Personal Development
Define Success in Your Life
Why a Trauma-Informed Approach Matters
For students growing up in communities affected by economic hardship, community violence, housing instability, or other chronic stressors, learning can be influenced by experiences that extend far beyond the classroom. A trauma-informed approach recognizes that a student’s behavior, difficulty concentrating, emotional reactions, or disengagement may sometimes reflect stress or challenging life experiences rather than a lack of ability or desire to learn.
Through Growing Up in Purpose, RIFM seeks to create supportive learning environments where students feel safe, valued, heard, and encouraged. Positive affirmations, mentoring, emotional-intelligence development, reflection, relationship building, and healthy coping strategies can help students strengthen self-awareness, manage emotions, build resilience, and respond more constructively to challenges.
For children and families in communities such as Miami Gardens, this approach means looking beyond behavior to understand the whole child. By combining education with encouragement and emotional support, RIFM seeks to help students address barriers that may interfere with learning so they can focus on their education, recognize their potential, and move forward with confidence and purpose.
RIFM Community Event
Rhema International Faith Ministries, Inc. (RIFM) partnered with the Guardian ad Litem Office of Broward County and Voices for Children to support foster children and youth involved in the dependency court system. During this Back-to-School event, children enjoyed shopping at Old Navy for school clothing and essentials, helping them start the new school year with confidence and encouragement. (August 2025)
Through this partnership, RIFM helped create a positive and supportive experience where children and youth could select clothing that reflected their individual needs, preferences, and personalities. More than providing back-to-school essentials, the event gave participants an opportunity to feel valued, supported, and excited about returning to school prepared for a fresh start.
RIFM remains committed to collaborating with community organizations that strengthen children, youth, and families. Partnerships with the Guardian ad Litem Office of Broward County and Voices for Children demonstrate the power of organizations working together to meet practical needs while promoting confidence, stability, and hope. Through initiatives like the Back-to-School event, RIFM continues its mission of empowering young people and helping them grow toward a brighter future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1bOcg1A1ic
Let’s Grow!
The program began on August 10, 2026, when Bridge Prep teacher Mrs. Lesley Richardson introduced Growing Up in Purpose through RIFM, the nonprofit she leads with her husband, Dr. Roger Richardson. Dr. Richardson adapted concepts from Keys to Inspired Growth: Words of Wisdom into the children’s book Growing Up in Purpose: Little Steps to Becoming Your Best Self. The book uses age-appropriate affirmations, reflections, and lessons to promote emotional intelligence, resilience, positive behavior, responsible decision-making, and healthy responses to everyday challenges.
Building Self-Confidence
Growing Up in Purpose integrates character development, leadership, mentoring, and self-confidence building into students’ daily learning experiences. Through positive affirmations, reflection, encouragement, and engaging activities, students learn to recognize their strengths, believe in their abilities, and develop a positive sense of self.
Fulfilling Potential
Our morning meeting is more than a one-time motivational activity, it reinforces positive concepts through daily Morning Meetings and after-school learning.
Tablets will strengthen this model by giving students access to the e-book and digital activities while staff reinforce concepts through discussion, reflection, collaboration, and real-world application. The goal is to help students learn, practice, and apply positive habits in daily life.
Community Impact and Personal Alignment
Rhema International Faith Ministries, Inc. (RIFM) has successfully served approximately 140 K–5 students at Bridge Prep Academy of Greater Miami in Miami Gardens, Miami-Dade County through the Growing Up in Purpose program. Students report a calming experience throughout their school day and Teachers confirm that negative behaviors decreased since the start of the program.Building on this experience, RIFM now seeks to expand its horizons by reaching additional elementary-age students attending charter schools throughout Miami-Dade and Broward Counties.
Finding Balance
Growing Up in Purpose is built on a simple principle: consistent, positive choices help children develop character, confidence, and skills for the future. With donation support to our 501(c)(3), RIFM can expand this initiative and provide students with the technology, resources, mentoring, and experiences needed to practice these lessons.
Thank you for considering our request. We welcome the opportunity to provide additional information about RIFM, the Growing Up in Purpose program, our community partnership, budget, and anticipated outcomes.
My Philosophy
Together, We Will
Together, Rhema International Faith Ministries (RIFM), schools, families, mentors, and community partners will help children grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Through the Growing Up in Purpose Program, students participate in Morning Meetings, positive affirmations, reflection, mentoring, leadership and character-development activities, and engaging learning experiences.
RIFM’s work is strengthened through relationships and collaborations with organizations including Rhema University, BridgePrep Academy of Greater Miami, Florida Training Services, The Home Depot Foundation, Anthropic, and Claude. These connections reflect our commitment to bringing together education, technology, workforce development, community resources, and innovative learning opportunities to strengthen the communities we serve.
Together, we will educate, encourage, and empower children to believe in themselves, make positive choices, develop strong character, and grow into confident young leaders who are prepared to succeed in school, in life, and in their communities.
Projects
free-evaluation
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Personal Development
At Rhema International Faith Ministries (RIFM), we believe personal development begins with helping individuals recognize their value, strengths, potential, and purpose. Through education, mentoring, encouragement, and practical learning experiences, our programs promote self-confidence, emotional intelligence, resilience, leadership, and responsible decision-making.
Grow in confidence. Grow in character. Grow in purpose.
754-900-0772
221 W. Hallandale Beach Blvd. Ste. 247, Hallandale Beach, Florida 33009
