KIDS CLUB REPORT

Dear Praying Friends,

Kids Club is over and there are great things to tell you about what God has done in our lives.

Isaiah 63:7
"I will tell of the Lord’s unfailing love. I will praise the Lord for all he has done. I will rejoice in his great goodness... which he has granted according to his mercy and love."

FINDING KIDS

Every summer, we are reminded about an early ministry lesson ... something we struggled with after our first Kids Club, 16 years ago. That summer we fell in love with 40 kids; by the fall of that year, quite a few of them had already moved out of the neighborhood. Because there are so many kids, we could have refilled our 40-quota overnight. Instead, we grieved the loss of the ones we had gotten to know and were investing in. How to find them? That became both a lesson and a tenant of this work.

For this reason we treasure the passage in Ezekiel 34:11ff. "For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep. I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them form all the places to which they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day ... I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak."

I say all of this because sometimes, in looking for a kid we have lost track of during the year, we might find someone God is looking for, someone we don’t know yet, but whom He knows very well. This summer, we noticed this dramatically with one particular family.

Into the second week of Kids Club, an eight-year-old got his leader’s attention. It was the lesson on anger, and the child asked politely, if he might talk to her about something he was afraid of, instead of something he was angry about. Yes, she said. Out he pulled drawings he had made of satanic images, very frightening things he had seen and heard of. That very day his younger brother made a terrible scene in getting ready to go home. He was so afraid of his house, he said, and didn’t want to leave church. Lots of prayer for and with the four children in this family became our method until the last day of Kids Club. (We plan follow-up for this family. Pray for them and us).

This leader had some closure with her small group the last day. Her question: "What was the best thing about Kids Club for you?" Some children answered: field trips, others boating at the lake, or the last day carnival. For this eight-year-old, he winsomely reminded his leader that she already knew what was the best thing for him. "You know", he said, " it was the day when I learned that Jesus would always be with me and take care of me, the day I learned that nothing was too big, too evil or more powerful than Him!"

Lots of children were found this Kids Club. Many, many met Christ.

WORKCREW

We had a mature and spiritual work crew this year. They loved each other. You prayed for them and they felt it.

Spontaneous Bible studies and worship evenings sprung out of this group. Even in the exhaustion of the day, these young people found time to extend their worship beyond what they were already doing.

The results of these young leaders earnestly seeking the Lord were visible in many places. Some broke free from the old legacies of abuse and pain in their pasts, telling their stories and getting help. A few returned to the Lord in a prodigal son fashion. Some wrestled with racial issues with one another. Many trusted God anew with something challenging, difficult or soul wrenching. One was baptized, deep friendships developed, and vision flourished for serving God in the ghetto. It was in this worship that these young people REALLY decided to be used by the Lord to reach children for Him. And He honored their desires.

THE FOURTH OF JULY

The fourth of July was day eight for Kids Club, traditionally the day when the class time is set up to make it very clear to the children what Jesus did on the cross for us. It is a gospel, good news day. Since we were being hosted at a Lutheran church, we asked permission to file the children into the stained glass sanctuary for a time of worship and teaching, using the symbols of communion, the bread and juice, to tangibly communicate the cross.

From the moment the children and their leaders entered this solemn setting, it was evident that this teaching time would be a moment to be remembered. It was worshipful, respectful and for some so powerful they wouldn’t leave for quite a long time. One small group broke into deep sobbing, dealing with the business of their hearts. In another group, one little girl got up from the kneeling bench to find her leader, realizing she wasn’t a Christian yet, and wanted to be, she said.

We weren’t aware of it, but the administrator of this old downtown church was witnessing this day.

How’d You Spend Your Fourth?
By Bob Barndt

It was a hot Fourth of July. The kind of a day you would like to spend at the lake or on a picnic. Or at the gathering at the Spitlers.

But being the one chosen to man the office at Grace on that day meant forsaking all of the above. Because, you see, the Neighborhood Ministries Kids Camp did not take a holiday. It was business as usual for hundreds of Phoenix inner-city youths.

The kids had been her (at Grace) for a week and a half by now, things got broken and things got fixed, electricity outages happened, and tempers wore thin. A couple dozen adults and a hundred teen-agers tried to cope with the three-to-four hundred youngsters getting a taste of religion, many for the very first time.

The logistics of getting meals delivered to Grace, having refrigeration facilities available, moving an ice truck to the parking lot ... this was, indeed, a big operation.

On this July 4th morning, Amber (from the Ministry) stopped into the office to inquire if I could open the sanctuary so that they could give the kids communion. Little did I realize that what was about to happen would have such a profound effect on me.

They, children from age 5 and up, sang songs, they prayed, they communed. And when they finished, they huddled in small groups on the carpet to pray some more and to comfort a few of their numbers. Some were literally overcome with the emotion from coming face-to-face with Jesus for the first time in their lives.

Yes, it was a disappointment to have to work and miss the holiday festivities.

But I thank God for allowing me to witness a "Jesus experience" that I will never forget.

INVITATION TO THE RESERVATION

Many of you prayed for Victor this Kids Club. He is a growing Christian leader in our ministry. Ever since his brother was killed, eight years ago, the Lord has given us a passion to reach their family’s Reservation.

One of our old ministry kids now works for the tribe. During Kids Club, she called faithfully, almost every day (during my class time) to make final arrangements with us; she has initiated an event for our ministry team to talk to the whole tribe about how to reach kids trapped in drugs and gangs.

We have prayed for eight years for the opportunity to reach this part of the Tohono O’odtom Nation called San Lucy. What an amazing opportunity the Lord has given us! Pray for this open door.

THE LONGING FOR OUR OWN HOME

Every day, driving to Grace Lutheran Church, we imagined the future. God was so good to let this last experience on the road be such a kind one. Yet, the longing to be doing ministry in our own place was sometimes overwhelming. Packing up and moving around with 500 people, supplies, vehicles, food, etc. will soon be over. Everyday, we imagined the joy of the next season.

The second story on the classroom building was going up during Kids Club, while a new roof on the warehouse was begun.

Matthew 7:7
Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you.

Thank you, for standing with us during this summer’s Neighborhood Kids Club.
We love you,
Kit