How it all started...
From second chances to new futures:
How a ministry rooted in grace continues to grow.
Aim Right Ministries was founded in the early 1990s out of Paradise Valley Mennonite Church. At the time, our founder Darrell Bacher and a small team recognized the urgent need to support young men transitioning out of the juvenile justice system. What began as a transitional housing program soon became a broader ministry presence in the Garfield and Edison neighborhoods of downtown Phoenix—communities marked by deep need, rich culture, and incredible resilience.
As the ministry took root, Aim Right expanded its outreach through Bible studies, church services, Teen Night, Vacation Bible School, and Teen Camp—always with the heart of helping youth find direction in life. Over time, we became known as a place where kids and teens could experience safety, community, and faith.
Today, we stand at the intersection of history and hope. With Garfield Elementary’s shift to a 5th–8th grade model and the growing needs of middle school students in our community, Aim Right has reimagined its mission. We are now focused on one pivotal stage of life—middle school—where identity is formed and futures begin to take shape.
Our new mission is clear: To guide youth toward a faith that reimagines futures, writes new endings, and builds generationally healthy homes. Through strategic programs built around belonging (Spark), identity, and purpose, we’re committed to walking with young people as they discover who they are, where they belong, and what they’re capable of becoming.
This is our legacy—and our future.
How a ministry rooted in grace continues to grow.
Aim Right Ministries was founded in the early 1990s out of Paradise Valley Mennonite Church. At the time, our founder Darrell Bacher and a small team recognized the urgent need to support young men transitioning out of the juvenile justice system. What began as a transitional housing program soon became a broader ministry presence in the Garfield and Edison neighborhoods of downtown Phoenix—communities marked by deep need, rich culture, and incredible resilience.
As the ministry took root, Aim Right expanded its outreach through Bible studies, church services, Teen Night, Vacation Bible School, and Teen Camp—always with the heart of helping youth find direction in life. Over time, we became known as a place where kids and teens could experience safety, community, and faith.
Today, we stand at the intersection of history and hope. With Garfield Elementary’s shift to a 5th–8th grade model and the growing needs of middle school students in our community, Aim Right has reimagined its mission. We are now focused on one pivotal stage of life—middle school—where identity is formed and futures begin to take shape.
Our new mission is clear: To guide youth toward a faith that reimagines futures, writes new endings, and builds generationally healthy homes. Through strategic programs built around belonging (Spark), identity, and purpose, we’re committed to walking with young people as they discover who they are, where they belong, and what they’re capable of becoming.
This is our legacy—and our future.
Expanding the vision...
As we look ahead, Aim Right is committed to deepening our impact, not by doing more, but by going deeper. We're expanding our vision by focusing on the age group that needs us most: middle schoolers.
Through our new three-phase pathway based on Belonging (Spark), Identity, and Purpose we are creating a clear journey that supports youth emotionally, spiritually, and academically. Every program, every partnership, and every decision is being built to nurture generational transformation and lasting hope.
We're also reimagining our physical space, volunteer culture, and staff structure to support this next chapter. This is a movement toward new stories and new futures for our city’s youth.
Through our new three-phase pathway based on Belonging (Spark), Identity, and Purpose we are creating a clear journey that supports youth emotionally, spiritually, and academically. Every program, every partnership, and every decision is being built to nurture generational transformation and lasting hope.
We're also reimagining our physical space, volunteer culture, and staff structure to support this next chapter. This is a movement toward new stories and new futures for our city’s youth.
Where we are headed...
Our future is focused, but full of possibility.
Aim Right is growing into a ministry that not only meets immediate needs but also shapes long-term stories. As we center our work on middle schoolers, we’re investing in the years that matter most for identity, faith, and purpose formation.
We’re rethinking what youth ministry can look like in the heart of the city. From how we use our building, to how we train our leaders, to how we walk with students and families through seasons of challenge and growth.
Our goal isn’t just to run great programs. It’s to help students build lives marked by belonging, wholeness, and hope. And to equip them to lead their peers, their families, and their neighborhoods into a better future.
Aim Right is growing into a ministry that not only meets immediate needs but also shapes long-term stories. As we center our work on middle schoolers, we’re investing in the years that matter most for identity, faith, and purpose formation.
We’re rethinking what youth ministry can look like in the heart of the city. From how we use our building, to how we train our leaders, to how we walk with students and families through seasons of challenge and growth.
Our goal isn’t just to run great programs. It’s to help students build lives marked by belonging, wholeness, and hope. And to equip them to lead their peers, their families, and their neighborhoods into a better future.
