Background/What is AYM?

Incorporated in 1970, Area Youth Ministry (AYM) is a Christian outreach ministry to inner-city adolescents in Indianapolis, Indiana. Focusing on the development of the whole person— spiritual, physical, emotional, and intellectual—AYM reaches out to fill voids. A Drop-In Center (located across from Tech High School) provides a safe haven where youth ages 13-18 can hang out after school to get help with homework, relax, play games, or talk to someone about problems they are having. Through several small single-gender groups around the city, AYM helps teens build healthy self-esteem, recognize their God-given potential, and feel accepted and loved. Biblical principles are taught to instruct these young people about how to live Godly, responsible lives. In addition, AYM serves "at-risk" junior and senior high students in Tech, Arlington, Howe, Washington Community, and Manual Indianapolis Public School districts through Young Champions, a 25-week course teaching life skills and values. AYM's services are provided to more than 1,500 adolescent youth each year without regard for their race, gender, disability, religion, national origin, or ancestry. AYM employs 7 full-time staff members, involves volunteers in many different capacities, and operates with a 2007 annual budget of $409,615.