Abundant Rain Ministries, Inc.

Water's Edge Youth

Our mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders. In Water's Edge Youth programs, we meet regularly in small groups with other youth and participate in a variety of activities. Youth develop partnerships with adults as they build self-esteem and master skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. Club members have the opportunity to earn recognition items as they complete special projects. 

We are youth-centered. Youth take an active role in determining program content and activities. Young people's accomplishments are recognized and rewarded within the group and community. Personal skill building and decision-making, critical components of all programming, progressively build confidence and leadership in youth. This foundation enables youth to be leaders with their peers, with younger youth and in the community. 

We engage the entire family in fun and outcome-rich activities. We are youth-centered and family-focused. We believe that, since Waters Edge Youth programs are youth-centered and youth live in the families and the larger community, our programs should be designed to include the whole family, valuing whatever form family takes in today's society. Waters Edge Youth is unique in that it offers an opportunity for the entire family to belong and to join together in fun and enriching activities at all levels. We encourage parents, extended family members and other members of the community to routinely interact with the youth and to develop their own parenting and mentoring skills through their relationship with Abundant Rain. 

We are welcoming and inclusive. We invite youth and adults regardless of race, religion, socioeconomic status, disability, sexual orientation or other aspect of diversity. Waters Edge Youth programs are designed to provide coeducational activities for all youth. Youth find a safe and inclusive place to explore the uniqueness of who they are, to master important life skills, to share with peers and adults and to develop assets that experts assert are essential to the process of building character and maturity. We require no oath or participation in rituals that may create barriers to inclusiveness. 

We build youth and adult partnerships. Abundant Rain Youth programs are about doing "with" youth, not about delivering "to" youth. Youth and adults work together in partnership to design, implement and evaluate what they do. Through participation where they have voice and direction, Abundant Rain Youth form lasting relationships, a sense of belonging and appreciation and a feeling of emotional commitment by adults, both inside and outside the family circle. Research shows that young people in the early years need opportunities to be involved in positive activities with parents and family members. As they mature, they need the support of caring adults outside the family circle. Abundant Rain Youth programming is designed to provide opportunities to build those lasting relationships with parents and with other adults. 

We provide service to others. From its early history, Abundant Rain Youth has been known as a service organization. That is still true today. Service is a major component of all Abundant Rain Youth programs. Councils provide innovative and diverse programs that are responsive to specific needs of their community and engage the support and cooperation of other community leaders and organizations in their efforts. Abundant Rain provides youth and families with an awareness of the community and its needs and an opportunity to participate in the initiation, planning and execution of service projects to meet those needs. Through service, young people can make a positive difference in their lives and in the lives of their families and their communities.

National Youth Leadership Forums  

All teens and young adults ages 13-21 are welcome to participate in Abundant Rain’s national youth forums. Forums are held for youth to gather to make friends, have fun and discuss issues important to their daily lives. Speakers, excursions and educational workshops are part of the exciting forums. 

Every two years, Abundant Rain Youth teen leaders choose a national issue as the center of their community service efforts. Teens throughout the country study the issue, brainstorm ways to help out and share their ideas with one another. They then plan and participate in service projects that deal with the issue in their own communities. Past national youth campaign topics have included concerns such as AIDS, youth violence, global awareness and hunger and homelessness.

Teens in Action
Youth make a difference in their local communities through community service, brainstorming, discussing topics relevant to them and making decisions that help further the organization. 

Leader's-in-Training 
High school-aged youth may participate in a Leader's-in-training (LIT) program at their local camps. LITs assist professional staff counselors in leading groups of younger children through day and resident camp activities. LITs are trained to later become counselors.  

Youth Leadership
Leadership roles for teens include day camp aide, counselor-in-training, club aide, club leader, course instructor and positions in council administration including consultant, trainer, recruiter, fundraiser and publicist.  

Youth Advisory Cabinet 
A prestigious group of youth from across the nation makes up Abundant Rain Youth Advisory Cabinet. The group plans for national Abundant Rain Youth events; proposes ideas and solutions to issues of the organization and youth; consults with the national chief executive officer and national youth board members; represents Abundant Rain Youth at local and national events and with liaison organizations; and much more!

Programs 

Abundant Rain Community Outreach teaches youth about community service through hands-on experiences. These program sessions are structured to lead youth through conceptualizing and implementing a community service project from start to finish. The steps practiced in Community Outreach include assessment, planning and organizing, conducting the project and evaluating and celebrating the successes. Youth learn to work together towards a common goal and make a difference in their community. 

True Love Waits® challenges teenagers and college students to make a commitment to sexual abstinence until marriage. Created by LifeWay Christian Resources, True Love Waits encourages moral purity by adhering to biblical principles. This youth-based international campaign utilizes positive peer pressure by encouraging those who make a commitment to refrain from pre-marital sex to challenge their peers to do the same. "Believing that true love waits, I make a commitment to God, myself, my family, my friends, my future mate, and my future children to a lifetime of purity including sexual abstinence from this day until the day I enter a biblical marriage relationship."

God’s Angels Performing Arts

Biblical Studies

Youth Convention

Field Trips

Youth Service's

Wednesday 7:00 pm

Friday Night 7:00 p.m.

Sundays 6:00 pm