Early Action in Restoring Souls

EARS Ministries

Definition of Ministries:

Tutoring Ministry: This ministry acts as a supplement to the academic instruction that students receive from public, private, or parochial schools. The purpose is to assist the youth to reach his/her academic potential through remediation, enhancement of basic skills in academic content areas, and increase academic achievement and performance. Virtuous Woman Awareness Ministry: The ministry was designed to assist young women in identifying and recognizing positive attributes they should possess, and enable them to model and implement these attributes in every area of their lives. This ministry helps young woman understand all aspects of loving themselves, increasing positive self- esteem, promoting positive self-awareness, and developing productive relationships. Court Advocacy Ministry: Trained advocates / mentors will be selected to work directly with the Department Of Juvenile Justice and the Solicitor's Office to advocate on behalf of youth. Each advocate with work in coordination with the Pre-Trial Intervention ministry to provide and supervise community service activities completed by youth. GED Ministry: Youth who have not received a High School diploma will be eligible for this ministry. They will take a Pre-GED test to determine their current academic level and areas of deficiency. Youth will be instructed specifically in the areas of deficiency as identified by the Pre-GED test. The youth will receive instruction until there is proficiency &/or mastery in the specified academic areas. Following instruction, the GED test will be taken. Job Placement Ministry: A thorough assessment will be conducted to determine the youth's career interests and goals. Youth will work with an identified "Job Coach" to help develop skills in preparation for obtaining and maintaining employment. This ministry will work in conjunction with the GED ministry for those youth that have not completed high school or received a high school diploma. Mentor Ministry: This ministry will elect a positive role model / mentor who will provide the youth with opportunities to learn and acquire appropriate social behaviors through modeling. The Mentor will also assist the youth in decreasing inappropriate social behaviors. The purpose is provide the youth with appropriate examples to teach them how to relate and function effectively with his/her spiritual, familial, social, and physical environment. This will be established through a structured relationship between the youth and mentor with the incorporation of therapeutic activities where the youth will learn positive social behaviors. Boys to Men Ministry: This ministry was established to provide young non-custodial fathers with the skills to love, mentor, care for themselves, and care for their child(ren). The ministry was designed to advocate on behalf of the fathers, and assist them in determining actual paternity. Also, this particular ministry works in coordination the with Job Placement Ministry to find and establish employment for the fathers. Summer Enrichment Ministry: The purpose of this program is to provide enrichment for the spirit, mind, and body or every youth. Spiritually, the youth will receive instruction from the word of God, and learn about establishing a relationship with Jesus Christ. Intellectually, the youth will receive academic instruction, remediation, and maintain proficiency of academic skills. Physically, youth will participate in various recreational activities to stress the importance of being physically fit. Counseling: The counselor will develop goal-oriented interventions, which are responsive to meet the needs of the youth, and establish possible solutions to youth's everyday issues. Basketball League: This ministry will offer recreational activities for the youth in the community. The youth will develop skills in the area of teamwork, discipline, and goal development. The duration of the league will be eight weeks and will take place during the fall and summer months. College Enrichment Ministry: This ministry will assist high school seniors in the development of their career interests. The seniors will be given tests to determine their career interests and goals. The ministry will also provide information on particular colleges and universities. The youth will take a class to prepare them for either taking the SAT or A.C.T. scholastic tests. Operation Continuos Abundant Blessings: E.A.R.S. will work and collaborate with other agencies and ministries to provide food and clothing for children and families in need. E.A.R.S. After School Ministry: Youth will receive additional academic instruction in identified areas of need. Youth will be enriched in the spiritual, academic, and recreational aspects of their lives.

History and Advisory Committee Members

EARS Youth Enrichment Ministry

History

The Early Action in Restoring Souls Youth Enrichment Ministry was birthed through the Rev. Dr. Cory O. Williams. Dr. Williams experienced and identified with the difficulties that youth face in our community. He also understood and was concerned about our youth falling through the cracks of our established societal systems. The ministry has been in existence since March 2002. The first E.A.R.S. ministry to be established and implemented was the annual Youth Basketball Camp. The E.A.R.S. ministry has developed an Advisory Committee, comprised of 16 members. The purpose of the Early Action in Restoring Souls Advisory Committee is to further develop each individual ministry, and collaborate with fellow committee members, agencies, businesses, schools, and other youth and family enrichment ministries. Currently, the Early Action in Restoring Souls Youth Enrichment Ministry has served over 400 children and families through various ministries. Some of the ministries are as follows: Tutoring Ministry, Mentoring Ministry, Boys to Men Ministry, Court Advocacy Ministry, Summer Enrichment Camp, E.A.R.S. Chorus, E.A.R.S. Annual Basketball Camp, Annual Abundant Blessing Christmas Drive, Operations- Continuos Abundant Blessings (C.A.B.), After School Ministry, and the Virtuous Women Ministry. Vision The vision is to engage our youth to become productive citizens in our communities. To teach shills, provide knowledge, and to mentor youth, so that they can in turn use the information as a tool to succeed in life. To empower youth to empower themselves. Purpose The main premise of this organization is to mentor, encourage, establish and achieve goals, and advocate on behalf of South Carolina's youth. This ministry will provide services to youth in our communities at no cost. This ministry will work together with state agencies, schools, churches, universities, and community ministries to achieve these goals. Advisory Committee Members 1. Dr. Larry Knighton- Anderson County School Dist. Five 2. Mr. Charles Wimphrie- Southern Wesleyan University 3. Mr. Jerry Knighton-Clemson University 4. Mr. Marion Tarrant- Anderson Housing Authority 5. Rev. Jarvis Brown- Springfield Baptist Church 6. Mr. Steve Dean- New Foundations ( Formerly Anderson Youth Association) 7. Rev. Dr. Terry McCaskill, Sr.- Mount Sinai World Outreach Ministry 8. Ms. Tracy Richardson- Department of Mental Health 9. Rev. Ken Johnson- Victory Baptist Church 10. Dr. Carol Weatherford- Clemson University 11. Ms. Jamine Moton- Clemson University 12. Ms. Andrea Williams- Department of Mental Health- Executive Support Specialist 13. Ms. Kristi Crandall- Department of Mental Health- Vice Chairperson 14. Mr. Sam Crandall- Community Leader 15. Rev. Dr. Cory O. Williams 16. Ms. Frances Dixon