggs and candy for the egg hunt and goodie bags!

Overheard this week

2011-04-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

5-year-old girl with two paper crosses she had colorfully decorated with markers: "This one is for my dad, and the other one is for Jesus!"

2nd grade boy carrying a notebook: "I'm going to write a letter to my mom. She's in jail."

2011-04-11T14:04:00.000-07:00

I failed to get photos of the teaching time and discussion groups at Teen Night on Friday evening, but Darrell spoke about "when your friends become your dates" and highlighted aspects of healthy and unhealthy relationships. Then, these lovely ladies served hot dogs, chips, cookies, and lemonade.

And, in other news, two youth groups are making preparations to join us in June for VBS. We're looking forward to welcoming Berea Mennonite youth back for their second missions trip here, and Pleasant View Mennonite for their first. A local congregation, Paradise Valley Mennonite, blessed us with their gently used curriculum, so Studio GO! Game Show will soon be in session!

Teen Night 3.25.11

2011-03-31T13:15:00.000-07:00

"Whoever walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm." Proverbs 13:20 With Caleb on vacation for a few weeks, Ro led Teen Night last Friday, leading off with the verse above and speaking to youth about the importance of choosing good friends.

We also had a few eating contests.

(Peanut butter crackers)

(Coke)

(Chocolate-covered apple & onion)

The onion-eater valiantly made it through two bites before calling it quits.

How Rich Are You?

2011-03-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

It was Jesus who said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." (Mark 10:25) I don't know if your brain works anything like mine, but I've often read that verse and immediately thought, "Well, that doesn't concern me too much because I'm not rich." I'm not "rich" because I'm defining "rich" by U.S. standards. But if I stretch my brain to think beyond these borders, the definition changes. In Haiti, the average annual income is $450. In Ethiopia, it's $160. In Rwanda, it's $230. In Bangladesh, it's a whopping $470. In Kenya, it's a staggering $530. (Source: World Vision) To get an idea of just how "rich" you might be, check out this website. Just click on the image below to be re-directed. You may have discovered, as I did, that you are in fact "rich," so what to do with Jesus' words now? With Him, even the rich aren't a hopeless cause, and I believe that Jesus encourages us in Mark 10: 1) While it may be hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, it isn't impossible. "With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God." Mark 10:27 2) Earthly riches can be turned into heavenly treasures. How? By giving them away, not letting your possessions possess you. "And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me." Mark 10:21 God can use the rich for His glory, and I have recently been challenged by the example of Joseph of Arimathea, whom Scripture describes as a "rich man." Joseph mustered the courage to approach Pilate to ask for Jesus' body and then lovingly "took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock." (Matthew 27:59-60) Out of his riches, Joseph gave, and the Holy Spirit moved each of the gospel writers to record his act of generosity for us to read.

30 Hour Famine

2011-03-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, several Aim Right'ers participated in the 30 Hour Famine, fasting for a total of 30 hours and raising money for World Vision. The group also learned about Jesus' heart of compassion, watched videos of children living in poverty around the world, and had a food drive "contest" to fill the food pantry. Some photos from the weekend:

Devotions by Matt

Worship by Tim and the guys

Group games

The guys got a little bored and decided to see if they could duct tape this good-natured teen to the wall!

Outdoor games where the participants had "handicaps" (one arm, bad hearing, poor vision, etc.) as they had a sand-filled water relay. This was to simulate countries where medical help isn't available to help such handicaps, and their only source of water is contaminated.

The food collected!

One of the Saturday afternoon activities was visiting Arizona City Fest in Tempe.

A HUGE crowd!

Kids Klub 3.16.11

2011-03-17T14:13:00.000-07:00

"If I could relive my life,

I would devote my entire ministry

to reaching children for God!"

- D.L. Moody

"Every child you encounter

is a divine appointment."

-Wess Stafford

"A person's a person,

no matter how small."

-Dr. Seuss

"Let the children come to Me;

do not hinder them,

for to such belongs the

kingdom of God."

-JESUS (Mark 10:14)

"It is easier to build strong children

than to repair broken men."

-Frederick Douglass

"Children are the living messages

we send to a time we will not see."

-John W. Whitehead

"Give a little love to a child,
and you get a great deal back."
-John Ruskin

"from childhood you have been
acquainted with the sacred writings,
which are able to make you wise
for salvation through faith
in Christ Jesus."
2 Timothy 3:15

2011-03-17T13:50:00.000-07:00

God provided a beautiful day for Aim Right's 16th benefit auction.

The top selling quilt was this one, at $1,550.

Auctioneers Steve Cross and Jr. Miller kept things lively!

A big, big thanks to all who donated items, volunteered at the event, and purchased items. Proceeds of the auction were just over $14,000.

"You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." 2 Corinthians 9:11

Pizza Party!

2011-03-03T15:07:00.000-08:00

Tutoring students met the goal of reading 175 pages each by the end of February and were rewarded with a PIZZA PARTY on Tuesday evening.

Tutors filled plates, too, before the pizza vanished.

Pre-pizza devouring, students reviewed how to divide words into syllables and wrote their own haikus (a form of Japanese poetry with a specified number of syllables per line).

Teen Statistics In 2 Hours

2011-03-01T15:09:00.000-08:00

2011-02-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

Kids ask questions.

A conversation in the 4th grade Kids Klub class yesterday evening went something like this:

Student: "What happens if you cuss in church?"
Teacher: "Have you ever heard anyone cuss at church?"
Student: "Yes."
Teacher: "And did God strike them dead?"
Student: "No."
Student: "So what is wrong with cussing? Why does God not like it?"
Teacher: "Well, let's see what God says about it -- Ephesians 4:29 'Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up...that it may give grace to those who hear.' "

I might add...cussing is a rather huge problem (really a habit for many kids) we have to address in most of our programs, and unfortunately, it's often reinforced at home by the foul language that parents use, or the television and music that kids are allowed to ingest. It's also a heart issue, for "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matt. 12:34) Until the heart has been transformed by Christ, our continual reminders to "keep it clean" aren't going to fix the real problem.

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Another Student: "I don't sin every day. There was a day when all I did was watch movies all day long, and I didn't sin at all that day."

Ah, there you have it, folks. Having a movie watching marathon is apparently the key to not sinning.

2011-02-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

A praise and a prayer request: Just this week, Grand Canyon University gave Aim Right 15 free tickets to the Revolve Tour, held this coming weekend at US Airways Center.

From the Revolve Tour's website, here's a little bit about Revolve:

In 2005, Women of Faith created The Revolve Tour...the result is a one-of-a-kind inspirational weekend for 6th- to 12th-grade girls that combines award-winning bands and speakers with real, relevant messages in a high-energy event. Since it began, more than 35,000 girls have indicated they made first-time decisions for Christ at a Revolve Tour event.

Please pray that God would move in the hearts of the girls we'll be taking this weekend. On our part, it seems hastily planned, but we have a sovereign God who orchestrates circumstances and events, and it's no surprise to Him. And --while you're praying -- what about asking for a jolt of some of that "high energy" to bless the staff who are going along? :)

2011-02-22T15:21:00.000-08:00

On Sunday evening at the monthly Aim Right potluck, we celebrated Andrea and the completion of her term of service. She continues to live and work in Phoenix, and is still volunteering with Aim Right, for which we are very grateful. Thanks for all you've done, Andrea!

Teen Bible study 2/21:

'Tis the season for auction items to arrive almost daily! Click on the image below to visit our auction website and preview even more items, along with auction details.

2011-02-17T13:46:00.000-08:00

Heard on a local Christian radio station:

"You may not be able to do everything, but you can refuse to do nothing."

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I've been thanking God for three Kids Klub volunteers who are refusing to do nothing and am excited about the work God is going to do through them. The 5th-6th grade Kids Klub class is one of the most challenging classes to teach and also one of the largest classes. Now we have 3 adults who are taking ownership of that age group. Along with smaller class sizes, we'll be able to separate guys and girls, which will cut down on some distractions and create an environment to go much deeper with these pre-teens.

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I heard a report this week about a teen who accepted Christ as Savior at a recent Teen Night where Caleb shared the gospel and invited teens to repeat a prayer after him if they wanted to receive Christ. This teen had been searching for some time and finally said "Yes" to Christ. I think of all the people who refused to do nothing -- a Christian friend who invited the teen to Aim Right activities; Caleb, who spoke as God directed him on that evening; and an intern who planted seeds of truth and love, that this teen might come to have a personal relationship with Jesus. Praise God!

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him in." John 6:44

"Truly, truly I say to you, whoever hears My Word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life." John 5:24

2011-02-16T13:20:00.000-08:00

Tutoring has entered month #2. In January, students were given the challenge to each read 175 pages (25 page average per week) by the end of February. Some students have already reached that goal, and others are on track to finish next week. The prize: a PIZZA PARTY in March! Educational games are a favorite activity.

Tutor James Miller promised a silver dollar to each student with perfect attendance in February. There are some who ask about that silver dollar nearly every week!

We still have a waiting list of students (1st-2nd grade) to be matched with tutors, so if God is nudging you to serve in some way, please call our office at (602) 462-1987. Tutoring meets each Tuesday from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Our program has a 1:1 student to volunteer ratio -- ideal for building a solid relationship with a child who needs a positive mentor.

Kids Klub 2.09.11

2011-02-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's still shorts 'n short sleeves weather here. Why do you ask?

We opened another Kids Klub with some outside play time. Plenty of friends at Kids Klub!

The shorter girl in the pink is on my weekly visitation route, and I'm always guaranteed lots of hugs and "I love you's" from her, along with "I want to go with you. Where are you going next?" It's such fun seeing the various personalities God created!

We started a new memory verse passage tonight -- the Lord's Prayer. Some students played Bingo with phrases from the passage. Of course, the best part was probably the edible playing pieces -- Butterfinger Snackerz and peanut butter M & M's!

Aim Right Winter Retreat

2011-01-31T13:06:00.000-08:00

If you read the previous blog post, you already know that Aim Right's Winter Retreat didn't go as planned. Here's a recap of events as I recall them (which means the timing of events may be a little off):

Friday, January 28

5:00 p.m. Staff and teens gathered at Aim Right to load vans with luggage and people.

5:40 p.m. Prayed over the trip in our vans and began the journey to Flagstaff.

7:40ish p.m. Arrived safely in Flagstaff and ate at McDonald's.

8:45 p.m. Arrived at El Nathan Christian Camp. Relieved vans of luggage and people.

9:15ish p.m. Gathered for our first session with speakers Tom & Marcia Kuyper. Made collages reflecting our lives and relationships.

Saturday, January 29

12:30 a.m. Lights out, with campers in their bunks and (mostly) settled down.

5:30 a.m. Intern Andrea Stoltzfus, sleeping on a top bunk, awoke feeling nauseated. She attempted to climb down from the bunk and fell, hitting her head on the floor. Stephanie Reed, who was staying in the same room, kept a close eye on Andrea from then on, especially when Andrea began throwing up.

6:30-7:30 a.m. Other campers began to wake up. Several complained of headaches and nausea, and some were throwing up as well.

8:00-8:45 a.m. Symptoms appeared to be worsening. With a hunch that carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning might be the cause, the heat was shut off in the lodge, doors opened, and Darrell instructed all campers and staff to evacuate to another building. Camp director and 911 notified.

8:45ish a.m. Flagstaff fire crews and emergency medical personnel began to arrive at the camp. They checked each individual for evidence of CO poisoning and placed oxygen masks on those with the highest levels of CO in their body.

Ro lightened up the morning for us. He had quickly slipped into the wifey's boots, not knowing that would be the only footware he'd be wearing for a long while!

10:00ish a.m. Following the advice of EMS personnel, everyone in our group was transported to Flagstaff Medical Center via ambulance or van. There, CO levels were once again tested, with the most affected being placed on oxygen. Darrell and other "well" staff members called parents, comforted the afflicted, and served as patient's advocates throughout the lengthy ER check-in and treatment process.

Andrea suffered a mild concussion from her fall and was the most serious patient. As you can tell, the other campers were in good spirits while they patiently waited for the oxygen to do its job -- a process that for many lasted 2 to 3 hours.

Finally....an Andrea who is looking and feeling much better!

Darrell, in charge of keeping paperwork straight, questions answered, fears calmed, and wise decisions made. I recall him saying, "Now we know why we always make sure the kids have signed release forms!"

Even with the wifey's boots on his feet, Ro still kept smiling!

Mama Julie, who was most often back in the ER as a patient advocate / guardian for teens.

Our speakers for the weekend -- Tom & Marcia Kuyper. They were troopers!

Several individuals in our group felt fine, testing at very low CO levels, and therefore could refuse treatment. Others were checked into the ER for extended oxygen therapy and monitoring. After everyone in our group was released and fed, we headed back to El Nathan to pack up and head back to Phoenix -- definitely not the camp experience we had hoped for, but nevertheless the wisest decision considering the circumstances.

To my knowledge, the exact cause of the CO poisoning has not been determined. We are just grateful for God's protection of our group and know that His hand was upon us!

Also, if you are interested, here is a live report that aired on the 10:00 news Saturday evening.

And...special thanks to all of you I "stole" photos from on Facebook!

In the News.....

2011-01-29T19:49:00.000-08:00

It's been a rather eventful day, but all praise goes to God for His protection! Check back for a more lengthy update on Monday, but for now, you can read about "us" through the reporting of various Arizona news sources.

Kids in Flagstaff Poisoned; Officials Blame Furnace.

Gas Leak Sends Dozens to Hospital.

28 Taken to Hospital After Flagstaff Gas Leak.

Flagstaff Lodge Carbon Monoxide Sends 28 to Hospital.

2011-01-27T14:29:00.000-08:00

"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork." (Psalm 19:1) Even poor photography skills can't hide the beauty of the Arizona sky yesterday. It was a perfect day to postpone homework awhile and play b-ball with friends.

We have a wall inside the Rec Center where we display photos of various kids. Some new attendees wanted to be "on the wall," so we did some photo taking during Rec time.

Recently we've included play time outside at the beginning of Kids Klub, to take advantage of the remaining daylight. The hula hoopers were hoopin' it up last night.

In continuing with lessons from the life of Jesus, children learned that Jesus raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Then, we wasted some perfectly fine TP re-enacting Lazarus in his graveclothes.

Almost 2 weeks ago, we welcomed new intern Seth Roggie. We're so glad he's joined our team!

Now...some Q & A with Seth:

Q: How many brothers and sisters do you have?

A: 1 brother, 4 sisters

Q: What is your favorite snack?

A: Oreos and Peanut butter

Q: Something that kids and teens today need to hear:

A: That no matter what they have done or are going through, God is there and loves them.

Q: What is one of your pet peeves?

A: People thinking that you have to get married...that it's impossible to be content being single for the rest of your life.

Q: Choose 3 toppings for your pizza.

A: Pepperoni, Sausage, Bacon.

Q: Name a Bible character you admire and why.

A: David. Whatever was going through, he took it to God.

Q: Something you've never done, but would like to do:

A: Get to drive an Audi R8 for a week.

Q: What is your favorite cereal?

A: Homemade granola.

Q: Describe your Sky Harbor baggage claim experience in 5 words or less.

A: Greatest greeting ever!! [See this post if you want to know why]

I know that interns love getting packages from afar, so if you're reading this and know Seth, why not bless him with a stockpile of peanut butter and Oreos? I'm sure he could find a way to use a Papa John's or Pizza Hut gift card, too!

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Please be in prayer for this weekend, Aim Right's first ever Winter Camp in Flagstaff, Arizona. Twenty-two youth are attending and will be learning about relationships -- with God and with others.

2011-01-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

Guess what showed up at Kids Klub last night?

A bus full of kiddos!

We've owned the bus for several years, but the rub is that we haven't had a bus driver for over a year--perhaps even closer to two years. God recently provided a driver, so the bus is back on the road again!

"So Abraham called that place The LORD will provide. And to this day it is said, 'On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.' " Genesis 22:14

The 3-Day Weekend

2011-01-18T14:05:00.000-08:00

Caleb was "in the zone" (literally) while he shared about trusting God and stepping outside of your comfort zone at Teen Night on Friday evening.

On Saturday evening, our newest intern, Seth Roggie from Castorland, NY, flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor. Here are a few scenes from his memorable Aim Right welcome at the airport.

Home sweet home for one year!

Monday's teen Bible study crowd filled the living room of the guys' house. Jeff led the study from Romans 8 and also tackled some deep questions that teens asked, like "Why did God create Hitler?" and "Is capital punishment wrong?" I didn't get photos of the actual study time, but here are a few of the hang-out time afterward.

Tutoring 1.11.11

2011-01-12T13:47:00.000-08:00

Tutoring kicked off on 1.11.11 with students getting to know their tutors, taking a reading assessment (thanks, Mrs. Chupp!), doing worksheets, and reading books.

Trisha Chupp (pictured below) is a teacher at Imagine Elementary in Avondale and will be joining us monthly to do special reading instruction and activities.

We always have a waiting list of students, so if you are interested in volunteering as a tutor, please call our office at (602) 462-1987 or e-mail me (Amy) at amy@aimright.org. Tutoring meets every Tuesday evening from 6:00-7:30 p.m. Students are in 1st or 2nd grade and have been referred by Garfield Elementary School. If you can read and love kids, we'd love to have you!

What you do on a 65-degree day in January

2011-01-12T13:40:00.000-08:00

Play ball!

The boys are out in full force today.

2011-01-06T13:18:00.000-08:00

After Christmas break, programs resumed this week--teen Bible study on Monday evening, Kids Klub on Wednesday evening, Rec Center sprinkled throughout the week, and Teen Night on the docket for tomorrow evening.

My photos of Bible study didn't turn out well due to the low lighting, but here are a few of Kids Klub. We studied the story of Jesus healing Jairus' daughter and the woman with the issue of blood. In learning about the life of Jesus this year in Kids Klub, this free online curriculum resource has been a great help in planning lessons: Mission Arlington Curriculum. Each lesson is written specifically with the unchurched child, teen, or adult in mind, and I love that the Scripture passage is the centerpiece, with activities and other classtime suggestions complementary to the main teaching.

2010-12-29T12:57:00.000-08:00

George Barna and his team have compiled a list of Six Megathemes that emerged in their research in 2010. It's a sobering list for every Christian leader (or Christian, for that matter) in America to read.

I recommend reading the full article, but here are the six megathemes:

1. The Christian church is becoming less theologically literate.

2. Churches are becoming more ingrown and less outreach-oriented.

3. Growing numbers of people are less interested in spiritual principles and more desirous of learning pragmatic solutions for life.

4. Among Christians, interest in participating in community action is escalating.

5. The postmodern insistence on tolerance is winning over the Christian Church.

6. The influence of Christianity on culture and individual lives is largely invisible.

Only one (#4) even has a positive vibe, but the article points out that most Christians still "remain more self-indulgent than self-sacrificing," and may be interested in doing good deeds primarily because it's popular and socially acceptable.

And then there's #6--the final megatheme and the most disheartening of them all, in my opinion. Do you really grasp the significance of that statement? Of the climate in which we live?

Bruce Little, director of the Center for Faith and Culture at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, expressed in a 2007 article: "Increasingly we have witnessed the blunting of belief in God. Even among those who claim to believe that God exists, there is very little edge to that belief--it is weak and ineffective. Our voice in the name of truth will have little weight if our theology has no edge and we do not order our lives any differently than those without the truth."

Kids Klub Christmas

2010-12-16T12:55:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday & Wednesday evenings, we've taken Kids Klub children to see "Star of Wonder," a Christmas production by Phoenix 1st Assembly. The first evening, we took 18 children. The second evening, we took 35 children. A big, big thanks to the interns and volunteers who went along and helped navigate the parking lot and interior of a megachurch while keeping eyes on the children, patiently escorted little ones to and from the restroom, distributed snacks, collected empty juice pouches and wrappers, and made the night memorable and enjoyable for so many kids. Paradise Valley Mennonite Church graciously let us borrow their van for both evenings; what a blessing that was!

We had balcony seating both evenings.

Eating snacks before the start of the performance

I loved watching the kids' expressions as they saw the special effects and many "surprises" during the show....trapeze artists, a live animal parade, live camels and donkeys, just to name a few.

There was even a visit from Rosie the elephant!

The white blurs are angels swinging from the ceiling.

Tonight is the final Teen Night of 2010, with all programs then taking a "Christmas break" until January. Wishing you a blessed Christmas of celebrating the One who came to save us!

Sanctum Christmas Service

2010-12-14T15:31:00.000-08:00

Monday evening's Sanctum was a blend of Scripture reading and songs, a telling of the Christmas story that spanned Genesis to Revelation (in condensed form, of course). Special thanks to Bob Oxley, leader of Sanctum, for planning the service for teens and adults.

Stocking Stuffing!

2010-12-13T14:07:00.000-08:00

On Thursday evening, we had a "Stocking Stuffing Party" as close to 20 volunteers gathered to fill around 75 stockings and gift boxes to be distributed to children who attend Kids Klub. Along with a variety of toys and books, we stuffed the stockings with English and Spanish Bibles, snack items, socks, toothbrushes, and toothpaste.

In the 1st Weekend of the 12th Month...

2010-12-07T12:44:00.000-08:00

On Saturday, we took 14 children to a Christmas party at Living Streams Church in Phoenix.

The party is organized each year by local philanthropist Jimmy Walker, and underprivileged children from a variety of ministries and schools are invited to attend.

The party is a child's paradise, with free hot dogs, cotton candy, popcorn, sno-cones, ice cream, and soda, as well as carriage rides, a petting zoo, inflatables, the Suns Gorilla, and much more. At the close of the party, there's the grand unveiling of brand-new bicycles that are given to the children, along with a food box and turkey for each family.

In the First Weekend of the Twelfth Month...

2010-12-06T15:57:00.000-08:00

We had a smaller crowd on Friday evening for Teen Night, but you could sense that God was stirring in hearts as Darrell unpacked John 3:16 in a very simple, clear way and shared the Gospel. As I visited with two sisters afterwards, I asked if they understood the message and had ever accepted Jesus as Savior. The one told me, "Yes, 3 times!" I was thankful for enough Scripture memory to be able to share the wonderful promise of John 10:28 with her.

The group playing some games inside:

We also celebrated Stephanie's birthday.

What We're Learning....

2010-12-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

This week and next, Kids Klub children are learning about a few of the names of Jesus while we study the Christmas story. Yesterday's name was Immanuel, as depicted by the fine coloring skills of these kindergarteners and 1st graders.

As I tried to get the wheels turning in the brains of the 2nd graders I taught yesterday evening, I asked them how God (in heaven) could come to where we are (on earth) so that we could see Him. We know He came as a little baby, but why wouldn't the God of heaven come with fanfare like a superhero?

One of my favorite Christmas songs explores this theme:

How should a King come?
Even a child knows the answer, of course.

In a coach of gold, with a pure white horse,

In the beautiful city in the prime of the day.

And the trumpets should cry and the crowds make way,

And the flags fly high in the morning sun,

And the people all cheer for the sovereign one.

And everyone knows that's the way that it's done.

That's the way that a King should come.

How should a King come?

Even a commoner understands.

He should come for His treasures, and His houses and lands.

He should dine upon summer strawberries and milk,

And sleep upon bedclothes of satin and silk.

And high on a hill His castle should glow,

With the lights of the city like jewels below.

And everyone knows that's the way that it's done.

That's the way that a King should come.

How should a King come?

On a star-filled night into Bethlehem,

Rode a weary woman and a worried man.

And the only sound in the cobblestone street,

Was the shuffle and the ring of their donkey's feet.

And a King lay hid in a virgin's womb,

And there were no crowds to see Him come.

At last in a barn in a manger of hay,

He came, and God incarnate lay.

And the angels cried, "Glory, glory to God!"

Earth was silent so heaven rang, "Glory, glory to God!"

Men were dumb so the angels sang, "Glory, glory to God!"

Peace on earth, good will to men, "Glory, glory to God!"

- Carol & Jimmy Owens

Humbly, simply, deliberately, He came -- and in His coming said, "I choose to identify with you, to cry, to laugh, to get dirt underneath My toenails, to be a child, a teenager, an adult, to attend church and weddings and funerals, to be tempted, betrayed, forsaken.

A paraphrase of Hebrews 4:15-16 says it this way: "We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all -- all but the sin. So let's walk right up to Him and get what He is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help."

Giving Thanks in a Season of Thanks!

2010-11-23T14:15:00.000-08:00

If you have a few moments during this week of giving thanks, feasting, gathering with family and friends, and more feasting, hop on over here. You'll find several photos of the Celebrating Transformation event interspersed with Psalms.

How better to praise the One who "faithfully answer[s] our prayers with awesome deeds" than to praise Him using His powerful, living Word?!

Recent...

2010-11-17T15:26:00.000-08:00

It's finally chilly enough for a campfire, so Friday's Teen Night involved S'more making and hot dog roasting, along with good conversations and music.

The interns have been intentionally connecting with younger teens (7th-8th graders) lately and planned a "Game Night" for them yesterday. I was upstairs in my office working late and heard a LOT of laughing and shrieking below in the basement, so I went down to investigate and take a few photos. Everyone appeared to be having a grand time!

Jesus is ______!

2010-11-11T14:33:00.000-08:00

The scene:
Around 25 kindergarteners to 2nd graders answering review questions from past weeks' Bible lessons.

One of the multiple-choice questions that stumped a few:
Jesus can forgive sins because...
a) He has super powers. b) He loves people. c) He is God.

The correct answer explained to the children:
c) He is God.

The final question of the evening (intended to be multiple-choice as well):
"Jesus is...."

Around 25 kindergarteners to 2nd graders standing and yelling enthusiastically, before the options are even presented:
"GOD! GOD! GOD! GOD!"

Theology 101 at Kids Klub. I think they got it!

Remembering...

2010-11-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

"Remember His marvelous works which He has done..." Psalm 105:5

re-mem-ber: to retain in the memory, keep in the mind, remain aware of

Over 150 guests joined us in "Celebrating Transformation" at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak Resort on Saturday evening. It was an evening of reflecting on the marvelous works God has done through the outreach of Aim Right. Lourdes Roman shared how God used the Kids Klub program and simple conversations with interns in the car on the way to or from a program to impact her life. Today, her husband Ro is leading Kids Klub.

Teen Edwin shared how his life has been transformed by the power of the gospel.

Jonathan Roe of the Mission Increase Foundation spoke about the $15,000 matching grant that has been awarded to Aim Right. In addition to the grant from MIF, a supporter of the ministry donated another $5,000, bringing the total match amount to $20,000. We praise God for the generosity of the grant donors, as well as the overwhelming generosity of those in attendance on Saturday evening, who "matched" the match!

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In other news...

The familiar faces of Charles & Marlisa Beachy were in Phoenix again! Charles served as an intern from 2002-2003, and then he and Marlisa served as volunteers extraordinaire for a few months in 2007. Marlisa is a cousin of Joel (current intern). Here are the three atop Camelback Mountain.

The littlest Beachy, Elena, who enjoyed birthday cake at Teen Night:

And a few more photos from Teen Night on Friday:

We celebrated intern Andrea's birthday. The big box was full of boxes of her favorite __________.

CEREAL!
CEREAL!
CEREAL!

Continuing in a series on the armor of God, Caleb spoke about the belt of truth. In this object lesson, he had youth guess if they thought the items in the boxes were "true" to the labels on the outside of the boxes.

Photos: Kids Klub & Teen Night

2010-11-04T16:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday at Kids Klub, we learned about the paralytic whose four friends cut a hole in the roof to bring him to Jesus. Then, we had some fun creating our snack to look like the man on his mat. The best part of all is that we had all the goodies we needed on hand already! In case you're wondering, the "bed" is a Pop-Tart, and the arms and legs various kinds of Tootsie Rolls.

Creative!

At recent Teen Nights, Caleb has been challenging the youth to think about where they are finding their identity. Here they were writing down various activities or items they consider very important in their lives.

2010-11-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

For the past 10 years, Arizona's teen suicide rate has been consistently higher than the national average, and it just continues to rise, according to this recent article from the East Valley Tribune.

A quote from the article, explaining the types of calls a suicide hotline has been receiving: "Traditionally we had it where it might be a situation or a breakdown within a child or a system in the child's life. Now what we're seeing is an increase in calls, and even more than that, there's an entire breakdown in the family unit." - Nikki Kontz, Teen LifeLine counselor

A few weeks ago, I talked with and prayed with a girl who recently attempted suicide. By the grace of God, she was not successful. What triggered her emotional breakdown and desire to take her life? Family stress.

Oh, God, may You reach them with Your hope before they give up hope!

Fall Festival 10.27.2010

2010-10-28T13:37:00.000-07:00

It's become a tradition to host a Fall Festival for our Kids Klub children and their families each October. As a rather low-budget affair, our event is certainly nothing extraordinary, but God has blessed us with lots of attendees over the years! We don't provide transportation to the Fall Festival, but instead encourage the whole family to come and enjoy the experience, completely free of charge.

One of the highlights is always the.....COTTON CANDY!

A supporter generously gave us this cotton candy machine several years ago. While it's in storage much of the year, it gets quite the intense work-out at special events!

Ball Toss Game

Candle Shoot-Out

Face Painting

Bounce House

We gave away 130 grilled hot dogs, plus small packages of Cheezits and Rice Krispy treats.

Ring Toss Game

Cupcake Walk

Special thanks to the many energetic volunteers who made this event happen, from helping with set-up, to overseeing games, serving food, or sweeping up hundreds of candy wrappers at the end! Thank you for serving!

Teen Night 10.15.10

2010-10-21T13:47:00.000-07:00

Darrell shared at Teen Night on Friday evening. Then, there was cake for Joel's birthday.

Joel has many friends -- friends who apparently think he doesn't like to take photos alone!

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Yesterday evening at Kids Klub, we had some acapella "special music" from a few children. It was rather unrehearsed, and I didn't catch all of the words, but one little guy rapped this repeatedly: "God is 'da best.....God is 'da best.....God is 'da best." What made it extra special is that the children in the audience began encouraging him by clapping in rhythm. Who knows...maybe there's a Kids Klub Talent Show in the future.

And God really is 'da best!

The Past Week (More or Less!)

2010-10-14T13:51:00.000-07:00

Kids Klub attendance continues to be high, compared to the number of staff we have, so this fall we've had to do some tweaking of the format to try to find the best environment for learning. One of those "tweaks" has been doing our opening in a smaller space (basement vs. auditorium) with more defined seating (chairs vs. pews). Please pray for wisdom, love, and patience for all of us involved in this program.

Jasmine & Andrea have been leading songs and doing a great job.

The youngest classes worked on a garden mural last night, as part of a review of the parable of the sower and the seed.

Joel is 21! This happens to thrill me greatly, because that means we now have another VAN driver. Our insurance policy is such that those who drive our van must be at least 21. Joel drove the van for Kids Klub yesterday evening, while I was on duty in the rear of the van. There is a blessedness about driving, though, that you usually don't find elsewhere in the van: you get your own seat!

Last week, several of the local schools had Fall Break. On Thursday, Andrea, Kelsi, and I planned a teen girls outing to Payson to the Tonto Natural Bridge State Park. God provided a gorgeous day. We picniked, hiked, and encouraged each other through big rocks and slippery slopes.

Behind us is the world's largest travertine bridge.

Kids Klub 9.29.10

2010-09-30T14:31:00.000-07:00

At Kids Klub yesterday evening, we studied the parable of the sower. In this class, cheese popcorn "seeds" were "planted" along the "path" on the table. The kids were more than ready to gobble up the popcorn when it was finally allowed, although I suppose the analogy of the parable suffered a bit with that activity!

Poverty in Arizona

2010-09-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

As streams of data begin to be released by the U.S. Census Bureau, their findings regarding the poverty level in Arizona caught my attention this week. Arizona is ranked second in the nation in the percentage of residents living at or below poverty level. In Arizona, 1 in 5 residents live in poverty, and over 30% of its children live in poverty. That figure jumps to 45.70% in households where a mom is present, but a dad is absent. You can read more about the findings by connecting to this link:

East Valley Tribune article

Who are the poor? Especially as it relates to Aim Right's sphere of outreach, who are the children who live in poverty? While the instances below are true stories--ones I've encountered in the past 6 days--I've changed some names and details to protect privacy.

Jazmin and her 4 or 5 siblings live in a house with their parents. From the outside, the house appears to be of reasonable size. In a recent conversation with Jazmin, I learned that while she has her own room, the rest of her siblings either sleep in the living room or the parents' room. Jazmin explained to me that the house is actually a duplex, with another family living in the back portion of the house.

Eduardo's family lives on a limited income, which is even more limited when Dad hasn't worked for at least 2 weeks. With the end of the month near, the family's food stamp allowance has been exhausted. Dad visited the local food bank to secure some fruit and bread for the family, but he spent precious funds on booze for himself. I have to wonder if one of the reasons he drinks is to escape his drab reality.

Neighborhood Ministries, a local outreach organization, offers a helpful resource called "God's Heart for the Poor." It's a basic list of Scriptures to dive into and learn for yourself what God's Word says about the poor. May God stir our hearts to reflect His as we relate to the poor in this state!

Your Gift...Doubled!

2010-09-24T15:47:00.000-07:00

After submitting reports, undergoing site visits and interviews, and attending numerous trainings, Aim Right has been awarded a

$15,000 matching grant

by the Mission Increase Foundation (MIF), a national organization that assists non-profit ministries in Biblical fundraising, giving, and discipleship. From now until December 15, 2010, your gift is eligible to be applied toward this matching grant opportunity. Simply designate your gift "Matching Grant."

If you wish to make a gift online using your debit or credit card, click on the link below. Just remember to include "Matching Grant" in the designation field. We praise God for His provision through the generosity of MIF!

Donate Online through Network for Good.

Kids Klub Rally 9.22.10

2010-09-23T13:49:00.000-07:00

After some singing led by Andrea and Jasmine, the youngest classes (K-2nd grade) headed downstairs for their rally time. One of the purposes of rally is to reinforce and review the past weeks' Bible stories, and these youngsters did a fabulous job of answering questions during our review game.

If you answered a question correctly, you had the fun of standing up and throwing the beach ball to another student to answer a question.

We ended the evening with play time.

Needed: Jobs!

2010-09-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

Sometimes eating bagels pays off.

The local Einstein bagel shop is one that Andrea has frequented during her time in Phoenix, and she recently found out that they were hiring. She filled out an application, had an interview, and is now a shift manager at Einstein's.

Perhaps I should add that her shifts usually start at 4 a.m. (yes, you read correctly....FOUR a.m.) or 6 a.m., but years of living and working on a dairy farm have prepared her quite nicely for those hours!

Time and time again, we have seen God provide part-time jobs for our interns--not always what they might love doing, but nevertheless a source of income that enables them to meet their intern budgets and still be involved in the ministry in the afternoons and evenings. Interns have been landscapers, construction workers, housecleaners, babysitters, welders, office workers, dog kennel cleaners, daycare workers, and the list goes on.

You can join us in praying for our new interns, Kelsi and Joel, as they look for jobs in the area. Kelsi is interested in babysitting, nanny, or daycare jobs, and Joel has skills in construction. If you know of any openings (preferably morning, around 20 hours per week), please call our office at (602) 462-1987 or e-mail amy@aimright.org.

September Tidbits

2010-09-20T14:05:00.000-07:00

Boys are outnumbering the girls in Kids Klub attendance. Why? I don't really know, although it makes for a little more rambunctious crowd!

Wednesday evening we studied the story Jesus told about the wise man and the foolish man. In classes where students are of reading age, we try to have enough Bibles available so that students can read the words themselves. These 2nd graders have been great learners!

This young man is one of the faithful walkers. Since we currently do not have a driver for our bus, several children walk to Kids Klub, and the rest we transport in a van and a few cars. The walking part is a little more tricky than you might assume, since the child's parent may or may not always remind him or her about Kids Klub. That means the child has to (a) remember there's Kids Klub that evening and (b) plan ahead to walk there in time! I'd say that Jose probably walks at least 1/2 mile to Kids Klub.

Former intern Roger Beachy ('06-'07) and lovely wife Janine were in the Valley last week, celebrating two years of marriage and re-connecting with the many teens and individuals they have impacted through their enthusiastic hearts for the Lord.

A cook-out with Roger and Janine one evening:

Last week, Sanctum began. Sanctum is the new name for what was formerly called Out Loud, a twice monthly worship service for teens. You can read more about the group here and even "like" them (for all of you who know Facebook lingo!), on their Facebook page: Sanctum on Facebook. Bob Oxley leads Sanctum, along with several other talented musicians. If you live in the area, you're certainly invited to worship along with us on Monday evening. The next scheduled Sanctum is September 27.

Teen Night 9.03.10

2010-09-08T14:23:00.000-07:00

The Rec Center opened this afternoon, so the place is abuzz with action! This game is apparently the most popular.

The new intern team continues to be initiated. At Teen Night on Friday evening, Caleb had prepared special diapers for them. Here they are opening their precious little bundles.

Caleb was nice enough to put good-tasting (albeit realistic-looking) stuff on the inside!

Joel whooped the girls and ate the most.

Then, some teens had to eat a banana with no hands (it was already peeled for them).

The next victims/volunteers guzzled Mountain Dew.

The lovely Miss Dora who managed to avoid all gross activities throughout the evening but really wants her photo on the blog. Here you go, Dora!

Finally...the lovely and lively Miss Madison who is missing a few diapers -- three, to be exact. And she informed me she doesn't want 'em back!

First Kids Klub

2010-09-02T14:48:00.000-07:00

Opening night of Kids Klub brought lots of.....

KIDS!

Wow, Joel is fitting in quite well already!

On Tuesday afternoon, we visited our routine Kids Klub attenders from last year, as well as several new children who attended VBS this summer, and invited them to Kids Klub. And then we tried to formulate a plan to transport about 75 potential kids using one van and three cars. Somehow, it all worked out, because the auditorium was filled with nearly 70 kids Wednesday evening. Some of them did walk or were brought by their parents.

Ro planned several no-hands eating contests. Here the kids were eating cream-filled chocolate cakes. The winner was the person who came up with an empty plate and an empty mouth first.

The new interns were initiated, although Ro was kind enough to warn them ahead of time that there would be messy food involved. Ro covered two plates of Whoppers with whipped cream.

And then Joel and Kelsi had to transfer Whoppers onto another pie plate, using only their mouths, of course!

I don't remember who won, but they both got pretty messy!

Next week will be Kids Klub classes, with children divided into rooms by grade to hear a Bible story and participate in other activities. Please pray that God will work in many children's hearts this fall!

Q& A with J & K

2010-08-31T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is the current and new intern team -- Andrea, Kelsi, and Joel!

Here's a short Q &A with J (Joel) and K (Kelsi).

What is your age?

J: 20

K: 18

Why did you decide to become an intern?

J: I really like working with youth, and I had come out to visit, and it felt like God was calling me here.

K: I love all different types of people, and I enjoy relating to just about anyone when it comes to God, life, and interests.

What countries have you visited?
J: Australia, Ecuador, and Costa Rica
K: Africa

What do you like to do in your free time?

J: Play sports, hang out with friends

K: Hang out with friends, read, go on walks

How many sibilings do you have?

J: 4

K: 3

What's your favorite book of the Bible?

J: Psalms, because it shows every aspect of life -- the good and the bad --and that God's always there

K: Genesis, because that's where it all began

What is something your parents taught you?

J: To always put your all into everything, no matter what the circumstance

K: To embrace all kinds of people and be very open to try new things

What is your favorite sports teams or sport?

J: Ohio State Buckeyes, football, baseball, basketball [We've had Buckeyes fans here before; they're hardcore!]

K: None

What is the craziest thing you've ever eaten?

J: Chicken foot soup

K: Goat meat

What is the biggest challenge facing today's teens?

J: Underage drinking and sex

K: Underage drinking and partying

What is one of your goals for this year?

J: To grow more in my walk with God and get to know the kids better

K: To grow spiritually and to have God use the talents He gave me to reach others

Bible Study Kick-off

2010-08-31T14:50:00.000-07:00

Bible study kicked off yesterday evening with a Bible scavenger hunt prepared by David. The teams each received the first clue (a Bible reference) that led them to other clues -- also Bible references -- inside and outside the building. This picture is blurry, but it captures what happened when the first clue was given. Teams were on the move!

At the end of the scavenger hunt, everyone gathered together for a time of prayer.

Transitions

2010-08-30T13:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, the Aim Right "family" gathered to honor Amy and Matt, who recently completed their internships. A bonus, though, is that we didn't have to say good-bye, since they're both planning to continue to live and work in Phoenix. Thanks so much, Amy and Matt, for your willingness to serve and be stretched. I know there are plenty of people who are glad that you are sticking around!

And--we're so very glad that God provided two new interns at just the right time to fill the vacant intern positions. Last week, we welcomed Kelsi Burkholder from Indiana and Joel Roby from Ohio. Both already have a little history with Aim Right. Kelsi visited Phoenix earlier in the year to spend time with friends and also volunteered at our auction. As for Joel, his sister Allyah served as an intern in 2006, and he came out to lead a week of VBS with his youth group in 2007. Welcome, Kelsi and Joel!

Note: We currently do have a need for another male intern if you or anyone you know might be interested. Applications can be downloaded here.

You, Jesus, and Your Money

2010-08-24T13:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday In Touch Ministries featured a great message on you and your money by Pastor Andy Stanley. It's 20 minutes well spent as he dissects Jesus' teaching on giving and greed in Luke 12.

The Assumption of Consumption - August 23rd broadcast

And....a compelling blog post from one of the Mission Increase Foundation writers. If you think American Christians are a generous lot, think again.

Where are the Other 76%?

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Perhaps you're wondering: Why a post on money and giving? As a non-profit organization that interacts routinely with givers of time, energy, and resources (one of which might be you!), Aim Right's board adopted the Ten Principles of Transformational Giving. One of those principles is that giving is learned, not latent. Therefore, our desire is that you--and we--would grow in understanding and obeying the principles of Biblical giving as we seek together to advance His kingdom in Phoenix and beyond!