If It's Saturday It Must Be Kidz Club

Growing up at Southside church of Christ, I have several fond memories of the many fun activities and events that were centered around growing my faith and knowledge of Jesus.  The number one on my list was Vacation Bible School. 

Mrs. Barbara Neller and her amazing team had a way of making the Bible stories come to life.  Who can forget Mr. David Hardison walking into the auditorium on stilts dressed as Goliath ready to battle David?  Or when Paul's head fell off (that part was an accident) as he was lowered over the wall of the baptistry in a basket?  Or when Mimi was dressed as a leapor with her arms covered in leporasy?  Or when the Fellowship Hall was transformed into the Tabernacle with all the amazing treasures it held.  Every summer VBS transported us into Bible times and made all the stories come to life. 

These experiences of VBS helped shape my faith.  They are some that I want to not only share with my own children someday but with the children of Hope for Tomorrow.  We haven't had Gepher walk on stilts or transform the church building into the Tabernacle but we have taken the first step in getting the Hope for Tomrrow children excited about learning about Jesus through KIDZ CLUB!

One of the goals Gepher and I have for Hope for Tomorrow this year is for the children and their families to be excited about coming to church and wanting to have a deeper understanding and faith in Jesus Christ. 



KIDZ CLUB is our newest Saturday outreach ministry.  We are so excited about Kidz Club and the effects we believe it will have on our children, their families, their friends, and the community.  We are also excited to have Grace Lape and Juvy Ludevese join the Hope for Tomorrow family in leading the Kidz Club activities (with the help of our teacher, Cheryl Santos).  Grace and Juvy served impoverished children at a Kidz Club in Davao (another island in the Philippines).  Since moving to Cebu, Grace and Juvy have missed Kidz Club and ministering to the children.  Hope for Tomorrow was a perfect opportunity for them to use their ministry talents and begin a Kidz Club of our own.



Kidz Club has become a highly anticipated weekly event.  Every week we focus on teaching the children a Bible story in a fun hands-on way.  We've marched around the walls of Jericho and searched for Waldo as we looked for the Lost Coin.  The look of amazement and awe on the children's faces as they see Jesus come alive before their very eyes is priceless. 



The kids love to sing!  Anytime you walk into the building you can almost always hear one or two of them singing either a song Cheryl has taught them or a popular song from the radio.  Kidz Club starts every Saturday with fun action songs.  The kids love the actions and the fun songs!  Grace does a great job of teaching them new songs and getting everyone involved and engaged.   Here energy is definitely contagious.



We believe you cannot fully learn until you've had a chance to "do".  The kids love to "do" their crafts after every story.  Every child loves to create and express their creativity in different ways.  The crafts emphasize the lesson and the major point we want the kids to remember.  It's also a chance for them to take these home and talk with their parents about the story.



Because our children have the worries and stresses most children should never have we also want to give them the chance to just be kids.  Game time is the perfect chance for their inner child to shine and just enjoy some fun!  I love watching the children cheer for one another and get so excited when their team wins.  It's neat to watch different children begin to shine and step up to be leaders on their teams.  The atmosphere is electric and contagious when Juvey leads the kids in fun exciting games!



Renie Boy asked Grace after the first Kidz Club if we could invite his friends to join. Grace told him ABSOLUTELY we want you to bring your friends. He looked back up at her and said "but they have funny hair". Grace told him Jesus didn't care what kind of hair you have and neither do we!

Joan told me the Friday after our Christmas party that she couldn't wait for Saturday morning Kidz Club.  I looked into ther big brown eyes and told her that Kiz Club wasn't starting back until after the New Year.  The twinkle in her eyes quickly turned to sadness as she realized she would have to wait two more weeks until Kidz Club would start again.  It's these moments (and so many others) that I know Kidz Club is exactly what God has in mind for these children.