Apache Youth Ministry

Founders

The Apache Youth Ministry was founded by Ron and Darcy Everingham . This family did not just create the organization over a small amount of time with a lot of money; the Everingham’s went through many hardships in their ministry before the organization ever came about. Before they moved onto the reservation the Everinghams lived in Arizona outside of Whiteriver. It was just Ron, Darcy, and their two sons, Austin and Conner; they left all other family to do their ministry. The Everinghams moved onto the reservation in 2000. The family moved into a home that was shack-like. The neighborhood in which they then lived in was unsafe. On top of all of that, Darcy was pregnant with their daughter Ellaina. During this time, the family had to rely on God for everything; they were down to almost nothing. (Bidderman) The Everinghams did not let the environment they were in get them down. The family did their best to work on their house and reach out to the community. After a while, the family got together a bible study for the teens on the reservation. The Everinghams’ determination and passion turned their small bible study into a youth group with up to sixty teens. With the youth group growing how it did, there came a time for them to move into a facility. In 2003, the Everinghams got permission to start a Christian Youth center on the reservation. With help across the nation from people that wanted to contribute to this, the ministry grew and grew; that is how the Apache Youth Ministry came about. The Everinghams created the organization from the ground up. Now, AYM has turned into a well known organization helping and changing the lives of teens all over Whiteriver. (Bidderman)

The Kennel

The main focus of the youth ministry is the Kennel . The Kennel is a youth center on the reservation. At the Kennel they have everything for teens to do from play a game of basketball to shooting games of pool. The Kennel is located next to Alchesay High School, the only high school on the reservation. This makes the Kennel an easy spot to minister to teens. The Kennel is also a place for the teenagers to hang out other than out on the streets doing otherwise. The Kennel ministers to the youth through their discipleship programs they have. The center sees over one hundred and fifty students a week and during the open hours one can usually find around 40 students. The Kennel is the attraction for AYMs ministry in reaching out to the youth. (Bidderman)

Teen Homes

The Apache Youth Ministry is much more than just the attraction of the Kennel though. AYM is full of teen homes for not just teens but all youth that come from threatening, abusive, and neglectful homes. Native Americans in Whitewater have one of the highest suicide rates and drinking rates in America. So the conditions the youth are around are already bad. The homes are not like group homes or foster homes or anything of that nature, but they are like real Christian family homes. The youth are taken into homes where they are taught responsibility of their actions and get to experience what it is like to have a loving relationship. These homes are what AYM is all about. (Bidderman)

Internship

AYM has an internship gives young adults a chance to use their God given talents in ministry and grow spiritually with future ministries by working with the organization. The internship is called the Ministry, Growth, and Service internship. Working with this organization through this internship helps the youth of Whitewater and also gives a feel of what it is like to work as a missionary. (Bidderman)

Short Term Ministry

At the organization there is a short term ministry program for any churches or individuals can come and experience AYM. This program is very beneficial to the ministry in getting the word out about AYM and maintaining the facilities. It is programs like this how AYM is running today. The short term ministry is basically like a mission trip. (Bidderman)

Hoops on the Rez

Basketball is a big part of the Native American life in Whitewater, and because of this in 2003 AYM began a ministry through basketball called Hoops on the Rez. This is a basketball camp where all youth from all different sorts of poverty and abusive backgrounds come together through. The event is very popular. In the past year (2010) the camp had over 175 youth and over a hundred counselors. The camp is put together by all those who fund and send money to help out the organization. It takes around 10,000 dollars a year to fund the camp each year. (Bidderman)

The Bidderman's

Joel & Marissa Bidderman are missionaries with the Apache Youth Ministry. For three years the Biddermans worked as staff members for International House of Prayer in Atlanta. In 2008 they went to go work with the Apache Youth Ministry and have been there since. Joel is the Director of Resource and Staff Development at AYM, other than what he does at AYM he is also songwriter and a musical artist. Joel also is the Media director for AYM’s Little Bluebird Studios. (“missions”)

Little Bluebird Studios

Little Bluebird Studios is a screen shop and media studio that provides a creative outlook on the teens of the White Mountain Apache Youth to make them not seem like the world views them. In 2008 Little Bluebird Studios started with a printing press and some supplies that were donated by Rick Sanchez. Little Bluebird Studios goals are to create ethics. By working with the youth through this program, they make relationships with the youth by getting to know their creative skills and build mutual bonds with them. (“Little Bluebird Studios”)