The Kennel Building worthwhile relationships...equipping for productive lives

The Kennel The Kennel, located in Whiteriver (the heart of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation), is what we named our building. The name has nothing to do with the value we place in our teens, instead, it is a catchy name that helps to draw an analogy between the unwanted dog in the animal world (and very common to the reservation) and the needy of this world. Jesus loves the unlovable. He desires a relationship with every human regardless of social status. Jesus loves the outcast of this world and commands us to reach out to the physically and spiritually needy (Mathew 25:31-46).

We want to recognize that the things this world offers this generation fall far short of what God has for them. This world offers short-term fun and eventual emptiness. God offers complete joy. The Kennel sets within a hundred yards of Alchesay High School, the only public high school on the reservation. The 9th – 12th grade high school typically has an enrollment of around 900 students. We estimate that we will see well over half of the student body over the school year, over 150 different students during any given week, and around 40 at The Kennel at any given time during “Open Kennel.”

The Kennel is our platform to interface the community. It is in this building that we have set up our state-of-the-art youth center complete with a snack bar, computers, surround sound, movie projector, billiard tables, video gaming stations, TV’s in every corner, an outdoor basketball court, skate area, and courtyard. The teens that we come into contact with here have an opportunity to take an advantage of all of our other programs. As stated before, we will continually measure the effectiveness of our programs and make appropriate alterations. Therefore programs at The Kennel may vary from year to year.

Kennel Programs

Open Kennel
The Stand
5th Quarter
Hoops on the Rez
Hope in Transit

Open Kennel
“Open Kennel” gives our staff a relevant, relaxed encounter with teens. We do this relationally by playing basketball, video games, shooting pool and having normal everyday conversations about life. This program gives our staff a platform to build purposeful relationships in a non-threatening environment.
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The Stand
Life is hard...& it might not get easier, but here at the Kennel we believe in a hope.  This hope is not in our abilities, our knowledge, our reputation, or even the good things that we can do.  Our hope is in a person, a person named Jesus Christ.  We know that ultimately the only person who will never let us down, and who loves us perfectly is Jesus. 

The purpose of the Stand is to build our hearts on a foundation like you would build a house.  No one would build a house on quicksand, like we see in jungle movies, because it would be ridiculous.  As soon as you lay down part of the house, it would be swallowed up in the sand!  Our hearts can be the same way.  If we put our hope in things, we'll go through heartbreak when those things break or are no longer there.  If we put our hope in human beings we'll be disillusioned when those people fail us.  When our hope is shattered in people or things hopelessness can easily swallow us up.  At the Stand we build our hearts on the strong concrete foundation of Jesus Christ and the values of living that He taught.  It's not just about talking about God...it's talking to God.  It's about having a friendship with Him.  As we come into the Stand, we come with the expectation that as we encounter the Creator of the Universe our hearts can get changed and we can leave from a different place than we came.  Life might not get easier, and all of our problems may not get solved; but we can have a reason to live...we can have a HOPE for the future.  A hope built on the foundation of a relationship with the Living God of the Universe.
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5th Quarter
“5^th Quarter” is a high energy event held at The Kennel after all home varsity football and basketball games. The purpose of this program is very similar to “Open Kennel” only it has special activities built into the program that make this night unique.
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Hoops on the Rez
Our first annual "Hoops On The Rez" basketball camp was held in July of 2004. These basketball camps, put on by former college level players and current coaches, have enjoyed working with hundreds of Apache youth throughout the years. This camp mixes fun with basketball skills and enjoys the instruction of Coach Jake Deer, Coach Jon Everingham (of Indiana), Coach Brian Bechtel (of Indiana), and others from around the country.
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Hope in Transit
Hope in Transit is an organization that comes to the Kennel regularly to teach music to the kids.  To learn more about them: Click Here
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