Clear Lake A.M.E. Women's Ministry

Mission

To restore a balance of spirituality, family life and human development as youth make the transition from childhood to adulthood, through biblically sound, creative and interesting age level appropriate programs.

Purpose

The Rites of Passage program centers on the proverb "It takes an entire village to raise a Child." In order for the program to be successful, there must be continuity between and beyond the regular meeting sessions. Parents, youth participants, instructors and mentors all must commit to an intensive study and training schedule. This program gives everyone an opportunity to participate in raising up a new generation of Christians.

2002 Goals

Clear Lake A.M.E. Church has 7 registered Candidates for the Rites of Passage for the year 2002. Our goal is to have 90% successful completion. In addition to utilizing the age level curriculum guides provided by the 10th Episcopal District, the 7 program goals will be accomplished locally as follows:

Spirituality - To foster knowledge among African-American youth about the specific nature of their spirituality.

A series of workshops will be conducted during February to increase their knowledge of Gods Creation and enable them to disregard the Theory of Evolution. This workshop is titled "Somebody's Trying To Make A Monkey Out of You."

To encourage participation in regular church services and special activities, a point system has been developed, with a $50 Cash Award to be paid to each participant who meets or exceeds the following criteria:

At least 90% of possible points for attending Worship Service, Church School, Evening Services, Bible Study, YPD meetings and ROP meetings and other ROP activities January 4th through June 30th.
At least 80% of assignments submitted to Mentor by due date.
Attendance at Convocation for testing.

Note: Exceptions will be allowed for required school activities, illness and family vacation, however an exception for family vacation during Convocation will not be permitted.

Each participant that completes all assignments by June 30th and attends Convocation for testing will also receive a trophy.

Family hood - To encourage appreciation of African-American family hood and the manner in which process oriented, cultural traditions and individual circumstances shape survival-based roles.

A quest speaker will be invited in June to provide skills on how the youth can apply the seven principles of the Black Value System (Nguzo Saba) to their day-to-day life experiences.

Church and Community - To enhance the participants' awareness of their role in the development of their church and their community.

Two group community service projects will be conducted

Work at the Houston Food Bank - March 2nd
Make and Distribute five Survivor Kits each to the Homeless during May.

Will request WMS to donate proceeds from Benevolent Offering to fund this project.

Each participant will select at least one ministry of his or her choice in the church to provide exemplary service, to be completed by June 30th.

Time, Work and Money - To increase the appropriate and practical use of time, work habits and money.
1. Meetings will be held the 1st and 3rd Thursday from 7:00 - 8:00 P.M during January - June. This will encourage good work habits and timely completion of individual assignments, (Goal 80% submitted to mentor by due date) and also provide an opportunity to demonstrate leadership skills.
2. An agenda format has been developed for each meeting (see attached). This will expose the participants to the basics of time management skills. A Time Management Workshop will be held in May.
3. During April we will conduct workshops on Prayer - "Lord Teach us to Pray, " and "The Grace of Giving", which will serve to increase their knowledge in the obligation and benefits of Tithing.
Creativity - To direct participants' interest and attitude toward creative self-expression as a meaningful vehicle for self-empowerment.
1. To increase participants' awareness of African traditions, they will be taught during January and February to make their own Kente Cloth stole to be worn during the Dedication Service at Founders Day. Participants will be permitted to use their individual creativity.
2. Each participant will independently attend at least one Black History Celebration during the month of February, and make a verbal report to the group on how their knowledge of African traditions was increased.
Being Whole and Proud - To use nurturing, self-loving approaches to a variety of everyday as well as "life changing" situations.

Separate age appropriate workshops will be conducted during March. (Note dates and or times for these workshops may need to change to accommodate the schedules of the quest speakers).
1. Younger participants will have a workshop presented by a quest speaker on Self-Esteem, Nutrition and Exercise. Parents will determine which class their child attends. March 7th & 21st
2. March 7th Workshop for older participants will include a guest speaker from a local Police Department, to discuss Gangs, Crime and Violence.
3. March 21st older participants will have a workshop presented by a quest speaker on AIDS Awareness, from the People with Aids Coalition -Houston. There is not a fee for this service, however donations are accepted. Will request WMS to use proceeds from Benevolent Offering to make a donation.
Camaraderie, Mentoring and Leadership Skills - To precipitate bonding opportunities with other young men and women while simultaneously creating mentoring relationships with older men and women of kindred mind and spirit.

To train participants to assume leadership roles in the local, conference, Episcopal and connectional church and the community.
1. A fun kick-off meeting was held with all participants on Jan. 4th to begin building camaraderie, and obtain youth input on activities for the year.
2. Monthly meetings have been established at the request of the participants to continue building camaraderie through out the year.
3. These meetings will also serve to allow the youth to mentor and build leadership skills by assisting fellow participants with assignments completed in prior years.
4. Adult mentors are asked to attend at least one extra curriculum activity of their mentoree per year.
5. Adult mentors will conduct at least one one-on-one meeting or activity with their mentoree per month during February through June.
6. Each participant will assist with the worship service at least once per month, during the months of February through June.

Resources Needed

Mentors committed to helping make the program a success
Workshop Leaders
Chaperones for activities - especially Convocation
Financial Assistance (See Budget)
Authorization to use Uniform Commitment
Adult Refreshment Coordinator
Adult Transportation Coordinator

2002 Schedule

Date Due	Title	Age 15	Age 14	Age 13	Age 12	Age 11	Age 10
20-Feb	Choices - Where Sin Begins	x
1-Mar	Submission of Biographical Data Sheet	x	x	x	x	x	x
30-Mar	Self Esteem -Giving Youth A Challenging Thinking Climate						x
30-Mar	Let's Talk About Aids	x
30-Mar	Gangs, Crime & Violence - Not Always as Good as it Looks		x
30-Mar	Sexuality/Friendship Possibilities - Buddy System		x
30-Mar	TV & Movie Guide			x
30-Mar	Service Project For Problems In Society - Poverty & Materialism			x
1-Apr	Submission of Ads	x	x	x	x	x	x
25-Apr	Community Service Projects						x
30-Apr	Choose a Spiritual Topic & Write a Prayer on the topic	x	x
30-Apr	Prayer Project/Workshop			x			x
30-Apr	Sharing From Obendience & Vow Commitment						x
30-Apr	Money Management - Dollars & Sense	x
30-Apr	When Money Makes the world go round - Clash over Cash		x
30-Apr	It's Only Money - Sharing Gods Plan			x
30-May	When Friends Change						x
30-May	Spiritual Sonhs - Heart Beats - Gods Greatest Hits						x
1-Jun	Thinking about how to set goals	x
1-Jun	The Future - Order Please		x
1-Jun	Are You In Training			x
1-Jun	Family Trouble - When A Parent Leaves (No Report Due)		x
1-Jun	Submission of Picture	x	x	x	x	x	x
25-Jun	Daily Bible Readings	x					x
25-Jun	How work in the community has impacted your life	x	x	x
25-Jun	How work in the church has impacted your life	x	x	x
30-Jun	Identity Exercises, African Proverbs & African Poem						x
30-Jun	How you might include each principal of Nguzo Saba in your daily experiences	x	x	x
30-Jun	Making A Commitment - Time & Talent Vow	x	x	30-Apr
30-Jun	Self Esteem - Daily Exercise Program	x	x	1-Jun	x	x	x