9/8/13

As I write this I am sitting on the porch in front of my house watching the rain pour ceaselessly down from a dark gray sky...the claps of thunder, at first occasional and distant, are growing steadily angrier and closer. Lightning can be seen regularly over Cochise County as I look over the valley that sits below the 40-acre Agape Youth Ranch.

I have been living in southeastern Arizona for just over a week now, and while I miss many things about California, friends in particular, this has already begun to feel like home.

Almost 4 months ago, I had applied to come work here, hoping to be out here by mid-summer. God had other plans. Due to unforeseen circumstances I had decided to remain in California, putting the ministry opportunity in God's hands...

Several weeks later, I felt God calling me to look into the position again, and, only a few short months after my inquiry, I moved down to Arizona.

The ministry, Agape Youth Ministry, has a ranch (Agape Youth Ranch, or AYR) here in Elfrida which was built with the intention of working with at-risk teens. This year, we will be beginning our first ever long-term residential program where high school age teens will come and spend 12+ months living, learning, growing and working on the ranch. There are many parts to this ministry, including an equine program, a canine program, an academic program, and of course a faith-based element which encompasses everything to encourage spiritual growth.

The kids we will be working with will come from diverse backgrounds and will have many struggles of their own, ranging from behavioral issues to struggling with drugs and alcohol. Our goal here at AYR is to provide teens (often from unstable home environments) who are struggling with emotional, spiritual, academic, behavioral and addiction issues, a safe, Christian environment to grow in. We fully expect challenges and obstacles, and understand that we may not be able to reach all of these kids successfully. That said, we feel that God has called each of us here with a specific purpose in mind, and we fully intend to honor Him and to demonstrate a Christ-like unconditional love in a structured, controlled setting, far from the distractions, fears, addictions and influences that have played a role in creating the personalities that these kids have today.

My prayer for each of the kids that we will be working with, is that God would be at work in their hearts, and open their hearts and minds to Him through us and our work here.

AYR is a non-profit, faith based ministry here in southeastern Arizona. We as staff are responsible for raising all of our own support to provide for our basic living expenses. I will be living as a missionary here, doing God's work, for the next two years at least. I am responsible for the care and training of the horses and dogs, as well as overseeing the kids in the canine and equine programs, splitting the responsibilities of Boys bunkhouse leader (basically watching the kids for half the week 24 hours/day), and functioning as ranch foreman.

Thank you in advance for your support, whether prayer or financial!! It means a lot!

More to come soon!
In the service of Our Lord,
Kevin Brown
Agape Youth Ministry
14960 S Morgan Ranch Rd
Elfrida, AZ 85610
559-801-5324
Kabrown27@gmail.com